Mississippi ranks 18th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#24of 51
Speed#10of 51
Ease of ordering#24 (tie)of 51
Birth certificates #20 of 51
Cost
$17 first copy, $6 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: 3–5 business days; mail: 7–10 business days; in person: same day in most cases
Time until the copy is in hand
About 2–3 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State vital records office (walk-in in Ridgeland)
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from November 1912
Marriage records #12 of 51
Cost
$17 first copy, $6 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: 3–5 business days; mail: 7–10 business days; in person: requests are mailed within 7–10 business days
Time until the copy is in hand
About 2–3 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or the county Circuit Clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State statistical records for 1926 to June 1938 and from 1942; otherwise the Circuit Clerk in the county where the license was issued
Divorce records #27 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted
Order online
No statewide online ordering
Death certificates #19 of 51
Cost
$17 first copy, $6 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: 3–5 business days; mail: 7–10 business days; in person: requests are mailed within 7–10 business days
Time until the copy is in hand
About 2–3 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State vital records office (walk-in in Ridgeland)
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from November 1912
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Mississippi birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a Mississippi birth certificate?
A certified Mississippi birth certificate costs $17, plus $6 for each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time, from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Office of Vital Records. Walk-in customers in Ridgeland usually get it the same day; mail orders are processed in 7–10 business days.
Mississippi birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Only people with a legitimate and tangible interest: the person named (if of legal age), a parent listed on the record, a spouse, sibling, grandparent or child, a legal guardian (with guardianship papers), a legal representative (with proof), a licensed adoption agency, or someone with a court order. Genealogists can get plain-paper copies by stating genealogy as the purpose and giving their relationship.
Fee
$17, a non-refundable search fee that includes one certified copy or a “Not on File” statement. $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Extras: online and phone orders go through a private vendor (VitalChek) for an additional fee, with optional UPS expedited delivery.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or 1-877-295-4229 (credit card). By mail: the Birth Certificate Application (Form 522), a photocopy of your ID and a money order or cashier’s check payable to “Mississippi Vital Records” (no cash or personal checks) to MSDH Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. In person: 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Pay by cash, money order, cashier’s check or card (no personal checks).
ID needed
A copy of one photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, employment ID, school ID, U.S. military ID, tribal ID, permanent or temporary resident card, or U.S. passport. Without one, send two of these: Social Security card, utility bill showing your address, Medicaid card, SNAP/EBT card showing your address, work ID, or Veteran Universal Access ID card. Applications without acceptable ID are returned.
Processing time
In person: same day, unless a search is required. Online and phone orders: processed in 3–5 business days with UPS expedited delivery. Mail (standard USPS orders): processed in 7–10 business days. Estimate: plan on about 2–3 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
MSDH has birth records from November 1912 on. Certified birth records are restricted for 100 years from the date of birth. MSDH issues only long-form certificates; short-form or abstract birth certificates are no longer issued.
Tip: Paying by mail? Use a money order or cashier’s check. MSDH doesn’t accept personal checks or cash by mail.
A certified Mississippi death certificate costs $17, plus $6 for each extra copy ordered at the same time, from the MSDH Office of Vital Records. Even if you apply in person in Ridgeland, the certificate is mailed within 7–10 business days.
Mississippi death records: ordering details
Who can order
Only people with a legitimate and tangible interest: a parent listed on the record; the spouse, a sibling, grandparent or child (with proof of relationship); the informant listed on the record; a legal guardian or legal representative (with proof); the funeral home on record; or someone with a court order. Others must prove a direct interest, for example with a joint deed or an insurance policy naming them. Genealogists can get plain-paper copies.
Fee
$17 non-refundable search fee, including one certified copy or a “Not on File” statement. $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Online and phone orders add a vendor fee.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or 1-877-295-4229. By mail: the Death Certificate Application, a copy of your ID and a money order or cashier’s check payable to “Mississippi Vital Records” to P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. In person: 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (cash, money order, cashier’s check or card).
ID needed
A copy of a valid photo ID from MSDH’s list, or two alternative documents (such as a Social Security card and a utility bill showing your address), plus proof of your relationship.
