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Grenada County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Grenada County Chancery Court (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159) |
| Probate filings go to | Grenada County Chancery Clerk, 59 Green Street, Grenada, MS. Phone: (662) 226-1821. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1208, Grenada, MS 38902. |
| Fax | (662) 227-2860. |
| Hours | Call (662) 226-1821 before visiting to confirm current counter hours, lunch closures, and filing cutoffs. |
| Filing fee | Grenada County does not list a county estate filing total here. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, currently effective through December 31, 2027, sets the chancery clerk's opening fee for an estate of deceased at $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 in statutory assessments, for a $140.00 statutory floor. Confirm the current deposit with the chancery clerk before filing. |
| Attorney required | Yes for a full estate. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires a fiduciary, including an executor or administrator, to retain an attorney unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. The $75,000 small estate affidavit effective July 1, 2020 (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322) needs no court filing and no attorney. |
| Local forms | Use the statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and ask the Grenada County Chancery Clerk whether any Grenada County local estate materials are required. Mississippi uses attorney-drafted petitions rather than a fill-in estate packet. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through MEC after the case is opened. 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. MEC and PAMEC information: https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Case search | PAMEC remote access requires a registered account. Public free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, with copy charges governed by Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. MEC hub: https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the chancery clerk and the assigned chancellor's staff before planning travel. Remote participation depends on the chancellor and district practice, and the annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). |
| Website | Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Courts page: https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open an estate settlement in Grenada County, make a working list of the decedent's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, taxes, and any beneficiary designations. The right path depends on whether the estate needs court authority, whether the decedent left a will, and whether a bank or other holder will accept a small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help you find accounts before the attorney prepares the Grenada County filing. That gives the Mississippi-licensed attorney a clearer picture of what must go through the Grenada County Chancery Court and what may pass outside court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Grenada County estate cases are filed with the Grenada County Chancery Clerk in Grenada. 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; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63).
For a will, venue is the chancery court of the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence; if there was no fixed place of residence and land is devised, the filing is in the county where the land, or part of it, is located (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, the venue ladder is different: fixed place of residence, then land, then the county where the person died (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63).
Grenada County is in Mississippi's 3rd Chancery Court District with DeSoto, Montgomery, Panola, Tate and Yalobusha counties. That district grouping is how chancellors are assigned; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1) provides that chancery court is held in each county, so a Grenada County estate settlement is filed at the Grenada County courthouse.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, account information, deeds, vehicle titles, debts, and tax documents. The original will must go to the chancery clerk and remains in the clerk's custody under UCCR 9.03.
- Choose the path with counsel. If 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less excluding liens and encumbrances, the small estate affidavit effective July 1, 2020 may be presented to the holder of personal property and is not filed with the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). If there is a will devising Mississippi real property, all known debts are paid, and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate fits within the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 amount, the attorney may consider muniment of title (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). Otherwise, use full administration.
- Retain a Mississippi attorney unless the executor or administrator is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain an attorney for the entire term of the 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 that fiduciary (UCCR 6.14; UCCR 6.02).
- File the petition on paper at the Grenada County Chancery Clerk's counter with the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the court cost deposit. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, currently effective through December 31, 2027, sets an $85.00 estate opening fee plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 in statutory assessments, for a $140.00 statutory floor; UCCR 9.01 allows the clerk to require a deposit when the petition is filed.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation, meaning between court terms, may take proof of the will, admit it in common form, and grant letters testamentary or letters of administration (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141). Any act by the clerk is subject to the court's approval or disapproval and is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- Address bond if required. Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41 requires the executor's oath and a bond in an amount approved by the court or clerk, but the attorney should advise on what the court requires in the particular estate.
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice to identified creditors, 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 by collecting assets, paying allowed claims and taxes, handling any required accounting, distributing property under court authority, and obtaining the final decree and discharge through the attorney.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Grenada County
Mississippi uses a statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules. The estate petition itself is typically drafted by the Mississippi attorney required by UCCR 6.02 for a fiduciary in a full estate.
For Grenada County, ask the Grenada County Chancery Clerk whether the office wants any local cover material, extra copies, self-addressed envelopes, or a particular payee line for the court cost deposit. The clerk's mailing address is P.O. Box 1208, Grenada, MS 38902, and the phone number is (662) 226-1821.
