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Lowndes County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lowndes County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Lowndes County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Lowndes County Chancery Clerk, 505 2nd Avenue North, Columbus, MS 39701. |
| Mailing address | Lowndes County Chancery Clerk, P.O. Box 684, Columbus, MS 39703. |
| Phone | 662-329-5800. |
| Fax and email | The Chancery Clerk page lists no fax number or general office email. Use phone or mail. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. |
| Filing fee | No Lowndes County estate total is listed. The statutory floor under the text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027 is $140.00: $85.00 for the estate filing, $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. Call 662-329-5800 to confirm the current amount 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 for the entire term of the appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is presented to the holder of personal property and needs no court filing and no attorney. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys file through MEC after the case is opened. A person without counsel may have read access through PAMEC but may not file electronically, and an estate starts with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. MEC information: https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Case search | MEC and PAMEC are the Mississippi Electronic Courts access points. Remote PAMEC access requires a registered account and fees may apply. Public viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Forms | Use the statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the documents your attorney prepares. No Lowndes County probate form, small estate affidavit form or instruction sheet is listed on the county Chancery Clerk or Chancery Court pages. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the chancery clerk and your attorney how the chancellor assigned under Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159 handles phone or video requests. The district term order is posted in the chancery clerk's office under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(2). |
| Website | https://www.lowndescountyms.com/176/Chancery-Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before anyone files in Lowndes County, make a practical inventory of the estate settlement: the original will, death certificate, real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, debts, tax items and any property that already has a beneficiary or survivorship owner.
Sunset's asset discovery checks more than 2,300 institutions, which can help a family decide whether the Lowndes County matter is a full chancery case, a muniment of title petition, or a small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Lowndes County is filed with the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk at 505 2nd Avenue North in Columbus. 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).
Venue follows the decedent's fixed place of residence for a will under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1 and for an intestate estate under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63, though the two statutes use different backup rules when the decedent had no fixed place of residence. Chancery court is held in every county under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1).
Lowndes County is in Mississippi's 14th Chancery Court District with Chickasaw, Clay, Noxubee, Oktibbeha and Webster counties. That grouping assigns chancellors and court terms. It does not move a Lowndes County filing to Starkville, West Point, Walthall or another county seat.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, account information, deeds, vehicle titles, debts and tax items before starting the estate settlement.
- Choose the path. A small estate affidavit may work after 30 days if the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and the property is personal property held by a bank, employer or other holder (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). Muniment of title may work when there is a will, Mississippi real property, all known debts are paid and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate fits the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 sum (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). Otherwise, use full administration.
- For a full estate, the executor or administrator must retain an attorney unless that fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi (Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02).
- The attorney prepares the petition. A petition to probate a will attaches a copy of the will as an exhibit, and fiduciary pleadings are personally signed and sworn (UCCR 6.15; UCCR 6.14).
- File on paper with the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk at 505 2nd Avenue North in Columbus, using the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the cost deposit required by UCCR 9.01 and Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. The original will stays with the clerk under 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 letters of administration when the required proof is met (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1; Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-141; Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- Complete the oath and any bond the court or clerk requires under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41.
- The executor or administrator makes reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, mails 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 clerk. Claims not registered within 90 days after the first publication are barred (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151).
- Administer assets, pay allowed debts and taxes, prepare any required accounting, request distribution and obtain a final decree and discharge to close the estate settlement.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lowndes County
Mississippi does not provide a statewide probate packet for families to fill in. The Judiciary links a statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet, and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules set content requirements for petitions, sworn fiduciary filings, accounts and original wills.
In Lowndes County, no county probate form, small estate affidavit form or probate instruction sheet is listed on the Chancery Clerk page or the separate Chancery Court page. For a full estate, the petition is prepared by the attorney required under Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02.
Ask the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk at 662-329-5800 what cover sheet, number of copies, original will handling and payment method the office wants with a paper filing.
Local nuance
Lowndes County-specific considerations
The Lowndes County filing counter and the courtroom address are not the same. Estate filings go to the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk at 505 2nd Avenue North in Columbus.
The county also lists 1121 Main Street in Columbus for the chancery court and chancellors. Treat that as the courtroom or chambers location, not the filing-counter address. If you have both a filing errand and a hearing, call 662-329-5800 before going downtown.
