Monroe County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Monroe County in 2026
MonroeMSRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records in Monroe County, Mississippi. Members of the public seeking government documents may access a range of records through official county offices, state agencies, and authorized online portals. Available record categories include, but are not limited to:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessments
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Business licenses and permits
- Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law)
- Voting and election records
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Land use and zoning documents
Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.
Online Access: The Monroe County Board of Supervisors and affiliated offices maintain publicly accessible records through the county's official web presence. The Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk provides case index information online. Property records and tax assessment data are accessible through the Monroe County Tax Assessor's portal. Members of the public may also submit a public records request through the county's designated online channels.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Monroe County Courthouse, located at 301 South Commerce Street, Aberdeen, MS 39730. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office and the Chancery Court Clerk's Office both maintain public counters during standard business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be directed to the relevant custodial office at the Monroe County Courthouse, P.O. Box 578, Aberdeen, MS 39730. Requests must identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow retrieval. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, public bodies are required to respond to written requests within a reasonable time.
Phone/Email: The Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk's Office may be reached at (662) 369-8143. The Chancery Court Clerk's Office is reachable at (662) 369-8143. Email contact information is available through the county's official website.
What Are Public Records in Monroe County?
Public records in Monroe County are defined under Mississippi state law as all books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, cards, tapes, recordings, or reproductions thereof, and any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct, transaction, or performance of any business, transaction, work, duty, or function of any public body. This definition is codified under Mississippi Code § 25-61-3, which governs the Mississippi Public Records Act.
The following record types are maintained by Monroe County offices and state agencies:
| Record Type | Custodial Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Circuit Court Clerk |
| Probate and chancery records | Chancery Court Clerk |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Chancery Court Clerk |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records |
| Tax assessment records | County Tax Assessor |
| Business licenses and permits | County Board of Supervisors |
| Voting and election records | County Election Commission |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Board of Supervisors |
| Law enforcement records | Monroe County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | County Planning Department |
Birth and death certificates issued in Mississippi are maintained at the state level by the Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records office, located at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
Is Monroe County an Open Records County?
Monroe County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's open records framework. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, § 25-61-1 et seq., all public records are presumed to be open and available for inspection and copying by any person unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act establishes that government transparency is a fundamental principle of democratic governance in the state.
As stated in the Mississippi Public Records Act, "all public records are hereby declared to be public property, and any person shall have the right to inspect, copy, or mechanically reproduce or obtain a reproduction of any public record." This provision applies to all county offices, boards, and agencies operating within Monroe County.
The county does not maintain a separate local ordinance governing public records access; state law serves as the controlling authority. Members of the public seeking records from Monroe County agencies may submit requests directly to the relevant custodial office. The Monroe County Freedom of Information request process outlines the procedures applicable to records requests, noting that responses may take up to 20 days or longer depending on the complexity of the request.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Monroe County?
The fee structure for public records in Monroe County is governed by state law and the policies of individual custodial offices. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-7, public bodies may charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of searching, reviewing, and duplicating records.
Standard fees applicable to Monroe County public records requests include:
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.25–$1.00 (varies by office) |
| Certification of records | $1.00–$5.00 per document |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of reproduction |
| Search fees | Actual staff time (where permitted) |
| Inspection (in-person review) | No charge |
Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, money order, and personal check made payable to the relevant county office. Fees for vital records obtained through the Mississippi State Department of Health are set separately and are available through the MSDH Vital Records office. Fee waiver provisions may apply in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.
Does Monroe County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at county offices during regular business hours. Under Mississippi law, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting records in person; charges apply only when copies or reproductions are requested.
The following resources provide free access to Monroe County public records:
- In-person inspection at the Monroe County Courthouse, 301 South Commerce Street, Aberdeen, MS 39730, during regular business hours
- Online court index searches through the Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts
- Sex offender registry searches through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's statewide registry, which is available to the public at no charge
- Inmate and corrections records through the Mississippi Department of Corrections, which provides free online access to offender search tools
- Background check scheduling through the Mississippi State Department of Health, which offers live scan fingerprint appointment scheduling at county health departments
Free inspection differs from free copies. Members of the public may review original records at no cost, but obtaining physical or electronic reproductions is subject to applicable fees as described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Monroe County?
Any person may request public records in Monroe County, Mississippi. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, residency within the state is not a prerequisite for submitting a records request. Non-residents retain the same rights of access as Mississippi residents with respect to non-exempt public records.
Requestors are not required to:
- Provide identification (except where required for specific record types)
- State the purpose of the request
- Demonstrate a personal interest in the records sought
Certain record types impose additional eligibility requirements. Vital records, such as birth and death certificates, are subject to access restrictions under Mississippi law; certified copies are available only to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, or others with a demonstrated legal interest. The MSDH Vital Records office administers these restrictions at the state level.
Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal criminal history or corrections records, may be subject to identity verification requirements. The Mississippi Department of Corrections provides guidance on submitting public records requests for offender information. As the MDOC notes on its official website, members of the public may "search public records online, submit requests, and" access available offender data through the department's designated portal.
Requests involving records maintained by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, including those related to public benefit programs, are subject to applicable state and federal confidentiality provisions. The Mississippi Department of Human Services publishes administrative codes and records-related guidance on its official website.
What Records Are Confidential in Monroe County?
Not all government records maintained by Monroe County offices are subject to public disclosure. Mississippi Code § 25-61-11 enumerates categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Public Records Act. The following record types are currently withheld from public access:
- Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
- Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in youth court proceedings
- Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with active investigations
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers embedded in otherwise public documents
- Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
- Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the Mississippi Department of Human Services
- Personnel records — employee records of public bodies, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety
Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial office is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Members of the public who believe a records request has been improperly denied may seek review through the Mississippi Ethics Commission or pursue judicial relief in the appropriate circuit court.
Monroe County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Monroe County Chancery Court Clerk 301 South Commerce Street, Aberdeen, MS 39730 (662) 369-8143 Monroe County official website
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed on state and federal holidays
Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk 301 South Commerce Street, Aberdeen, MS 39730 (662) 369-8143 Monroe County Circuit Court
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157 (601) 206-8200 Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Mississippi Department of Corrections – Public Records 633 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39202 (601) 359-5600 Mississippi Department of Corrections
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Lookup Public Records in Monroe County
- Mississippi vital records and birth certificate requests
- Live scan fingerprint and background check scheduling
- Mississippi Department of Corrections offender search
- Monroe County public records request portal
- Mississippi SNAP fraud and human services public records
- Mississippi statewide sex offender registry search