Richton, Mississippi Public Records

The Perry County Chancery Court, also at the Perry County Courthouse (phone: 601-964-8398), handles family law matters including divorce, child custody, adoptions, guardianships, probate and estate administration, land disputes, and civil cases under $200,000. Perry County Justice Court hears misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims up to $3,500, civil matters up to $3,500, landlord-tenant disputes, and conducts initial appearances for felony cases. Mississippi does not currently offer a comprehensive statewide online case search portal for all court levels, though some individual courts may provide limited online access; most court record searches require in-person visits to the appropriate clerk's office or written requests. The Perry County Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk maintain their respective court records. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1.50 per page plus a certification fee, with specific fees varying by document type and court. Mississippi Supreme Court opinions and appellate records can be accessed through the Mississippi Supreme Court website.

Property owners can search assessment data by visiting the Assessor's office in person or by calling; online parcel search capabilities may be limited, so verification with the office is recommended. The Perry County Chancery Clerk, serving as the land records office at the Perry County Courthouse, 100 South Sixth Street, New Augusta, MS 39462 (phone: 601-964-8398), records and maintains official land records including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, right-of-way documents, and other instruments affecting real property. These records are indexed by grantor and grantee names and can be searched in person at the Chancery Clerk's office; some Mississippi counties offer online land record databases through subscription services, but availability varies and Perry County residents should contact the Chancery Clerk to determine current online access options. Copying fees apply for document reproductions, typically $1.00 per page. Perry County may offer GIS mapping tools for viewing parcel boundaries and basic property information, though comprehensive searches usually require visiting the Chancery Clerk's office. Title searches and property history research can be conducted by examining the recorded deed books and indexes maintained by the Chancery Clerk.

Agriculture, particularly cattle farming and row crops, contributes to the local economy. Small businesses along U.S. Highway 11 include retail shops, convenience stores, restaurants, auto services, and professional services. Many Richton residents commute to nearby cities like Hattiesburg (approximately 30 miles southwest) for employment in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and retail sectors. Perry County as a whole has a median household income below the Mississippi state average, reflecting its rural and agricultural character. The estimated median household income for Perry County is approximately $38,000-$42,000, with Richton figures comparable. Recent economic development efforts have focused on supporting small business growth and leveraging the area's natural resources. Richton's economy benefits from its location along transportation corridors and its role as a community center for surrounding rural areas. The town faces challenges common to rural Mississippi communities, including limited population growth and the need to diversify the economic base beyond traditional timber and agriculture sectors.

The Richton Police Department, located at 101 Front Street, Richton, MS 39476 (phone: 601-788-6371), serves as the primary law enforcement agency within the Richton town limits. The department handles local patrol, traffic enforcement, and incident response, maintaining police reports, accident reports, and incident logs. Citizens can request copies of police reports by visiting the department in person during business hours or by calling to inquire about written request procedures. For areas outside Richton town limits, the Perry County Sheriff's Office, located at 103 Bay Street, New Augusta, MS 39462 (phone: 601-964-8244), provides law enforcement services throughout unincorporated Perry County. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, investigations, civil process, and operates the Perry County Detention Center. Arrest and jail booking records for Perry County can be searched through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's online systems or by contacting the Perry County Sheriff's Office directly; booking information typically includes inmate name, charges, booking date, bond amount, and sometimes mugshots. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 through § 25-61-17), law enforcement agencies must provide access to public records upon written request, though certain investigative records and confidential information may be exempt. Requesters should submit written requests specifying the records sought, and agencies typically have a reasonable time to respond, with copying fees charged for reproductions. For state-level criminal history checks, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety in Jackson maintains criminal records accessible to authorized requesters.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at msdh.ms.gov for an additional processing fee, with processing times of approximately 4-6 weeks for mail requests and faster service for online orders with expedited shipping. Birth records are available from 1912 forward, and death records from 1912 forward, with earlier records often held at the county level. Only eligible persons can request vital records: the registrant (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with court orders or demonstrable legal interest. Marriage licenses are issued by the Perry County Circuit Clerk at the Perry County Courthouse, 100 South Sixth Street, New Augusta, MS 39462 (phone: 601-964-8398). The marriage license fee is approximately $21.00, with no waiting period or blood test required; both parties must appear in person with valid identification. Mississippi has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. Divorce records (divorce decrees) are maintained by the Perry County Chancery Clerk at the same courthouse location (phone: 601-964-8398), as the Chancery Court handles all divorce proceedings. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Chancery Clerk for a fee, typically $1.50 per page plus certification costs. Requesters must provide case information or parties' names and approximate divorce date.

