Leland, Mississippi Public Records

For felony criminal cases and serious misdemeanors, the Washington County Circuit Court, located at the Washington County Courthouse, 900 Washington Avenue, Greenville, MS 38701 (phone: 662-332-1595), has jurisdiction over all criminal felonies, civil cases exceeding $200 jurisdiction, divorces, and land title disputes. The Washington County Chancery Court, also at the courthouse (phone: 662-332-1595), handles probate matters, guardianships, adoptions, custody disputes, and property partition suits. Washington County Justice Court handles preliminary hearings for felonies, misdemeanors, civil cases under $3,500, and evictions; the Justice Court office can be reached at 662-332-1687. Mississippi's court system provides limited online access through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) portal at courts.ms.gov, where registered users can search select case information, though not all Washington County records are fully digitized. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.50 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee from the Circuit Clerk. Marriage licenses are issued by the Chancery Clerk for $21.00, and divorce records are maintained by the same office once finalized by the Chancery Court.

Property owners can search assessment data, view property cards with square footage and improvement details, and research assessed values, though the office does not currently offer a fully public online search portal—most inquiries require phone contact or in-person visits. The Washington County Chancery Clerk serves as the land records office and maintains the official Register of Deeds, located at the courthouse at 900 Washington Avenue, Greenville, MS 38701 (phone: 662-332-1595). The Chancery Clerk records deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, easements, plats, rights-of-way, and other instruments affecting real property. Land records dating back to the county's formation in 1827 are indexed by grantor and grantee names and by legal description. While some Mississippi counties have digitized land records available online, Washington County requires in-person research or written requests for most deed searches, with copies costing $1.00 per page and $1.00 for certification. Property searches can be conducted by owner name, parcel number, or legal description. Washington County does not currently offer a public GIS parcel viewer online, though some limited mapping data may be available by contacting the county planning office at 662-332-1593. For property tax payment status and current taxes due, property owners should contact the Washington County Tax Collector at 662-332-1743.

Other major employers include the Washington County School District, which operates Leland School Park serving students from the area, local government offices, and various agricultural support businesses including equipment dealers, grain elevators, and farm service providers. The median household income in Leland is approximately $27,000, significantly below the national average, reflecting the economic challenges facing much of the Mississippi Delta region. Retail and service businesses along Leland's historic downtown and Highway 82 corridor provide additional employment. The city has worked to leverage its connection to Jim Henson and the Muppets as a tourism draw, with the Birthplace of the Frog exhibit bringing visitors to downtown Leland. Like much of Washington County, Leland has experienced population decline over recent decades as mechanization reduced agricultural labor needs and younger residents migrated to urban areas for employment opportunities. Economic development efforts focus on agricultural technology, small business support, and heritage tourism related to both the Muppets legacy and the region's blues music history. Leland's economy is closely tied to Washington County's overall fortunes, which depend heavily on commodity crop prices, federal farm policy, and catfish market conditions.

The Leland Police Department, located at 402 South Broad Street, Leland, MS 38756 (phone: 662-686-2515), provides law enforcement services within the city limits and maintains records of arrests, incident reports, accident reports, and calls for service. Citizens may request police reports in person at the department or by written request, with fees applicable for copies. The department operates under the supervision of the Chief of Police and handles misdemeanor arrests and preliminary investigations for more serious crimes. For areas outside Leland city limits, the Washington County Sheriff's Office, located at 1015 South Avenue, Greenville, MS 38701 (phone: 662-378-3721), provides law enforcement services throughout unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff's Office website at www.washingtoncountyms.us provides general information, though online services are limited. To search for arrest and jail booking records, the Washington County Detention Center maintains an inmate roster accessible by contacting the facility directly at 662-378-3750; information typically includes inmate name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and booking photographs for current detainees. Mississippi public records law, specifically the Mississippi Public Records Act under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17, guarantees citizens the right to inspect and copy public records with limited exceptions for ongoing investigations, personnel matters, and records protected by other statutes. Law enforcement agencies must respond to written requests within fourteen business days and may charge reasonable fees for copying and research time. Both the Leland Police and Washington County Sheriff work cooperatively with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation on major cases and maintain records in accordance with state retention schedules.

Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests, though expedited service is available for an additional fee. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with credit card payment and expedited shipping options, though service fees apply. Birth records are restricted to the person named (if 18 or older), parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper identification. Death records less than 50 years old require proof of relationship or legal interest. For marriage licenses, couples must apply in person at the Washington County Chancery Clerk's office at 900 Washington Avenue, Greenville, MS 38701 (phone: 662-332-1595); the marriage license fee is $21.00 and there is no waiting period or blood test required. Marriage records are maintained by the Chancery Clerk and are public records available for search and copying. Divorce records are also maintained by the Chancery Clerk once a divorce decree is entered by the Chancery Court. Washington County marriage records date back to the 1800s, though older records may require special handling. Mississippi birth and death records prior to 1912 are incomplete, as statewide registration did not begin until November 1, 1912. Requestors must provide valid government-issued photo identification and proof of relationship or legal interest for restricted records.

Washington County does not impose an additional county-level business license for most operations, though certain regulated businesses may require county permits. Fictitious business name (DBA) filings in Mississippi are registered with the county Chancery Clerk; businesses operating under a name other than the legal owner's name must file a Trade Name Certificate with the Washington County Chancery Clerk at 900 Washington Avenue, Greenville, MS 38701 (phone: 662-332-1595), at a cost of approximately $25.00. All Mississippi corporations, limited liability companies, and other formal business entities must register with the Mississippi Secretary of State Business Services Division. The state maintains a searchable online database at https://businessservices.sos.ms.gov where users can search entity names, registration status, registered agents, principal officers, and filing history free of charge. Business entity formation documents, annual reports, and amendments can be filed online through the same portal. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State and can be searched online at the same website. Commercial property owners in Leland can research their assessed values and tax obligations through the Washington County Tax Assessor's Office at 662-332-1793, with property tax payments made to the Washington County Tax Collector. Businesses should also check with the Mississippi Department of Revenue (www.dor.ms.gov) for state tax registration, sales tax permits, and employer withholding requirements.

Leland voters are served by the Washington County Election Commission and the Washington County Circuit Clerk's office, located at the Washington County Courthouse, 900 Washington Avenue, Greenville, MS 38701 (phone: 662-332-1595). The Circuit Clerk serves as the voter registrar and maintains voter registration records for all Washington County precincts including those serving Leland residents. Mississippi voters can register online at the Secretary of State's website at https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-information or download a voter registration application to mail or deliver in person to the Circuit Clerk. Voter registration must be completed at least 30 days before an election. Mississippi requires voters to present acceptable photo identification at the polls, including driver's licenses, government employee ID cards, U.S. passports, university IDs from Mississippi institutions, or a free Mississippi Voter Identification Card. Leland municipal elections for mayor and Board of Aldermen are held in June of odd-numbered years following the primary elections; the most recent municipal elections were in June 2021, with the next scheduled for June 2025. Leland operates under an aldermanic form of government with a mayor and board. Leland residents vote in both municipal and county/state/federal elections. Polling place assignments can be found through the Mississippi Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/voter-information-polling-place-locator or by contacting the Circuit Clerk. In the November 2024 general election, Washington County reported approximately 8,500 ballots cast out of roughly 24,000 registered voters, representing turnout of approximately 35 percent. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Mississippi voters will not have a U.S. Senate race (Senator Wicker was re-elected in 2024 and Senator Hyde-Smith is not up until 2027), but will elect all four U.S. House members including the Delta-based 2nd Congressional District representative. There will be no gubernatorial race in 2026 (Governor Reeves was elected in 2023 to a four-year term). Leland and Washington County voters will elect county officials including supervisors, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, circuit clerk, chancery clerk, and other constitutional officers, as well as state legislators for their House and Senate districts. 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 on election day during polling hours, are a parent or caregiver of a person with a disability, or are a member of the military. Absentee ballot applications must be requested from the Circuit Clerk and returned no later than five days before the election; voted ballots must be received by election day. Mississippi public records law makes voter registration lists available for inspection, and election results by precinct are posted by the Secretary of State. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with the Secretary of State and available at www.sos.ms.gov.