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Copiah County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Copiah County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Copiah County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts have jurisdiction over matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Copiah County Chancery Clerk, 122 S Lowe Street, Hazlehurst, MS 39083. Call 601-894-3021 and say the question is about an estate filing. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 507, Hazlehurst, MS 39083. |
| Phone | 601-894-3021. |
| [email protected]. | |
| Hours | The county website does not list chancery clerk counter hours. Call 601-894-3021 before going to Hazlehurst, especially near a filing deadline. |
| Chancery court district | Mississippi's 15th Chancery Court District, Copiah and Lincoln. The district assigns chancellors, but a Copiah County estate is filed in Hazlehurst at this county's own chancery clerk counter (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1)). |
| Filing fee | No Copiah County estate fee total is posted locally. The current statutory text effective until December 31, 2027 sets a floor of $140.00 for opening an estate: $85.00 for an estate of deceased, plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 statutory assessments (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9). Confirm the current deposit with the chancery clerk. |
| 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 full appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, is a separate personal-property route that is presented to the holder and needs no court filing (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC, after the case begins. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically, and every estate starts with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Case search | MEC and PAMEC provide remote read-only access for registered users, with fees set by the system. Free electronic viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, subject to copy charges. Start at courts.ms.gov/mec. Copiah County also maintains an online portal for land records and wills of record at chancery.copiahcountyms.gov. |
| Local forms | No Copiah County local estate packet or small estate affidavit form is posted on the county chancery clerk page. Use the statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and attorney-drafted pleadings for a court estate. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Copiah County Chancery Clerk whether the chancellor will allow a phone or video appearance in a particular matter. The 15th Chancery Court District's annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). |
| Website | Copiah County Chancery Clerk. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before anyone files in Hazlehurst, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, land, vehicles, debts, tax items and beneficiary designations. That first inventory usually decides whether estate settlement can use the personal-property affidavit, a muniment of title petition, or a full administration.
Sunset's asset discovery can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps the family avoid opening the wrong type of case or missing an account that changes the plan. Bring that asset picture to the Mississippi attorney who will prepare any court filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Copiah County estate matters are filed with the Copiah County Chancery Clerk at 122 S Lowe Street in Hazlehurst. Copiah County is not a two judicial districts county, so the local filing counter is the Hazlehurst chancery clerk counter.
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 the will devises land, the county where the land or part of it is located (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, the ladder differs: the county of the fixed place of residence, then the county where the intestate owned land, then the county where the intestate died (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63). Mississippi circuit courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are granted in the chancery court, which has jurisdiction over matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Copiah County sits in Mississippi's 15th Chancery Court District with Lincoln County. That district is how chancellors are assigned, not a reason to file across county lines; chancery court is held in each county (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1)).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, deeds, account statements, vehicle titles, debts and tax documents before choosing a route.
- Choose the route. If the whole probate estate is $75,000 or less in personal property, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, the small estate affidavit is presented to the bank, employer or other holder rather than filed in Hazlehurst (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020). 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, ask counsel whether muniment of title is available (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). Otherwise plan on full administration.
- Retain an attorney for a court estate. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney during the full 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 (UCCR 6.15, UCCR 6.14).
- File on paper with the Copiah County Chancery Clerk at 122 S Lowe Street in Hazlehurst, using the chancery clerk cover sheet and paying the court cost deposit required by UCCR 9.01 and Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. The original will stays with the clerk under UCCR 9.03.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation subject to court approval, admits a will in common form and grants letters testamentary or letters of administration (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-1, 91-7-63, 9-5-141, 9-5-147). If bond is required, the oath and bond are handled before authority is used (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41).
- After appointment, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice to known creditors, files the diligent-search affidavit, and 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 (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151).
- With counsel, the personal representative collects assets, pays allowed debts and taxes, handles required accountings, seeks approval for compensation and fees, distributes property under the will or law, and obtains a final decree of distribution and discharge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Copiah County
The Mississippi Judiciary provides a statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, which set required content for estate pleadings and fiduciary filings. Mississippi does not provide a fill-in estate packet for opening a full court administration; the petition is drafted by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02.
Copiah County does not post a local estate packet or local small estate affidavit form on its chancery clerk page. The county page points readers to the office's online portal for land records and wills of record, which is a records-lookup tool and not a way to open an estate case.
Local nuance
Copiah County-specific considerations
The important local address issue is that Copiah County's Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk are in different places in Hazlehurst. Estate filings go to the Copiah County Chancery Clerk at 122 S Lowe Street, not to the 100 Caldwell Drive address used by the Circuit Clerk. Mississippi circuit courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are granted in the chancery court (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-1, 91-7-63).
