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Lamar County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lamar County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Lamar County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Lamar County Chancery Clerk, 403 Main Street, Purvis, MS 39475. |
| Mailing address | Lamar County Chancery Clerk, P.O. Box 247, Purvis, MS 39475. |
| Phone | (601) 794-8504. |
| Fax | No chancery-clerk fax is listed on the Lamar County Chancery Clerk contact block. |
| Office hours | Call (601) 794-8504 before traveling, because the online chancery clerk page does not list counter hours. The page states that chancery court is held two weeks out of each month and convenes at 9:00 a.m.; that is a court-term note, not office hours. |
| Courthouse city | Purvis. |
| Chancery court district | 10th Chancery Court District. The district also includes Forrest, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties, but a Lamar County estate is filed in Lamar County. |
| Filing fee | Lamar County does not list an estate filing total on its chancery clerk pages. Under the current text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $85.00 for an estate of deceased, plus $10.00 to the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund, $40.00 to the Judicial System Operation Fund and $5.00 to the Civil Legal Assistance Fund, totaling $140.00. Call the clerk to confirm the current county total before filing. |
| 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 during the appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, is presented under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 and needs no court filing and no attorney. |
| Local forms | Lamar County does not list a probate form, small estate affidavit form or probate instruction sheet of its own on its chancery clerk pages. Use the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and attorney-prepared pleadings. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC. A person without a lawyer may not file electronically unless that person is a Mississippi lawyer, and an estate opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Case search | PAMEC remote access requires a registered account and may involve fees. Public viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, with copy charges under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. Start at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Lamar County Chancery Clerk how the assigned chancellor handles phone or video requests. Mississippi law requires the annual term order for a multi-county chancery district to be posted in the chancery clerk's office (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2)). |
| Website | https://lamarcountyms.gov/ms/departments/chancery-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Lamar County, identify the decedent's accounts, debts, real estate, vehicles and beneficiary designations. The right estate settlement route depends on what is actually in the probate estate, not just whether there is a will.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions, helping families find accounts before a Lamar County attorney prepares the petition or before a family uses a qualifying small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Lamar County is filed with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk at 403 Main Street in Purvis. Chancery court is held in every Mississippi county (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1)), and Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
For a will, the venue rule looks first to the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, letters of administration are granted in the county where the intestate had a fixed place of residence, with different statutory fallbacks if there was no fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63). Lamar County is in the 10th Chancery Court District, but that district groups chancellors; it does not send a Lamar County estate to Forrest, Marion, Pearl River or Perry County.
Purvis is the county seat. Hattiesburg extends into Lamar County's northeast corner, but Hattiesburg's courthouse and clerk are in Forrest County. A Lamar County estate settlement belongs with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk in Purvis.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, account information, real estate information and creditor information.
- Choose the route. If the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, the successor may use the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 by presenting it to the holder of personal property. If there is a will that devises Mississippi real property, all known debts are paid and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate is within the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 amount, ask counsel about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, use full administration.
- Retain an attorney for a full estate unless the proposed fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires that representation during the fiduciary's 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 the fiduciary (UCCR 6.14).
- File on paper with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk at 403 Main Street in Purvis, using the chancery clerk cover sheet and the required court cost deposit. The current text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, effective until December 31, 2027, sets the statutory floor at $140.00, made up of $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 statutory assessments. The original will stays with the clerk under UCCR 9.03.
- The chancery court, or the chancery clerk in vacation subject to the court's approval, 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, 9-5-147). The clerk's act is not final until approved by the court.
- Give the oath and provide any bond the court or clerk requires under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41.
- After letters are granted, the executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails notice to known creditors, files the diligent-search affidavit, and then publishes the 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 the estate, pay allowed debts and taxes, handle any required accounting, distribute property under the court's decree and seek discharge.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lamar County
The Mississippi Judiciary provides a statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules set content requirements, but Lamar County does not list a probate form packet, small estate affidavit form or probate instruction sheet of its own on its chancery clerk pages.
For a full Lamar County estate, the petition is drafted by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02. For a qualifying $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, the affidavit is presented to the holder of personal property under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 rather than filed with the chancery clerk.
Timeline
- Before traveling to Purvis, call the Lamar County Chancery Clerk at (601) 794-8504 for counter hours and filing instructions.
- The county's chancery clerk page states that chancery court is held two weeks out of each month and convenes at 9:00 a.m.; ask the clerk how the assigned chancellor schedules estate matters.
- For phone or video participation, ask the clerk about the assigned chancellor's practice and the 10th Chancery Court District term order posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2).
