Harrison County Court Records

Harrison County court records offer a detailed account of various legal proceedings and decisions within the jurisdiction. These records serve as an extensive repository of information for judicial proceedings, and they offer valuable insight into the judicial history of individuals and organizations involved in legal disputes.

Under Mississippi Code § 9-1, court records typically contain a range of information, including case filings, judgments, motions, orders, hearings, trial transcripts, and evidentiary documents.

Are Court Records Public in Harrison County?

In Harrison County, court records are generally considered public according to Mississippi state law, specifically the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983. This Act ensures that court records are accessible to the public unless otherwise exempted by law. As such, individuals have the right to inspect, copy, or obtain reproductions of court records maintained by the county's judicial system.

However, certain restrictions or limitations may apply to accessing specific types of court records. For example, records containing sensitive or confidential information, such as those related to ongoing investigations, personal information of individuals protected by law, or records sealed by court order, may be exempt from public disclosure.

Additionally, while most court records are accessible to the public, certain sensitive information within those records may be redacted to protect the privacy or rights of individuals involved. These redactions ensure that nonexempt information remains available for examination while safeguarding sensitive or protected data.

Harrison County Court Records Search

Interested individuals can perform a Harrison County court records search using the following options:

• A court clerk's office.
• An electronic portal provided by the court.
• A third-party public records website.

Harrison County Court Records Search by Name

To conduct a name-based search for court records in Harrison County, individuals can utilize the Judgment Roll Search option provided by the Circuit Court. This involves visiting the Judgment Roll Search page on the Harrison County website. On this search tool, individuals can input either the plaintiff's or defendant's names to initiate the search for court records. Users can then navigate the search results to locate the specific records they are interested in.

Harrison County Courts

Harrison County's court system comprises various courts catering to different legal matters. These include Circuit Courts, Chancery Courts, County Courts, Youth Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Here are the addresses and contact information of all the courts in Harrison County:

Harrison County Circuit Court - 1st District
1801 23rd Ave,
P.O. Box 998,
Gulfport, MS 39502
Phone: (228) 865-1635
Fax: (228) 865-4099

Harrison County Circuit Court - 2nd District
730 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd,
P.O. Box 235,
Biloxi, MS 39533
Phone: (228) 435-8233
Fax: (228) 435-8270

Harrison County Chancery Court - 1st District
1801 23rd Ave,
PO Drawer CC,
Gulfport, MS 39502
Fax: (228) 214-1513

Harrison County Chancery Court - 2nd District
730 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd,
P.O. Box 544,
Biloxi, MS 39533
Phone: (228) 435-8220
Fax: (228) 435-8292

County Court of Harrison County
1801 23rd Ave,
P.O. Box 1461,
Gulfport, MS 39502
Phone: (228) 865-4230
Fax: (228) 865-6523

County Court of Harrison County - 2nd District
730 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd,
P.O. Box 235,
Biloxi, MS 39533
Phone: (228) 435-8232
Fax: (228) 435-8277

Harrison County Youth Court
761 Esters Blvd,
P.O. Box 134,
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: (228) 435-3201
Fax: (228) 435-4784

Harrison County Justice Court - 1st District
1709 24th Ave,
P.O. Box 1754,
Gulfport, MS 39502
Phone: (228) 865-4193
Fax: (228) 865-4216

Harrison County Justice Court - 2nd District
190 Lameuse St,
P.O. Box 1141,
Biloxi, MS 39533
Phone: (228) 435-8250
Fax: (228) 435-8279

Biloxi Municipal Court
Public Safety Building
170 Porter Ave,
1st Floor, Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: (228) 435-6125
Fax: (228) 435-6165

D'Iberville Municipal Court
10383 Automall Pkwy,
P.O. Box 6519,
D'Iberville, MS 39534
Phone: (228) 392-7966
Fax: (228) 392-8527

Gulfport Municipal Court
2218 15th St,
Gulfport, MS 39501
Phone: (228) 868-5855
Fax: (228) 868-5744

Long Beach Municipal Court
201 Jeff Davis Ave,
P.O. Box 929,
Long Beach, MS 39560
Phone: (228) 865-7840
Fax: (228) 863-2771

