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Wilkinson County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Wilkinson County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Wilkinson County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts have jurisdiction over matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk, 525 Main Street, Woodville, MS 39669. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 516, Woodville, MS 39669. |
| Phone | 601-430-1913. |
| Fax | 601-888-6205. |
| [email protected]. | |
| Hours | The office does not post counter hours online. Call 601-430-1913 before visiting, especially near a filing or creditor deadline. |
| Chancery court district | Mississippi's 17th Chancery Court District, Adams, Claiborne, Jefferson and Wilkinson counties. The district assigns chancellors, but the Wilkinson County case is filed in Woodville. |
| Filing fee | Wilkinson County does not post its own estate total online. Under the text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $140.00: $85.00 for an estate of deceased, plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 statutory assessments. Confirm the current amount with the chancery clerk. |
| 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 appointment. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, is a separate personal-property route under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. |
| Local forms | Wilkinson County posts no local estate form, small estate affidavit form or local probate instruction sheet. Use the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and attorney-prepared pleadings. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically, and every estate case opens with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. Start at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Case search | Use MEC and PAMEC at courts.ms.gov/mec. Remote access requires a registered PAMEC account and fees may apply. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk whether the chancellor will allow phone or video attendance for a specific hearing. The answer depends on the chancellor and 17th Chancery Court District practice. |
| Website | https://www.wilkinson.co.ms.gov/chancery-clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Mississippi probate path, make a working list of the assets, debts, account locations, real property and beneficiary designations. In Wilkinson County, that list determines whether the family can use a non-court affidavit, whether a muniment of title petition fits, or whether a full estate must be opened in the chancery court in Woodville.
Sunset's estate settlement process includes asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families avoid opening a case before they know what property actually needs court authority.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Wilkinson County is filed with the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk at 525 Main Street in Woodville. 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). Mississippi circuit courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are granted in the chancery court.
For a will, venue is the chancery court of the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence, with a land-based rule if there was no fixed place of residence and the will devises land (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). For an intestate estate, letters of administration are granted in the chancery court of the county where the decedent had a fixed place of residence, with different backup rules if there was no fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63). Wilkinson County shares Mississippi's 17th Chancery Court District with Adams, Claiborne and Jefferson counties, but that does not move a Wilkinson County filing out of Woodville.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, the asset list, creditor information and the names and addresses of heirs or devisees.
- Choose the route. If the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, and 30 days have passed, a successor may use the personal-property affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020, by presenting it to the holder of the property instead of filing it with a court. If there is a will devising 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, the attorney may consider muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, plan on full administration.
- Retain an attorney before opening a full estate. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney during 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).
- File the opening papers on paper with the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk at 525 Main Street in Woodville, 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 text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $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 court approval, admits the will to probate and grants letters testamentary or letters of administration (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1, § 91-7-63, § 9-5-141). The clerk's act is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-147).
- Address the oath and 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 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 approved debts and taxes, handle any required accounting, distribute property under court authority and seek a final decree and discharge when administration is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Wilkinson County
The Mississippi Judiciary provides a statewide chancery clerk cover sheet, and the Uniform Chancery Court Rules set content requirements for estate pleadings and fiduciary filings. Mississippi does not provide a ready-made statewide probate form packet for opening a full estate, because the petition is drafted by the attorney required by UCCR 6.02.
Wilkinson County posts no local estate form, no local small estate affidavit form and no local probate instruction sheet. The county's posted forms are general county forms, not estate filing forms. Call the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk at 601-430-1913 before filing to confirm the current cover sheet, payment amount and any original-document handling instructions.
Timeline
- Before filing, call the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk at 601-430-1913 for current counter hours and payment instructions. The office does not post counter hours online.
- Wilkinson County's posted chancery sitting dates are the 1st Wednesday and the 3rd Wednesday of each month. These are regular local court dates, not a promised hearing date for any estate case. Chancery court authority comes from Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159.
- After letters are granted, the creditor process begins with diligent efforts to identify creditors, mailed notice, the diligent-search affidavit and publication for three consecutive weeks (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-145).
- Claims must be probated and registered with the clerk within 90 days after first publication or they are barred (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151).
- If a hearing is needed, ask the clerk whether the chancellor assigned to the matter will allow phone or video attendance. Do not rely on the monthly sitting dates as a travel guarantee.
