How to Search Monroe County Court Records
No single free portal holds every Monroe County court case. Records are split by court level, so the search path depends on the case type. Circuit and Chancery cases run through Mississippi Electronic Courts, known as MEC, with public access through the PAMEC system. Land records have their own online index. Justice and municipal cases are checked with the court that heard them. Knowing where a case lives is the first real step.
Before starting, gather a full name or a case number. A date range helps narrow results, and the court type tells you which system to open. The Monroe County official website at monroems.com links every county court office in one place.
The lead-in to the county website shows how the office menu is laid out. The image below is a screenshot of that home page.
From that page, a researcher can jump to the Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk, Justice Court, or Sheriff. Each link leads to the contact details needed to request a specific Monroe County court record.
- Decide the court type. Felony and civil go to Circuit Court. Divorce, probate, and land go to Chancery Court. Small claims and county traffic go to Justice Court.
- For current Circuit or Chancery cases, open MEC and sign in through PAMEC, or register for public access first.
- For land records, search the Chancery DuProcess index, then treat it as an index rather than the official record.
- For Justice Court fines or city tickets, use the linked payment portal or call the court clerk.
- For copies, certified records, or older files, request them directly from the clerk who holds them.
Note: The PAMEC login asks for a login, password, and client code, so public users must register at the state registration page before any case search will run.
The Monroe County Judicial System
Mississippi courts form a clear ladder. The Supreme Court sits at the top as the court of last resort, and it sends many appeals to the Court of Appeals. Below the appellate level are the trial courts. Monroe County uses Circuit, Chancery, Justice, Municipal, and Youth Courts, and each handles a defined slice of cases.
Monroe County belongs to the First Circuit Court District, which also covers Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, and Tishomingo Counties. The Circuit judges are Paul S. Funderburk as Senior Circuit Judge, Michael P. Mills Jr., John R. White, and Kelly Mims. The county also sits in the First Chancery Court District, served by Chancellors Jacqueline Mask, Michael Malski, Stephen T. Bailey, and Bradley D. Tennison. The First Circuit publishes its courthouse list online.
The lead-in to the First Circuit location page sets the stage for the courthouse map. A screenshot of that page appears next, drawn from the First Circuit courthouse locations page.
That list confirms the Monroe County Courthouse in Aberdeen and names Dana Sloan as Circuit Clerk. It ties the district to a real street address a visitor can use.
Case flow: Justice Court › Circuit Court › Court of Appeals › Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Main trial court for serious matters | Felonies, civil lawsuits, appeals from Justice and city courts |
| Chancery Court | Equity and family matters | Divorce, custody, adoption, probate, guardianship, land disputes |
| Justice Court | Limited county jurisdiction | Small claims to $3,500, misdemeanors, rural traffic, bond and search warrants |
| Municipal Court | City limits only | City traffic, ordinance breaches, city misdemeanors |
| Youth Court | Juvenile matters | Delinquency for ages 10 to 17, abuse, neglect |
Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk Roles
Monroe County splits its court records between two clerks. The Circuit Clerk, Dana Sloan, keeps the general court docket, criminal and civil filings, the judgment roll, jury duty rolls, and marriage licenses. The office also runs elections and voter registration. The Chancery Clerk, Ronnie Boozer, keeps Chancery Court files, land records, and the Board of Supervisors minutes, and serves as county auditor and treasurer.
This split shapes every search. A felony file or a marriage license starts with the Circuit Clerk. A deed, a will, or a divorce decree starts with the Chancery Clerk. Sending a request to the wrong office only slows things down.
The lead-in to the Circuit Clerk office page shows the duties in plain form. A screenshot from the Circuit Clerk office page follows here.
That page names the deputy clerks who handle criminal and civil work and lists the courthouse floors. It is the first stop for Circuit-level Monroe County court records.
The Chancery side keeps its own duties page. The lead-in below points to the Chancery Clerk listing, and the screenshot comes from the Chancery Clerk office page.
The page confirms that probate, divorce, and land filings flow through this office. It also gives the Chancery Building address in Aberdeen for in-person requests.
Types of Court Records Available in Monroe County
Monroe County court records cover a wide range of case types. The court that hears a case sets the record it produces. Circuit Court generates felony and civil files. Chancery Court holds family and estate files. Justice and municipal courts keep smaller criminal and traffic files. Each category has its own access rules and its own custodian.
