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Alcorn County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Alcorn County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Alcorn County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts have jurisdiction over matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Alcorn County Chancery Clerk, 662-286-7700. |
| Chancery court district | Mississippi's 1st Chancery Court District: Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo and Union. Alcorn filings stay at the county courthouse in Corinth. |
| Courthouse address | 501 Waldron St., Corinth, MS 38834. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 69, Corinth, MS 38835-0069. |
| Phone | 662-286-7700. |
| Fax | 662-284-4994. |
| [email protected]. The office also lists [email protected] for court filing questions. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. No separate filing cutoff is listed. |
| Filing fee | Alcorn County's schedule lists an estate, testate or intestate, at $154.50, effective January 1, 2020. Under the Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 text effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $140.00: $85.00 clerk fee, $10.00 Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund, $40.00 Judicial System Operation Fund and $5.00 Civil Legal Assistance Fund. |
| Attorney required | Yes for a full estate. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires a fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney for the entire appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, is presented under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 and needs no court filing and no attorney. |
| Local forms | Alcorn County does not list a local estate petition packet or a local small estate affidavit form. Use the Mississippi Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the papers prepared for the case. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access, but an estate opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Case search | PAMEC provides registered remote access through the MEC system, and free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the chancery clerk before planning around phone or video attendance. The 1st Chancery Court District's annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2), and hearing practice is controlled by the chancellor and the court under Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159. |
| Website | https://www.alcorncounty.org/chancery-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Corinth, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiary designations, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts and known creditors. That first inventory determines whether the family can use the $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, a muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35, or a full Alcorn County administration.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can search more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and insurance leads, then organize the information for the Mississippi attorney who must be retained for a full estate under UCCR 6.02. Better asset information usually makes the first courthouse step cleaner.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Alcorn County is filed with the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk at the courthouse in Corinth. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1) provides that chancery court is held in each county.
Venue depends on the estate route. A will is proved, and letters testamentary are granted, in the chancery court of the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence, with a land-based fallback if there was no fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, letters of administration are granted in the county of the fixed place of residence, then where the intestate owned land, then where the intestate died if there was no fixed place of residence and no land (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63). Those ladders differ, so give the attorney the residence, land and death-location facts at the start.
Alcorn County is in Mississippi's 1st Chancery Court District with Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo and Union. That district assignment controls chancellor assignment and terms, but the Alcorn County case is filed at the Alcorn County courthouse in Corinth.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, real estate information, account statements, vehicle titles, debts and the names and addresses of heirs and devisees.
- Choose the correct Mississippi route. If at least 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, the successor may present a small estate affidavit to the holder of personal property under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. If the decedent left a will that devises Mississippi real property, all known debts are paid and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate fits the § 91-7-322 sum, the attorney may consider muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, plan for a full estate in Alcorn County.
- For a full estate, retain an attorney. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney or firm during the entire term of appointment.
- The attorney prepares the petition. A petition to probate a will must attach a copy of the will as an exhibit (UCCR 6.15), and pleadings, accounts, inventories and reports filed by a fiduciary must be personally signed and sworn by the fiduciary (UCCR 6.14).
- File the paper opening documents at the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk's counter in Corinth with the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the court cost deposit required by UCCR 9.01 and Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. The original will remains with the clerk under UCCR 9.03.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation subject to the court's approval, may admit the will in common form and grant letters testamentary or letters of administration (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-1, 91-7-63, 9-5-141, 9-5-147). If a bond is required, it is addressed under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41.
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice to known creditors, files the diligent-search affidavit, and only then publishes notice to creditors for three consecutive weeks as required by Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-145.
- Creditors must probate and register claims with the clerk within 90 days after the first publication, or the claims are barred under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, paying allowed debts, handling taxes, keeping records and preparing any required accounting with the attorney.
- Close the estate through the chancery court with the required accounting, distribution request, final decree and discharge. The chancellor controls final approval under Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Alcorn County
Alcorn County does not list its own estate petition packet, will petition form or local small estate affidavit form on the chancery clerk page. The office lists other documents, including unclaimed-property materials, a domestic-abuse protection order brochure, a document-format guide for recorded documents and chancery filing schedules, but not a local estate form set.
For an Alcorn County full estate, use the Mississippi Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and attorney-prepared pleadings. The Uniform Chancery Court Rules require the will copy exhibit for a will petition (UCCR 6.15), sworn fiduciary signatures on fiduciary filings (UCCR 6.14) and safe custody of original wills by the clerk (UCCR 9.03). A small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is not filed with the court.
Fees
Alcorn County publishes its own civil filing schedule for chancery matters. The schedule lists an estate, testate or intestate, at $154.50, effective January 1, 2020. It also lists accounting in probate and heirship matters at $154.50, effective January 1, 2020, and estate, muniment of title only, at $144.50, effective January 1, 2020.
| Alcorn fee item | Amount and date | How it fits the statute |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory floor for opening an estate | $140.00 under the Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 text effective until December 31, 2027 | $85.00 clerk fee, $10.00 electronic court systems assessment, $40.00 judicial operations assessment and $5.00 civil legal assistance assessment under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. |
| Alcorn estate total, testate or intestate | $154.50, effective January 1, 2020 | The county schedule adds to the statutory floor by listing $57.50 in statutorily mandated fees, a $10.00 court reporter fee and $2.00 in board-approved fees, all effective January 1, 2020. |
| Alcorn muniment of title total | $144.50, effective January 1, 2020 | The county schedule lists the same base and assessment structure but no court reporter fee for muniment of title matters, effective January 1, 2020. |
| Service and newspaper costs | Actual charges at the time of filing when requested | Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9(4), under the text effective until December 31, 2027, allows the clerk to demand the actual sheriff service or newspaper publication charge when the filing party wants the clerk to pay those costs. |
The $154.50 Alcorn total is local to Alcorn County and should not be treated as a Mississippi-wide amount.