Recent updates
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| June 19, 2023 | Every Mississippi chancery court, including Wilkinson County's, was on Mississippi Electronic Courts. The statewide trial-court rollout finished June 30, 2025. MEC and PAMEC information is at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| July 1, 2020 | The small estate affidavit ceiling became $75,000 under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and muniment of title was rewritten under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. |
| April 18, 2024 | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended, including the fiduciary rules that apply to estates. |
| January 1, 2026 | Mississippi's two civil legal services providers began using separate intake numbers. Wilkinson County's mapped provider is Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915, with information through mslegalservices.org. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Wilkinson County 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 estate is $75,000 or less in personal property, excluding liens and encumbrances, after 30 days, the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 affidavit may handle the remaining property by presentation to the holder. If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 may be the court route, and the house itself does not count against the ceiling. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, title issues and whether the estate settlement may need a Woodville filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less in personal property, excluding liens and encumbrances, the Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 affidavit is presented to the bank or other holder. If letters are needed, a Mississippi attorney must be retained under UCCR 6.02 and the petition opens on paper with the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk. | Sunset organizes the asset list, prepares the information an attorney will need and helps reduce unnecessary travel during estate settlement. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 affidavit does not handle the house. Depending on whether there is a will and whether debts are paid, the route is muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 or full administration in the Wilkinson County Chancery Court. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees 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 helps gather property, mortgage, tax and account information, then connects the family with local probate counsel for the required court filing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk | Receives estate filings, keeps estate records, accepts the original will for a court case and can confirm local filing logistics. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | 525 Main Street, Woodville, MS 39669. Mail: P.O. Box 516, Woodville, MS 39669. Phone: 601-430-1913. Fax: 601-888-6205. Email: [email protected]. |
| Mississippi Judiciary chancery court page | Provides statewide chancery court information and the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet link. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Explains fiduciary requirements, sworn filings, attorney retention under UCCR 6.02 and estate filing duties. | https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/uniform_chancery_rules.pdf |
| MEC and PAMEC | Use courts.ms.gov/mec for Mississippi Electronic Courts and Public Access to Mississippi Electronic Courts. Attorneys file through MEC. Public remote access is through PAMEC, and free viewing is available at the clerk's office during regular business hours. | https://courts.ms.gov/mec. MEC helpdesk: 601-576-4650, [email protected]. |
| mslegalservices.org | Statewide public legal-information site with a directory-by-service-area lookup. Legal aid eligibility and services are limited, and estate administration may not be among the matters accepted. | https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services | Wilkinson County's mapped civil legal services provider. Families who cannot afford counsel can check eligibility, but should not assume the organization will take an estate matter. | Intake: 1-800-519-2915. Information is available through mslegalservices.org. |
When to hire an attorney
For a full Mississippi estate, attorney involvement 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 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 does not create a fiduciary appointment. A Wilkinson County family that cannot afford counsel should check eligibility with Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915 through mslegalservices.org, understanding that estate administration may not be accepted. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before the family chooses an estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet so the Mississippi attorney has the facts needed to prepare the petition, cover sheet and supporting documents for the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires a fiduciary to retain counsel for a full estate, Sunset helps families connect with a vetted local probate attorney for the Woodville filing.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, documents and asset information without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for Wilkinson County?
File a Wilkinson County estate with the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk at 525 Main Street in Woodville. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and venue for a will is tied to the decedent's fixed place of residence under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1.
Should I go to the chancery clerk or the circuit clerk in Woodville?
Go to the chancery clerk for an estate matter. Mississippi circuit courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are granted in the chancery court. The chancery clerk is the filing office for the Wilkinson County Chancery Court (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
How much does it cost to open an estate in Wilkinson County?
Wilkinson County does not post its own estate total online. Under the text of Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 effective until December 31, 2027, the statutory floor is $140.00: $85.00 for an estate of deceased, plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 statutory assessments. Call 601-430-1913 to confirm the current amount before filing.
What are the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk's hours?
The office does not post counter hours online. Call 601-430-1913 before visiting 525 Main Street, especially if you need to file before a deadline.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Wilkinson County?
For a full estate, yes. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires a fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, is a different personal-property process under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 and is not filed as a court case.
Can I e-file a Wilkinson County estate case?
Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, but every estate case begins with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically. Start with courts.ms.gov/mec.
How do I look up a Wilkinson County chancery case?
Use MEC and PAMEC at courts.ms.gov/mec for Mississippi Electronic Courts access. Remote PAMEC access requires registration and fees may apply. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk's office during regular business hours.
Does Wilkinson County have local probate forms?
Wilkinson County posts no local estate form, no local small estate affidavit form and no local probate instruction sheet. Use the statewide chancery clerk cover sheet and attorney-prepared pleadings. The petition must follow the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, including UCCR 6.14 and UCCR 6.15.
Will I have to travel to Woodville?
It depends on the route. The Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 affidavit for qualifying personal property is presented to the holder, not opened as a court case. For a full estate, the attorney files on paper with the Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk, and any hearing attendance depends on the chancellor's instructions and 17th Chancery Court District practice (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
What should be sent with a first estate filing?
For a court estate, the attorney generally needs the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a copy of the will attached to the petition under UCCR 6.15, the chancery clerk cover sheet and the court cost deposit under UCCR 9.01 and Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9. The original will stays with the clerk under UCCR 9.03.
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.