Perry County may have additional requirements for businesses operating in unincorporated areas outside Richton town limits; contact the Perry County Board of Supervisors in New Augusta for county-level business regulations. Fictitious business name (DBA - Doing Business As) registrations in Mississippi are filed with the Chancery Clerk in the county where the business operates; for Richton businesses, file with the Perry County Chancery Clerk, 100 South Sixth Street, New Augusta, MS 39462 (phone: 601-964-8398). The filing fee is approximately $25, and DBAs must be renewed periodically. Mississippi corporation, LLC, and business entity registrations are handled by the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division, 125 South Congress Street, Jackson, MS 39201 (phone: 601-359-1333, website: sos.ms.gov). The Secretary of State's online business search portal allows free searches of registered corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other business entities, showing entity status, registration date, registered agent, principal office address, and officers/members if disclosed. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State and searchable online. Commercial property assessments for Richton businesses can be researched through the Perry County Tax Assessor's Office at 601-964-8388, which maintains records of assessed values for business real property and, in some cases, business personal property taxes.

Richton voters are served by the Perry County Circuit Clerk's Office, which administers elections for the county. The Perry County Circuit Clerk is located at the Perry County Courthouse, 100 South Sixth Street, New Augusta, MS 39462 (phone: 601-964-8398). Mississippi residents can register to vote online through the Mississippi Online Voter Registration system at the Secretary of State's website (sos.ms.gov/elections-voting), by mail using a voter registration application, or in person at the Circuit Clerk's office. The voter registration deadline is 30 days before any election. Voters must provide identification when registering, and acceptable forms include Mississippi driver's license, tribal photo ID, or other government-issued photo identification. Richton holds municipal elections for Mayor and Board of Aldermen; Mississippi municipal elections are held on a statewide basis on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June of the year following each presidential election year, meaning the next Richton municipal elections will be held in June 2025. Candidates for local office file with the Richton Town Clerk at Town Hall. To find their assigned polling place, Richton voters can contact the Perry County Circuit Clerk at 601-964-8398, check their voter registration card, or use the Mississippi Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at sos.ms.gov. Mississippi election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase by campaigns and political parties under specific conditions), campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State or local election commissions, candidate qualifying statements, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Perry County reported voter turnout of approximately 55-60% of registered voters, consistent with rural Mississippi turnout patterns. On November 3, 2026, Richton and Perry County voters will participate in federal midterm elections, which may include races for Mississippi's U.S. House of Representatives seats (Mississippi has four congressional districts; Perry County is in the 4th District), though no U.S. Senate seat from Mississippi is scheduled for election in 2026. State legislative races for the Mississippi House of Representatives and Mississippi Senate may be on the ballot depending on redistricting; Perry County is part of state legislative districts determined by the legislature. County offices such as Sheriff, Tax Assessor, Circuit Clerk, and Board of Supervisors seats may appear on the 2026 ballot depending on the county's election cycle. Mississippi allows absentee voting for voters who meet specific qualifications including being away from their county of residence on election day, having a temporary or permanent disability, being 65 years or older, being a parent or caretaker of a dependent with a disability, or working as an election official on election day. Absentee ballot applications are available from the Perry County Circuit Clerk and must be submitted by specific deadlines before the election.