Brandon, Mississippi Public Records

For felony matters, civil cases over the municipal court's jurisdiction limit, family law, and probate, residents must access the Rankin County Circuit Court and Chancery Court, both located at the Rankin County Courthouse, 211 East Government Street, Brandon, MS 39042. The Circuit Court (phone: 601-825-2217) handles criminal felonies, civil cases over $200,000, and appeals from lower courts. The Chancery Court (phone: 601-825-2369) has jurisdiction over divorce, child custody, adoptions, estate matters, property disputes, and civil cases under $200,000. Rankin County Justice Court (phone: 601-825-2235), also at 211 East Government Street, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, small claims up to $3,500, evictions, and civil matters up to $200,000. Mississippi does not currently have a comprehensive statewide online court records portal, though some case information may be available through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system for attorneys and parties. Most court records must be accessed in person at the courthouse. The Circuit Clerk's office charges approximately $1.00 per page for copies and $5.00 for certified copies, though fees are subject to change.

The sex offender registry is accessible to the public, providing information on registered offenders residing in Rankin County. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assists in maintaining statewide criminal records, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for residents.

Property owners and prospective buyers can search assessment records online at the Rankin County Tax Assessor's website (rankincounty.org/tax-assessor), where users can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address to view current ownership, legal descriptions, assessed values, tax district, and property characteristics. The office also provides GIS mapping tools for viewing parcel boundaries and locations. Official recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, subdivision plats, and other instruments affecting real property title are maintained by the Rankin County Chancery Clerk, who serves as the county's land records recorder. The Chancery Clerk's office is located at 211 East Government Street, Suite B, Brandon, MS 39042 (phone: 601-825-2369). Recorded land documents can be searched and viewed online through the Chancery Clerk's website, typically through a subscription-based service or per-document fee system. Images of recorded instruments dating back several decades are often available digitally, while older records may require in-person research. The recording fee for deeds and mortgages is based on the number of pages and is set by state statute. Rankin County also provides a comprehensive GIS parcel viewer that integrates assessment data, zoning information, aerial photography, and recorded plat information, accessible through the county's official website.

Dominic Hospital's Rankin Medical Campus; Walmart Supercenter and Sam's Club distribution and retail operations; Academy Sports + Outdoors distribution center; and numerous retail, hospitality, and service businesses. While the Nissan North America assembly plant is technically located in Canton in adjacent Madison County, it provides employment for many Brandon residents. The median household income in Brandon is estimated at approximately $65,000-$70,000, notably higher than the state average, reflecting the city's suburban character and proximity to Jackson's employment centers. Brandon has experienced substantial residential growth over the past two decades, with new subdivisions, apartment complexes, and commercial development transforming former farmland into suburban neighborhoods. The city's economy benefits from its location as a bedroom community for Jackson while maintaining its own commercial base. The Brandon Amphitheater brings tourism and entertainment revenue, hosting concerts and events throughout the year. The overall economic character is that of a growing suburban community with strong retail, healthcare, education, and service sectors.

The Brandon Police Department, located at 1000 Municipal Drive, Brandon, MS 39042 (phone: 601-825-4444), serves as the primary law enforcement agency within the Brandon city limits. The department handles police reports, incident records, accident reports, and arrest records for incidents occurring within city jurisdiction. Citizens can request police reports in person at the department during regular business hours or by submitting a written request. Some non-sensitive incident information may be available by phone. The Rankin County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 303 Rolling Meadows Drive, Brandon, MS 39042 (phone: 601-825-1481, website: rankincountyso.org), provides law enforcement services throughout unincorporated areas of Rankin County and operates the Rankin County Jail. The Sheriff's Office also provides support services to Brandon and other municipalities within the county. Arrest and jail booking records can be searched through the Rankin County Detention Center's online inmate roster at rankincountyso.org, which typically displays mugshots, current charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release dates. Under Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code § 25-61-1 et seq.), law enforcement records are generally considered public unless they involve ongoing investigations, juvenile matters, or confidential informant information. Citizens may submit public records requests in writing to either the Brandon Police Department or Rankin County Sheriff's Office. Processing times vary, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and research time as permitted by state law.

