Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi Public Records

The Hancock County Circuit Court, located at the Hancock County Courthouse, 152 Main Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-5404, has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $200,000 in controversy, appeals from lower courts, and equity cases. The Hancock County Chancery Court, also at 152 Main Street, phone (228) 467-5265, handles family law matters including divorce and child custody, estates and probate, guardianships, land disputes, and civil matters not within circuit court jurisdiction. The Hancock County Justice Court, located at 152 Main Street, phone (228) 467-5404, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims disputes up to $3,500, preliminary hearings for felony charges, and civil matters up to $3,500. Mississippi offers limited online court record access through individual county portals; Hancock County does not currently participate in a comprehensive statewide online docket system, requiring most court record searches to be conducted in person at the respective clerk's office. The Hancock County Circuit Clerk's Office, phone (228) 467-5404, maintains criminal and civil case files and charges fees for certified copies of court documents, typically $1.00 per page for copies and $1.50 per page for certified copies, plus a certification fee. Case information may be obtained by visiting the courthouse during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and providing case numbers or party names for searches.

The Assessor's office provides public access to property records through an online GIS mapping system and searchable database available on the county website, allowing users to search by owner name, address, or parcel number to view current assessments, tax information, and property details at no charge. The Hancock County Chancery Clerk's Office, serving as the county's land records office, located at 152 Main Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-5265, records and maintains all land-related documents including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property title. Land records are indexed by grantor and grantee names and can be searched in person at the Chancery Clerk's office during regular business hours. Hancock County provides online access to recorded land documents through a subscription-based system or on-site terminals at the courthouse. Recording fees vary by document type; typical deed recording fees are based on the number of pages, generally $18.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. The county's online GIS parcel viewer, accessible through the county website, displays property boundaries, ownership information, aerial imagery, flood zones, and tax assessment data, providing a comprehensive tool for property research free of charge to users.

Hancock Medical Center, located at 149 Drinkwater Boulevard in Bay Saint Louis, is the area's primary healthcare provider and a significant employer offering emergency services, surgical care, and specialized medical treatment. The Hancock County School District, headquartered in Bay Saint Louis, employs hundreds of teachers, administrators, and support staff serving students throughout the county. Tourism represents a vital economic sector, with Bay Saint Louis's historic Old Town district along Second Street and Beach Boulevard attracting visitors to art galleries, boutique shops, restaurants, and cultural events; the city has earned recognition as a Mississippi Main Street community for historic preservation and economic revitalization efforts. The estimated median household income for Bay Saint Louis is approximately $50,000, slightly below the state median but reflecting the community's mix of working-class families, retirees, and service industry employment. The casino gaming industry at nearby properties in Waveland and the broader Gulf Coast region provides additional employment opportunities for Bay Saint Louis residents. Recent economic development has focused on rebuilding and strengthening the tourism infrastructure following Hurricane Katrina, attracting artists and entrepreneurs to the downtown area, and leveraging proximity to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast beaches. Bay Saint Louis functions as Hancock County's governmental and commercial center while maintaining its character as a small waterfront city with strong community ties and growing appeal to remote workers and retirees seeking coastal living.

The Bay Saint Louis Police Department, located at 222 Citizen Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-9222, serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department maintains police reports, accident reports, and incident records that are available to the public under Mississippi's Public Records Act, codified at Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 et seq. Requesters may obtain copies of police reports by visiting the department in person, submitting written requests, or calling during business hours; some reports may be restricted if they involve ongoing investigations or sensitive information. The Hancock County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 152 Main Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-5511, website www.hancocksheriff.com, provides law enforcement services throughout unincorporated areas of Hancock County and operates the Hancock County Adult Detention Center. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over county-level criminal investigations, civil process service, and courthouse security. Arrest records and jail bookings for Hancock County can be searched through the Hancock County Sheriff's Office website, which provides an online inmate roster displaying current detainees' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and in some cases booking photographs. Mississippi law grants public access to arrest records and booking information as they are generally considered public records unless sealed by court order. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 et seq., the Mississippi Public Records Act requires government agencies to make public records available for inspection and copying during regular business hours, with reasonable fees permitted for duplication. Requesters should submit written requests identifying specific records sought, and agencies must respond within a reasonable time, typically within fourteen business days, though no specific statutory deadline is mandated for all record types.

Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests, though expedited service is available for an additional fee. Mississippi began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1912. Online ordering is available through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com with additional convenience fees. Birth records are restricted to the person named on the certificate (if of legal age), parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives; applicants must provide valid government-issued photo identification and proof of relationship. Death certificates are available to immediate family members, legal representatives, or anyone demonstrating a direct and tangible interest. Marriage licenses are issued by the Hancock County Chancery Clerk's Office, 152 Main Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-5265. The marriage license fee is $21.00, and there is no waiting period in Mississippi; licenses are valid for 30 days from issuance. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo identification and Social Security numbers. Marriage records dating back to county formation are maintained by the Chancery Clerk. Divorce records are maintained by the Hancock County Chancery Court where the divorce was granted; certified copies can be obtained from the Chancery Clerk's office for $1.50 per page plus certification fees. Mississippi law requires proper identification and proof of eligibility to access restricted vital records.

Bay Saint Louis also requires occupational licenses for certain professions and trades. Fictitious business name registrations (assumed name or DBA filings) for businesses operating in Hancock County are filed with the Hancock County Chancery Clerk, 152 Main Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-5265, with filing fees typically around $25.00. Mississippi state business entity formation and registration is handled by the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division, 401 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS 39201, phone (601) 359-1633, website www.sos.ms.gov. The Secretary of State maintains a free online business entity search database where users can search for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other registered entities by business name, registered agent, or filing number. The database displays entity status (active, dissolved, revoked), formation date, registered agent information, principal office address, and annual report filing status. New business entity formation can be completed online through the Secretary of State's website. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and are used for lien searches, are filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State and searchable through the same online portal. Commercial property tax assessments for businesses in Bay Saint Louis can be researched through the Hancock County Tax Assessor's Office online database at www.hancockcounty.ms.gov, allowing searches by business name, property address, or parcel number to determine assessed values and current tax obligations.

Bay Saint Louis voters are served by the Hancock County Circuit Clerk's Office, Elections Division, located at 152 Main Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, phone (228) 467-5404, website www.hancockcounty.ms.gov. This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Hancock County residents including voter registration, absentee voting, polling place assignment, and election results. Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Secretary of State's website at www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/pages/voter-registration.aspx, or by submitting a paper voter registration application to the Circuit Clerk's office; the deadline to register is 30 days before any election. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Mississippi residents, at least 18 years old by the date of the election, and not disqualified by felony conviction (voting rights are restored upon completion of sentence in Mississippi). Acceptable identification includes a Mississippi driver's license, other government-issued photo ID, or a voter identification card issued free by the Circuit Clerk. Bay Saint Louis holds municipal elections for mayor, city council members, and other city offices; Mississippi municipal elections are held in the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June of odd-numbered years, with the next Bay Saint Louis municipal election scheduled for June 2025. Candidates for local office file qualifying paperwork with the Bay Saint Louis City Clerk; local ballot measures and candidate information are published through city notices and the Hancock County Circuit Clerk. Bay Saint Louis voters can find their assigned polling location by contacting the Hancock County Circuit Clerk's office, checking their voter registration card, or using the polling place lookup tool on the Secretary of State's website. Election records that are public in Mississippi include voter registration lists (available for purchase by political parties and candidates), campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State or municipal clerk, candidate qualifying documents, and precinct-level election results; these records are accessible through the Circuit Clerk's office or online through the Secretary of State. In the November 2024 presidential election, Hancock County reported approximately 60% voter turnout with roughly 28,000 registered voters and approximately 16,800 ballots cast. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature races for one of Mississippi's U.S. Senate seats (Class II, currently held by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, up for election in 2026), all four of Mississippi's U.S. House seats including the 4th Congressional District which includes Hancock County, Mississippi state legislative races including State Senate District 47 and State House District 121 which serve Bay Saint Louis, and various Hancock County offices including sheriff, tax assessor, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, and board of supervisors seats depending on the election cycle. Absentee voting in Mississippi is available for voters who will be away from their county on election day, are 65 or older, have a temporary or permanent disability, are a parent or caregiver of a dependent with a disability, or work as an election poll worker; absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office by mail or in person, with voted ballots returned by 7:00 PM on election day either by mail or in-person delivery to the Circuit Clerk.