Pass Christian Municipal Court
105 Hiem Ave,
Pass Christian, MS 39571
Phone: (228) 452-3307
Fax: (228) 452-3320

Harrison County Superior Court Case Search

While Harrison County does not operate a Superior Court, its Circuit Court exercises similar jurisdiction and functions. To search for cases within the Circuit Court of Harrison County, individuals typically utilize the Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts (PAMEC) system for the Circuit Court of Harrison County. To initiate a search, visit the PAMEC website. If you have a PAMEC login, enter your credentials and proceed to the case search section, if not, register online. Within the case search feature, users can input relevant case details such as case number, party names, or filing date to retrieve information on specific cases.

The Circuit Court of Harrison County handles a variety of cases, including felony criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits. Additionally, it hears appeals from County, Justice, and Municipal courts, as well as from administrative boards and commissions like the Workers’ Compensation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

Harrison County District Court Records

Harrison County does not operate a District Court. However, its County Court exercises similar jurisdiction and functions. The County Court in Harrison County handles various types of cases, including eminent domain proceedings, juvenile matters, and civil cases with a jurisdictional limit of up to $200,000. County Court judges in Harrison County may also preside over non-capital felony cases transferred from Circuit Court, issue search warrants, set bonds, and conduct preliminary hearings. Additionally, County Courts have concurrent jurisdiction with Justice Courts in all matters, both civil and criminal.

To access records specific to the Harrison County Court, individuals can usually utilize the Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts (PAMEC) system, following the steps mentioned in the previous section.

Harrison County Criminal Records

To obtain Harrison County criminal records, individuals should apply through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Criminal Information Center, serving as the primary repository for all state criminal records. This process requires completing a Release Background Authorization Form, along with enclosing a $32 money order and a photocopy of either a State Identification Card or a Driver’s License. The completed documents should be mailed to:

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal Information Center/Background Checks
3891 Highway 468 West Pearl,
MS 39208

Moreover, individuals can request a copy of the criminal record for a third party by providing their name and mailing address in the designated sections of the form. Harrison County Arrest Records may also be obtained in the same way. It is worth noting that the form must be signed in the presence of a notary public.

Harrison County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To find criminal court case information specific to Harrison County, individuals can use the general docket search tool located on the left sidebar of the Mississippi Judiciary website. On the website, users should locate the general docket search tool on the left sidebar, input relevant details such as the defendant's name or case number, and initiate the search. This allows users to access information about criminal cases that have gone to trial or undergone adjudication in Harrison County.

Get Harrison County Civil Court Records

The Circuit Court in Harrison County typically handles civil matters, including disputes related to contracts, property, estates, and other civil legal issues. To obtain civil court records, individuals may follow the same steps as they would to perform a Harrison County Superior Court Case Search.

Civil court records in Harrison County may include a variety of documents, such as:

• Complaints and petitions filed by plaintiffs
• Answers and responses filed by defendants
• Court orders and judgments issued by the court
• Motions, pleadings, and other legal documents filed by parties involved in the case
• Any other documentation related to civil legal proceedings heard by the Chancery Court

Harrison County Family Court Records

In Harrison County, family law cases are typically heard in the Harrison County Chancery Court, which has jurisdiction over matters related to families and domestic relations. These issues might encompass adoptions, disputes over child custody, divorces, guardianships, hearings to determine sanity, wills, and legal challenges regarding the constitutionality of state laws.

To obtain family court records in Harrison County, individuals may:

• Employ the Chancery Court Dockets Online: Click the 'Dockets search' button on the Chancery court website to search Harrison County Chancery Court scheduled cases by name or date. The docket provides details such as parties involved, case location by courtroom, date/time, and presiding judge. Date searches are limited to the current day and future dates; historical date searching is not permitted. When searching by name, they must enter at least the first 3 characters of the party name.
• Visit the Harrison County Chancery Court Clerk in person at the given address below:

Judicial District 1
1801 23rd Ave
Gulfport, MS 39501
Phone: (228) 865-4036
Fax: (228) 214-1513
P.O. Drawer CC
Gulfport, MS 39502

Judicial District 2
730 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: (228) 435-8220
Fax: (228) 435-8292
P.O. Box 544
Biloxi, MS 39533

Harrison Dissolution of Marriage Records

Individuals seeking dissolution of marriage records may contact the Harrison County Chancery Court Clerk, following the steps outlined in Harrison County Family Court Records.

