Belzoni, Mississippi Public Records

For more serious matters, the Humphreys County Circuit Court, located at the Humphreys County Courthouse, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-1740), handles all felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $200,000, appeals from lower courts, and equity matters. The Humphreys County Chancery Court, also at the courthouse (phone: 662-247-1740), has jurisdiction over domestic relations (divorce, custody, adoption), estate matters (wills, probate, guardianships), land disputes, and civil cases under $200,000. The Humphreys County Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims up to $3,500, evictions, and preliminary hearings. Mississippi does not currently offer a comprehensive statewide online court records portal, so most court record searches must be conducted in person at the Humphreys County Circuit Clerk's office or Chancery Clerk's office at the courthouse. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.00 per page plus a certification fee. Case information may be available by calling the appropriate clerk's office and providing case numbers or party names. Filing fees vary by case type: civil complaints generally start at $150-$200, divorce petitions around $150, and appeals require higher fees.

Property owners can search assessment records by visiting the office in person or by calling; Humphreys County does not currently offer a comprehensive online property tax database, though some basic information may be accessible through third-party services. The Humphreys County Chancery Clerk serves as the land records office, located at the Humphreys County Courthouse, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-1740). The Chancery Clerk records and maintains all land records including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens (tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens), easements, right-of-way agreements, and subdivision plats. These records are indexed by grantor (seller), grantee (buyer), and legal description. Record searches can be conducted in person at the Chancery Clerk's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. The office charges fees for certified copies, typically $1.00 per page plus certification fees. Humphreys County does not currently offer free online access to digitized land records or a GIS parcel viewer system; most title research and property record searches require in-person visits or engaging a title company that maintains private indexes of county records.

The Humphreys County School District is a significant public employer, along with county government offices concentrated at the courthouse in downtown Belzoni. Delta Health Center provides medical services and employment. Retail and service businesses along Highway 49 and in downtown Belzoni serve the local population. The median household income in Belzoni is significantly below state and national averages, reflecting the economic challenges facing the Mississippi Delta region. Humphreys County has one of the highest poverty rates in Mississippi, with persistent economic difficulties stemming from agricultural mechanization, population decline, and limited economic diversification. Recent economic development efforts have focused on leveraging the catfish industry heritage through tourism (the Catfish Museum and annual festival), supporting remaining agricultural operations, and attracting manufacturing. Like much of the rural Delta, Belzoni faces challenges including population loss, aging infrastructure, and limited access to capital for business development, though community organizations continue working to preserve the town's historic character and build on its agricultural strengths.

The Belzoni Police Department, located at 119 Magnolia Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-2245), serves as the primary law enforcement agency within Belzoni city limits. Citizens can request police reports and incident records by visiting the department in person during regular business hours or by submitting written requests. Accident reports, arrest records, and case incident reports are available under Mississippi's public records law, though active investigation records may be temporarily exempted. The Humphreys County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-3611), provides law enforcement services throughout unincorporated areas of Humphreys County and operates the county detention facility. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over county roads, unincorporated communities, and provides support to municipal departments. Arrest and jail booking records for Humphreys County can be searched through the county detention center, though Humphreys County does not currently maintain a comprehensive online inmate roster. Information on current inmates, including names, booking dates, charges, and bond amounts, must typically be obtained by calling the detention center directly at 662-247-3611 or visiting in person. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17), citizens have the right to inspect and copy public records, including arrest logs, incident reports, and booking records, unless specifically exempted by law. Requests should be made in writing, identifying the specific records sought, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and staff time. Response time is required to be prompt, typically within seven business days, though complex requests may take longer.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.msdh.ms.gov for an additional convenience fee. Mississippi birth records are available from November 1912 forward, and death records from November 1912 forward. Only authorized persons can obtain certified copies: the registrant (if 18+), immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a court order or demonstrable legal interest. Two forms of identification are required. Marriage licenses are issued by the Humphreys County Circuit Clerk's Office at the Humphreys County Courthouse, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-1740). The marriage license fee is $21.00, and there is no waiting period or blood test required in Mississippi. Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. The license is valid for 30 days from issuance. Marriage records are maintained permanently by the Circuit Clerk. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk (phone: 662-247-1740) since divorces are granted through Chancery Court. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Chancery Clerk's office for the standard per-page fee plus certification. Historical vital records dating back to the early 20th century are available through the state office, though older records may require extended search times.

At the county level, certain business activities may require permits from Humphreys County, particularly for operations in unincorporated areas or specific regulated activities. Fictitious business names (DBAs - "doing business as") in Mississippi are registered at the county level with the Humphreys County Chancery Clerk, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-1740). DBA registration costs approximately $25 and must be published in a local newspaper. For formal business entities, the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office handles all corporation, LLC, limited partnership, and nonprofit registrations. The Business Services Division maintains a searchable online database at www.sos.ms.gov where anyone can search business entity names, view registration status, registered agent information, formation dates, and filing history free of charge. Online filing is available for most business formations and annual reports. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State's UCC Division and can be searched online at the Secretary of State website. Commercial property owners can research property tax assessments through the Humphreys County Tax Assessor's Office (662-247-3281), which maintains records of assessed values for business real estate and personal property (equipment, inventory, fixtures) subject to county taxation.

Belzoni voters participate in municipal, county, state, and federal elections administered primarily through the Humphreys County Circuit Clerk's Office, which serves as the county election authority. The Circuit Clerk's Office is located at the Humphreys County Courthouse, 102 Castleman Street, Belzoni, MS 39038 (phone: 662-247-1740). Mississippi voters can register online at the Secretary of State's website (www.sos.ms.gov) or by submitting paper applications to the Circuit Clerk at least 30 days before an election. Voters must provide a Mississippi driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Mississippi requires photo ID to vote, accepting driver's licenses, government employee IDs, student IDs from accredited Mississippi institutions, tribal IDs, or free Voter ID cards available from Circuit Clerks. Belzoni holds municipal elections for mayor and board of aldermen on a four-year cycle; Mississippi municipal elections are held in the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June during odd-numbered years, with primaries in May. The next Belzoni municipal elections are scheduled for 2025 (with primaries and general election in spring/early summer). Belzoni voters can find their assigned polling location by contacting the Humphreys County Circuit Clerk or checking the Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool online. In the November 2024 presidential election, Humphreys County reported approximately 2,900 registered voters with turnout of roughly 45-50%, reflecting typical patterns for the county. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Humphreys County and Belzoni voters will decide several important races: Mississippi does not have U.S. Senate seats up in 2026 (next Senate races are 2026 for one seat), but voters will select U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District, all 122 Mississippi House seats and 52 Mississippi Senate seats (state legislative races), Humphreys County offices including Sheriff, Tax Assessor, Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk, and potentially county supervisors depending on district cycles. Absentee voting in Mississippi is available for specific qualifying reasons including being away from your county on election day, temporary or permanent physical disability, age 65 or older, parent with children requiring care, employment as a poll worker outside your precinct, required work responsibility, or expectant childbirth within 30 days. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office; the deadline is seven days before the election for mail ballots. Public election records in Mississippi include voter registration lists (available to candidates and political parties under certain restrictions), campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State or local clerk (publicly searchable), candidate qualifying documents, and precinct-level election results published by the Secretary of State after each election.