Lake Cormorant, MS

To find an outstanding warrant in DeSoto County, Mississippi (county seat Hernando), the authoritative tool is the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division. Contact: 365 Losher Street, Hernando, MS 38632, phone 662-469-8000, website https://www.desotocountyms.gov/533/Warrant-Division. The Fugitive Division (https://www.facebook.com/DCSDfugitive/) executes arrest warrants for misdemeanors and felonies; in-person inquiries at the Sheriff's Office (3091 Industrial Drive W, Hernando, MS 38632, 662-469-8500) confirm whether your name is on the active warrant list. The DeSoto County Justice Court Clerk (https://www.desotocountyms.gov/) and the Circuit Clerk hold the underlying case files where the warrant was issued. For a bench warrant from a misdemeanor or traffic case, contact the DeSoto County Justice Court at 662-429-1325. State-level: the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Identification Bureau (https://www.dps.ms.gov/divisions/department-of-public-safety/criminal-information-center) holds the central criminal-history index. Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. section 25-61-1 et seq.) governs access. Anyone suspecting a warrant should consult a Mississippi defense attorney before contacting law enforcement so the warrant can be addressed safely.

To check if someone has an outstanding warrant in Mississippi, contact the local sheriff or police where the warrant was issued. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety holds the statewide warrant database (CJIS), restricted to law enforcement; individuals must check by phone with the issuing court or agency. Many counties post most-wanted lists publicly (e.g., Hinds County at https://hindscountysheriff.org/, Harrison County at https://www.co.harrison.ms.us/). Court bench warrants appear on the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) at https://courts.ms.gov/. Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code §25-61) governs disclosure. Sources: MS DPS (https://www.dps.ms.gov/), MS Courts (https://courts.ms.gov/).

To get a copy of a will in Gulfport, MS (Harrison County), contact the Harrison County Chancery Clerk at 1801 23rd Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501 (228-865-4036). In Mississippi, probate is handled in Chancery Court, not Circuit Court. Once a will is admitted to probate it becomes a public court record under Miss. Code §91-7-1. Search the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) at https://courts.ms.gov/ for Harrison County probate cases. Certified copies of probated wills cost about $1-$2 per page at the Chancery Clerk. Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code §25-61) governs disclosure. Sources: Harrison County (https://www.co.harrison.ms.us/), MS Courts (https://courts.ms.gov/).

To look up a marriage license in Biloxi, MS (Harrison County), contact the Harrison County Circuit Clerk at 1801 23rd Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501 (228-865-4036), with online searches at https://www.co.harrison.ms.us/. Marriage licenses are issued by Circuit Court Clerks in Mississippi (not Chancery). Statewide marriage records since 1926 are at the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records at https://msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109.html for $19 per certified copy. Marriage licenses are public records under Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code §25-61); certified copies typically cost $5 at the Circuit Clerk. Sources: MSDH Vital Records (https://msdh.ms.gov/), Harrison County (https://www.co.harrison.ms.us/).

For information about a specific lawsuit in Grenada County, MS, contact the Grenada County Circuit Clerk at 59 Green Street, Grenada, MS 38901 (662-226-1941) for civil case files, or the Grenada County Chancery Clerk at 59 Green Street (662-226-1821) for chancery cases (divorce, probate, equity matters). Lawsuits filed in federal court covering Grenada are at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi at https://www.msnd.uscourts.gov/. Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) at https://courts.ms.gov/ provides case search. Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code §25-61) governs disclosure. Sources: Grenada County (https://www.grenadams.com/), MS Courts (https://courts.ms.gov/).

To confirm someone has died in Mississippi, the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records at https://msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109.html issues certified death certificates for $19 (records from 1912 forward). Order online via VitalChek, by mail to PO Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215 (601-206-8200), or at the Jackson office. Only the spouse, parents, children, siblings, or legal representatives can obtain certified copies under Miss. Code §41-57-2 within 50 years. The Social Security Administration's Death Master File (DMF) provides confirmation of deceased Social Security numbers. Local newspaper obituary archives often confirm deaths. Sources: MSDH Vital Records (https://msdh.ms.gov/), Miss. Code §41-57-2 (https://www.ago.state.ms.us/).