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Jones County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Jones County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Jones County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts have jurisdiction over matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to, Ellisville | Jones County Chancery Clerk, First Judicial District, 101 North Court Street, Ellisville, MS 39437. Mailing: P.O. Box 248, Ellisville, MS 39437. Phone: (601) 477-3307. Fax: (601) 477-1240. |
| Probate filings go to, Laurel | Jones County Chancery Clerk, Second Judicial District, 415 North 5th Avenue, Laurel, MS 39441. Mailing: P.O. Box 1468, Laurel, MS 39441. Phone: (601) 428-0527. Call before faxing to the Laurel office. |
| Website | Jones County Chancery Clerk |
| Hours | Call the Ellisville or Laurel chancery clerk office before visiting, mailing originals, or sending a time-sensitive filing. |
| Filing fee | Jones County does not list a county estate total here. Under the text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor for opening an estate is $140.00, made up of the $85.00 clerk fee for an estate of deceased, $10.00 for the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund, $40.00 for the Judicial System Operation Fund, and $5.00 for the Civil Legal Assistance Fund. Confirm the current total with the Jones County Chancery Clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No Jones County probate packet is listed here. Use the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet, and have the petition drafted by the attorney required for a full estate under UCCR 6.02. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC. A person without an attorney may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically, and an estate starts with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter. MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Case search | MEC and PAMEC are the statewide court record systems. Remote access requires a PAMEC account and fees may apply. Free viewing is available at the chancery clerk office during regular business hours. Start at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Jones County Chancery Clerk how the assigned chancellor handles phone or video requests. The annual term order for the 19th Chancery Court District is posted in the chancery clerk 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 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 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 needs no court filing and no attorney. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you decide where to file in Jones County, make a working list of accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, beneficiaries, and any will. That first inventory shapes the estate settlement path, including whether the matter can stay outside court, whether a muniment of title is available, or whether a full chancery estate is needed.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they commit to a filing path. In Jones County, that is especially useful because a full estate requires a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02, while the $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is handled outside the courthouse.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Jones County is filed with the Jones County Chancery Clerk at a Jones County courthouse, either the First Judicial District office in Ellisville or the Second Judicial District office in Laurel. Jones County has two judicial districts, and chancery court is held in each district of a county that has two judicial districts under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1). Call ahead to confirm which Jones County office should receive a particular filing.
Jones County sits in Mississippi's 19th Chancery Court District with Wayne County. That chancery court district is how chancellors are assigned, but the estate is filed in Jones County, not across the county line.
For a will, venue is the chancery court of the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence, with a land-based fallback if there was no fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, the venue ladder is different and starts with the county where the intestate had a fixed place of residence, then land ownership, then the county where death occurred (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63).
Jones County communities covered by this page include Ellisville, Laurel, Sandersville, and Moselle.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, debt information, and addresses for heirs or beneficiaries. The original will must be handled physically because original wills stay safely with the clerk unless the chancellor orders otherwise (UCCR 9.03; Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
- Choose the path before filing. If the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, a successor may use the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 by presenting it to the property holder. 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 Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 amount, ask counsel about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, plan on a full chancery estate.
- For a full estate, retain an attorney. UCCR 6.02 requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney for the full 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 fiduciary pleadings, accounts, inventories, and reports must be personally signed and sworn by the fiduciary (UCCR 6.14; UCCR 6.02).
- File on paper with the Jones County Chancery Clerk, using the Ellisville or Laurel counter after calling ahead. Include the chancery clerk cover sheet and the court cost deposit required at filing (UCCR 9.01; Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, text effective until December 31, 2027).
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation subject to court approval, may admit the will to probate in common form and grant letters testamentary or letters of administration. The clerk's act is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- If bond is required, handle it before relying on the letters. Mississippi law requires the executor's oath and describes bond in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41.
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice, files the diligent-search affidavit, and only then publishes the 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 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151.
- Administer the estate, address debts and taxes, sell property if the court authorizes it, prepare any required accountings, and ask the chancellor for the final decree of distribution and discharge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jones County
Probate forms in Jones County start with the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and attorney-drafted pleadings. The Mississippi Judiciary provides the cover sheet through its chancery court materials, and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules set content requirements rather than a complete estate packet.
No Jones County probate packet, local small estate affidavit, or local instruction sheet is listed here. For a full estate, the petition should be prepared by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02, and the paper filing should be taken or mailed to the correct Jones County chancery clerk office after calling ahead.
