How to Search Forrest County Court Records
Forrest County court records sit in more than one place. No single site holds every case. The court that made a record keeps it, so the search starts with the type of case. Felony and large civil files live with the Circuit Court. Divorce, estate, land, and guardianship files live with the Chancery Court. Small claims and county misdemeanors stay with the Justice Court. City tickets and city misdemeanors belong to the Hattiesburg Municipal Court. Pick the right court first, then use its tool.
A good first stop is the official county government site at forrestcountyms.us, which links the county courts, the clerks, and a full department directory.
The county homepage points to each court office, which helps a searcher confirm where a Forrest County court record is held before sending a request. Gather a few details before you begin. A full name, a case number, or a filing date will speed any search. Name searches usually run last name first. Date ranges help when a name is common. Some tools are free to view, while others charge for copies or need an account.
- Decide the court type. Felonies and major civil suits go to Circuit Court. Divorce, estates, guardianship, land, adoption, and paternity go to Chancery Court. Claims up to $3,500 and low-level county crimes go to Justice Court. Youth matters go to County and Youth Court and stay mostly closed.
- For Chancery cases, open the Delta Computer Systems Chancery Court case search for Forrest County. Search by party name, case number, filed date, disposition date, docket book and page, or file number.
- For land records, use the Chancery Clerk records portal. The online index is not the official record, and the courthouse Land Records Index controls. Card copies bought online are final and carry a service fee.
- For Circuit and County Court, check Mississippi Electronic Courts. Both courts went live on the system on July 27, 2020. Some documents need a PAMEC account or a fee.
- For Justice Court matters, call the Justice Court Clerk at (601) 544-3136 or visit 700 Main Street. The county also links an online fine-payment tool for Justice Court fines.
- For Hattiesburg city cases, use the Municipal Court search portal or the public computer in the court lobby. Online payment was down during a software change, so call 601-545-4933 about fines.
Which Forrest County Court Holds Your Record
Downtown Hattiesburg holds a tight cluster of court buildings, and each address means a different record set. The Circuit Court and Circuit Clerk work from 630 Main Street. The Chancery Court and Chancery Clerk sit at 641 North Main Street. The Justice Court is at 700 Main Street. The County Court and Youth Court are at 110 Alcorn Avenue. The Hattiesburg Municipal Court stands apart at 701 James Street. The Sheriff and the jail are on Arena Drive. Matching the case to the building saves a wasted trip.
Important: Forrest County has no master court database. Circuit and County cases run on Mississippi Electronic Courts, Chancery cases run on Delta Computer Systems, and Hattiesburg tickets run on a separate city portal, so always use the court that created the record.
Forrest County Circuit Court
630 Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-3213
Forrest County Chancery Court
641 North Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-6041
County & Youth Court
110 Alcorn Avenue
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-6100
Forrest County Justice Court
700 Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-3136
The Forrest County Judicial System
Mississippi uses several trial courts rather than one. Forrest County sits in the Twelfth Circuit Court District with Perry County, and the Circuit Court is the main trial court for felonies, civil lawsuits, and appeals from lower courts. The Chancery Court is part of the Tenth Chancery District, which also covers Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, and Perry Counties. It hears divorce, estate, guardianship, land, and commitment cases. County Court has one judge, the Honorable Carol Jones Russell, and also runs Youth Court. Justice Court has four districts, and the Hattiesburg Municipal Court handles city cases.
Appeals move up a clear ladder. The Circuit Court hears appeals from County, Justice, and Municipal courts. Cases that leave the trial level go to the Mississippi Court of Appeals or the Mississippi Supreme Court, depending on the issue and the assignment. The Tenth Chancery District site posts chancellor dockets, settings, and filing rules, while the Twelfth Circuit Court District site posts judges, calendars, and forms.
Case flow: Justice Court › County Court › Circuit Court › Mississippi Court of Appeals
Comparing Forrest County Trial Courts
Each court has its own job. The table below shows what each Forrest County court handles and where it works, so a searcher can match a case to the right office.
| Court | Main Cases | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Felonies, large civil suits, appeals from lower courts | Twelfth Circuit; 630 Main Street; records via Circuit Clerk and MEC |
| Chancery Court | Divorce, estates, guardianship, land, adoption, commitments | Tenth Chancery; 641 North Main Street; cases on Delta |
| County & Youth Court | Youth court, eminent domain, unlawful entry and detainer, partition | One judge; 110 Alcorn Avenue; youth files closed |
| Justice Court | Small civil claims, low-level county crimes | Claims up to $3,500; 700 Main Street; four districts |
| Municipal Court | City misdemeanors, traffic tickets, first appearances | Hattiesburg; 701 James Street; city online portal |
Types of Court Records in Forrest County
The county produces many record types, and the court that hears a case sets where its file lives. Circuit Court builds felony and major civil files. Chancery Court builds family, estate, and land files. Justice and Municipal courts build small claims, county crime, and city ticket files. A short map of the main groups helps a first-time searcher.