The most common public record types break down by subject. The list below shows the main groups Monroe County keeps.
- Criminal records Circuit Court felony files and Justice or city misdemeanor files, including charges, pleas, and sentences.
- Civil records Lawsuits, judgments, writs, and garnishments filed with the Circuit Clerk.
- Family and divorce records Divorce decrees, custody orders, and adoption files held by Chancery Court.
- Probate and land records Wills, estates, guardianships, deeds, and liens kept by the Chancery Clerk.
- Traffic records Citations heard in Justice Court for rural roads or in city courts inside town limits.
Juvenile matters form a separate group. Youth Court records cover delinquent acts by children ages 10 to 17, plus abuse and neglect cases, and the law keeps them confidential. They do not show up in ordinary public searches.
What Monroe County Court Records Show
A court file is built from many parts. The index entry gives the basics, while the docket tracks every filing and hearing. Circuit Court case numbers in Monroe County carry the judge's initials and the county letter, so a number ending in PFM points to Judge Funderburk and a number ending in KMM points to Judge Mims. These codes help a researcher confirm the right file.
Most criminal and civil records share a common set of fields. The table breaks down what each field reveals.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The file's unique code, often with judge initials and a county letter |
| Filing Date | The day the case opened with the clerk |
| Parties | The plaintiff and defendant, or petitioner and respondent |
| Charges / Cause | The criminal charge or the civil claim at issue |
| Disposition | The outcome, such as a guilty plea, dismissal, or judgment |
| Sentence / Judgment | The punishment or the money award ordered by the court |
Some details stay hidden. Clerks redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and information about minors. Sealed, expunged, and confidential files are removed from public view entirely.
Public Access Laws for Monroe County Court Records
Mississippi treats government records as open by default. The Public Records Act sets the rule, then a set of narrower laws carve out the records that stay sealed. For court files, that means access starts broad but bends around youth, adoption, and expungement protections. A researcher should know both halves before filing a request.
The key statutes are short to cite and worth knowing. Each one controls a piece of the access puzzle.
Key Statutes:
Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 The Public Records Act makes government records open unless another law marks them exempt.
Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-5 Agencies generally must answer a request within seven working days or explain the delay in writing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-7 Public bodies may charge actual costs for search, copies, and mailing and may ask for payment first.
Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-12 Incident reports are public, while investigative files and some victim details stay restricted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71 Eligible dismissals, acquittals, and some convictions may be expunged by petition.
Disputes have a path too. Under the Act, a denied requester can take the matter to the Mississippi Ethics Commission, and wrongful denial can create personal liability for the official involved.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every court file is open. Several Mississippi laws shield whole categories from public view. Youth Court records are confidential under state youth-court law, so delinquency and abuse files do not appear in a public docket. Adoption pleadings and decrees are confidential unless a court opens them for good cause. Civil commitment files often hold medical detail and stay restricted.
Expunged and sealed records sit in their own group. Once a court grants expungement under the state statute, the case leaves ordinary public access. The Circuit Clerk lists an expungement petition fee of $150 and requires all court costs and fines to be paid first. A person seeking one usually needs the charging document, the disposition order, and a zero-balance sheet, then files in the court where the charge began.
To view a sealed file, a person must ask the court that holds it. The clerk cannot release a confidential record without an order. For adoption or youth matters, a judge weighs the request against the law before any access is granted.
Specialty Courts and Youth Programs in Monroe County
Mississippi runs problem-solving courts in some districts, but no official page confirms a dedicated adult drug court, veterans court, or mental health court operating only in Monroe County. The Circuit Court page lists criminal terms, the district attorney, and public defenders, yet it does not name a local treatment court. Honesty matters here, so a search should not assume one exists.
Youth Court is where documented intervention lives. The lead-in below points to the county Youth Court page, and the screenshot comes from the Monroe County Youth Court page.
The page lists graduated steps for juveniles, including informal probation for three to six months, formal probation for six months to a year, electronic monitoring for ages 13 to 17, and commitment to the Oakley Youth Development Center. Families can also be steered toward counseling through a behavioral health center.
Anyone needing to confirm whether a treatment program applies to a specific case should contact the Circuit Clerk, the court administrator, the district attorney, or defense counsel. State judiciary material is the only fallback, and it does not name a Monroe-only adult court.