Lowndes County is Columbus. Marion County is Columbia and is a different Mississippi county in a different chancery court district.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means for Lowndes County families |
|---|---|
| MEC completion announced June 30, 2025 | All chancery courts had already been in MEC since June 19, 2023. Attorneys use MEC, while estates still begin with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules revised effective April 18, 2024 | The attorney requirement for fiduciaries remains central to full estate administration (Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02). |
| Small estate and muniment changes effective July 1, 2020 | The small estate affidavit amount is $75,000 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 cross-references that same amount. |
| Separate legal aid intake numbers effective January 1, 2026 | Lowndes County is served by North Mississippi Rural Legal Services through the West Point office. Intake is 1-800-898-8731, and the statewide directory is at mslegalservices.org. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Lowndes County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home in or near Columbus | First determine whether the home passes outside the estate by survivorship or beneficiary planning. If the home does not need court action and the remaining probate personal property fits the $75,000 small estate affidavit rule, the spouse may present the affidavit to the holder after 30 days (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322). If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, ask a Mississippi attorney about muniment of title (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance and real estate details so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path before filing in Columbus. |
| 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, and only personal property needs collection, the affidavit is presented to the bank, employer or other holder rather than filed with the court (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 clerk how the chancellor handles phone or video requests. | Sunset can locate accounts and generate an organized probate packet for the attorney or for the institution receiving a small estate affidavit. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | The small estate affidavit does not transfer the house. If there is a will, all known debts are paid and the non-real, non-exempt probate estate fits the statutory amount, muniment of title may be the focused route (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35). Otherwise, a full Lowndes County administration is likely, with a Mississippi attorney required under UCCR 6.02. The chancellor fixes fiduciary and attorney compensation, and fees are not based on the value of real property (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-299; UCCR 6.12(B); Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). | Sunset helps assemble asset information, prepare the family for the attorney conversation and connect the family to local probate counsel for the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Lowndes County Chancery Clerk | Filing counter for Lowndes County estates, cover sheet questions, paper filing logistics, public viewing of MEC records during regular business hours and current cost deposit information. | 505 2nd Avenue North, Columbus, MS 39701. 662-329-5800. https://www.lowndescountyms.com/176/Chancery-Clerk |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court information | Statewide Chancery Court information and the Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet link. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| MEC and PAMEC | Case access system. Remote PAMEC access requires a registered account and fees may apply; public viewing is available at the clerk's office during regular business hours. | https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Rules for fiduciary matters, including the attorney requirement, sworn fiduciary filings and handling of original wills. | Mississippi Judiciary rules page. |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, West Point office | Legal aid eligibility screening for Lowndes County residents. It may not take an estate-administration matter. The West Point office also operates in the region where NMRLS provides heirs' property resources. | 1-800-898-8731. Office listed at 6671 Highway 45 Alternate South, Abbott, MS. Directory: mslegalservices.org. |
| mslegalservices.org | Statewide legal information site maintained by Mississippi's civil legal services organizations, with topic information, online forms and a directory by service area. | https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area |
When to hire an attorney
For a full Lowndes County estate, 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. The chancellor fixes attorney compensation. The practical exception for many families is not a court case at all: the $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is presented to the holder of personal property and needs no attorney or chancery filing. If cost is the problem, check North Mississippi Rural Legal Services through 1-800-898-8731 and mslegalservices.org first, understanding that legal aid may not take estate administration. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney, which in Mississippi is the step the rules require for a full estate settlement.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, investments and other assets that may affect a Lowndes County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information families need for the attorney, the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk and institutions that may receive a small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain counsel for a full Mississippi estate, Sunset can connect families with a vetted attorney who handles Lowndes County chancery matters.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand assets, next steps and attorney options without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lowndes County?
File with the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk at 505 2nd Avenue North, Columbus, MS 39701. Probate is in the Lowndes County Chancery Court, because Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
Is Lowndes County the same as Columbia, Mississippi?
No. Lowndes County is seated at Columbus. Columbia is the seat of Marion County, which is a different county in a different chancery court district.
Can I file a Lowndes County estate electronically?
An estate starts with a paper filing at the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk's counter. Attorneys use MEC after the case is opened. A person without counsel may have read access through PAMEC but may not file electronically. MEC information is at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
How much is the filing fee in Lowndes County?
No Lowndes County estate total is listed. 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 for an estate filing, $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments. Call 662-329-5800 before filing to confirm the current amount.
Does Lowndes County have its own probate forms?
No Lowndes County probate form, small estate affidavit form or instruction sheet is listed on the county Chancery Clerk or Chancery Court pages. Use the statewide Chancery Clerk Cover Sheet and the documents prepared by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02 for a full estate.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in Lowndes County?
Use of the small estate affidavit is a statewide Mississippi rule, not a Lowndes County filing. After 30 days, a successor may present the affidavit to the holder of personal property if the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and no personal representative has been appointed or is pending (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322).
Can I attend a Lowndes County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask your attorney and the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk. Remote attendance is handled by 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) and Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159.
Can I look up a Lowndes County probate case from home?
MEC and PAMEC are the access points. Remote PAMEC access requires a registered account and fees may apply. Public viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. Start at https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php.
Do I have to go to Columbus for every estate settlement step?
Not always. A small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is presented to the property holder, not filed at the courthouse. A full estate requires a Mississippi attorney under UCCR 6.02, and that attorney can tell you which Lowndes County steps require your signature, original documents or attendance.
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.