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Jasper County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Jasper County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Jasper County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Jasper County Chancery Clerk, with counters in both judicial districts. |
| Paulding courthouse | First Judicial District, 1782 MS 503 Hwy, Paulding, MS 39348. Mailing address: P.O. Box 38, Paulding, MS 39348. Phone: 601-727-4940. Jasper County also lists 601-764-4940 for the Paulding chancery clerk office, so call the Bay Springs line if a number does not connect. |
| Bay Springs courthouse | Second Judicial District, 27 West 8th Ave., Bay Springs, MS 39422. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1047, Bay Springs, MS 39422. Phone: 601-764-3368. |
| Hours | Both courthouses publish county office hours as Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday. Call before traveling near a deadline or holiday. |
| Chancery court district | Mississippi's 2nd Chancery Court District, covering Jasper, Newton and Scott counties. The case is still filed in Jasper County. |
| Filing fee | Jasper County links a court fee sheet, but families should confirm the current estate amount with the chancery clerk before paying. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, accounts for a $140.00 floor to open an estate: $85.00, plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments. |
| 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, effective July 1, 2020, is presented to the holder of personal property and is not a court filing (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). |
| Local forms | Jasper County links a cover sheet example on the chancery clerk page. Mississippi also uses a chancery clerk cover sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, while the estate petition is drafted by the attorney required by UCCR 6.02. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically, and an estate opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Case search | MEC and PAMEC are available through https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. Remote PAMEC viewing requires a registered account and fees may apply. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the chancery clerk office during regular business hours. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Jasper County Chancery Clerk. Remote attendance depends on the chancellor, the 2nd Chancery Court District's practice and the district term order posted with the chancery clerk (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3). |
| Website | https://co.jasper.ms.us/chancery-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Jasper County filing path, list the assets, debts, deed information, account holders and whether there is an original will. Jasper County has two courthouse counters, so the practical first step for a court-filed estate settlement is to call the chancery clerk and confirm whether the Paulding or Bay Springs office should receive the paper filing.
Sunset can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts and assets before the family commits to a filing route. That asset picture helps decide whether the matter is a $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, a muniment of title petition under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35, or a full Jasper County Chancery Court administration.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Jasper County is handled by the Jasper County Chancery Court and filed with the Jasper County Chancery Clerk. Jasper County has two judicial districts and two courthouse counters: the First Judicial District office at 1782 MS 503 Hwy in Paulding and the Second Judicial District office at 27 West 8th Ave. in Bay Springs. Chancery court is held in every county, and in each judicial district of a county with two judicial districts, at least twice each year (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1)).
A will is proved and letters testamentary are granted by the chancery court of the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). Letters of administration for an intestate estate follow a separate venue ladder that also starts with the county where the intestate had a fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63). Jasper County sits in Mississippi's 2nd Chancery Court District with Newton and Scott counties, but that district groups chancellors and does not send Jasper County filings to another county. For Paulding versus Bay Springs, call the Jasper County Chancery Clerk before filing because no filing boundary is stated here.
The Jasper County page covers Paulding, Bay Springs and surrounding Jasper County communities, including places such as Heidelberg and Sandersville. 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).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, deed information, account statements, debts and names of interested family members. The original will must be delivered physically because the clerk keeps original wills in the clerk's vault unless the chancellor orders otherwise (UCCR 9.03; Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
- Choose the route before filing. If the whole probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, at least 30 days have passed since death, and only personal property needs collection, the successor presents a small estate affidavit to the holder rather than opening a court case (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020). If the decedent left a will that devises Mississippi real property, the known debts are paid, and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate is within the § 91-7-322 sum, ask counsel about muniment of title (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). Otherwise, plan for full administration.
- For a full estate, retain an attorney. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney for the entire term of the appointment.
- Have the attorney prepare 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 the fiduciary (UCCR 6.14; UCCR 6.02).
- Call the Jasper County Chancery Clerk to confirm whether to file at Paulding or Bay Springs. Jasper County has two judicial districts and two counters, and no filing boundary is stated here.
- File the paper petition at the directed chancery clerk counter with the cover sheet and the court cost deposit. Jasper County links a cover sheet example. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, accounts for a $140.00 estate-opening floor made up of $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments, and UCCR 9.01 requires the cost deposit when the petition is filed.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation, meaning between court terms, may admit the will to probate 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 the court's approval or disapproval and is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- Address oath and bond if required. Mississippi law gives the executor's oath and requires bond in the manner approved by the court or clerk, but the bond decision belongs in the case, not at the filing counter (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41).