Local nuance
Lamar County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Lamar County estate |
|---|---|
| Purvis filing counter | Use the Lamar County Chancery Clerk at 403 Main Street in Purvis. Do not use Forrest County because Hattiesburg extends into Lamar County. |
| Current county website | The readable Lamar County chancery clerk page is on lamarcountyms.gov at https://lamarcountyms.gov/ms/departments/chancery-clerk/. |
| Scheduling note | The clerk's page states that chancery court is held two weeks out of each month and convenes at 9:00 a.m. Call the clerk for the actual setting of an estate matter. |
| Local probate forms | The county pages list land-records document formatting guidance, not a Lamar County probate form or probate instruction sheet. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Mississippi Center for Legal Services and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services use separate intake hotline numbers. Lamar County is served by Mississippi Center for Legal Services, Hattiesburg office, with intake at 1-800-519-2915. North Mississippi Rural Legal Services uses 1-800-898-8731. The directory is at mslegalservices.org. |
| June 30, 2025 | Mississippi announced completion of MEC across Mississippi courts. All chancery courts had been on MEC since June 19, 2023. MEC and PAMEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| April 18, 2024 | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended, including the fiduciary attorney rule cited as UCCR 6.02. |
| 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 to cross-reference that amount. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Lamar 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 probate estate and the remaining probate personal property qualifies, the $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 may settle the personal property without a court 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, title clues and debts before the spouse decides whether a court filing 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, the successor can present the small estate affidavit to the bank or other holder under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. If letters are needed, the child must retain a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02 and should ask the Lamar County Chancery Clerk about remote participation. | Sunset organizes asset discovery and can generate the information a local attorney needs for a Lamar County estate settlement. |
| 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 debts are paid, muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 may fit. Otherwise, a full administration in Lamar County is likely, with an attorney required by UCCR 6.02. 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 find assets, prepare a clean probate packet and connect the family with a vetted Mississippi probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Lamar County | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar County Chancery Clerk | Filing counter for Lamar County estate papers, payment confirmation, counter hours and local scheduling questions. The clerk cannot provide legal advice. | 403 Main Street, Purvis, MS 39475. Phone: (601) 794-8504. Website: https://lamarcountyms.gov/ms/departments/chancery-clerk/ |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services, Hattiesburg office | Legal aid eligibility screening for Lamar County residents. It may not take an estate-administration matter, but it is the place to check eligibility if counsel is unaffordable. | 1-800-519-2915. Office: 111 East Front Street, P.O. Drawer 1728, Hattiesburg, MS 39403. Directory: mslegalservices.org. |
| mslegalservices.org | Public legal-information site maintained by Mississippi's two civil legal services providers, with a directory by service area. | https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court page | State chancery court information and the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet link. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Rules for Mississippi fiduciary matters, including the attorney requirement in UCCR 6.02 and sworn filing requirements. | https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/ |
| MEC and PAMEC | MEC is the attorney filing system. PAMEC is read-only remote access for registered public users, while free public viewing is available at the clerk's office during regular business hours. | https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php |
When to hire an attorney
For a full Lamar County estate, Mississippi does not treat counsel as optional. 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 approves attorney compensation. The practical exception for families is the $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, which is presented under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, is not a court filing and needs no attorney. If cost is the barrier, Lamar County residents can check eligibility with Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915 through mslegalservices.org, understanding that legal aid may not take estate matters. 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 for accounts across more than 2,300 institutions and helps build a practical asset list for Lamar County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset details, debts and documents a Mississippi attorney needs to prepare the Lamar County filing.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain counsel for a full estate, Sunset helps connect families with a vetted Mississippi probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and attorney engagement terms are handled directly with the attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for a Lamar County estate?
File with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk at 403 Main Street in Purvis. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and venue for a will starts with the testator's fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). If the person died without a will, the letters of administration venue ladder is in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63.
Is a Lamar County estate filed in Hattiesburg if the family lives near Hattiesburg?
No. Hattiesburg extends into Lamar County, but Forrest County has its own courthouse and clerk. A Lamar County estate is filed with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk in Purvis.
Can a person file a Lamar County estate electronically?
Attorneys file through MEC, and MEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. A person without a lawyer may not file electronically unless that person is a Mississippi lawyer, and an estate opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter.
Does Lamar County publish local probate forms?
Lamar County does not list a probate form, small estate affidavit form or probate instruction sheet of its own on its chancery clerk pages. Full-estate pleadings are prepared by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02, and the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet should be used with the filing.
What is the filing fee for a Lamar County estate?
Lamar County does not list an estate filing total on its chancery clerk pages. The current text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9, effective until December 31, 2027, sets a statutory floor of $140.00, made up of $85.00 plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 statutory assessments. Call (601) 794-8504 to confirm the current amount before filing.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in Lamar County?
If 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, a successor may present a small estate affidavit to the holder of personal property under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. It is not filed with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk, and it does not transfer real property.
Can I attend a Lamar County hearing by phone or video?
Ask the Lamar County Chancery Clerk how the assigned chancellor handles that request. The clerk's page says chancery court is held two weeks out of each month and convenes at 9:00 a.m., but the actual setting and any remote request depend on the assigned matter and court practice. Chancery authority is grounded in Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159.
How do I look up a Lamar County estate case?
Use MEC and PAMEC information at courts.ms.gov/mec. Remote PAMEC access requires a registered account and may involve fees. Public viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours, with copy charges under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9.
Does a Mississippi executor or administrator need an attorney in Lamar County?
Yes for a full estate. UCCR 6.02 requires the fiduciary to retain an attorney unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. The $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is the no-court-filing route for qualifying personal property.
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.