Washington County
In 1827, Washington County was founded in the State of Mississippi and named after George Washington, the first president of the United States. It covers a total area of 761 square miles and has a population of almost 50,000 residents. Its county seat, Greenville, is the ninth-most populous city in the state.
Washington County's court system includes the Chancery Court, Circuit Court, County Court, Justice Court, Youth Court, and Municipal Courts. The 9th Chancery District Court serves Washington County and has jurisdiction over family law cases, such as divorce, child custody, property division, adoption, and alimony. It also hears civil and probate matters, including issues related to estates, property disputes exceeding $50,000, title confirmations, contract disputes, emancipation cases, insurance settlements, and mental health commitments. The Washington County Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases not specifically assigned to other courts. It primarily handles cases through jury trials. The County Court handles eminent domain proceedings, juvenile matters, and non-capital felony cases transferred from the Circuit Court. It shares jurisdiction with the Chancery and Circuit Courts over certain non-criminal matters. County Court judges also preside over preliminary hearings, issue warrants, and set bonds. Cases involving county ordinance violations, DUIs, traffic offenses, and initial hearings for felony cases are heard by the Justice Court. The Youth Court Division hears cases involving delinquent minors, child abuse or neglect, and child supervision, while the Municipal Courts deal with municipal ordinance violations.
Washington County maintains documents generated from court proceedings handled by the county courts. These records, including transcripts, motions, and petitions, are officially stored at the courthouses and maintained by designated custodians, such as the Chancery Clerk and Circuit Clerk. Custodians may provide records to the general public except those deemed confidential by court orders or state laws.
Interested persons may access the following types of public court records in Washington County:
- Civil Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Probate Court Records
- Juvenile Court Records
- Traffic Court Records
- Domestic Relations Court Records
To access public court records and dockets in Washington County, individuals can contact the custodian of the records they need or visit the courthouse where the case was heard. Additionally, court records are available on the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) portal.
