Back to Mississippi
Yazoo County, MS Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Yazoo County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Yazoo County Chancery Court. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159). |
| Probate filings go to | Yazoo County Chancery Clerk, 211 E. Broadway St., Yazoo City, MS 39194. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 68, Yazoo City, MS 39194. |
| Phone | 662-746-2661. |
| Fax | 662-746-3893. |
| Hours | Call 662-746-2661 before visiting to confirm current public counter hours and any filing cutoff. |
| Filing fee | No Yazoo County estate total is listed on the county's pages. For the text effective until December 31, 2027, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 sets the chancery clerk fee for opening an estate at $85.00, plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments, for a $140.00 statutory floor. Confirm the current total with the chancery clerk before filing. |
| Local forms | No local Yazoo County estate packet is listed on the county's pages. Use the Mississippi chancery clerk cover sheet and the petition prepared by the attorney required by Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file through Mississippi Electronic Courts, MEC, after the case is opened. A self-represented party may have read-only PAMEC access but may not file electronically unless that person is an attorney. Estate cases open with a paper filing at the chancery clerk's counter. See courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Case search | Use MEC and PAMEC through courts.ms.gov/mec. Remote PAMEC access requires a registered account. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk whether the chancellor and the 11th Chancery Court District will allow attendance by phone or video for a particular setting. |
| 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 a Mississippi-licensed lawyer. The $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 needs no court filing and no attorney. |
| Website | https://www.yazoocounty.net/chancery-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before starting a Yazoo County estate settlement, make a practical list of the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, co-owned property and real estate. The right Mississippi path depends on what needs court authority, what passes outside the estate, and whether a bank or title company will require letters testamentary or letters of administration.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families look for accounts, insurance, retirement plans and other property before they spend money opening a full estate. That inventory also helps the Mississippi attorney decide whether the $75,000 small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020, muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35, or full administration fits the estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Yazoo County is filed with the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk in Yazoo City. Yazoo County is part of Mississippi's 11th Chancery Court District, together with Holmes, Leake and Madison counties, but the district is how chancellors are assigned. A Yazoo County estate is filed at this county's own courthouse.
Mississippi circuit courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are granted in the chancery court. 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, with the statutory land fallback if there was no fixed place of residence (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1). Letters of administration for an intestate estate use a separate venue ladder in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-63. Chancery court is held in each Mississippi county (Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-3(1); Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of assets and debts, and any deed or account paperwork needed for the Yazoo County estate settlement.
- Choose the Mississippi path. If at least 30 days have passed and the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, the successor may use the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020, by presenting it to the person or institution holding the personal property. It is not a court filing and it does not transfer real property. If the decedent left 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 sum, ask about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. Otherwise, use full administration.
- For full administration, retain an attorney. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02 requires every fiduciary to retain an attorney unless the fiduciary is licensed to practice law in Mississippi.
- 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 the fiduciary must be personally signed and sworn by the fiduciary (UCCR 6.14).
- File the opening papers on paper with the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk at 211 E. Broadway St. in Yazoo City, with the chancery clerk cover sheet and the court cost deposit. Under the text effective until December 31, 2027, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 provides a $140.00 statutory floor for opening an estate, made up of the $85.00 clerk fee plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments. The clerk may require an additional deposit under UCCR 9.01. 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, admits the will to probate in common form and grants letters testamentary, or grants letters of administration when there is no will. The clerk's act is not final until approved by the court (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-1, 91-7-63, 9-5-141, 9-5-147; Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159).
- Provide bond if the court or clerk requires it under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-41.
- 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 Yazoo County 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, prepare any required accountings, seek the court's final decree of distribution, and obtain discharge from the chancery court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Yazoo County
Yazoo County's public county pages do not list a local estate packet, local small estate affidavit, or local muniment of title form. Mississippi practice uses the chancery clerk cover sheet, the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, and a petition prepared by the attorney required for a full estate under Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02.