Monroe County Sheriff and Jail Information
Sheriff Kevin Crook leads the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and runs the county detention facility. The office serves as chief officer of both the Circuit and Chancery Courts, keeps the peace, and operates the county jail. It also runs community programs, including an elderly call list that offers daily welfare checks to older residents.
The lead-in to the Sheriff page introduces the office and its jail role. A screenshot from the Monroe County Sheriff page appears next.
That page gives the detention facility contact and describes the sheriff's duties as jailer for the county. A newer site adds current office hours and an updated phone line.
The lead-in below points to that newer sheriff site, and the screenshot is drawn from the Monroe County Sheriff Office Training Academy site.
No official county jail roster was found online, so a custody check usually means a phone call. The county also offers a Monroe County Sheriff MS app for crime reports, tips, and public-safety news, though the official listing does not confirm an in-app roster. For the full custody picture, the Monroe County inmate records page covers the roster channels, and the warrant records page covers active warrant checks.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage, divorce, and probate records each follow their own track in Monroe County. The Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records back to 1821. Divorce and probate belong to Chancery Court. A short overview helps point each request to the right desk, with the marriage and divorce records and probate records pages carrying the full detail.
A Monroe County marriage license costs $37, with a $1 fee for card payment. Both parties must appear, show valid photo ID, and be at least 21, or have parental consent if younger. There is no blood test and no waiting period, and an issued license never expires. Divorce decrees come from the Chancery Clerk where the case was granted, since the state health department keeps only an index rather than certified decrees.
Probate runs through Chancery Court as well. A few terms come up again and again in estate files.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named to carry out the will and settle the estate.
- Conservator
- A person appointed to manage the affairs of someone who cannot manage their own.
Searching Monroe County Court Records Online
Monroe County Circuit and Chancery Courts both run on Mississippi Electronic Courts. The Circuit system went live on May 23, 2022, and the Chancery system followed on June 27, 2022. In 2025 the state announced that electronic filing was complete statewide. Public access still runs through PAMEC, an account-based gateway that controls who may view filings.
The PAMEC sign-in uses a short set of fields, but all are needed before any case appears. The table lists what the login screen asks for.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Login | text | Yes | The PAMEC or MEC user credential |
| Password | password | Yes | Issued and kept through MEC or PAMEC |
| Client Code | text | Yes | Shown on the login page for account tracking |
| Register | link | No | Public sign-up runs at the state registration page |
| Court selection | by URL | Yes | Circuit and Chancery use separate First District sites |
Land records use a different tool. The Chancery DuProcess index lets the public search deeds and instruments by name, date, book, parcel, and more, though the portal warns the online index is not the official record. The official land index stays at the courthouse.
Monroe County Court Records Fees
The Circuit Clerk publishes a clear fee schedule for filings and copies. Costs depend on whether a clerk makes the copy or a visitor uses self-service, and on whether certification is needed. Knowing the fee in advance speeds an in-person or mail request.
The table lists the most common record and copy charges at the Circuit Clerk's office.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clerk-made copy per page | $1.00 |
| Self-service copy per page | $0.25 |
| Certified copy per document | $1.00 |
| Certification under Acts of Congress | $3.00 |
| Record search per hour | $12.00 |
| Marriage license | $37.00, plus $1 by card |
Payment rules are firm. The Circuit Clerk takes no personal checks, but accepts cash in office, cards in person with an added fee, and money orders by mail. Online and phone payments for Circuit fines carry added fees as well.
Note: The marriage page lists a $17 copy fee while the fee table shows lower figures, so confirm the exact copy price with the Circuit Clerk before mailing payment.
How to Interpret Monroe County Court Records
Court files use shorthand that can confuse a first-time reader. A docket lists events in order, from the filing date to the final order, and each entry uses a short code or term. The case number itself carries meaning, since the judge initials and county letter tell which judge held the matter.
One key distinction is charge versus conviction. A charge is only an accusation, while a conviction is a final finding of guilt. A file may list several charges that were later reduced, dropped, or dismissed, so the disposition line matters more than the charge line. Reading the outcome is what shows whether a case ended in a guilty plea, an acquittal, or a dismissal.
