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Chickasaw County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Chickasaw County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Chickasaw County Chancery Court, for matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk. The county has two judicial districts and two courthouse counters. Call before filing to confirm which counter should take the papers. |
| Houston courthouse | First Judicial District, 1 Pinson Square, Houston, MS 38851. Phone: (662) 456-2513. Fax: (662) 456-5295. |
| Okolona courthouse | Second Judicial District, 234 West Main St, Okolona, MS 38860. Phone: (662) 447-2092. Fax: (662) 447-5024. |
| Mailing | The county publishes the two courthouse addresses above. Call the office you plan to use before mailing a petition, payment, or original will. |
| Hours | Both courthouses publish hours of Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, except holidays. |
| Chancery court district | 14th Chancery Court District, with Chickasaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Webster counties. The district assigns chancellors; it does not move a Chickasaw County filing out of Chickasaw County. |
| Filing fee | Chickasaw County does not publish a local estate total. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, accounts for a $140.00 floor for opening an estate: $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 in statutory assessments. Confirm the current amount with Houston at (662) 456-2513 or Okolona at (662) 447-2092 before writing a check. |
| Attorney required | Yes for a full estate. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires an executor or administrator, as a fiduciary, to retain an attorney unless that fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. The $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 needs no court filing and no attorney. |
| Local forms | The Mississippi Judiciary provides a statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules. Chickasaw County publishes no probate form of its own. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically. Every estate opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Case search | MEC and PAMEC are the Mississippi Judiciary case access tools at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. Remote viewing requires a registered PAMEC account and fees may apply. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at either chancery clerk counter during business hours. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk. Remote appearance is set by the chancellor and 14th Chancery Court District practice; the district's annual term order is posted through the chancery clerk under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). |
| Website | Chickasaw County courthouse information: https://www.chickasawcountyms.gov/courthouses |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you start an estate settlement in Chickasaw County, identify the assets, debts, title documents, and whether an original will exists. Because Chickasaw County has courthouse counters in both Houston and Okolona, call the chancery clerk before filing or traveling so the office can direct you to the right counter for your situation.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizes what the Mississippi attorney and the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk will need. That matters in Mississippi because a full estate requires counsel under UCCR 6.02, while a qualifying $75,000 personal-property affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 may avoid a court filing entirely.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Chickasaw County is handled by the Chickasaw County Chancery Court and filed with the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk. Chancery court is held in every Mississippi county, and in each judicial district of a county having two judicial districts, at least twice each year (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1); Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Chickasaw County has two courthouse counters: the First Judicial District counter at 1 Pinson Square in Houston and the Second Judicial District counter at 234 West Main St in Okolona. The county site says the two courthouses provide the same services, but no local source states a filing boundary for estate matters, so call the chancery clerk before filing to confirm whether Houston or Okolona should take the papers.
For a will, Mississippi venue is 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 by the chancery court of the county where the decedent had a fixed place of residence, with different fallback steps if there was no fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63). Chickasaw County sits in the 14th Chancery Court District with Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Webster counties, but that district is for assigning chancellors, not for sending a Chickasaw County case to another county.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, deed information for any real property, account information, debts, and names and addresses for heirs and will beneficiaries.
- Choose the route. If the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, a successor may present the small estate affidavit to the bank, employer, or other holder of personal property under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, with no court filing and no attorney. If there is a will devising Mississippi real property, all known debts are paid, and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate fits the § 91-7-322 sum, ask counsel about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, use full administration.
- For full administration, retain an attorney. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires every executor or administrator, as a fiduciary, to retain an attorney for the full term of the appointment unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi.
- Call the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk before filing. Houston is (662) 456-2513 and Okolona is (662) 447-2092. Ask which courthouse counter should take the filing, what the current court cost deposit is, and whether the district term order affects scheduling.
- 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 fiduciary pleadings, accounts, inventories, and reports must be personally signed and sworn by the fiduciary (UCCR 6.14).
- File on paper at the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk counter directed by the clerk, with the chancery clerk cover sheet and the court cost deposit required at filing (UCCR 9.01; Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, text effective until December 31, 2027). The original will stays in the clerk's custody under UCCR 9.03.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation, meaning between court terms, 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). Any act by the clerk is subject to court approval and is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- Handle any required oath and bond. Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41 requires the executor's oath and a bond approved by the court or clerk, but the court controls what is required in the particular estate.
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails required notices, files the diligent-search affidavit, and only then publishes the notice to creditors for three consecutive weeks (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-145).