Ask the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk at 662-746-2661 what the office wants included with the paper filing, what payee name to use for checks, and whether any local cover sheet or filing checklist has been added. Do not rely on a form that prints an older small estate amount; the current small estate affidavit amount is $75,000, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means in Yazoo County |
|---|---|
| MEC completion | Mississippi Electronic Courts completed statewide on June 30, 2025, and all chancery courts had been implemented as of June 19, 2023. Yazoo County estate cases follow the MEC and PAMEC framework at courts.ms.gov/mec. |
| Small estate affidavit and muniment of title changes | The small estate affidavit amount became $75,000 effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, and muniment of title was revised under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | The Uniform Chancery Court Rules were revised and amended effective April 18, 2024, including the fiduciary attorney rule in UCCR 6.02. |
| Legal aid intake numbers | North Mississippi Rural Legal Services uses 1-800-898-8731 and Mississippi Center for Legal Services uses 1-800-519-2915 as separate intake numbers beginning January 1, 2026. Yazoo County is listed with the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Vicksburg office. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Yazoo County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the Yazoo County home is titled. If the home passes outside the estate and the remaining probate personal property is $75,000 or less, effective July 1, 2020, the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 may resolve the personal property without a courthouse filing. If a will devises the home and all known debts are paid, ask the attorney about muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35. | Sunset helps identify accounts, deeds and beneficiary designations before the family chooses the estate settlement path. |
| 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 may present the small estate affidavit under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322, effective July 1, 2020, to the bank or other holder. If letters are needed, a Mississippi attorney is required under UCCR 6.02 and should ask the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk about any phone or video attendance for settings. | Sunset helps gather asset information remotely and helps prepare questions for the Mississippi attorney. |
| 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 Yazoo County house. If there is a will and debts are paid, muniment of title under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-35 may be possible. Otherwise, full administration in the Yazoo County Chancery Court is likely, with an attorney required under UCCR 6.02. The chancellor fixes fiduciary compensation and attorney fees 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 assemble the probate packet, organize asset information, and connect the family with a vetted Mississippi probate attorney for the required filing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Yazoo County families | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Yazoo County Chancery Clerk | Filing counter for Yazoo County estate cases, paper filings, local filing questions, public viewing at the clerk's office, and certified copies after filing. The clerk cannot provide legal advice. | 211 E. Broadway St., Yazoo City, MS 39194. Phone 662-746-2661. Fax 662-746-3893. https://www.yazoocounty.net/chancery-clerk/ |
| Mississippi Center for Legal Services, Vicksburg office | Yazoo County is listed with the Vicksburg office. Estate administration may not be a covered service, but eligible families can ask for screening, information, or referral help. | Intake 1-800-519-2915. Use the directory at mslegalservices.org. |
| mslegalservices.org | Public legal information site with a service-area directory for Mississippi legal aid programs and online legal information. | https://www.mslegalservices.org/find-legal-help/directory/area |
| Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Courts page | Links to chancery court information and the chancery clerk cover sheet used with chancery filings. | https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php |
| Uniform Chancery Court Rules | Rules for fiduciary matters, including the attorney requirement in UCCR 6.02, sworn filings, accountings and original wills. | https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/uniform_chancery_rules.pdf |
| MEC and PAMEC | Remote docket and document access is through PAMEC with a registered account. Free viewing is available at the chancery clerk's office during regular business hours. | https://courts.ms.gov/mec |
When to hire an attorney
For a full Yazoo County estate, Uniform Chancery Court Rule 6.02(A) requires every fiduciary, unless licensed to practice law in Mississippi, to retain an attorney for the entire term of the appointment, and the chancellor fixes the attorney fee. The practical exception is not a court case at all: the $75,000 small estate affidavit, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 is presented to the holder of personal property and needs no attorney. A family that cannot afford counsel should check eligibility through mslegalservices.org and the Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-519-2915, while understanding that legal aid may not take estate administration matters. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney, which Mississippi rules require for a full estate.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before the family commits to a Yazoo County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information your Mississippi attorney needs for the petition, asset list, family information and filing plan, including whether the matter belongs in full administration, muniment of title, or the small estate affidavit path.
Find a local probate attorney. Because UCCR 6.02 requires an executor or administrator to retain an attorney for a full Mississippi estate, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney familiar with chancery practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets and prepare for the attorney conversation without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Yazoo County?
File a Yazoo County estate with the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk in Yazoo City. Mississippi chancery courts handle matters testamentary and of administration (Miss. Const. art. 6, § 159), and venue for a will is the county where the testator had a fixed place of residence under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-1.
Does the circuit court handle Yazoo County probate?
No. Mississippi circuit courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are granted in the chancery court. In Yazoo County, the filing counter is the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk.
What is the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk address?
The chancery clerk is at 211 E. Broadway St., Yazoo City, MS 39194. Mail goes to P.O. Box 68, Yazoo City, MS 39194. Call 662-746-2661 before visiting.
Can I e-file a Yazoo County estate?
Attorneys use Mississippi Electronic Courts after the case is opened, and public read-only access is through PAMEC at courts.ms.gov/mec. A full estate begins with a conventional paper filing at the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk's counter, and a self-represented party may not file electronically unless that person is an attorney.
How much is the filing fee in Yazoo County?
No Yazoo County estate total is listed on the county's public pages. For the text effective until December 31, 2027, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9 sets a $140.00 statutory floor for opening an estate, made up of an $85.00 clerk fee plus $10.00, $40.00 and $5.00 in statutory assessments. Call the chancery clerk for the current total before filing.
Does Yazoo County have local probate forms?
Yazoo County's public pages do not list a local estate packet. Full estate filings use the chancery clerk cover sheet, the Uniform Chancery Court Rules, and a petition prepared by the attorney required under UCCR 6.02.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in Yazoo County?
Yes, if the Mississippi requirements fit. After 30 days, a successor may present the small estate affidavit to the holder of personal property when the entire probate estate is $75,000 or less, excluding liens and encumbrances, effective July 1, 2020, under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322. It is not filed with the court and it does not transfer real property.
Do I have to travel to Yazoo City for a probate hearing?
Do not assume either way. Whether attendance by phone or video is allowed depends on the chancellor and 11th Chancery Court District practice. Ask your attorney and the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk before travel is booked.
How do I look up a Yazoo County estate case?
Use MEC and PAMEC at courts.ms.gov/mec for remote public access with a registered account. Free viewing of filed civil documents is available at the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk's office during regular business hours.
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.