Scott County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Scott County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Scott County, Mississippi, may access publicly available information through ScottCountyRecords.org as well as through official county and state government offices. Public records maintained by Scott County agencies may include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax records, and other materials created or received by government bodies in the course of official business. The availability and completeness of specific records may vary depending on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable state law exemptions.

Record categories that members of the public may find through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, chancery, and circuit court filings)
Property deeds, mortgages, and land records
Marriage and divorce records
Tax assessment and property tax records
Business licenses and permits
Board of Supervisors minutes and agendas
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law)
Voter registration and election records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.

Online Access: The Scott County Chancery Clerk maintains land records, probate filings, and Board of Supervisors minutes. Some property and land records are accessible through the county's online portal without registration. The Scott County Circuit Clerk maintains court records, marriage licenses, and professional license filings. Members of the public may contact these offices to determine which records are currently available through digital search tools.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Scott County Courthouse to inspect records at the Circuit Clerk's Office or the Chancery Clerk's Office. Both offices are located at 100 East First Street, Forest, Mississippi 39074. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record sought, provide any known case numbers or document identifiers, and complete any required request forms provided by the custodial office.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate clerk's office at 100 East First Street, Forest, MS 39074. Requests should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the records sought, and the time period covered. Under § 25-61-5 of the Mississippi Code, public bodies are required to respond to records requests within a reasonable time.

Phone/Email:

Scott County Circuit Clerk: (601) 469-1922
Scott County Chancery Clerk: (601) 469-2051

What Are Public Records in Scott County?

Public records in Scott County are defined under Mississippi law as any document, paper, letter, map, book, photograph, film, sound recording, magnetic or other tape, electronic data-processing record, artifact, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business. Under § 25-61-3 of the Mississippi Public Records Act, all public records are presumed to be open for inspection unless a specific exemption applies.

The following record types are maintained by Scott County offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Clerk
Chancery court, probate, land records	Chancery Clerk
Marriage records	Circuit Clerk / Mississippi State Department of Health
Property deeds and mortgages	Chancery Clerk
Tax assessment records	County Tax Assessor
Board of Supervisors minutes	Chancery Clerk
Business licenses and permits	County offices / municipalities
Voter registration records	Circuit Clerk
Arrest logs and incident reports	Scott County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	County Planning Department

The Circuit Clerk serves as Clerk of the County and Circuit Court and receives and records marriages, as well as medical and other professional licenses. The Chancery Clerk, acting as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, records official minutes and prepares the claims docket and payrolls for all county departments.

Is Scott County an Open Records County?

Scott County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's open records framework. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, § 25-61-1 et seq., all public bodies in the state, including county offices, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The Act establishes a strong presumption of openness, placing the burden on the government agency to demonstrate that a specific exemption applies before withholding any record.

As stated in the Mississippi Public Records Act, "all public records are hereby declared to be public property, and any person shall have the right to inspect, copy, or mechanically reproduce or obtain a reproduction of any public record." This provision applies to all records maintained by Scott County offices, including the Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and Board of Supervisors.

Scott County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the county operates under the statewide framework established by the Mississippi Legislature. The Mississippi Attorney General's Office provides guidance on compliance with the Public Records Act and has issued opinions addressing the obligations of county-level custodians.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Scott County?

The current fee structure for public records in Scott County is governed by state law and individual office schedules. Members of the public may inspect records at no charge; fees apply when copies or certified documents are requested.

Standard fees applicable to Scott County public records requests include:

Standard copies: $0.25 to $1.00 per page, depending on the office and document type
Certified copies of court records: Fees set by the Circuit Clerk, subject to state court fee schedules
Certified copies of vital records (marriage): The Mississippi State Department of Health charges $17.00 for the first certified copy and $6.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time
Land record copies: Fees established by the Chancery Clerk per page
Electronic records: Fees may apply for reproduction in electronic format; the custodial office determines the applicable rate

Accepted payment methods at Scott County offices include cash, check, and money order. Credit card acceptance may vary by office. Under § 25-61-7 of the Mississippi Code, fees charged for public records may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waiver provisions are not expressly mandated by state statute for standard requestors, though individual offices retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances.

Does Scott County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Scott County government offices. Members of the public may examine records in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office and the Chancery Clerk's Office during regular business hours without incurring any inspection fee. The right to inspect without charge is established under the Mississippi Public Records Act.

Several categories of records are accessible at no cost through official online resources:

Property and land records maintained by the Chancery Clerk may be searchable through the county's online portal at no charge
Inmate and offender information is available at no cost through the Mississippi Department of Corrections public records search tool
Registered sex offender information is available free of charge through the Mississippi Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection of records at a public counter is free, obtaining physical or electronic copies of those records is subject to the fee schedule described above. Voter registration records and Board of Supervisors meeting minutes may also be inspected at no charge during regular office hours.

Who Can Request Public Records in Scott County?

Any person may request public records in Scott County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Mississippi Public Records Act does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requestors to provide identification or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records.

Specific provisions applicable to requestors include:

Residency: Not required; non-residents retain full rights under state law
Identification: Not required for inspection of standard public records; may be required for certified copies of vital records
Purpose: Not required to be stated for most record types
Age: No minimum age is specified by statute for public records requests

Certain record types carry additional access restrictions. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are subject to access limitations under Mississippi law, with certified copies available only to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives. Marriage records may be obtained by any member of the public through the county circuit clerk's office or through the Mississippi State Department of Health. Persons requesting their own records, such as criminal history or court filings, follow the same process as any other requestor, though additional verification may be required for certain sensitive documents.

What Records Are Confidential in Scott County?

Not all government records maintained by Scott County offices are subject to public disclosure. Under § 25-61-11 of the Mississippi Code, specific categories of records are exempt from the Public Records Act's disclosure requirements. The following record types are currently withheld from public access:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in youth court proceedings are confidential under Mississippi youth court statutes
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for salary information of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety

When a custodial office withholds a record, it is required to identify the specific statutory exemption relied upon. Requestors who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek review through the Mississippi Attorney General's Office or pursue relief in chancery court.

Scott County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Scott County does not maintain a separate Recorder's Office; recording functions are divided between the Circuit Clerk and the Chancery Clerk, consistent with Mississippi's county government structure.

Scott County Circuit Clerk
100 East First Street, Forest, MS 39074
(601) 469-1922
Scott County Circuit Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

The Circuit Clerk maintains court records for civil and criminal proceedings, marriage licenses, voter registration records, and professional license filings.

Scott County Chancery Clerk
100 East First Street, Forest, MS 39074
(601) 469-2051
Scott County Chancery Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

The Chancery Clerk maintains land records, deeds, mortgages, probate filings, Board of Supervisors minutes, and county financial records. As noted in the office's official description, "as the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, he records the official minutes" and "as Treasurer, the Clerk prepares the claims docket and payrolls for all" county departments.

Scott County Sheriff's Office
1000 East First Street, Forest, MS 39074
(601) 469-4411
Scott County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and jail records subject to applicable disclosure requirements.

Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records
571 Stadium Drive, Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 576-7960
Mississippi Vital Records

Certified copies of statewide marriage records and other vital documents may be obtained through the Mississippi State Department of Health in addition to the county circuit clerk.