Back to Mississippi
Humphreys County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Humphreys County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Humphreys County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Humphreys County Chancery Clerk, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038. |
| Phone | (662) 247-1740. |
| Fax | (662) 247-0101, published as the county's general office fax. Do not assume probate papers may be filed by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. No midday closure or filing cutoff is published for estate filings. |
| Mailing | Call the chancery clerk before mailing an original will, petition, or court cost deposit. Opening papers are presented at the chancery clerk counter. |
| Filing fee | Humphreys County does not publish a county estate total on its county site. The version of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027 sets a $140.00 statutory floor for opening an estate, made up of the $85.00 clerk fee plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 statutory assessments. Confirm the current total with the chancery clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | Humphreys County does not publish a county probate packet. Use the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet linked from the Mississippi Judiciary's chancery court page, and expect the petition to be drafted by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through MEC after the case is opened. A person without counsel may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically unless that person is a Mississippi attorney. Every estate case is opened with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. See https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Case search | MEC and PAMEC are the Mississippi court access systems. Remote access requires a registered PAMEC account, and free electronic viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. See https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the chancery clerk or the assigned attorney how the chancellor handles phone or video requests. The 9th Chancery Court District's annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). |
| 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 the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. The $75,000 small estate affidavit route, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is not a court filing. |
| Website | https://humphreyscountyms.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything in Humphreys County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, accounts, vehicles, and possible beneficiary designations. The right estate settlement path depends on what must pass through the chancery court and what can be handled outside court.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts before an attorney drafts the petition or before a family uses a non-court affidavit route. Starting with the asset picture also helps you ask the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk and the attorney more precise questions.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Humphreys County estate at the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk's counter in Belzoni. Mississippi law provides that chancery court is held in every county, and Humphreys County is in the 9th Chancery Court District, with Humphreys, Issaquena, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, and Washington counties grouped for chancellor assignment (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1); Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
For a will, the venue rule is 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 venue ladder differs and looks first to the county where the decedent had a fixed place of residence, then to land ownership, and then to the county of death (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.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, account information, debts, vehicle titles, deeds, and beneficiary information before choosing an estate settlement path.
- Decide whether a court case is needed. A $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, may be presented to the holder of personal property after 30 days if the entire probate estate is within the statutory amount excluding liens and encumbrances and no personal representative has been appointed (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). A muniment of title petition may be available when there is a will, Mississippi real property, debts are paid, and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate is within the sum cross-referenced in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, use full administration.
- For full administration, retain an attorney. 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 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 the fiduciary must be personally signed and sworn (UCCR 6.15; UCCR 6.14).
- File the paper petition at the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk's counter in Belzoni with the chancery clerk cover sheet and the court cost deposit required by UCCR 9.01 and Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, under the version effective until December 31, 2027. The original will stays in the clerk's custody unless the chancellor orders otherwise (UCCR 9.03).
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation subject to court approval, admits the will in common form and grants letters testamentary, or grants letters of administration when there is no will (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- Handle any bond requirement ordered by the court or clerk. Mississippi law states that the executor's bond is approved by the court or by the clerk (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41).
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails required notice, 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 chancery clerk. Claims not registered within 90 days after the first publication are barred (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151).
- The fiduciary administers the assets, pays allowed debts and taxes, files required accounting papers, distributes property under the court's orders, and seeks a final decree of distribution and discharge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Humphreys County
Humphreys County does not publish a county probate packet on its county site. The county's Chancery Clerk listing gives the office, address, phone, fax, and hours, but it does not provide a county petition form, small estate affidavit form, or estate fee table.
Mississippi practice relies on a Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, plus a petition drafted for the specific estate. For a full estate, the attorney required by UCCR 6.02 prepares the petition and supporting papers; for a small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, the affidavit is presented to the holder of personal property rather than opened as a Humphreys County court case.