Copiah County also maintains a local online portal for land records and wills of record at chancery.copiahcountyms.gov. Treat that as a records-lookup tool. It is separate from MEC and PAMEC, and it is not an estate filing system. MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means in Copiah County |
|---|---|
| MEC completed statewide | Mississippi announced statewide electronic filing completion on June 30, 2025. All chancery courts had been implemented in MEC as of June 19, 2023, but estates still begin with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter, and MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Small estate and muniment changes | The small estate affidavit figure rose to $75,000 effective July 1, 2020, and the muniment of title statute was rewritten in the same 2020 act (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-322, 91-5-35). |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules update | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended effective April 18, 2024, including rules that govern fiduciary matters and the attorney requirement in UCCR 6.02. |
| Legal aid intake numbers changed | NMRLS and MCLSC use separate intake hotlines as of January 1, 2026. Copiah County is listed with Mississippi Center for Legal Services, whose intake number is 1-800-519-2915; the directory is available through mslegalservices.org. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Copiah 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 estate is $75,000 or less in personal property, excluding liens and encumbrances, the spouse may be able to present a small estate affidavit after 30 days without filing at the Hazlehurst chancery clerk counter (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; the house itself does not count against the § 91-7-322 sum (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). | Sunset helps identify accounts, deed issues and beneficiary transfers so the spouse can avoid opening a full estate when a simpler estate settlement route fits. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less in personal property, excluding liens and encumbrances, the affidavit is presented to the holder and is not filed with a court (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020). If letters are needed, the child must retain a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02 and the paper filing goes to the Copiah County Chancery Clerk at 122 S Lowe Street. | Sunset can organize the account list, generate a probate packet for attorney review, and help the family decide whether a Hazlehurst filing is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The § 91-7-322 affidavit cannot transfer the house. If there is a will and all known debts are paid, counsel may consider muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, a full administration is filed with the Copiah County Chancery Clerk. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees, and those 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 find the assets, prepare the family for the attorney conversation, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the required court process. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Copiah County Chancery Clerk | Use the chancery clerk page for the Hazlehurst filing address, phone number, email address and the county's land-records and wills portal. Call 601-894-3021 before visiting because counter hours are not listed on the county website. |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services | Copiah County is listed with the MCLSC Jackson office. Intake is 1-800-519-2915. Check eligibility through mslegalservices.org, and understand that estate administration may not be a covered service. |
| mslegalservices.org | The statewide public legal-information site maintained by Mississippi's two civil legal aid providers includes a legal-topic library, online forms and a directory searchable by service area. |
| Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Court page | Use the Judiciary's chancery court page for statewide chancery court information and the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | The rules explain fiduciary requirements, sworn filings, accounts, original wills and the attorney requirement in UCCR 6.02. |
| MEC and PAMEC | Start at courts.ms.gov/mec. Attorneys use MEC for electronic filing after the estate is opened on paper. PAMEC gives registered users remote read-only access, and free electronic viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. |
When to hire an attorney
Mississippi makes counsel part of the court estate process. 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, and the chancellor fixes the fee. The counterweight is the $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, which is not a court filing and is presented to the holder of personal property under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. A Copiah County family that cannot afford counsel should check eligibility with Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915 through mslegalservices.org. 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 financial institutions and helps families build the asset list that drives estate settlement decisions in Copiah County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset details and court-ready materials so the Mississippi attorney can prepare the petition, cover sheet and supporting filings for the Copiah County Chancery Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain counsel for a full estate, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted attorney who handles Mississippi chancery estate work.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the path, gather documents and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Copiah County?
File a Copiah County court estate with the Copiah County Chancery Clerk at 122 S Lowe Street in Hazlehurst. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). Do not use the Circuit Clerk's 100 Caldwell Drive address for an estate filing.
Is Copiah County in the 15th Chancery Court District?
Yes. Copiah County is in Mississippi's 15th Chancery Court District with Lincoln County. The district assigns chancellors, but a Copiah County estate is still filed in Hazlehurst at this county's own chancery clerk counter (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1)).
Can I file a Copiah County estate online?
A court estate starts with a paper filing at the Copiah County Chancery Clerk's counter. Attorneys use MEC after the case begins, while a self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access and may not file electronically. MEC and PAMEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec.
What is the filing fee for probate in Copiah County?
No Copiah County local estate total is posted on the county chancery clerk page. The current statutory text effective until December 31, 2027 sets a $140.00 floor: $85.00 for opening an estate of deceased, plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 statutory assessments (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9). Call the chancery clerk to confirm the current deposit before filing.
Does Copiah County have local probate forms?
No local estate packet or Copiah County small estate affidavit form is posted on the county chancery clerk page. The court estate filing uses the statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and attorney-drafted pleadings. For a will, the petition must attach a copy of the will as an exhibit under UCCR 6.15.
Do I need an attorney for a Copiah County estate?
For a full estate, yes unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires the fiduciary to retain an attorney for the full appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, is different because it is presented to the holder of personal property and is not filed in court (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322).
Can I attend a Copiah County chancery hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Copiah County Chancery Clerk and your attorney. Remote attendance depends on the chancellor and the 15th Chancery Court District's practice, and the district's annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). Mississippi chancery courts have probate jurisdiction under Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159.
How do I look up Copiah County estate filings?
Use MEC and PAMEC at courts.ms.gov/mec for remote read-only access with a registered account. Free electronic viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. Copiah County also maintains a separate portal for land records and wills of record at chancery.copiahcountyms.gov.
Do I have to travel to Hazlehurst for a small estate?
If the case fits the $75,000 personal-property affidavit and 30 days have passed, the affidavit is presented to the bank, employer or other holder rather than filed with the chancery clerk (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020). If letters testamentary or letters of administration are needed, the filing is a court estate with the Copiah County Chancery Clerk, and the fiduciary must retain an attorney under UCCR 6.02 (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 9-5-141, 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.