New Albany, Mississippi Public Records

The Union County Circuit Court, located at the Union County Courthouse, 109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1900), has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $75,000, divorce and family law matters, and appeals from lower courts. The Union County Chancery Court, also at 109 Main Street (phone: 662-534-1910), handles probate matters, land disputes, guardianships, adoptions, and equity cases. Union County Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, small claims up to $3,500, and evictions. Mississippi court records can be searched online through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system at https://courts.ms.gov for certain case types, though not all historical records are digitized. In-person searches are available at the Circuit Clerk's office. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.50 per page plus a certification fee of approximately $2.00. Case searches at the courthouse are generally free, though copy fees apply. Specific filing fees vary by case type and are established by state statute.

Union County offers online property records search through the county website and third-party services, allowing searches by owner name, parcel number, or property address to view assessment data, property maps, and tax information. The Union County Chancery Clerk, located at 109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1910, website: www.unioncountyms.com), serves as the Recorder of Deeds and maintains land records including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property. These records are indexed by grantor, grantee, and legal description. Many recent land records are available for search online, though some historical documents require in-person research. Recording fees are established by state law and vary by document type and page count. Union County provides a GIS mapping system accessible through the county website, offering aerial imagery, parcel boundaries, ownership information, and property characteristics for public viewing and research.

These industrial employers are complemented by healthcare providers including Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County, which serves as a major employer and regional medical center. The New Albany School District and Union County government provide substantial public sector employment. Retail, hospitality, and service businesses concentrated along Highway 78 and in the downtown historic district support the local economy. The median household income in New Albany is approximately $42,000, below the state average but reflecting the community's manufacturing and service-oriented economy. Recent economic development has focused on industrial park expansion and infrastructure improvements to attract additional manufacturing investment. New Albany's location approximately 75 miles from Memphis provides access to regional markets and logistics networks while maintaining lower operating costs than metropolitan areas. Agriculture remains important in surrounding Union County, with timber, cattle, and row crops contributing to the broader economic base. The city has actively pursued industrial recruitment, resulting in steady growth in manufacturing employment over the past two decades.

The New Albany Police Department, located at 300 Bankhead Street, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1941), provides law enforcement services within city limits. Citizens can request police reports and incident records by visiting the department in person or calling during business hours. The department maintains records of arrests, accident reports, incident reports, and calls for service. The Union County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 109 Carter Avenue, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1900, website: www.unioncountyms.com), provides law enforcement services throughout unincorporated areas of Union County and operates the county detention facility. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, investigations, civil process service, and jail operations. To search for current arrests and jail bookings, the Union County jail roster can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or by calling the detention center directly. The roster typically includes inmate names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs. Under Mississippi's Public Records Act (Miss. Code § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17), citizens have the right to inspect and copy public records, including law enforcement records that are not part of an active investigation or exempt under specific provisions. Requests should be made in writing to the custodian of records at the respective agency, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and research time. Some investigative records and certain personnel files may be exempt from disclosure under state law.

Processing time is typically 6-8 weeks by mail or 2-3 weeks with expedited service. Birth certificates are restricted to the registrant (if 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, legal representatives, or individuals with court orders. Death certificates are available to immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with tangible interest. Marriage licenses are issued by the Union County Chancery Clerk's office at 109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1910). The fee is approximately $21.00, and there is no waiting period or blood test required in Mississippi. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and social security numbers. Marriage records are public documents. Divorce records are maintained by the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted, with case files available for inspection. Mississippi vital records are not fully digitized, and most requests require contact with the state office or county clerk.

Fictitious business name registrations (DBA - "doing business as") are filed with the Union County Chancery Clerk at 109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1910), with fees established by state statute. Corporation and LLC formations, registered agent information, and business entity searches are handled by the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division (phone: 601-359-1633, website: www.sos.ms.gov/business-services). The Secretary of State maintains a free online database at https://businesslookup.sos.ms.gov where users can search for business entities, verify active status, view registered agents, officers, and filing history. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches and filings are also handled through the Secretary of State's office. Commercial property assessments for tax purposes are available through the Union County Tax Assessor's Office at 109 Main Street (phone: 662-534-1920), where business owners can search property tax records online or in person by parcel number or property address to determine assessed values and tax obligations.

New Albany voters are served by the Union County Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections from 109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652 (phone: 662-534-1900). Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Online Voter Registration system at www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-information, or by submitting a paper application to the Circuit Clerk at least 30 days before an election. Voters must provide their Mississippi driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Mississippi requires photo identification to vote, including driver's licenses, state ID cards, U.S. passports, government employee IDs, firearms licenses, student IDs from accredited Mississippi institutions, tribal IDs, or military IDs. New Albany holds municipal elections for mayor and city council members (Board of Aldermen) on a four-year cycle, with the most recent municipal elections held in June 2021 and the next scheduled for June 2025. Municipal elections are nonpartisan and decided by runoff if no candidate receives a majority. New Albany residents can find their assigned polling place by contacting the Circuit Clerk's office or using the polling place lookup tool at www.sos.ms.gov/pollingplace. Mississippi voter registration lists are public records available for inspection, though personal information like birthdates and Social Security numbers are redacted. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are maintained by the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office and searchable at www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/campaign-finance. In the November 2024 presidential election, Union County reported approximately 6,200 votes cast, with turnout around 58% of registered voters. The November 3, 2026 election will include all four of Mississippi's U.S. House seats, all 52 Mississippi House of Representatives seats, and approximately half of the 52 Mississippi Senate seats (District 6 and others on regular rotation). Union County voters will also decide county offices including supervisors, tax assessor, and possibly sheriff depending on term schedules. Mississippi offers absentee voting for voters who will be away from their county on election day, are 65 or older, have a temporary or permanent disability, are the parent or caretaker of a dependent with a disability, or work as an election official outside their voting precinct. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office by mail or in person, with voted ballots returned by mail or hand-delivered by the Saturday before the election.