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Coahoma County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Coahoma County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Coahoma County Chancery Court (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Coahoma County Chancery Clerk, 115 1st Street, Clarksdale, MS 38614. Phone: (662) 624-3000. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 98, Clarksdale, MS 38614. |
| Fax | (662) 624-3040. |
| [email protected]. | |
| Hours | The Coahoma County Chancery Clerk page does not list chancery filing hours. Call (662) 624-3000 before traveling to confirm current counter hours and any filing cutoff. |
| Website | Coahoma County Chancery Clerk. |
| Filing fee | The Coahoma County page does not publish a separate estate total. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, sets the chancery clerk fee for opening an estate at $85.00, plus $10.00 to the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund, $40.00 to the Judicial System Operation Fund and $5.00 to the Civil Legal Assistance Fund. Confirm the current total with the chancery clerk. |
| Attorney required | Yes for a full estate. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires an executor or administrator, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney for the full fiduciary appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is not a court filing and needs no attorney. |
| Local forms | The Mississippi Judiciary publishes a statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet. The Coahoma County Chancery Clerk page does not publish local probate, estate or small estate affidavit forms; the small estate affidavit route is governed by Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically, and every estate case is opened with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. See courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Case search | PAMEC is the public access side of MEC. Remote access requires a registered PAMEC account, and free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, subject to copy fees under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. Start at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk how the chancellor sets a specific hearing. In multi-county chancery court districts, the annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Coahoma County, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, debts, real estate, vehicles, life insurance, retirement plans and jointly owned property. That asset picture determines whether the estate settlement can use a non-court affidavit, a muniment of title petition or a full chancery estate.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help identify accounts before an attorney drafts the petition or before a family presents a Mississippi small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. Starting with the assets also helps avoid paying for a larger estate settlement path than the family needs.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Coahoma County is filed at the Coahoma County Courthouse in Clarksdale with the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk. Coahoma County sits in Mississippi's 7th Chancery Court District with Bolivar, Leflore, Quitman, Tallahatchie and Tunica counties; that district is how chancellors are assigned, while the estate is filed at this county's own courthouse (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1)).
For a will, Mississippi venue is the chancery court of the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence, or, if there was no fixed place of residence and land is devised, where the land or part of it is located (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, the ladder differs: fixed place of residence first, then land, then the county where the intestate died if there was no fixed place of residence and no land (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information and debt information. The original will must be delivered physically because original wills stay in the clerk's custody unless the chancellor orders otherwise (UCCR 9.03; Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
- Choose the route. If the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed since death, the successor may present a small estate affidavit to the holder of personal property without a court filing under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020. If the decedent left a will devising Mississippi real property, all known debts are paid and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate is within the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 sum, ask counsel whether muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 fits. Otherwise, use full administration.
- For a full estate, retain an attorney unless the executor or administrator is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires the fiduciary to have counsel during the entire appointment.
- The attorney prepares the petition. A petition to probate a will must attach a copy of the will as an exhibit, and pleadings, accounts, inventories and reports filed by a fiduciary must be personally signed and sworn by the fiduciary (UCCR 6.15; UCCR 6.14; UCCR 6.02).
- File the paper petition at the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk's counter in Clarksdale with the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and the court cost deposit. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, sets the estate filing fee components at $85.00, $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00, and UCCR 9.01 allows the clerk to require the deposit with the filing.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation, meaning between terms of court, subject to court approval, admits the will to probate and grants letters testamentary or letters of administration. The clerk's acts are not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-1, 91-7-63, 9-5-141, 9-5-147; Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
- Post bond if required. Mississippi law requires the executor's oath and a bond approved by the court or clerk, but the court file controls what is required in a particular estate (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41).
- Handle creditor notice in the required order. The executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice to those identified, files the diligent-search affidavit, and only then publishes 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 the first publication are barred under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151.
- Administer and close the estate. The fiduciary gathers assets, pays allowed claims and expenses, handles any required tax filings, accounts to the chancery court and seeks a final decree of distribution and discharge. Mississippi does not impose an estate tax on deaths on or after January 1, 2005, and Mississippi has no inheritance tax.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Coahoma County
The Mississippi Judiciary provides a statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet, and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules set filing requirements for fiduciary matters. Mississippi does not provide a statewide probate form packet for a full estate; the petition is drafted by the attorney required under Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02.
