Leakesville, Mississippi Public Records

The Greene County Circuit Court, located at the Greene County Courthouse, 400 Main Street, Leakesville, MS 39451, phone (601) 394-2377, has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $75,000, appeals from lower courts, divorces, child custody disputes, and estate probate matters. The Greene County Chancery Court, also at the courthouse, handles equity matters, land disputes, guardianships, adoptions, wills, and certain family law cases. The Greene County Justice Court, phone (601) 394-2320, hears misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims disputes up to $3,500, preliminary hearings for felonies, and eviction proceedings. Mississippi courts participate in the statewide case management system, and some court records can be searched online through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system at courts.ms.gov, though availability varies by court and case type. For certified copies of court documents, the Circuit Clerk's Office charges $1.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. Chancery Clerk certified copies are similarly priced. Many older records and certain case types require in-person requests at the courthouse. The Circuit Clerk's Office, phone (601) 394-2377, maintains criminal and civil case files, while the Chancery Clerk, phone (601) 394-2381, maintains chancery court records, land records, and vital records.

While some Mississippi counties offer online property search databases, Greene County primarily provides property information through in-person or phone requests, though basic tax information may be available by contacting the office directly. The Greene County Chancery Clerk, located at 400 Main Street, Leakesville, MS 39451, phone (601) 394-2381, serves as the Register of Deeds and maintains all recorded land documents including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property. These records are indexed by grantor, grantee, and legal description, with some records dating back to the county's formation in 1811. Recording fees are established by state law, typically $12.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page. There is no comprehensive free online database for deed searches in Greene County; requesters must visit the Chancery Clerk's office in person or submit written requests by mail. The Chancery Clerk can provide copies of recorded documents for statutory fees. Mississippi does not currently have a statewide GIS parcel viewer, though some individual counties offer mapping tools; Greene County residents should contact the Tax Assessor's office to inquire about available mapping resources.

The Greene County School District provides education services and employment for teachers, administrators, and support staff throughout the county. Timber production and forestry operations are significant economic drivers in the region; companies involved in logging, timber management, and wood products processing operate in and around Leakesville, taking advantage of the area's extensive pine forests. Agriculture, including cattle ranching and small-scale farming, contributes to the local economy. Retail businesses along Main Street and Highway 63 serve local residents with groceries, hardware, automotive services, and other necessities. Healthcare services are limited locally; residents often travel to larger communities such as Hattiesburg or Mobile, Alabama for specialized medical care. The median household income in Greene County is significantly below the Mississippi state average, reflecting the rural, resource-based nature of the local economy. Recent years have seen modest residential development and some infrastructure improvements, but economic growth remains constrained by the county's small population, remote location, and limited industrial base. Leakesville's economy is closely tied to Greene County's overall economic health, with minimal distinction between town and county economic activity due to the small scale of the municipality.

Law enforcement services in Leakesville are provided primarily by the Greene County Sheriff's Department, located at 400 Main Street, Leakesville, MS 39451, phone (601) 394-2341. The Sheriff's Office has countywide jurisdiction and handles patrol, criminal investigations, civil process service, and operation of the Greene County Jail. Leakesville does not maintain a separate municipal police department; all law enforcement functions fall under the Sheriff's authority. Citizens seeking police reports, incident reports, or accident reports should contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division during business hours Monday through Friday. Written requests may be required for certain records, and the Sheriff's Office can charge reasonable copying fees as allowed under Mississippi Code Section 25-61-7. The Greene County Jail roster and inmate search can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or by calling the detention facility directly. Booking information typically includes inmate name, age, booking date, charges filed, bond amount, and anticipated release or court dates; mugshots may be available upon request. Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17) governs public access to law enforcement records. Under this statute, most arrest records, incident reports, and booking logs are public unless exempted due to ongoing investigations or privacy concerns. Requesters should submit written requests to the Sheriff's Office detailing the specific records sought, and the agency must respond within a reasonable time, typically within 7 to 14 business days, though complex requests may take longer. Fees for copies are limited to actual costs of duplication.