- Creditors probate and register claims with the clerk. Claims not registered within 90 days after first publication are barred under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, paying approved expenses and claims, addressing taxes, preparing required accountings, and seeking a final decree of distribution and discharge through the chancery court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Chickasaw County
The Mississippi Judiciary provides a statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, but it does not provide a statewide probate form packet. In a full Chickasaw County estate, the petition is drafted by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02, and the fiduciary must personally sign and swear required pleadings and reports under UCCR 6.14.
Chickasaw County publishes no probate form of its own. File planning should focus on the original will, the death certificate, the proposed fiduciary's information, the asset and debt list, the cover sheet, and the court cost deposit under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, text effective until December 31, 2027.
| Form or filing item | Where it comes from | Chickasaw County note |
|---|---|---|
| Chancery clerk cover sheet | Mississippi Judiciary chancery materials | Confirm with Houston or Okolona before filing. |
| Petition to probate a will or for administration | Prepared by the Mississippi attorney required by UCCR 6.02 | Filed on paper at the counter the chancery clerk directs. |
| Copy of the will attached to the petition | Required by UCCR 6.15 | The original will remains in the clerk's custody under UCCR 9.03. |
| Small estate affidavit | Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 | For qualifying personal property, it is presented to the holder, not filed at either courthouse. |
Local nuance
Chickasaw County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Chickasaw County filing |
|---|---|
| Two courthouse counters | Chickasaw County has two judicial districts and two courthouses: Houston at 1 Pinson Square and Okolona at 234 West Main St. Call the chancery clerk before filing to confirm the counter to use. |
| Two fax numbers | The Houston courthouse fax is (662) 456-5295. The Okolona courthouse fax is (662) 447-5024. |
| Shared published hours | Both courthouses publish hours of Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, except holidays. |
| No local fee table | Use Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, text effective until December 31, 2027, as the statutory floor and confirm the current Chickasaw County amount before filing. |
| No local probate form | The county publishes no probate form of its own. Use the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and attorney-prepared pleadings. |
| No filing boundary stated | No Mississippi statute or Chickasaw County page states which parts of the county file in Houston rather than Okolona. The chancery clerk is the practical starting point. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Why it matters in Chickasaw County |
|---|---|---|
| June 19, 2023 and June 30, 2025 | All Mississippi chancery courts were implemented in MEC by June 19, 2023, and statewide electronic filing completion was announced June 30, 2025. | Attorneys use Mississippi Electronic Courts for later filings, but an estate still opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| July 1, 2020 | The small estate affidavit ceiling became $75,000 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and muniment of title was rewritten under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. | Families should not rely on older forms or older dollar figures when deciding whether a court filing is needed. |
| April 18, 2024 | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended. | UCCR 6.02 controls the attorney requirement for a fiduciary, and UCCR 9.01 and 9.03 affect filing costs and original wills. |
| January 1, 2026 | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services began using separate intake hotlines: 1-800-898-8731 and 1-800-519-2915. | Chickasaw County is not named on either provider's office list, so families should use mslegalservices.org and both intake numbers to check eligibility. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Chickasaw County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed. If the home passes outside the estate and the remaining probate personal property is $75,000 or less after 30 days, the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 may be presented to the holder with no court filing. If a will devises the home and debts are paid, counsel may use muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35, and the house itself does not count against the ceiling. | Sunset identifies accounts, organizes title and asset information, and helps decide what to give the Mississippi attorney or the holder of personal property. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, the § 91-7-322 affidavit is handed to the bank, employer, or other holder, not filed in Houston or Okolona. If letters are needed, the child must retain a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02, and the attorney files on paper at the courthouse counter the chancery clerk directs. | Sunset finds financial accounts, prepares an organized estate settlement summary, and connects the family with a Mississippi probate attorney when a full estate is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The § 91-7-322 affidavit does not transfer the house. If there is a will and all known debts are paid, the route may be muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Without that fit, expect full administration in the Chickasaw County Chancery Court. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299, and fees may not be based on the value of real property under UCCR 6.12(B). | Sunset gathers account and property information, helps build the attorney packet, and keeps the estate settlement tasks organized across Houston, Okolona, and remote family members. |
Self-help resources
Chickasaw County does not publish a separate probate help office. Use the chancery clerk for filing logistics, the Mississippi Judiciary for statewide chancery materials, MEC and PAMEC for case access, and mslegalservices.org to check legal aid eligibility. The clerk can explain office procedures but cannot give legal advice.