Certified copies can be requested in person, by mail, or online through the state's authorized vendor VitalChek (vitalchek.com), though online orders include additional service fees. Processing time is typically 2-3 weeks for mail requests and 5-10 business days for online orders with expedited shipping. Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted to qualified applicants including the person named on the certificate (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a tangible interest. Applicants must provide valid photo identification. Marriage licenses are issued by the Rankin County Circuit Clerk's office at 211 East Government Street, Brandon, MS 39042 (phone: 601-825-2217). The fee for a marriage license is approximately $21, and there is no waiting period in Mississippi. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. Divorce records are maintained as part of court records in the Chancery Court where the divorce was granted, also located at 211 East Government Street. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Chancery Clerk for the standard copying and certification fees.

For businesses operating in unincorporated Rankin County areas, county-level business registration may be required through the Rankin County Tax Assessor's office. Fictitious business name (Doing Business As) registration in Mississippi is filed with the Chancery Clerk in the county where the business operates. For Brandon businesses, DBAs are filed with the Rankin County Chancery Clerk at 211 East Government Street, Suite B, Brandon, MS 39042 (phone: 601-825-2369). The filing fee is approximately $25 per name. Corporations, limited liability companies, and other formal business entities must register with the Mississippi Secretary of State. Entity searches, including corporation and LLC status, registered agent information, and officer names, can be conducted free of charge through the Mississippi Secretary of State's Business Services Division website at sos.ms.gov/business-services. The searchable database provides information on entity status, formation date, registered office address, and annual report compliance. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Secretary of State's office. Business property owners can look up commercial property assessments through the Rankin County Tax Assessor's online database, which provides assessed values used for property tax calculations on commercial real estate.

Brandon voters are served by the Rankin County Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections from 211 East Government Street, Brandon, MS 39042 (phone: 601-825-2217, website: rankincounty.org). Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Secretary of State's website at yallvote.sos.ms.gov, which provides online voter registration for new registrants and updates for existing voters. The voter registration deadline in Mississippi is 30 days before any election. Applicants must provide their Mississippi driver's license number or state ID number, Social Security number, and date of birth. Municipal elections in the City of Brandon are held on a four-year cycle with mayoral and city council (aldermen) races typically occurring in June of municipal election years, with primary elections in May if needed. The next Brandon municipal elections are scheduled for 2025, when voters will elect the mayor and city council members. Brandon operates under an alderman form of government with elected representatives from multiple wards. Voters can find information about local candidates, ballot measures, and polling locations through the City of Brandon's website and the Rankin County Circuit Clerk's office. Brandon residents can locate their assigned polling place by visiting the Mississippi Secretary of State's polling place locator at yallvote.sos.ms.gov or by contacting the Rankin County Circuit Clerk. Polling places are assigned based on voter registration address and precinct boundaries. Mississippi makes several categories of election records publicly accessible, including voter registration statistics (though not individual voter records with personal information), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees (available through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance portal), candidate qualifying information, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Rankin County reported strong turnout with approximately 65-70% of registered voters casting ballots, reflecting the county's historically high participation rates. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Brandon and Rankin County voters will participate in elections that may include U.S. House of Representatives for Mississippi's congressional districts, all Mississippi state senate seats (as senators serve four-year terms), and various county offices including sheriff, tax assessor, circuit clerk, chancery clerk, and supervisors depending on the election cycle. Mississippi does not have gubernatorial or U.S. Senate elections in 2026, as the governor was elected in 2023 and U.S. Senate seats are not up until later cycles. Absentee voting in Mississippi is available for qualified voters including those who will be away from their county on election day, persons with temporary or permanent physical disabilities, persons 65 or older, poll workers assigned outside their precinct, and active duty military and their spouses. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office, with in-person absentee voting available starting 45 days before an election and mail-in absentee ballots requiring applications by specific deadlines.