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice to those identified, 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).
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, paying allowed debts and taxes, handling any sale or transfer approved in the case, and preparing the required accountings. Compensation and attorney fees are fixed by the chancellor, and fees may not be based on the value of real property (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299; UCCR 6.12(B)).
- Close with the accounting, distribution and final discharge approved by the chancery court. Ask the Jasper County Chancery Clerk which counter handles the closing filing if the case has used more than one courthouse for settings or paperwork.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jasper County
Jasper County links a cover sheet example from the chancery clerk page. Use that local link only as filing guidance and call the clerk to confirm the version the Paulding or Bay Springs counter wants with an estate filing.
Mississippi does not provide a ready-made estate packet for county filings. The Mississippi Judiciary links a chancery clerk cover sheet, and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules set filing content requirements. For example, UCCR 6.15 requires a copy of the will with a petition to probate a will, and UCCR 6.14 requires fiduciary filings to be signed and sworn by the fiduciary. Because UCCR 6.02 requires an executor or administrator to retain an attorney unless the fiduciary is a Mississippi-licensed lawyer, the petition is normally drafted by counsel.
Jasper County also links a court fee sheet and an Access to Justice item from the chancery clerk page. Treat those as clerk-linked resources and confirm any filing amount or form requirement directly with the Jasper County Chancery Clerk before filing.
Local nuance
Jasper County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Two courthouse counters | Jasper County has a First Judicial District counter in Paulding and a Second Judicial District counter in Bay Springs. Call the chancery clerk before filing to confirm which counter should receive the paperwork. |
| Paulding contact numbers | Jasper County lists 601-727-4940 for the Paulding chancery clerk office and also lists 601-764-4940. If one does not connect, use the other or call Bay Springs at 601-764-3368. |
| Bay Springs address | Use 27 West 8th Ave., Bay Springs, MS 39422 for the Second Judicial District office. Do not rely on older address listings when mailing or traveling. |
| District terms | The 2nd Chancery Court District's annual term order is the place to check scheduling practice. Ask the Jasper County Chancery Clerk about the order and about any remote appearance request (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3; Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Cover sheet | The Jasper County Chancery Clerk page links a cover sheet example. Confirm with the clerk which cover sheet version should accompany a new estate filing. |
| Fee sheet | Jasper County links a court fee sheet. Confirm the exact filing fee before writing a check; Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, accounts for a $140.00 estate-opening floor. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Why it matters in Jasper County |
|---|---|---|
| June 19, 2023 | All Mississippi chancery courts were implemented in MEC, and the statewide court rollout was completed June 30, 2025. | Attorneys use MEC in Jasper County, while a new estate still opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. MEC and PAMEC information starts at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| July 1, 2020 | The small estate affidavit ceiling became $75,000, and the muniment of title procedure was rewritten (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-322, 91-5-35). | Families should not use older dollar figures when evaluating a personal-property affidavit or a will-based real-property petition. |
| April 18, 2024 | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended. | UCCR 6.02 controls attorney retention for a fiduciary, and UCCR 9.01 and 9.03 affect filing deposits and original wills. |
| January 1, 2026 | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services use separate intake numbers, 1-800-898-8731 and 1-800-519-2915, and mslegalservices.org remains the directory-by-service-area starting point. | Jasper County is not assigned here to one provider, so families should check the directory and may call both numbers. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Persona | Local 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, excluding liens and encumbrances, the spouse may be able to use the small estate affidavit after 30 days by presenting it to the holder (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020). If a will devises the home and known debts are paid, ask counsel about muniment of title; the house itself does not count against that ceiling (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and deed clues, then helps organize the estate settlement packet and connect the spouse with a Mississippi attorney if a court petition is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 30 days have passed and the whole probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and only personal property must be collected, the affidavit is presented to the bank, employer or other holder instead of filed at Paulding or Bay Springs (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 call the Jasper County Chancery Clerk about the proper counter. | Sunset helps determine whether letters are actually needed, gathers institution information and prepares the family for a local attorney conversation. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The small estate affidavit cannot transfer the house. If there is a will, known debts are paid and the statutory conditions fit, counsel may consider muniment of title (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). Otherwise, full administration is filed with the Jasper County Chancery Clerk. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees, and fees may not be based on the value of real property (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299; UCCR 6.12(B)). | Sunset helps find assets and liabilities, prepare the attorney packet, and connect the parent with a vetted Mississippi probate attorney for the Jasper County filing. |
Self-help resources
Jasper County does not have a separate probate self-help center listed on the county chancery clerk page. Use the clerk for filing logistics, not legal advice, and use mslegalservices.org plus the resources below if the family needs help understanding options before hiring counsel.