- Criminal records - Felony case files at Circuit Court; lower-level crimes at Justice and Municipal courts.
- Civil records - Lawsuits at Circuit Court and small money or property claims under $3,500 at Justice Court.
- Family and divorce records - Divorce, custody, paternity, and support files at Chancery Court.
- Probate records - Estates, wills, guardianship, and conservatorship files at Chancery Court.
- Traffic records - City tickets at Hattiesburg Municipal Court and county traffic matters at Justice Court.
- Youth records - Youth Court files that the law keeps confidential in most cases.
Searching Forrest County Chancery Cases
Chancery cases run on the Delta Computer Systems Chancery Court Cases Link for Forrest County. The page reads, "To view case information, enter the information into one of the fields below then click on the submit button." A user can search by name, by number, or by date. Refinements apply only to name searches. The fields below show what the form accepts.
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Party Name (last, first) | Text | Name search; refinements apply only here |
| Case Number | Text | Direct lookup when the number is known |
| Filed Date | Date | Find recent filings |
| Final Disposition Date | Date | Find closed cases |
| Docket (Book/Page) | Text | Older docket references |
| File Number | Text | Clerk-provided reference |
| Use Refinements? | Radio | Yes or No |
| Filing Date Range | Date | From and to, for name searches |
| Nature of Action | Dropdown | Filter by case type |
What Forrest County Court Records Show
The Circuit Clerk keeps the court docket, and the official county description spells out what a case file can hold. It lists names and parties, pleas, indictments, lower-court records on appeal, and papers entered and referenced to the minute book. Chancery and other court files follow a similar pattern. The list below shows the data a searcher can expect to see.
- Case number - The court's file ID; formats vary by court and portal.
- Parties - Names of the plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, or respondent.
- Filing and disposition dates - When the case opened and when it closed.
- Pleas and indictments - Charging papers and the defendant's response in criminal cases.
- Orders and judgments - The judge's written rulings and the final decision.
- Fines, costs, and bonds - Money owed, balances, and release terms where shown.
Note: Some fields are redacted by law, such as Social Security numbers, minor names, and sealed or youth-court entries, so a public result may not show every detail.
Public Access Laws for Forrest County Records
Most court files in Forrest County are open to the public. The Mississippi Public Records Act sets the rule, and the law is read in favor of release. A requester sends the request to the office that holds the record. For court files, that means the Circuit Clerk, the Chancery Clerk, the Justice Court Clerk, or the Municipal Court. The Sheriff's Office handles its own records and takes requests at fcsorecords@co.forrest.ms.us.
Key Statutes:
Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 - Sets up the Public Records Act and the policy that records stay open unless the law says otherwise.
Mississippi Code § 25-61-5 - Gives the public a right to inspect, copy, or reproduce records under reasonable written rules.
Mississippi Code § 25-61-7 - Lets a public body charge the costs tied to providing records.
Mississippi Code § 25-61-13 - Gives the Ethics Commission power to enforce access and to hear complaints when access is denied.
Mississippi Code § 99-19-71 - Allows expunction of qualifying misdemeanor and felony convictions under set conditions.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Public access is broad but not total. Youth-court files involving children are confidential under Mississippi Code § 43-21-261, and only set users or a youth-court order can open them. Adoption files, mental-health commitment files, and sealed or expunged records are not ordinary public records. Private data such as account numbers and medical details can be redacted, so a file may be part open and part closed.
Viewing a closed record usually takes a court step. A youth matter routes to the County and Youth Court or the Circuit Clerk, who serves as youth-court clerk. A sealed or expunged record may need a petition in the court that handled the case. Expunction starts in the court of conviction, where the person shows eligibility, paid costs, and the right waiting period before a judge can grant the order.
How to Read Forrest County Court Records
Court files use words that carry exact meaning. A charge is not the same as a conviction. A charge is an alleged offense filed after an arrest or citation, while a conviction is a finding or plea of guilt. The terms below appear across Forrest County dockets and help a reader follow a case.
- Plaintiff
- The person or entity that starts a civil lawsuit.
- Defendant
- The person or entity that is sued or charged.
- Indictment
- A grand-jury charging paper for a felony.
- Plea
- The defendant's formal answer to a charge, such as guilty or not guilty.
- Disposition
- The final outcome of a charge or a case.
- Bench warrant
- A warrant a judge issues, often after a missed court date.
Specialty Courts in Forrest County
Forrest County runs two treatment-focused court programs. The Hattiesburg Behavioral Health Court began in 2010 for misdemeanor defendants who face mental-health issues. It works with the Hattiesburg Police Department and Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources. The goal is to cut repeat offending through treatment and support. Listed benefits include a special team, treatment for mental-health needs or addiction, and possible dismissal or removal from formal probation when a participant follows the plan.
The Twelfth Circuit Court District also runs a Drug Court at the circuit level. The court site links the program under the circuit judges, and it serves felony defendants or probationers who meet program rules. Eligibility, length, and the sanction model change over time, so users should confirm current terms through the circuit court office. Both programs offer an alternative path that can lower the long-term record impact for those who finish.