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk, Houston | First Judicial District filing counter for chancery court matters. Call for filing logistics, current cost deposit, and which courthouse counter to use. | 1 Pinson Square, Houston, MS 38851. Phone (662) 456-2513. Fax (662) 456-5295. |
| Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk, Okolona | Second Judicial District filing counter for chancery court matters. Call before filing or mailing papers. | 234 West Main St, Okolona, MS 38860. Phone (662) 447-2092. Fax (662) 447-5024. |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court page | Lists the twenty chancery court districts and links the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Rules for fiduciary matters, including the attorney requirement in UCCR 6.02, cost deposits in UCCR 9.01, and original wills in UCCR 9.03. | Available through Mississippi Judiciary rules materials. |
| Mississippi Electronic Courts and PAMEC | Attorneys file through MEC. A self-represented party may hold read-only PAMEC access. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at either chancery clerk counter during business hours. | https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. Helpdesk: [email protected] or 601-576-4650. |
| mslegalservices.org | Statewide public legal information site with a directory searchable by service area. Use it because Chickasaw County is not named on either provider's office page. | https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Check eligibility for civil legal help. The provider does not list Chickasaw County on the office pages reviewed, so use the directory and hotline rather than assuming coverage. | 1-800-898-8731. Call center hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 to 3:30. |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services | Check eligibility for civil legal help. The provider does not list Chickasaw County on the office pages reviewed, so use the directory and hotline rather than assuming coverage. | 1-800-519-2915. |
When to hire an attorney
In a Mississippi full estate, retaining counsel is a rule, not just a preference: UCCR 6.02(A) requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney or firm of attorneys during the entire term of appointment, and the chancellor fixes the fee. The practical exception for families is the $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, which is not a court filing and does not appoint a fiduciary. A family that cannot afford counsel should check mslegalservices.org, North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731, and Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915, but legal aid may not take estate matters. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney, which in Mississippi is the step the rules require for a full estate.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, helps identify accounts that may be inside or outside probate, and gives the family a clearer starting point for Chickasaw County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the death certificate, will information, asset list, debt list, family information, and courthouse details so the Mississippi attorney can prepare the petition and file it with the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires an executor or administrator to retain an attorney unless the fiduciary is a Mississippi-licensed lawyer, Sunset helps families connect with a vetted Mississippi probate attorney for the full estate process.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset is paid by partners, not grieving families, and helps keep the estate settlement organized whether the next step is a § 91-7-322 affidavit, muniment of title, or a full Chickasaw County chancery filing.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Chickasaw County?
File with the Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk, not with any other county office. Chickasaw County has two judicial districts and two courthouse counters: Houston at 1 Pinson Square and Okolona at 234 West Main St. Because no local filing boundary is published, call the clerk before filing to confirm which counter should take the papers. Probate is in the chancery court for matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Which courthouse should I use, Houston or Okolona?
Call first. The county lists both courthouses as providing the same services, but no statute or Chickasaw County page states which estate filings belong in Houston rather than Okolona. Houston is (662) 456-2513 and Okolona is (662) 447-2092. The county has two judicial districts, but venue for a will is tied to the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1.
Does Chickasaw County have electronic estate filing for families?
Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, and MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. A self-represented party may hold read-only PAMEC access, but estate cases open with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in Chickasaw County?
Yes, if the statewide requirements fit. After 30 days, a successor may use the small estate affidavit for personal property when the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). The affidavit is presented to the holder of the property, such as a bank or employer, and is not filed at the Houston or Okolona courthouse.
Does Chickasaw County publish probate forms?
Chickasaw County publishes no probate form of its own. The statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and Uniform Chancery Court Rules still matter, and in a full estate the petition is prepared by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02.
What is the filing fee in Chickasaw County?
Chickasaw County does not publish a local estate total. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, accounts for a $140.00 floor for opening an estate, made up of $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 in statutory assessments. Call Houston or Okolona before filing to confirm the current amount.
Can I appear remotely for a Chickasaw County estate hearing?
Ask the chancery clerk before relying on any remote appearance. Remote appearance is set by the chancellor and 14th Chancery Court District practice (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and the annual district term order is posted through the chancery clerk under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2).
Can I look up a Chickasaw County estate case online?
MEC and PAMEC are the case access tools at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. Remote viewing requires a registered PAMEC account and fees may apply. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at either Chickasaw County chancery clerk counter during business hours.
Do I have to travel to Chickasaw County?
It depends on the route. A qualifying $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is presented to the holder of personal property and does not require a court filing. If letters testamentary or letters of administration are needed, the chancery court or chancery clerk in vacation may grant letters under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141, subject to court approval under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147, and the Mississippi attorney can help manage what must be filed or attended in person.
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.