The small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is different from a court petition: after 30 days, it is presented to the bank, employer, transfer agent, or other holder of personal property, not filed with the chancery clerk.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means in Grenada County |
|---|---|
| MEC completion | Mississippi Electronic Courts completed statewide on June 30, 2025, and all chancery courts have been in MEC since June 19, 2023. Grenada County attorneys use MEC after the estate is opened, and MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended effective April 18, 2024. UCCR 6.02 continues to require a fiduciary in a full estate to retain an attorney unless the fiduciary is a Mississippi-licensed lawyer. |
| Small estate and muniment of title | The small estate affidavit amount became $75,000 effective July 1, 2020 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and the muniment of title procedure was rewritten effective July 1, 2020 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. |
| Legal services hotlines | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services moved to separate intake hotlines on January 1, 2026. For Grenada County, North Mississippi Rural Legal Services is listed through the Oxford office, hotline 1-800-898-8731; Mississippi Center for Legal Services uses 1-800-519-2915. Start with mslegalservices.org for the service-area directory. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Grenada County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First determine whether the home passes outside the estate. If the remaining probate estate is personal property of $75,000 or less, effective July 1, 2020, and 30 days have passed, the spouse may be able to use the small estate affidavit with the holder rather than a court filing (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, the attorney may consider muniment of title (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). | Sunset helps find accounts, flag assets that may pass outside court, and organize the estate settlement before counsel prepares any Grenada County filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the whole probate estate is personal property of $75,000 or less, effective July 1, 2020, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, the child may present a small estate affidavit to the bank or other holder without opening a Grenada County case (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). If letters are needed, a fiduciary must retain a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02. | Sunset gathers institution information and generates an organized packet so the Mississippi attorney can decide whether a filing is needed and whether travel can be avoided. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 cannot transfer the house. If there is a will and all known debts are paid, muniment of title may be considered under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35; otherwise a full Grenada County administration is likely. The chancellor fixes fiduciary and attorney compensation under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299, and UCCR 6.12(B) says fees may not be based on the value of real property. | Sunset helps identify assets and debts, prepare the estate settlement file, and connect the family with a Mississippi probate attorney for the required court process. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Grenada County Chancery Clerk | Filing counter for Grenada County estate cases, local filing questions, paper opening filings, and access to public case viewing at the clerk's office during regular business hours. | 59 Green Street, Grenada, MS. Mailing: P.O. Box 1208, Grenada, MS 38902. Phone: (662) 226-1821. Fax: (662) 227-2860. |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Income-based civil legal aid for northern Mississippi. Grenada County is listed with the Oxford office. It may not take estate administration matters, so use it to check eligibility and referrals rather than assuming representation. | 1-800-898-8731. Directory and intake information: mslegalservices.org. |
| NMRLS Heirs' Property Program | Information and possible help for heirs' property issues involving land or real estate with unclear family title. It should not be treated as a promise that NMRLS will handle a probate filing. | Start through North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731 and mslegalservices.org. |
| Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Courts page | Statewide chancery court information, including the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet link and chancery court district information. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Rules for fiduciary matters, sworn filings, attorney retention, accountings, and original wills in chancery court. | Use the rules link from the Mississippi Judiciary website. |
| MEC and PAMEC | MEC is the attorney filing system. PAMEC is read-only public access for registered users, and free public viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. | https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php |
When to hire an attorney
In a full Mississippi estate, this is a rule, not a preference: Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02(A) requires every fiduciary, including an executor or administrator, to retain an attorney for the entire term of the appointment unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi, and the chancellor fixes the attorney's fee. The $75,000 small estate affidavit effective July 1, 2020 (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322) is the important exception because it is not a court filing and needs no attorney. A family that cannot afford counsel should check North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731 and mslegalservices.org, understanding that legal aid may not take estate administration matters. Sunset connects you to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families locate accounts, insurance, and other assets before a Grenada County estate settlement begins.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what the family knows into an organized probate packet for the Mississippi attorney, including asset details, family information, and documents the attorney can use to prepare the chancery court filing.
Find a local probate attorney. Mississippi requires a fiduciary in a full estate to retain counsel under UCCR 6.02, and Sunset helps connect families with a vetted attorney who can file in Grenada County Chancery Court.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools at no cost while they decide whether the small estate affidavit, muniment of title, or a full Grenada County administration is the right path.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Grenada County?
File a Grenada County estate case with the Grenada County Chancery Clerk at 59 Green Street in Grenada. Probate belongs in the chancery court in Mississippi (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and the venue rules use the decedent's fixed place of residence for a will under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1 and a separate ladder for an intestate estate under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63.
What is the Grenada County Chancery Clerk's phone number?
The phone number listed for the Grenada County Chancery Clerk is (662) 226-1821. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1208, Grenada, MS 38902, and the fax number is (662) 227-2860.
Can I e-file a Grenada County estate case myself?
No. Attorneys file through MEC after the case is opened, but a self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access and may not file electronically. Every estate case is opened with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. MEC and PAMEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
Does Grenada County have local probate forms?
Use the statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and ask the Grenada County Chancery Clerk whether the office wants any local materials with the attorney-drafted petition. Mississippi uses the Uniform Chancery Court Rules for required content, and UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary in a full estate to retain an attorney.
How much is the filing fee for probate in Grenada County?
Confirm the current deposit with the Grenada County Chancery Clerk before filing. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, currently effective through December 31, 2027, sets the chancery clerk's opening fee for an estate of deceased at $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 in statutory assessments, for a $140.00 statutory floor, and county totals can include additional deposits or actual service and publication charges.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in Grenada County?
Yes, if the statewide requirements fit. After 30 days, a successor may present a small estate affidavit to the bank, employer, transfer agent, or other holder of personal property if the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, effective July 1, 2020, excluding liens and encumbrances, and no personal representative has been appointed or is pending (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). The affidavit is not filed with the chancery clerk.
Can a will be admitted and letters granted by the Grenada County Chancery Clerk?
Mississippi allows the chancery clerk, in term time or in vacation, to take proof of wills, admit wills to probate in common form, and grant letters testamentary or letters of administration (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141). The clerk's act is subject to the court's approval or disapproval and is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
Can I attend a Grenada County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Grenada County Chancery Clerk and the attorney before planning travel. Remote participation depends on the chancellor and district practice, and the annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2).
How do I look up a Grenada County estate case?
Use MEC and PAMEC through https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. PAMEC remote access requires a registered account, while public free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, with copy charges under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9.
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.