Rankin County
Rankin County was established in 1828 and named after Christopher Rankin, a former Mississippi Congressman. As of 2022, Rankin County is home to 157,185 residents, making it the fourth most populous county in Mississippi. It is also the seventh-largest county by land mass, covering about 775.5 square miles. The City of Brandon serves as the county seat. Rankin County's court system comprises the Circuit, Chancery, County, Youth, Justice, and Municipal Courts.
Rankin County's Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over legal matters beyond the purview of other lesser courts. It handles all felony trials and civil claims exceeding $200,000 in financial disputes. The Circuit Court also hears appeals from other county courts. Rankin County has a Chancery Court that settles divorces, alimony, lunacy or commitment hearings, probate matters, guardianships, and domestic relations issues. The County Court in Rankin has exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain cases, unlawful entry actions, partition of personal property, and landlord-tenant disputes, while the Youth Court handles all juvenile cases such as juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and child neglect cases. Petty crimes punishable by fines and small claims not exceeding $3,500 in financial disputes are heard at the Rankin County Justice Court. Municipal Courts handle certain criminal cases, ordinance violations, and traffic crimes in their respective cities, including Brandon, Florence, Flowood, Pearl, Pelahatchie, and Richland.
Rankin County Court records are legal documentation of trials held in the various county's courts, including indexes, petitions, docket entries, memoranda, transcripts of hearings, orders, and judgments. The following court records contain information from various court proceedings in the county:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Family law records
- Probate Records
Mississippi's Public Records Act allows public access to most court records, although sensitive records such as medical, juvenile, adoption, or confidential business information may be restricted. Court records in Rankin County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk or the Chancery Court Clerk, depending on the type of case. Interested persons can visit the circuit clerk at:
215 E. Government St
Brandon, MS 39042
Phone: (601) 825-1466
Fax: (601) 824-9346
They can also visit the courthouse to obtain public court records. Court records maintained in other county courts are accessible by contacting the relevant court clerks or courthouses. Rankin County court records are available online via the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) portal; fees may apply for obtaining certified copies.
