Durant, Mississippi Public Records

The Circuit Court can be reached through the Holmes County Circuit Clerk's Office at the Holmes County Courthouse, 106 Court Square, Lexington, MS 39095 (phone: 662-834-2508). The Holmes County Chancery Court, also accessible at both courthouses, has jurisdiction over domestic relations matters including divorce, child custody, adoptions, estates and probate, guardianships, mental commitments, and land title disputes. The Chancery Clerk's Office in Lexington (phone: 662-834-2508) maintains these records. Holmes County Justice Court handles misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felonies, civil cases under $3,500, landlord-tenant disputes, and issues arrest warrants. Mississippi provides online access to some court records through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system, though access and availability vary by court and case type. For certified copies of court documents, the Circuit Clerk typically charges $1.50 per page plus a certification fee, while the Chancery Clerk charges similar rates for certified copies of divorce decrees, estate documents, and land records. Fees should be confirmed directly with the respective clerk's office as they may be updated periodically.

The Holmes County Chancery Clerk serves as the county's land records office, maintaining official records of deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property titles in Holmes County. The Chancery Clerk's Office is located at the Holmes County Courthouse, 106 Court Square, Lexington, MS 39095 (phone: 662-834-2508). Unlike many Mississippi counties, Holmes County does not currently offer comprehensive online access to digitized land records or deed searches, requiring researchers to visit the courthouse in person or submit written requests for specific documents. The office maintains grantor-grantee indexes and legal description indexes to help locate recorded documents. Copies of recorded documents typically cost $1.00 per page, with additional fees for certified copies. To conduct a property title search, researchers can search by current owner name, previous owner name, or legal description in the Chancery Clerk's land record indexes. Holmes County does not appear to maintain a public online GIS or parcel viewer system, so detailed property mapping and parcel boundary information must be obtained through the Tax Assessor's office or the county's planning department if one exists.

The surrounding area's farms produce soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, and support catfish aquaculture operations, creating demand for farm supply businesses, equipment dealers, grain elevators, and agricultural services in Durant. The public sector provides significant employment through Durant city government, Holmes County government offices, public schools in the Durant Public School District, and state agencies. Small retail businesses, restaurants, gas stations, medical clinics, and professional services comprise much of Durant's commercial sector, serving both local residents and the college population. The median household income in Holmes County is approximately $28,000, significantly below the Mississippi state median of around $49,000 and the national median, reflecting the rural, agricultural character and economic challenges facing the Delta region. Holmes County has one of the highest poverty rates in Mississippi, with over 40% of residents living below the poverty line. Economic development efforts focus on leveraging the community college's workforce training programs, improving infrastructure, and supporting small business growth. Durant's location along Highway 12 provides access to larger markets in Jackson and Greenwood, though the town's distance from major interstate highways presents logistical challenges for industrial recruitment and commercial development.

The Durant Police Department, located at 104 Mulberry Street, Durant, MS 39063, serves as the primary law enforcement agency within the town limits. The department can be reached at (662) 653-3131 for general inquiries and records requests. To obtain police reports, incident records, or accident reports, residents should contact the department directly during business hours or submit a written request citing the specific date and nature of the incident. The Holmes County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 108 Court Square in Lexington, MS 39095 (phone: 662-834-1511), provides law enforcement services for unincorporated areas of Holmes County and maintains countywide arrest records and warrant information. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over all of Holmes County, including areas outside Durant city limits, and operates the Holmes County Detention Center. To search for current inmates and recent arrests in Holmes County, the public can contact the detention center directly at (662) 834-1511 or visit the facility in person to inquire about booking records, which typically include inmate names, mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17) establishes the legal framework for accessing law enforcement records, requiring agencies to make non-confidential records available for inspection and copying upon request. Certain records such as active investigation files, juvenile records, and confidential informant information may be exempt from disclosure. Requesters should submit written requests specifying the records sought, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and staff time in compiling responsive documents.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.msdh.ms.gov/vitalrecords, though additional convenience fees apply for online, phone, or expedited service. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests and faster for online orders. Birth records are available from 1912 to present, and death records from 1912 to present, though earlier records may exist in county chancery clerk offices. Marriage licenses in Mississippi are issued by the Circuit Clerk's office. For Holmes County, couples should apply at the Holmes County Circuit Clerk's Office, 106 Court Square, Lexington, MS 39095 (phone: 662-834-2508). The marriage license fee is approximately $21, and there is no waiting period or blood test required. Mississippi eliminated the three-day waiting period in 2018. Marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and copies can be obtained from that office. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Holmes County Chancery Clerk (phone: 662-834-2508) where the divorce was granted. Mississippi law restricts access to birth certificates to the person named, parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper identification and documentation. Death certificates are generally available to immediate family members, legal representatives, or anyone demonstrating a direct and tangible interest.

