Divorce records in Forrest County, Mississippi can be accessed through several channels. ForrestCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for Forrest County. You can also request records directly from the Chancery Court that issued the decree, the Forrest County Chancery Clerk's office, or the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records office. Each source holds different types of divorce documentation, so the right contact depends on what you need.
Forrest County Divorce Records Search
In Mississippi, divorce cases are handled by the Chancery Court. The Forrest County Chancery Clerk maintains court files for divorces granted in Forrest County, including divorce decrees, settlement agreements, custody orders, property division orders, and related filings. These records are generally considered public under Mississippi's Public Records Act, though certain sensitive details — especially those involving minor children — may be restricted by court order.
The Forrest County Chancery Clerk's online portal provides internet access to indexes of county records. While this tool focuses on land records, it can serve as a starting point for identifying case numbers or verifying recorded documents. For full divorce case files, contact the Chancery Clerk's office directly.
The Mississippi State Department of Health does not maintain divorce records itself. However, MSDH offers a five-year search of county divorce indexes covering records from January 1, 1926, through June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, onward. This search can help confirm that a divorce was granted in a particular county during those periods.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Forrest County
Understanding where divorce records are filed helps you contact the right office on the first try. Mississippi uses a specific court structure for divorce cases:
- Forrest County Chancery Court — This is the court with jurisdiction over divorce cases in Forrest County. All divorce complaints, answers, temporary orders, final decrees, custody arrangements, and property settlements are filed here. The Chancery Clerk's office is the custodian of these court records.
- Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) — MSDH does not hold actual divorce records or certificates. It can only perform a limited index search to verify whether a divorce was recorded in a Mississippi county during certain date ranges. You can request the applicable forms from MSDH for this search.
If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the Forrest County Chancery Clerk directly. If you only need to verify that a divorce occurred and you don't know the exact county, the MSDH index search may help narrow it down.
You can also search the Forrest County official records inquiry system online to look up indexed records.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Forrest County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| MSDH divorce index search (five-year search) | $50.00 | Approximately 30 business days by mail |
| Certified copy of divorce decree (Chancery Clerk) | Varies — contact the Chancery Clerk for current fees | Varies; in-person requests may be fulfilled same day if the record is located |
| Uncertified copy of court document (Chancery Clerk) | Varies by page count — contact the Chancery Clerk | Varies |