Preston, Mississippi Public Records

The Kemper County Chancery Court, also located at 151 Main Street, DeKalb, MS 39328, has jurisdiction over equity matters, adoptions, guardianships, mental commitments, estate matters and probate, land title disputes, and eminent domain cases. The Chancery Clerk's Office can be contacted at (769) 235-3121. Kemper County Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, traffic violations, small claims matters up to $3,500, and certain civil cases. Justice Court records and information can be obtained through the Justice Court located in DeKalb. Mississippi provides online access to some court records through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system at https://courts.ms.gov, though not all historical records or case types are available online. To obtain certified copies of court documents, requesters must contact the appropriate clerk's office. The Circuit Clerk typically charges $1.00 per page for copies and $5.00 for certification. The Chancery Clerk charges similar fees for certified copies of land records, estates, and other documents under their jurisdiction. Fees may vary depending on the type of document and service requested.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation offers a comprehensive database that includes records from Kemper County, allowing for thorough background checks that are essential for employment, housing, and other purposes.

Requests for arrest records can be made in person at the Sheriff's Office or through written requests, with some information potentially available online depending on the case's nature and privacy considerations.

While Kemper County does not currently offer a comprehensive online property search portal, property tax information can often be obtained by calling the Tax Assessor's office directly with a property address or parcel number. The Kemper County Chancery Clerk serves as the county's land records office and maintains all recorded documents including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting real property. The Chancery Clerk's Land Records division is located at 151 Main Street, DeKalb, MS 39328, phone (769) 235-3121. Land records in Mississippi are public records and can be searched and copied upon request. Some Mississippi counties have digitized their land records and made them available online through third-party vendors, though availability varies by county. To conduct a property search for Preston properties, residents can visit the Chancery Clerk's office in person to search the grantor/grantee indexes by owner name or examine records by legal description. Copy fees are typically $1.00 per page. Kemper County does not currently maintain a public-facing GIS parcel viewer, though parcel maps may be available through the Tax Assessor's office upon request.

The most notable economic development in recent years was the Kemper County Energy Facility (formerly known as the Kemper Project), located south of Preston, which was developed by Mississippi Power as an advanced coal gasification power plant. Though the facility faced challenges and ultimately converted to natural gas operation, it remains a significant industrial presence and employer in the county. Agriculture continues to play a vital role in the Preston area economy, with cattle farming, poultry operations, timber production, and row crop farming being primary agricultural activities. Small-scale retail, service businesses, and self-employment also contribute to the local economy. Many Preston residents commute to employment centers in Meridian, Mississippi (approximately 40 miles west), or even across the Alabama state line for work. Kemper County as a whole has faced economic challenges, with median household income below state and national averages and higher-than-average poverty rates. The county's population has declined in recent decades as younger residents have moved to urban areas for employment opportunities. Economic development efforts focus on leveraging the county's natural resources, improving infrastructure, and attracting small manufacturing and distribution operations.

Preston, Mississippi does not have its own municipal police department, as it is an unincorporated community. Law enforcement services for Preston and the surrounding area are provided exclusively by the Kemper County Sheriff's Office, located at 151 Main Street, DeKalb, MS 39328. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (769) 235-3131 and maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Kemper County, including Preston, responding to calls for service, conducting investigations, and maintaining public safety. Residents seeking police reports, incident reports, or accident reports must contact the Sheriff's Office directly during regular business hours. Requests for copies of law enforcement records are governed by the Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq.), which requires law enforcement agencies to provide access to public records unless specifically exempted by law. Certain investigative records, ongoing case files, and records that could compromise public safety may be withheld under statutory exemptions. Arrest records and jail booking information for Kemper County can be accessed through the Kemper County Detention Center. While Kemper County does not currently maintain a comprehensive online inmate roster, arrest and booking information can be obtained by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly at (769) 235-3131. Information typically available includes inmate names, booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and custody status. Mugshots may be available upon request. The Mississippi Department of Corrections also maintains an offender search database at https://www.ms.gov/mdoc for individuals currently incarcerated in state prison facilities. For historical criminal records and background checks, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety provides criminal history record checks through their website.

Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com for an additional convenience fee, by mail, or in person at the Jackson office. Processing time is typically 3-5 business days for mail requests and same-day for in-person requests. Only eligible persons can request vital records, including the registrant (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a tangible interest as defined by Mississippi law. Valid photo identification is required. Marriage licenses for Preston residents are issued by the Kemper County Chancery Clerk's Office at 151 Main Street, DeKalb, MS 39328, phone (769) 235-3121. The marriage license fee in Mississippi is $21.00 if both parties attend marriage preparation classes, or up to $31.00 without preparation. There is no waiting period or blood test requirement. Marriage records are maintained by the Chancery Clerk and are public records. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Chancery Court where the divorce was granted. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Chancery Clerk's office for the applicable copy and certification fees.

For fictitious business name (DBA - "Doing Business As") registrations, businesses operating under an assumed name in Kemper County must file with the Kemper County Chancery Clerk's Office at 151 Main Street, DeKalb, MS 39328, phone (769) 235-3121. Mississippi business entity formation and registration is handled by the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office. Corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities must register with the state. The Mississippi Secretary of State maintains a free online Business Services database at https://corp.sos.ms.gov where users can search for registered business entities, view formation dates, check entity status (active, dissolved, etc.), identify registered agents, and review officer information. Business entity searches can be conducted by business name, registered agent name, or filing number. Annual reports are required for most business entities in Mississippi. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with and searchable through the Mississippi Secretary of State's UCC Division. The online UCC search is available at https://sos.ms.gov. For businesses owning real property in Preston, commercial property tax assessments can be obtained through the Kemper County Tax Assessor's Office at (769) 235-3122. Property tax is assessed based on the property's value, and commercial property records are public information.

Preston voters are served by the Kemper County Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections for the county. The Circuit Clerk's Office is located at 151 Main Street, DeKalb, MS 39328, and can be reached at (769) 235-3132. This office handles voter registration, absentee ballot applications, and election administration for all of Kemper County including Preston. Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Secretary of State's website at https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/voter-registration-information, or by completing a paper application available at the Circuit Clerk's office, public libraries, and other government offices. The voter registration deadline in Mississippi is 30 days before any election. Voters must provide a valid Mississippi driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Because Preston is unincorporated, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Preston residents participate in federal, state, and county elections. Kemper County holds elections for Board of Supervisors seats (five districts), Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk, Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Coroner, Surveyor, and other county offices. Mississippi holds statewide elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other state offices in odd-numbered years (most recently 2023), while federal elections occur in even-numbered years. To find their assigned polling place, Preston voters can use the polling place locator at https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/polling-place-locator or contact the Circuit Clerk's office. In Mississippi, election records including voter registration lists (with certain personal information redacted), campaign finance reports, candidate qualifying documents, and precinct-level election results are public records. Campaign finance reports are available through the Mississippi Secretary of State's Campaign Finance system. In the November 2024 presidential election, Kemper County reported voter turnout of approximately 55-60% of registered voters, consistent with rural Mississippi counties in presidential election years. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature important races for Mississippi voters. Mississippi's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Roger Wicker (Class I) is not up for election in 2026; the next Mississippi Senate race will be in 2026 for the seat currently held by Cindy Hyde-Smith (Class II). All of Mississippi's four U.S. House seats will be on the ballot in 2026, with Preston voters participating in Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District. All 122 seats in the Mississippi House of Representatives and all 52 seats in the Mississippi Senate will be contested in 2027 (not 2026), as Mississippi holds state legislative elections in odd-numbered years following redistricting. County offices may appear on the 2026 ballot depending on the term schedule for Kemper County positions. 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 a parent, spouse, or dependent of a person with a disability, are required to work on election day during polling hours, 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 (if delivered in person) or postmarked by election day and received within five business days.