Local nuance
Jones County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Jones County filing |
|---|---|
| Two Jones County courthouse cities | Jones County has two judicial districts. The First Judicial District office is in Ellisville at 101 North Court Street. The Second Judicial District office is in Laurel at 415 North 5th Avenue. |
| Call before choosing a counter | No filing boundary is stated here for estate matters. Call the Jones County Chancery Clerk before filing so the paper petition, original will, cover sheet, and filing payment go to the right office. |
| Chancery court district is different | Jones County's 19th Chancery Court District assignment connects Jones County with Wayne County for chancellor assignment. It does not move a Jones County estate settlement to another county. |
| Travel planning | The Ellisville and Laurel chancery clerk offices are separate physical counters in the same county. Confirm the filing counter before a family member, attorney runner, or courier makes the trip. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services began using separate intake numbers. Jones County is not assigned here to either provider, so use the mslegalservices.org service-area lookup and both hotlines. |
| June 30, 2025 | The Mississippi Judiciary announced statewide completion of electronic filing and case management. All chancery courts had already been implemented in MEC as of June 19, 2023. MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| April 18, 2024 | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended, including the fiduciary rules that apply to estates and the UCCR 6.02 attorney requirement. |
| 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. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Jones 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 is within the $75,000 amount effective July 1, 2020 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, the small estate affidavit may handle the rest without a Jones County filing. If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, ask a Mississippi attorney about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues so the estate settlement path is chosen before a filing is made. |
| 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 successor affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is presented to the bank or other property holder and is not filed with the Jones County Chancery Clerk. If letters are needed, the adult child should retain Mississippi counsel under UCCR 6.02 and ask the Jones County Chancery Clerk about hearing logistics. | Sunset helps find accounts and prepare an organized estate settlement file for the bank, the attorney, or the chancery clerk. |
| 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 the debt requirements are met, muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 may be available. Otherwise, a full Jones County chancery estate is usually the route, with counsel required by UCCR 6.02. The chancellor fixes fiduciary and attorney compensation under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299, and fees may not be based on the value of real property under UCCR 6.12(B). | Sunset organizes asset information, generates a probate packet, and connects the family with a Jones County probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Jones County |
|---|---|
| Jones County Chancery Clerk | Use the Ellisville office at (601) 477-3307 or the Laurel office at (601) 428-0527 to confirm the correct counter, current hours, payment total, and mailing instructions. Website: jonescountyms.com/chancery-clerk/. |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court page | Provides statewide chancery court information and the chancery clerk cover sheet. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration under Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Explains fiduciary requirements, sworn filings, accountings, and the attorney rule in UCCR 6.02. |
| MEC and PAMEC | Use courts.ms.gov/mec for Mississippi Electronic Courts and PAMEC information. Remote access requires an account and fees may apply, while free viewing is available at the chancery clerk office during regular business hours. |
| Legal aid lookup | Jones County is not assigned here to a single provider. Use the service-area lookup at mslegalservices.org. |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services | Call 1-800-898-8731 and ask about eligibility and whether the issue fits its current services. Do not assume estate representation is available. |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services | Call 1-800-519-2915 and ask about eligibility and whether the issue fits its current services. Do not assume estate representation is available. |
When to hire an attorney
For a full Jones County estate, Mississippi's rule is direct: UCCR 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's fee. 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. A family that cannot afford counsel should check eligibility through mslegalservices.org, North Mississippi Rural Legal Services at 1-800-898-8731, and Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915, while understanding that legal aid may not take estate matters. Sunset connects the reader to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property before the family chooses a Jones County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family intake into an organized probate packet for the attorney, including asset details, debts, beneficiaries, and filing information for the Jones County Chancery Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain an attorney for a full Mississippi estate, Sunset helps families connect with a vetted probate attorney who can file in Jones County Chancery Court.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and then decide with counsel whether the Jones County matter needs a full estate, muniment of title, or a non-court affidavit route.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Jones County, Mississippi?
File with the Jones County Chancery Clerk, not another court office. Jones County has two judicial districts, with a First Judicial District office in Ellisville and a Second Judicial District office in Laurel. Call the chancery clerk before filing to confirm which counter should receive the petition. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Does Jones County have one courthouse or two for probate filings?
Jones County has two judicial districts and two chancery clerk offices for chancery filings. The Ellisville office is at 101 North Court Street, and the Laurel office is at 415 North 5th Avenue. Call ahead before mailing the original will or taking a paper filing.
Can I e-file a Jones County estate?
Attorneys file through MEC, and information is available at courts.ms.gov/mec. A person without an attorney may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically, and the estate starts with a paper filing at the chancery clerk counter.
What is the filing fee for a Jones County estate?
Jones County does not list a county estate total here. Under the text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $140.00, made up of $85.00, $10.00, $40.00, and $5.00 statutory components. Confirm the current amount with the Ellisville or Laurel chancery clerk office before filing.
Does Jones County publish probate forms?
No Jones County estate packet is listed here. Use the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and have the petition prepared by the attorney required for a full estate under UCCR 6.02.
Can a small estate avoid the Jones County courthouse?
Yes, if it fits Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. After 30 days, a successor may present a small estate affidavit to the bank, employer, transfer agent, or other holder when the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, under the amount effective July 1, 2020. That affidavit is not filed with the Jones County Chancery Clerk.
Can I attend a Jones County hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Jones County Chancery Clerk and the attorney handling the estate. Remote procedures depend on the assigned chancellor and the 19th Chancery Court District's practice, and the annual term order is posted in the chancery clerk office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2).
How do I look up a Jones County chancery estate?
Use MEC and PAMEC through courts.ms.gov/mec. Remote access requires a PAMEC account and fees may apply. Free viewing is available at the chancery clerk office during regular business hours.
Do I have to travel to Jones County to handle a small estate?
If the matter fits the $75,000 small estate affidavit effective July 1, 2020 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, the affidavit is presented to the holder of the property and is not filed in court. If letters testamentary or letters of administration are needed, Mississippi requires the fiduciary to retain an attorney under UCCR 6.02, and you should ask counsel and the chancery clerk about what appearances may be needed.
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.