Businesses operating in unincorporated areas of Holmes County may need to check with county offices regarding any county-level licensing or permitting requirements. Fictitious business name (doing business as/DBA) registrations in Mississippi are filed with the Holmes County Chancery Clerk's Office at 106 Court Square, Lexington, MS 39095 (phone: 662-834-2508). The filing fee for a trade name is approximately $25, and the registration must be published in a local newspaper. Mississippi corporation, LLC, and other business entity formation and searches are handled through the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The online Mississippi Business Portal at https://corp.sos.ms.gov allows users to search existing business entities by name, registered agent, or file number, showing entity status, formation date, registered agent information, and principal office address. Business entity formation, annual reports, and entity status certificates can be filed and obtained through this portal. The fee for forming an LLC in Mississippi is $50, and corporations pay $50 for filing Articles of Incorporation. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with and searchable through the Mississippi Secretary of State's UCC Division at https://uccfiling.sos.ms.gov. Business property owners in Durant can look up commercial property assessments through the Holmes County Tax Assessor's Office (662-834-2508) to determine property tax obligations on business real estate and personal property.

Durant voters are served by the Holmes County Election Commission and Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections from the Holmes County Courthouse, 106 Court Square, Lexington, MS 39095 (phone: 662-834-2508). Mississippi offers online voter registration through the Mississippi Secretary of State's website at https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-information, where eligible citizens can register or update their registration information. Voters must register at least 30 days before an election to be eligible to vote in that election. Mississippi requires voters to provide identification when registering and when voting, accepting driver's licenses, photo IDs issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi, U.S. passports, government employee IDs with photos, firearms licenses with photos, student IDs from Mississippi universities/colleges, tribal IDs, or military IDs. Durant holds municipal elections for mayor and board of aldermen positions, with municipal elections in Mississippi typically occurring on a four-year cycle. The most recent Durant municipal elections were held in 2021, with the next scheduled for 2025. Residents can find information about local candidates, ballot measures, and polling locations by contacting Durant City Hall (662-653-3131) or the Holmes County Election Commission. To locate their assigned polling place, Durant residents can use the polling place locator at https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/polling-place-locator or contact the Holmes County Circuit Clerk. Mississippi election records that are public include voter registration rolls (available for purchase for legitimate purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State or county election commissions, candidate qualifying information, and election results by precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, Holmes County reported approximately 5,200 total votes cast out of roughly 9,500 registered voters, representing a turnout of approximately 55%. On November 3, 2026, Durant and Holmes County voters will participate in federal midterm elections to decide Mississippi's U.S. Senate seat (Mississippi has a regular Senate election in 2026 for the seat currently held by Roger Wicker), all of Mississippi's four U.S. House seats, and various state and local offices. Mississippi does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (the next gubernatorial election is in 2027). County-level races may include Holmes County Sheriff, supervisors, tax assessor, circuit clerk, chancery clerk, and other constitutional offices depending on term schedules. Mississippi state legislative seats (Senate and House) representing Durant will also be on the 2026 ballot. Mississippi offers absentee voting for voters who will be away from their county on Election Day, have a temporary or permanent physical disability, are 65 years or older, are the parent, spouse, or dependent of a person with a disability, are required to work during all hours the polls are open, or are a member of the military or their spouse/dependent. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office, and voted ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day to be counted (postmarks are not sufficient).