Terms like motion, order, and judgment also appear often. A motion is a request to the judge, an order is the judge's written decision, and a judgment is the final enforceable result. When a term is unclear, the clerk's office can confirm what an entry means without giving legal advice.
Accuracy is the next concern. Online court data can lag behind the paper file, since a new filing, a fresh order, or a paid balance may take time to post in MEC or in a land index. The DuProcess portal states plainly that its online index is not the official record, and the official version stays at the courthouse. Older Monroe County records reach back to 1821, and not all have been digitized. For any matter that affects rights, money, or a court date, the safest move is to confirm with the office that holds the file.
Note: Confirm any case detail with the originating clerk before relying on it, since online indexes may lag, omit sealed matters, or show information that has since changed.
History of Monroe County Courts
Monroe County has unusually deep courthouse history. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History dates the Circuit Courthouse to about 1857, a two-story Greek Revival brick building with a polygonal clock tower. It joined the National Register in December 1978 and earned Mississippi Landmark status in 1984. It has held county business without a break since 1857, and the oldest county records in north Mississippi, dating from 1821, are kept there.
The lead-in to the archives facts page sets up the courthouse record. A screenshot from the MDAH courthouse facts page appears here.
That page records the wings added in 1901 and 1941 as county business grew. The building remains the Circuit Clerk's active record location today.
The Chancery Building has a federal past. The lead-in below points to the archives register listing, and the screenshot comes from the MDAH Monroe County National Register listings.
Built as the Aberdeen U.S. Post Office and Courthouse between 1886 and 1888, it served federal courts until 1974. The county bought the property in 1975, and it now houses the Chancery Court at 201 West Commerce Street.
Monroe County Courthouse Location and Contact
Monroe County splits its courts between two cities. Circuit and Chancery Courts sit in Aberdeen, while Justice and Youth Courts sit in Amory at the government complex. A visitor heading to a felony hearing, a marriage license, or a jury summons usually goes to Aberdeen. A person with a small claim, county traffic, or a youth matter usually goes to Amory.
The main offices keep regular weekday hours. The cards below give the address and phone for each primary court office.
Justice Court keeps its own page with judges, constables, and payment methods. The lead-in below points to that page, and the screenshot comes from the Monroe County Justice Court page.
The page confirms the Amory complex address and shows the three district judges. It is the right starting point for county traffic and small-claims records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start a Monroe County court records search?
Start by naming the court that heard the case. Felony and civil matters are with the Circuit Clerk in Aberdeen. Divorce, probate, and land records are with the Chancery Clerk. Small claims and rural traffic are with Justice Court in Amory. City tickets are with the relevant municipal court. Once the court is clear, use MEC and PAMEC for current Circuit or Chancery cases, or contact the clerk for older files and copies.
Is there a free online portal for all Monroe County cases?
No single free portal holds every case. MEC and PAMEC run the electronic court system, but public access needs an account with a login, password, and client code. Land records have a separate online index through DuProcess, which the county labels as an index rather than the official record. Justice and city court files usually require a call or a visit to the clerk.
How much does a certified copy cost?
At the Circuit Clerk, a clerk-made copy is $1.00 per page and a certified copy is $1.00 per document. Self-service copies run $0.25 per page, and a record search costs $12.00 per hour. The office takes no personal checks. A marriage copy fee is listed differently on two county pages, so confirm the exact figure with the clerk before mailing payment.
How do I check for an inmate or a warrant?
No official online county jail roster was found, so a custody check usually means calling the Sheriff's Office. For sentenced state prisoners, the state corrections inmate search applies instead. No public county warrant list was found either, so a warrant check means contacting the court that issued it, whether Justice, municipal, or Circuit, along with the Sheriff's Office.
Are youth and adoption records public?
No. Youth Court records stay confidential under state youth-court law, covering delinquency, abuse, and neglect cases. Adoption pleadings and decrees are confidential unless a court opens them for good cause. Expunged and sealed records are also removed from public view. These limits apply even though Chancery and Youth Courts handle the underlying matters.
Which court handles a divorce in Monroe County?
Chancery Court handles divorce, along with custody, adoption, and probate. The state health department keeps only an index of divorces, not certified decrees, so a certified copy must come from the Chancery Clerk where the case was granted. The clerk in Aberdeen can confirm the book and page and provide the copy once the case is located.