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Jasper County Chancery Clerk, Paulding | First Judicial District, 1782 MS 503 Hwy, Paulding, MS 39348. Mailing address: P.O. Box 38, Paulding, MS 39348. Phone: 601-727-4940, also listed by Jasper County as 601-764-4940. Open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, closed weekends. |
| Jasper County Chancery Clerk, Bay Springs | Second Judicial District, 27 West 8th Ave., Bay Springs, MS 39422. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1047, Bay Springs, MS 39422. Phone: 601-764-3368. Open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, closed weekends. |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court page | Use https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php for Mississippi chancery court district information and the chancery clerk cover sheet link. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Use the rules to understand fiduciary filings. UCCR 6.02 requires attorney retention, UCCR 9.01 addresses the cost deposit and UCCR 9.03 addresses original wills. |
| MEC and PAMEC | Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. Attorneys file through MEC. Public read-only access uses PAMEC, and free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the chancery clerk office during regular business hours. Helpdesk: [email protected] or 601-576-4650. |
| mslegalservices.org | Use the directory by service area at https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area. Jasper County is not assigned here to a single provider, so the directory is the safest first stop. |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Call 1-800-898-8731. Call center hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 to 3:30. Check eligibility and available services; do not assume estate administration representation is available. |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services | Call 1-800-519-2915. Check eligibility and available services; do not assume estate administration representation is available. |
When to hire an attorney
In Mississippi, this is a rule, not a preference: 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 the entire term of the appointment, and the chancellor fixes the attorney fee (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; UCCR 6.02). The $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020, is different because it is presented to the property holder and does not open a court fiduciary case. A family that cannot afford counsel should check mslegalservices.org and may call both North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731 and Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915 because Jasper County is not assigned here to one provider. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney, which in Mississippi is the step a full estate requires.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build the asset list needed for estate settlement decisions in Jasper County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized packet for the attorney, including known assets, debts, heirs, will information and courthouse details for Paulding and Bay Springs.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain counsel for a full Mississippi estate, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted attorney who can file in Jasper County Chancery Court.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, organize documents and get matched with help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Jasper County?
File with the Jasper County Chancery Clerk, not with a circuit or other court office. Jasper County has two judicial districts, with a First Judicial District counter in Paulding and a Second Judicial District counter in Bay Springs. Call the clerk before filing to confirm which counter should receive the estate paperwork. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Which Jasper County courthouse should I use, Paulding or Bay Springs?
Jasper County has two judicial districts and two chancery clerk counters. The Paulding office is at 1782 MS 503 Hwy, and the Bay Springs office is at 27 West 8th Ave. No filing boundary is stated here, so call the Jasper County Chancery Clerk before filing or traveling.
Can I file a Jasper County estate electronically?
Attorneys file through MEC after the case is in the system, but a new estate opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically. Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
Does a Mississippi executor or administrator have to hire an attorney?
Yes for a full estate unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain an attorney for the entire appointment. The small estate affidavit is different because the $75,000 personal-property affidavit is presented to the holder after 30 days and is not a court filing (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020).
What is the filing fee for a Jasper County estate?
Confirm the current amount with the Jasper County Chancery Clerk before paying. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, in the text effective until December 31, 2027, accounts for a $140.00 floor to open an estate: $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments. Jasper County links a court fee sheet, so the clerk can tell you the current total and payee.
Are Jasper County probate records searchable online?
Mississippi uses MEC and PAMEC. Remote viewing requires a registered PAMEC account and fees may apply, while free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the Jasper County Chancery Clerk office during regular business hours. Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
Can I attend a Jasper County chancery hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Jasper County Chancery Clerk and the attorney handling the case. Remote appearance depends on the chancellor, the 2nd Chancery Court District's practice and the district term order posted with the chancery clerk (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3).
Does Jasper County have local probate forms?
Jasper County links a cover sheet example from the chancery clerk page. Mississippi uses a chancery clerk cover sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, while the estate petition is drafted by the attorney required for a full estate under UCCR 6.02.
Do I have to travel to Jasper County for a small estate?
If the matter fits the $75,000 small estate affidavit for personal property, 30 days have passed, and no letters are needed, the affidavit is presented to the bank, employer or other holder rather than filed at the Paulding or Bay Springs courthouse (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020). If letters or a real-property court petition are needed, retain a Mississippi attorney and ask the clerk about the correct counter and any appearance request.
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.