Panola County
Panola County, founded in 1836 by the Mississippi Legislature, derives its name from a Native American word meaning “cotton." Located in northwest Mississippi, the county spans approximately 685 square miles and is home to over 33,000 residents. It has two county seats: Sardis and Batesville.
Panola County's judicial system comprises the Circuit, Justice, Chancery, Youth, and Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court in Panola County functions within Mississippi's 17th Circuit Court District, and it has general jurisdiction over legal proceedings outside the scope of other courts. Legal matters exclusive to the Circuit Court include felonies and civil lawsuits exceeding $200,000. The Chancery Court presides over all probate and domestic relation cases. These include divorces, adoptions, disputes over decedents' estates, parentage lawsuits, and child custody cases. The Panola County Youth Court oversees legal proceedings involving minors, such as juvenile delinquencies and child dependency cases. The Justice Court presides over misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, and small claims cases involving up to $3,500 in financial settlement. The Municipal Courts in Batesville and other towns have jurisdiction over traffic crimes, certain misdemeanors that occur within their cities, and ordinance violations.
Panola County public court records are official documents showing judicial processes in the trial courts. Examples of information available on court records include court dockets, transcripts, names of involved parties, court rulings, and case filings. The Circuit Clerk and other designated court clerks are tasked with maintaining court records filed in Panola County. According to the Mississippi Public Records Act, requesters can access paper or digital copies of the following court records:
- Civil records
- Criminal court records
- Family records
- Probate records
- Land records
- Traffic records
Note that confidential documents containing juvenile, mental health, and adoption cases are not open to the public. Individuals interested in confidential court records must obtain special permissions from Panola County trial courts and visit relevant court clerks at:
Panola County Courthouse
151 Public Square
Batesville, MS 38606
Phone: (662) 563-6210 (Circuit Clerk)
Phone: (662) 487-2070 (Chancery Clerk)
Meanwhile, Panola County public court records are available online through the Mississippi Electronic Court System.