Applicants must provide valid identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest; eligible requesters include the registrant (if of age), parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, or expedited service is available for additional fees. Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted. The Greene County Chancery Clerk's Office, 400 Main Street, Leakesville, MS 39451, phone (601) 394-2381, issues marriage licenses for couples intending to marry in Greene County. The fee is $21.00, and there is no waiting period or blood test required. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. Couples under 21 may have additional requirements. Marriage records are public and can be searched or copied at the Chancery Clerk's office. Divorce records are maintained by the Chancery Clerk as court records; certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Chancery Clerk for statutory fees. Older vital records may have limited availability; Mississippi began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1912, though some counties have earlier records. The Chancery Clerk may have some historical vital records predating statewide registration.

Greene County does not impose a separate county-level business license. Fictitious business name registrations (doing business as/DBA) are filed with the Greene County Chancery Clerk's Office, 400 Main Street, Leakesville, MS 39451, phone (601) 394-2381. DBA filings must be published in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks and the affidavit of publication filed with the Chancery Clerk. Mississippi corporations, limited liability companies, and other formal business entities register with the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Secretary of State maintains a searchable online database at www.sos.ms.gov where anyone can search for business entity names, view registration status, identify registered agents, check officer and director names (for corporations), and verify good standing. This service is free and accessible 24/7. UCC financing statements (liens on personal property used as collateral) are also filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State and searchable through their UCC search portal. Commercial property owners can look up assessed values and property tax information through the Greene County Tax Assessor's Office at (601) 394-2376. Professional licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, healthcare providers, etc.) are regulated by respective state boards, searchable through Mississippi's professional licensing portal at www.protectyourlicense.ms.gov or individual board websites.

Leakesville voters are served by the Greene County Circuit Clerk, who functions as the voter registrar and elections administrator for all of Greene County. The Circuit Clerk's Office is located at the Greene County Courthouse, 400 Main Street, Leakesville, MS 39451, phone (601) 394-2377. Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Online Voter Registration System at www.ms.gov/sos/voter_registration, or by submitting a paper application to the Circuit Clerk's office. The registration deadline is 30 days before any election. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by the date of the election, residents of Mississippi and Greene County, and not disqualified by a felony conviction (unless rights have been restored) or a court finding of mental incapacity. Valid Mississippi driver's license or ID numbers are required for online registration. Leakesville, as an incorporated municipality, holds elections for mayor and board of aldermen; mayoral and municipal elections in Mississippi are held in June of odd-numbered years under current law, meaning the next Leakesville municipal elections will be in June 2025, with candidates filing in early 2025. Municipal election information, candidate lists, and ballot measures are posted at Town Hall and the Circuit Clerk's office. Leakesville residents find their assigned polling places by contacting the Circuit Clerk or checking the Mississippi Secretary of State's polling place lookup at www.sos.ms.gov/elections. Greene County typically has polling locations in Leakesville and other communities throughout the county. Mississippi election records that are public include voter registration lists (available with restrictions on use), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable through the Secretary of State), candidate qualifying documents, and official election results by precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, Greene County reported approximately 2,800 total votes cast, with turnout around 55-60% of registered voters; the county supported Republican candidates by wide margins, consistent with historical voting patterns in rural southeastern Mississippi. On November 3, 2026, Leakesville and Greene County voters will participate in federal midterm elections, which will include one U.S. Senate seat (Mississippi's Class II seat held by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is up in 2026), one U.S. House seat (Mississippi's 4th Congressional District, which includes Greene County), and potentially state legislative races depending on redistricting. Mississippi does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (the next governor's race is in 2027). County offices up for election in 2026 may include Sheriff, Tax Assessor, and members of the Board of Supervisors, depending on term schedules. Mississippi offers absentee voting by mail for voters who will be away from their county on election day, have a temporary or permanent physical disability, are 65 or older, are required to work during polling hours, are a parent or caretaker of a person with a disability, or are a member of the military or spouse/dependent. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office; voted ballots must be postmarked by election day and received within five business days after the election to be counted.