Local nuance
Humphreys County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for families |
|---|---|
| One Belzoni filing counter | Humphreys County is not one of Mississippi's counties with two courthouse districts. Estate filings for this county go to the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk at 102 Castleman Street in Belzoni. |
| Separate clerk offices | The county lists a Chancery Clerk and a Circuit Clerk as separate offices. Probate filings belong with the chancery clerk, because Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Published county fax | The county publishes (662) 247-0101 as a general county office fax. Use it only after calling the chancery clerk, because estate-opening papers are presented at the counter and the county does not publish fax filing instructions for probate. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | The Mississippi Judiciary announced completion of statewide electronic filing and case management. All chancery courts had been implemented in MEC as of June 19, 2023. See https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| July 1, 2020 | The small estate affidavit amount became $75,000 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and the muniment of title procedure under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 was rewritten through 2020 Senate Bill 2850. |
| April 18, 2024 | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended, including rules that affect fiduciary filings and attorney representation in estates. |
| January 1, 2026 | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services use separate intake hotlines. For Humphreys County, North Mississippi Rural Legal Services is the mapped provider, with intake at 1-800-898-8731; Mississippi Center for Legal Services intake is 1-800-519-2915; statewide lookup remains available at mslegalservices.org. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Humphreys County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled. If the home passes outside the estate and the remaining probate personal property fits the $75,000 small estate affidavit route, effective July 1, 2020, the spouse may be able to use Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 with the bank or other holder. If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, ask the attorney about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title and debt information, and prepare the estate settlement file for the attorney or affidavit step. |
| 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 Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 affidavit is presented to the property holder and no Humphreys County court case is opened. If letters are needed, a Mississippi attorney is required under UCCR 6.02. | Sunset helps identify accounts before the child decides whether the non-court affidavit route is enough or whether a Belzoni filing is needed. |
| Parent settling a 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 the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 requirements are met, muniment of title may be the cleaner path. Without that fit, the parent should expect full administration in the Humphreys County Chancery Court with counsel. 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 gather property, debt, tax, and account information so the attorney can choose the right estate settlement route. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Humphreys County Chancery Clerk | Filing counter for Humphreys County estate cases, cover sheet questions, current court cost deposit, and local scheduling questions. The clerk cannot provide legal advice. | 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038. Phone: (662) 247-1740. County site: https://humphreyscountyms.com/ |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Legal aid eligibility screening for Humphreys County families. It may not take estate administration matters, but it is the correct place to check eligibility and related civil help. It also offers an Heirs' Property Program for qualifying matters. | 1-800-898-8731. Statewide directory: mslegalservices.org. |
| mslegalservices.org | Public legal information, online legal forms, and a service-area directory for Mississippi civil legal aid providers. | https://www.mslegalservices.org/ |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court page | Links to the chancery court system and the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet used with civil filings. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Rules for fiduciary matters, attorney retention, sworn filings, accountings, and original wills in chancery court. | Available through the Mississippi Judiciary rules materials. |
| MEC and PAMEC | Remote case access is through PAMEC registration, while free electronic 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
For a full Humphreys County estate, Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02(A) requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney for the entire term of the appointment. The chancellor fixes attorney compensation. The counterweight is the $75,000 small estate affidavit route, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, which is presented to the holder of personal property and does not create a court-appointed fiduciary. Families who cannot afford counsel should check North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731 and mslegalservices.org, though legal aid may not take estate matters. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney, which is the step Mississippi rules require for a full estate.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families identify accounts, policies, and other assets before choosing an estate settlement path in Humphreys County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information an attorney needs for the petition, cover sheet, asset list, creditor work, and supporting documents for the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. Mississippi requires a fiduciary in a full estate to retain counsel under UCCR 6.02. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney who can file in the Humphreys County Chancery Court.
Sunset is free for families. Families use Sunset at no cost for estate settlement organization, asset discovery, document collection, and attorney matching.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Humphreys County?
File at the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk's counter, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Does Humphreys County have its own probate forms?
Humphreys County does not publish a county probate packet on its county site. Use the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet linked from the Mississippi Judiciary's chancery court page, and expect the estate petition to be prepared by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02.
What is the filing fee for a Humphreys County estate?
Humphreys County does not publish a county estate total on its county site. The version of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027 sets a $140.00 statutory floor, made up of a $85.00 clerk fee plus $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 statutory assessments. Call the chancery clerk to confirm the current amount before filing.
How does e-filing work for Humphreys County probate?
Attorneys file through MEC after the case is opened, and every estate case begins with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. A person without counsel may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically unless that person is a Mississippi attorney. See https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
Can I look up a Humphreys County estate case?
MEC and PAMEC provide Mississippi court access. Remote PAMEC access requires registration, and free electronic viewing is available at the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk's office during regular business hours. See https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
Can I attend a Humphreys County chancery hearing by phone or video?
That is set by the chancellor and local practice, not by a county-wide promise on the Humphreys County site. Ask the chancery clerk or the attorney handling the case, and ask about the 9th Chancery Court District term order posted in the clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2).
Do I need an attorney for a Humphreys County estate?
For full administration, yes unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires a fiduciary, including an executor or administrator, to retain an attorney. A $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 rather than filed as a court case.
What if the estate is only a bank account or other personal property?
If 30 days have passed, no personal representative has been appointed, and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less excluding liens and encumbrances, the successor may be able to use the small estate affidavit route under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. The affidavit is presented to the bank, employer, transfer agent, or other holder of the property.
Do I have to travel to Belzoni for a Humphreys County estate?
Travel depends on the route. The Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 small estate affidavit is not opened at the courthouse. If letters testamentary or letters of administration are needed, the attorney can explain what must be signed, what must be filed on paper with the chancery clerk, and whether the chancellor will allow any hearing participation by phone or video (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147; 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.