Processing time
In person: mailed within 7–10 business days. Online and phone: processed in 3–5 business days with UPS expedited delivery. Mail: processed in 7–10 business days. Estimate: plan on about 2–3 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
MSDH has death records from November 1, 1912 on. Certified death records are restricted for 50 years from the date of death.
Tip: For the fastest delivery, order online or by phone and choose UPS expedited shipping. Walk-in death orders are mailed, not handed over the same day.
A certified Mississippi marriage record costs $17, plus $6 for each extra copy, from the MSDH Office of Vital Records for marriages from January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938 and from January 1, 1942 on. For other years, or if the state doesn’t have the record, contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the license was issued.
Mississippi marriage records: ordering details
Who can order
People with a legitimate and tangible interest: the people named on the record; their parents, spouse, siblings, grandparents or children (with proof of relationship); a legal representative; or someone with a court order. Genealogists can get plain-paper copies.
Fee
State: $17 non-refundable search fee, including one certified copy or a “Not on File” statement; $6 for each additional copy. Online and phone orders add a vendor fee. Circuit Clerk fees vary by county.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or 1-877-295-4229. By mail: the Marriage Record Application, a copy of your ID and a money order or cashier’s check payable to “Mississippi Vital Records” to P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. In person: 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland (record mailed within 7–10 business days), or the county Circuit Clerk.
ID needed
A copy of a valid photo ID from MSDH’s list, or two alternative documents.
Processing time
State: mailed within 7–10 business days of an in-person order; 3–5 business days for online or phone orders with UPS; 7–10 business days for mail orders. Circuit Clerk: varies by county.
Older records
MSDH marriage records start January 1, 1926. From July 1, 1938 to December 31, 1941, records were kept only by the Circuit Clerk in the county where the license was issued. Not every marriage was filed with the state, so check with the Circuit Clerk if MSDH can’t find yours.
Tip: Married between July 1938 and December 1941? Go straight to the Circuit Clerk. The state has no records for those years.
Certified copies of Mississippi divorce decrees come only from the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. MSDH doesn’t keep divorce records, but for $17 it will do a five-year search of the divorce index to find the county, book and page.
Mississippi divorce records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
Divorce decree (certified copy): from the county Chancery Clerk. MSDH index search: a five-year search that tells you the county where the divorce was granted and the book and page where it was recorded. Not a certified copy.
Who can order
Decree: contact the Chancery Clerk. Index search: contact MSDH Vital Records.
Fee
MSDH five-year index search: $17. Certified decree: set by the Chancery Clerk.
How to order
Decree: contact the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Index search: contact MSDH Vital Records at 601-206-8200 or VRInfo@msdh.ms.gov.
ID needed
Contact the Chancery Clerk.
Processing time
Varies by county.
Older records
The MSDH index covers January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938 and January 1, 1942 to the present. Not every divorce is on file with the state.
Tip: Not sure which county granted the divorce? The $17 MSDH index search can find it, along with the book and page number to give the Chancery Clerk.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Mississippi records people search for
Official Mississippi sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Mississippi public records
Certificate Information
Two state departments manages vital records for Mississippi. Birth and death records for all mississippi counties are available
from 1912 to present at either the county locations or through the Vital Records office. Older records are available from the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Mississippi Vital Records
571 Stadium Drive
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
(601) 576-7981
Marriage and divorce records are available during certain time periods. Jan 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938 and Jan 1, 1942
to present. All other records are available from the local county office or court. The vital records department doesn't
provide actual divorce records, but a search returns an index of divorces and provides the Chancery Clerk's Office
in which the divorce was filed.
Adoption Records in Mississippi prior to 1955 are cosidered open records and available from the county. Nonidentifying
information is availble to adult age adoptees, parents or guardians of a minor adoptee, birth parents and family. Adoptees
of age 21 or older are allowed to view identifying information and records.
Property Records
Most property records including parcel information, ownership, tax assessments, and land use are maintained by the county
Chancery Clerk. There is also partial information available from individual departments such as GIS and county assessor.
