Pheba, Mississippi Public Records

The Clay County Chancery Court, at the same courthouse complex (662) 494-3821, manages family law matters including divorces, custody disputes, estate probate, adoptions, and land title disputes. For municipal violations within Pheba town limits, the Pheba Town Court may handle traffic citations and ordinance violations; contact Pheba Town Hall at (662) 494-8963 for court dates and payment information. Mississippi court records are increasingly available through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system at courts.ms.gov, which provides online case search capabilities for many counties, though not all historical records are digitized. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk's office for $1.50 per page plus a $1.00 certificate fee. Case file searches conducted by clerk staff may incur research fees. Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Clerk at a fee of $21.00, with no waiting period in Mississippi.

Many recent land records can be searched online through the Chancery Clerk's website, though access may require registration or fees for document images. The Clay County Tax Assessor's Office, located at 205 South Court Street, West Point, MS 39773, phone (662) 494-5246, maintains property assessment records including ownership information, parcel numbers, assessed values, property characteristics, and tax history. The Assessor's online database at claycountyms.com allows searches by owner name, address, or parcel number, displaying current assessed values, land use classifications, and property tax amounts. The online GIS mapping system provides aerial imagery, parcel boundaries, and zoning information for properties throughout Pheba and Clay County. Property tax bills and payment history can be accessed through the Tax Collector's office. All recorded land documents are public record under Mississippi law, though certified copies require payment of statutory fees, typically $1.00 per page plus certification fees.

Education employment comes from the Clay County School District and nearby East Mississippi Community College. The median household income for Pheba residents is estimated below the state average, reflecting the town's small size and rural character. Agriculture continues to play a role with row crops, cattle operations, and extensive commercial forestry throughout the area. Pheba benefits economically from its proximity to U.S. Highway 45 corridor development and the Golden Triangle region (Columbus, Starkville, West Point), which provides manufacturing, healthcare, and educational employment. The broader Clay County economy has seen modest growth through industrial recruitment and expansion of existing facilities. Pheba maintains its character as a quiet agricultural community while its residents increasingly participate in the diversified economy of the larger region, including aerospace, automotive parts manufacturing, and service industries concentrated in West Point just miles to the northeast.

Law enforcement services in Pheba are provided by the Clay County Sheriff's Office, as the town does not maintain its own police department. The Clay County Sheriff's Office is located at 205 South Court Street, West Point, MS 39773, and can be reached at (662) 494-2896. The Sheriff's Office website provides information on services, though specific incident reports and records requests must be made in person or by written request. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction throughout unincorporated areas of Clay County as well as providing support to municipal departments. Arrests and jail bookings for Clay County are managed by the Clay County Detention Center, with an inmate roster available by contacting the jail directly at (662) 494-2896 or visiting the facility. The online inmate search shows current detainees, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and basic biographical information. To request police reports, incident records, or arrest records, residents must submit a written request under the Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq.), which requires public agencies to provide access to public records within a reasonable time frame unless exempted by law. Requests should specify the type of record sought, the date range, and case numbers if known. Processing fees may apply for copies and extensive searches. For historical crime statistics and UCR reporting, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety maintains statewide databases accessible through their website at mdps.ms.gov.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at msdh.ms.gov/vitalrecords with additional processing fees. Birth records are available from 1912 to present, and death records from 1912 to present, with earlier records housed at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Certified copies require valid government-issued photo ID and proof of eligibility—only immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with documented legal interest can obtain certified copies. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail or 3-5 business days for expedited online orders. Marriage licenses are issued by the Clay County Circuit Clerk at 205 South Court Street, West Point, MS 39773, phone (662) 494-3124. Marriage license fees are $21.00 with no waiting period in Mississippi. Marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and are public records. Divorce decrees are obtained through the Chancery Court where the divorce was granted, typically the Clay County Chancery Clerk at (662) 494-3821. Divorce records include case files and final decrees, which are public unless sealed by court order. Mississippi does not require blood tests for marriage licenses, and both applicants must appear in person with valid identification.

Fictitious business name (DBA) registrations in Mississippi are filed with the Clay County Chancery Clerk at 205 South Court Street, West Point, MS 39773, phone (662) 494-3821, and must be published in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks. The filing fee is approximately $25.00 plus publication costs. For state-level business entity formation and searches, the Mississippi Secretary of State Business Services Division maintains the comprehensive online database at sos.ms.gov/business-services. This searchable portal allows free lookup of corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities, displaying entity status, registered agent information, formation date, and annual report compliance. New business entity filings can be completed online with fees ranging from $50 to $250 depending on entity type. Professional licenses are regulated by respective Mississippi state boards. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State UCC Division and searchable online at the same portal. Commercial property tax assessments can be researched through the Clay County Tax Assessor's Office at (662) 494-5246, with business personal property subject to annual assessment and ad valorem taxation based on fair market value.

Pheba voters are served by the Clay County Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections for the county. The Clay County Circuit Clerk is located at 205 South Court Street, West Point, MS 39773, phone (662) 494-3124, and handles all aspects of voter registration, absentee voting, and election administration. Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Secretary of State at yallvote.sos.ms.gov, or by submitting a paper application to the Circuit Clerk's office. Voter registration deadlines require registration at least 30 days before any election. Acceptable forms of voter identification include Mississippi driver's license, photo ID cards issued by state or federal government, U.S. passport, government employee ID, student ID from accredited Mississippi university, tribal photo ID, or military ID. Pheba municipal elections for mayor and board of aldermen are held every four years in June during municipal election years; the next municipal elections will be in June 2025. Candidates for local office file with the town clerk, and local ballot measures are published in advance. Polling place assignments for Pheba voters can be found through the Circuit Clerk's office or online at yallvote.sos.ms.gov by entering address information. Mississippi provides comprehensive election records as public information, including voter registration lists (available for lawful purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State (searchable at sos.ms.gov), candidate qualifying information, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Clay County reported approximately 60% voter turnout among registered voters, with results posted by precinct on the Secretary of State website. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Pheba and Clay County voters will decide several significant races: there is no U.S. Senate seat from Mississippi up in 2026, but county-level offices including supervisors, sheriff, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, tax assessor, and tax collector will be on the ballot, as county elections in Mississippi occur in 2027. State legislative seats for the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate were last elected in 2023 and will next appear in 2027. However, any special elections or local ballot initiatives may appear in 2026. Mississippi allows absentee voting by mail for voters who meet specific criteria including being away from county on election day, required to work on election day, are 65 or older, have a temporary or permanent disability, are a parent/caretaker of a dependent with a disability, or are expectant mothers. Absentee ballot applications must be requested from the Circuit Clerk's office and returned by mail or in person, with ballots due by 5:00 PM on the Saturday before the election for mail-in ballots or by 7:00 PM on Election Day for in-person absentee voting.