Forrest County Sheriff and Jail
The Forrest County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Charlie Sims and runs the Adult Detention Center on Arena Drive. The official Sheriff's Office site links a live inmate roster hosted on JailTracker, along with a public-records page and a Most Wanted list. The roster runs as a web app, so it can be slow to load. If it fails, callers can reach the Adult Detention Center at (601) 545-6148 or dispatch at (601) 544-7800.
The county jail holds local and pretrial inmates, while the state prison system is separate. For a full booking lookup, see the Forrest County inmate records page, which covers the roster, the jail, and the state search. To check for an active warrant and the right court to call, see the warrant records page, since the county has no single warrant database.
Forrest County Court Records Fees
Fees differ by office, and not every office publishes a set rate. Certified-copy and filing fees for the Circuit and Chancery clerks were not posted in the official sources reviewed, so callers should confirm those before a visit. The Sheriff's Office posts a clear cost schedule for public records, and the Chancery land portal lists an online service fee. The table shows the published amounts.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sheriff black-and-white copy, per page | $0.15 |
| Sheriff color copy, per page | $0.25 |
| Sheriff search, review, or redaction | Actual staff cost |
| Sheriff email under 25MB | No charge |
| Sheriff USB drive or CD | $10 each |
| Sheriff report to involved party | $5 flat fee |
| Chancery online copy service fee | 3.5% ($2.00 minimum) |
Note: Sheriff records requests need advance payment by cash, check, or money order, and a small job may be waived when staff time runs under 15 minutes.
Marriage, Divorce, and Chancery Court Records
Marriage, divorce, and estate files all touch the Chancery Clerk in Forrest County. The Mississippi State Department of Health can supply a marriage record and can search for the county that issued the license. For divorce, the health department does not keep decrees, but it runs a five-year index search for $17 that returns the county, book, and page. A certified divorce decree comes from the divorce index process only as a pointer; the decree itself comes from the Chancery Clerk.
Full details, fees, and steps live on the dedicated pages for marriage and divorce records and probate records. Probate covers wills, estates, and guardianship, and a few terms come up often.
- Testator
- A person who makes a will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to settle the estate.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will.
- Guardianship
- Court-ordered care for a minor or a person who cannot manage affairs.
- Conservator
- A person the court names to manage another's money or property.
Recent Updates for Forrest County Court Users
The Forrest County bench has changed in recent years. Governor Tate Reeves appointed Judge T. Michael Reed to the Twelfth Circuit, with his term starting July 1, 2025, to fill the seat of retired Judge Robert B. Helfrich. Judge Wes Curry was appointed to fill the seat of retired Judge Jon Mark Weathers. In June 2024, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker named Brian R. Bledsoe, Gay Polk-Payton, and Mary Moore Conville to municipal judicial posts.
Court technology has shifted too. The Forrest County Circuit Court and County Court went live on Mississippi Electronic Courts on July 27, 2020, which moved much circuit filing online. The Hattiesburg Municipal Court was moving to new software when its page was last checked, and online payment was down, so the court directed fine questions to 601-545-4933. The Chancery Court keeps an online case search and a separate land-records portal with card-copy purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Forrest County court records online?
Start with the court that made the record. Chancery cases run on the Delta Computer Systems case search. Circuit and County cases run on Mississippi Electronic Courts. Hattiesburg city tickets run on the Municipal Court portal. The county homepage at forrestcountyms.us links each office, so you can confirm the right tool before you search.
Which Forrest County court handles felony cases?
The Circuit Court hears felonies and major civil suits. It sits at 630 Main Street in Hattiesburg, and the Circuit Clerk keeps the docket. Forrest County is part of the Twelfth Circuit Court District with Perry County. The Circuit Clerk's file can show names, pleas, indictments, and papers tied to the minute book.
Are Forrest County court records free to view?
Many records are free to view online, since the Public Records Act keeps most court files open. Viewing is one thing and copies are another. Offices may charge for copies, certified documents, or staff time. The Sheriff posts set copy fees, and the Chancery land portal adds a service fee on online card purchases.
How do I get a certified copy of a Forrest County record?
Contact the office that holds the record. Circuit case copies come from the Circuit Clerk, and divorce, estate, or land copies come from the Chancery Clerk. Certified-copy fees were not posted in the official sources reviewed, so call ahead to confirm the cost and the accepted payment method before you visit.
Why can a record not show up on one website?
Forrest County splits its records across systems. There is no master database. A Chancery file will not appear in the Circuit Court system, and a city ticket will not appear in either. If a search comes up empty, switch to the court that handled the case and try its own tool or call its clerk.
How do I check on someone in the Forrest County jail?
Use the Sheriff's Office inmate roster on JailTracker for current local custody. The roster loads as a web app and can be slow, so if it fails, call the Adult Detention Center at (601) 545-6148. State prison inmates are found through a separate search, not the county roster. The inmate records page covers both paths.