The Coahoma County Chancery Clerk page does not publish local probate, estate or small estate affidavit forms. For a full estate, file the attorney-prepared paper petition with the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk in Clarksdale. For the $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 controls the affidavit that is presented to the holder of personal property.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means for Coahoma County |
|---|---|
| MEC completion | Mississippi announced on June 30, 2025 that electronic filing was completed statewide. All chancery courts had been implemented in MEC as of June 19, 2023, so Coahoma County chancery matters are in MEC, with public access through PAMEC at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Small estate affidavit and muniment of title update | Effective July 1, 2020, the small estate affidavit amount became $75,000 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and the muniment of title procedure was rewritten in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules update | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended effective April 18, 2024, including the fiduciary attorney rule in UCCR 6.02. |
| Legal aid intake update | As of January 1, 2026, North Mississippi Rural Legal Services uses 1-800-898-8731 and Mississippi Center for Legal Services uses 1-800-519-2915. Coahoma County is served by North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, and mslegalservices.org remains the statewide legal aid directory. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Coahoma County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First determine how title to the home is held. 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 after 30 days under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020. If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, counsel may consider muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and debts so the estate settlement starts on the correct path before a Coahoma County filing is prepared. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If 30 days have passed and the whole probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 may allow the successor to present the affidavit directly to the bank or other holder of personal property. If letters are needed, the child must retain a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02 and should ask the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk about hearing practice. | Sunset helps collect asset information remotely, generate an organized estate settlement packet and connect the family with a Mississippi probate attorney if letters are needed. |
| 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 all known debts are paid, counsel may evaluate muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35; otherwise, a full Coahoma County chancery estate is usually needed. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees, and fees may not be based on the value of real property (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299; UCCR 6.12(B); Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). | Sunset helps organize the real estate, account search, debts and family information so the attorney can move faster toward sale authority and closing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Coahoma County |
|---|---|
| Coahoma County Chancery Clerk | Call (662) 624-3000 for current filing hours, the current estate cost deposit, paper filing instructions and questions about hearing scheduling. The office is at 115 1st Street, Clarksdale, MS 38614, with mailing address P.O. Box 98, Clarksdale, MS 38614. |
| Coahoma County Chancery Clerk website | Provides the clerk's contact information and describes chancery filings, including estates, along with the clerk's land-records functions. |
| Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Court page | Provides statewide chancery court information and links to the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet used with Mississippi chancery filings. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Sets Mississippi fiduciary filing rules, including the UCCR 6.02 requirement that an executor or administrator retain an attorney unless licensed in Mississippi. |
| MEC and PAMEC | Use the MEC hub for public access information. Remote PAMEC access requires registration, and free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. |
| mslegalservices.org | The statewide legal aid information site includes a directory by service area. Coahoma County is in the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services service area. |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Coahoma County is served by North Mississippi Rural Legal Services through its Clarksdale office presence. Intake hotline: 1-800-898-8731. It is a place to check eligibility, but it may not take estate administration matters. |
| NMRLS Heirs' Property Program | May be relevant when inherited land has unclear title. It should not be treated as a promise of probate representation. |
When to hire an attorney
For a full Coahoma County estate, Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02(A) requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney or law firm for representation, advice and assistance during the entire appointment. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees, and a family that cannot afford counsel should check eligibility with North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731 through mslegalservices.org, understanding that legal aid may not take estate administration matters. The counterweight is the $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, which is not a court filing and needs no attorney. Sunset connects families to 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 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before the Coahoma County estate settlement path is chosen.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family information into an organized packet for the Mississippi attorney, including the asset list, family details and documents needed to start the chancery filing or evaluate a non-court affidavit.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires an executor or administrator to retain counsel for a full Mississippi estate, Sunset helps connect families with a vetted probate attorney who can file in the Coahoma County Chancery Court (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement support is free to families. If an attorney is needed, the attorney sets and explains the engagement terms directly.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Coahoma County?
File a Coahoma County estate at the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk's office, 115 1st Street, Clarksdale, MS 38614. Probate is in the Coahoma County Chancery Court, not in Mississippi circuit court (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1).
What phone number should I call for a Coahoma County estate filing?
Call the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk at (662) 624-3000. The clerk's mailing address is P.O. Box 98, Clarksdale, MS 38614, and the fax number is (662) 624-3040.
Can I file a Coahoma County probate case electronically?
Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC, but every estate begins with a conventional paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically. See courts.ms.gov/mec.
Does Coahoma County publish local probate forms?
The Coahoma County Chancery Clerk page does not publish local probate, estate or small estate affidavit forms. Mississippi provides a statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet, and the small estate affidavit route is governed by Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Coahoma County?
The Coahoma County page does not list a separate estate total. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, sets the statutory filing components at $85.00, $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00, and the clerk may require the court cost deposit when the petition is filed. Call the chancery clerk for the current total before filing.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Coahoma County?
Yes for a full estate unless the executor or administrator is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. UCCR 6.02 requires the fiduciary to retain an attorney during the appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is different because it is presented to the holder of personal property and is not a court filing.
Can I look up a Coahoma County chancery estate case online?
PAMEC provides read-only public access through MEC, and remote access requires a registered account. The public also has free viewing access at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, with copy fees governed by Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. Start at courts.ms.gov/mec.
Will I have to travel to Clarksdale for a hearing?
Ask the Coahoma County Chancery Clerk and your attorney how the chancellor handles the particular hearing. Remote appearance practice is set by the chancellor and district practice, and the annual term order for a multi-county chancery court district is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2) (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
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.