Harrison County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records in Harrison County are integral components of the jurisdiction’s vital records. They are usually under the purview of state and county authorities. Individuals seeking copies of marriage records can obtain them from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) while those seeking copies of divorce records can obtain them from Circuit Clerk’s office. These records cover marriages occurring from January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, onwards.

To obtain marriage records, individuals can order through mail or in person at the Vital Records office of the Mississippi State Department of Health in Ridgeland. They should complete the marriage record application form and mail it with a check or money order to the MSDH. The MSDH's Vital Records office does not maintain divorce records, instead, inquirers may contact Harrison County Chancery Clerk of Court's office where it was recorded. The process involved is similar to what is described in Harrison County

Harrison County Birth and Death Records

Accessing birth and death records in Harrison County, Mississippi, can be done via mail or in person at the Vital Records office of the Mississippi State Department of Health in Ridgeland.

To apply for birth certificates, applicants must complete all sections of the application form, sign it, and provide a valid photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or military ID. Payments can be made via personal check, money order, or cashier's check payable to Mississippi Vital Records. The office does not accept cash through the mail. Birth certificates are available for $17 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy, with records available for births recorded after November 1, 1912. For death certificates, individuals can also apply by mail using the provided application form or visit the Ridgeland office in person. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. Records are typically mailed within 7 to 10 business days of ordering.

Regarding limitations on accessibility, certified copies of birth certificates are issued only to individuals with legitimate and tangible interest as defined by the Rules Governing the Registration and Certification of Vital Events. This includes the registrant, parents, spouse, siblings, grandparents, legal guardians, and other individuals by court order. Genealogy requests are also accepted, requiring the purpose for the certificate and the relationship to the applicant to be provided.

Harrison County Probate Court Records

In Harrison County, probate court records are managed by the Chancery Court, which is responsible for handling various matters related to estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and wills, among others. These records encompass a wide range of cases, including disputes involving equity, domestic matters such as adoptions, custody disputes, divorces, and challenges to the constitutionality of state laws.

Individuals seeking probate court records from Harrison County can typically access them through the Clerk of the Chancery Court. As the custodian of these records, the Clerk assists attorneys and the public in filing cases related to various probate matters, including estates, divorces, adoptions, and property disputes. Records can often be obtained by accessing online Court Docket Search provided by the Chancery Court. This portal allows users to search for scheduled cases by name or date, displaying relevant information such as party names, case locations, date/time of hearings, and presiding judges. However, historical data searching is not allowed, and when searching by name, users must enter at least the first three characters of the party name they are searching for.

Harrison County Property Records

Interested members of the public may obtain property records in Harrison County via the land records online tool managed by a division of the Chancery Court. Through the Land Records Index Search system, individuals can search for records by the grantor (seller) or grantee (purchaser), legal description, or recording information for records filed in both First (Gulfport) and Second (Biloxi) Judicial Districts. Date ranges for selecting search criteria vary depending on the type of information being searched, with Gulfport records available from May 13, 1985, and Biloxi records from December 18, 1985, for grantor/grantee or recording information, and from January 1, 1991, for Gulfport and August 9, 1994, for Biloxi for legal descriptions.

The index includes various property-related records such as deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, mineral deeds, and leases, and court decrees involving property. While viewing documents is free, individuals can purchase images of these documents by credit card for a fee of $0.50 per page, with the requirement to purchase the entire document.

Harrison County Court Records Online

Individuals may also utilize third-party online platforms like Mississippicourtrecords.us to access court records in Harrison County. These resources are a convenient alternative because of their user-friendly interfaces and remote accessibility, which typically expedite document retrieval.

However, these platforms may not always provide the most up-to-date or accurate information compared to official court databases. Certain court records, particularly those that are sealed, confidential, or restricted by law, may not be accessible through online resources. Furthermore, accessing certain detailed court records or specific functionalities on these platforms may entail payment or subscription fees.