Local nuance
Alcorn County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use 501 Waldron St. | Alcorn County lists the chancery clerk's physical address as 501 Waldron St., Corinth, MS 38834. Use that courthouse address for filings and in-person viewing. |
| Alcorn's own fee schedule is lower than the common $158 example | Alcorn lists a $154.50 estate total, effective January 1, 2020, and explains the difference above the Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 floor with its court reporter and board-approved fee lines. |
| The clerk lists two email contacts | The general office email is [email protected], and [email protected] is listed for court filing questions. Use the filing contact for filing mechanics, not for legal advice. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| MEC completion | Mississippi Electronic Courts completed statewide on June 30, 2025, and all chancery courts had been implemented in MEC as of June 19, 2023. MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Small estate and muniment changes | The $75,000 small estate affidavit amount in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 and the updated muniment of title procedure in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 took effect July 1, 2020. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended effective April 18, 2024. |
| Legal aid intake | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services use separate intake numbers beginning January 1, 2026: 1-800-898-8731 for NMRLS and 1-800-519-2915 for MCLSC. Use mslegalservices.org to check service-area details. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Alcorn County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by reviewing how the home is titled. If the home passes outside the estate and the remaining probate personal property is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, the spouse may be able to use the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 may be the court route, and the house itself does not count against that route's non-real property ceiling. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance and debts before the family chooses the estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, the child may present a small estate affidavit to the bank or other holder under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. If letters are needed, the child must work with a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02 and should ask the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk about the hearing practice before making travel plans. | Sunset organizes the asset list and can connect the family with a vetted Mississippi attorney if the affidavit route is not enough. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 does not transfer the house. If there is a will and debts are paid, the attorney may consider muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, a full Alcorn County administration is likely. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299, and UCCR 6.12(B) says those fees are not based on the value of real property. | Sunset helps build the asset picture, prepare for estate settlement decisions and connect the parent to counsel for the required court work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Alcorn County Chancery Clerk | Use the clerk's page for the Corinth courthouse address, mailing address, phone, fax, office email, hours and local filing schedules: https://www.alcorncounty.org/chancery-clerk/. |
| mslegalservices.org directory | Use the directory-by-service-area lookup at https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area. Alcorn County is not named on either provider's office pages, so check the directory and call both intake lines if needed. |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Call 1-800-898-8731. The call center hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 to 3:30. Legal aid is eligibility-based and may not take estate matters, so ask before relying on representation. |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services | Call 1-800-519-2915. Legal aid is eligibility-based and may not take estate matters, so ask before relying on representation. |
| Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Court page | Use the chancery court page for statewide chancery court information and the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet link. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Use the rules to understand fiduciary signatures, attorney retention, accounts, reports and original-will custody. UCCR 6.02 is the attorney-retention rule for fiduciaries. |
| MEC and PAMEC | Use https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php for Mississippi Electronic Courts and Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts. Remote access requires a PAMEC account, and free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts, insurance and asset leads, then organizes what is found so the family and the Mississippi attorney can choose the right Alcorn County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn asset details, family information and document checklists into an organized packet for the attorney who prepares the Alcorn County chancery filings.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain counsel for a full Mississippi estate, Sunset connects families with vetted local attorneys who handle Alcorn County chancery matters.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, including asset discovery, document organization and attorney matching.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Alcorn County?
File full estate papers with the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk at 501 Waldron St., Corinth, MS 38834. The Alcorn County Chancery Court handles matters testamentary and of administration under Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159, and venue for a will starts with the testator's fixed place of residence under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1.
What is the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk's phone number?
The Alcorn County Chancery Clerk's phone number is 662-286-7700. The fax number is 662-284-4994.
How much is the Alcorn County filing fee for an estate?
Alcorn County's schedule lists an estate, testate or intestate, at $154.50, effective January 1, 2020. Under the Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 text effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $140.00, made up of $85.00, $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 components. Confirm the current payment method with the clerk before filing.
Does Alcorn County have local probate forms?
Alcorn County does not list a local estate petition packet or local small estate affidavit form. Use the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and attorney-prepared papers for a full estate. The small estate affidavit route is under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 and is presented to the property holder, not filed with the court.
Can an Alcorn County estate be filed electronically?
Attorneys file through MEC after the opening step, but a Mississippi estate begins with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. Self-represented parties may have read-only PAMEC access. MEC and PAMEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
How do I look up an Alcorn County chancery case?
Use PAMEC through the MEC hub at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php for registered remote access. Free viewing is also available at the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk's office during regular business hours.
Can I attend an Alcorn County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk before assuming any remote option. Remote participation is controlled by the chancellor and local practice under the chancery court's authority (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and the 1st Chancery Court District's annual term order is posted in the clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2).
Do I have to travel to Corinth for a small estate?
If the estate fits the $75,000 small estate affidavit route, effective July 1, 2020, and 30 days have passed, the successor presents the affidavit to the bank, employer or other holder under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. That route is not a courthouse filing. If letters testamentary or letters of administration are needed, the case proceeds through the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk and the attorney can advise about attendance needs under Miss. Code Ann. §§ 9-5-141 and 9-5-147.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.