Forrest County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Forrest County?
Public records in Forrest County, Mississippi are defined as documents, files, recordings, and other materials created, maintained, or received by public bodies in connection with public business, pursuant to the Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-1. These records document the activities and operations of government agencies and are generally accessible to the public for inspection and copying.
Forrest County maintains numerous categories of public records, including:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family court proceedings)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, tax assessments)
- Vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees)
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious business names)
- Tax records (property tax information, assessment records)
- Voting and election records (voter registration, election results)
- Meeting minutes and agendas (County Board of Supervisors, planning commission)
- Budget and financial documents (annual budgets, expenditure reports)
- Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports where permitted by law)
- Land use and zoning records (permits, applications, zoning maps)
The Forrest County Chancery Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, particularly those related to property transactions, Board of Supervisors proceedings, and various licenses. Other records are maintained by specific departments:
- Court records: Forrest County Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk
- Vital records: Mississippi State Department of Health (state-level maintenance)
- Tax records: Forrest County Tax Assessor and Tax Collector
- Law enforcement records: Forrest County Sheriff's Department
Is Forrest County an Open Records County?
Forrest County adheres to the Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-1 et seq., which establishes the framework for public access to government records throughout the state. This statute explicitly declares that "it is the policy of the Legislature that public records must be available for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by this act."
The Mississippi Public Records Act establishes that all public records are presumed open for inspection unless specifically exempted by law. Under § 25-61-5, public bodies must provide records within seven working days of receipt of a written request.
Forrest County government offices comply with these state requirements and have established procedures for processing public records requests. The county also adheres to Mississippi's Open Meetings Law, often called the "Sunshine Law" (§ 25-41-1 et seq.), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public with limited exceptions.
The Forrest County Board of Supervisors has adopted policies consistent with state law regarding public access to county records. These policies aim to balance transparency with the protection of confidential information as required by various state and federal laws.
How to Find Public Records in Forrest County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Forrest County may follow these procedures to access various document types:
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Identify the appropriate custodian office for the desired records:
- Property records, marriage licenses, and Board of Supervisors minutes: Chancery Clerk
- Court records: Circuit Clerk or Chancery Clerk (depending on case type)
- Tax records: Tax Assessor or Tax Collector
- Vital records: Mississippi State Department of Health
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Submit a written request to the appropriate office:
- Requests should include specific information about the records sought
- Provide contact information for follow-up questions
- The Mississippi Ethics Commission provides a sample public records request form
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For property records, the Chancery Clerk offers:
- In-person searches at the courthouse
- Limited online access through the county's land records portal
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For court records:
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's office for criminal and civil court records
- Check the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system for participating courts
- Submit a written request for copies of specific case files
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For vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates):
- Contact the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records for birth and death certificates
- Visit the Chancery Clerk for marriage license applications
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For tax records:
- Visit the Tax Assessor's office for property assessment information
- Check with the Tax Collector for tax payment records
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For law enforcement records:
- Submit written requests to the Forrest County Sheriff's Department
- Specify the incident report number if available
Most records requests currently require in-person visits to the appropriate county office, though some limited online access is available for certain record types.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Forrest County?
Forrest County charges reasonable fees for copying and providing public records in accordance with Mississippi Code § 25-61-7, which states that fees shall be reasonably calculated to reimburse the actual cost of providing the records. Current standard fees include:
- Photocopies: $0.50 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
- Certified copies: Additional $1.00-$5.00 certification fee per document
- Research fees: $15.00-$25.00 per hour for extensive searches (after first hour)
- Electronic records: Actual cost of providing electronic media
Specific record types have statutorily established fees:
- Marriage licenses: $22.00 application fee
- Certified copies of vital records: $17.00 for first copy, $6.00 for each additional copy
- Court records: Varies by document type and certification requirements
- Property records: Recording fees vary by document type and page count
Accepted payment methods at most county offices include:
- Cash (in-person only)
- Money orders
- Certified checks
- Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)
- Personal checks (with proper identification)
The Mississippi Public Records Act allows agencies to require prepayment of fees when estimated costs exceed $25.00. Agencies may also waive or reduce fees when doing so is in the public interest. Requestors seeking fee waivers should include justification in their written request.
Does Forrest County Have Free Public Records?
Forrest County provides free inspection of most public records during regular business hours in accordance with state law. The Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-5 guarantees the right to inspect records without charge, though copying fees may apply.
Records available for free inspection include:
- Board of Supervisors meeting minutes and agendas
- Property ownership records at the Chancery Clerk's office
- Tax assessment rolls at the Tax Assessor's office
- Court dockets (case listings) at the Circuit and Chancery Clerks' offices
- Voter registration information (excluding confidential data) at the Circuit Clerk's office
Limited free online resources include:
- Forrest County Board of Supervisors meeting agendas
- Basic property ownership information through the county's GIS portal
- Court case status information through the Mississippi Electronic Courts system (for participating courts)
The Forrest County Public Library also provides public access computers where residents can access online government resources without charge.
For in-person inspection, visitors should:
- Arrive during regular business hours
- Be prepared to present identification
- Follow established procedures for handling documents
- Understand that staff assistance for extensive research may incur fees
Who Can Request Public Records in Forrest County?
Under the Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-5, "any person" may request public records in Forrest County. The law does not restrict access based on:
- Residency status (non-Mississippi residents have equal access rights)
- Citizenship status
- Age (though minors may face practical limitations)
- Purpose or intended use of the records
Requestors generally are not required to:
- Explain why they want the records
- Identify themselves beyond basic contact information
- State their intended use of the information
- Sign affidavits or sworn statements (except for certain restricted records)
However, specific record types may have additional requirements:
- Vital records (birth/death certificates): Requestors must demonstrate legitimate interest as defined in Mississippi Code § 41-57-2, such as being the person named in the record, an immediate family member, or legal representative
- Adoption records: Access is restricted to parties involved and requires court orders
- Criminal history information: Complete access may require fingerprinting and background checks through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- Medical examiner reports: May require proof of relationship to the deceased
Commercial requestors have the same basic rights as individuals, though agencies may inquire about commercial purpose to assess appropriate fees for extensive requests.
What Records Are Confidential in Forrest County?
Certain records in Forrest County are exempt from public disclosure under Mississippi Code § 25-61-9 and other specific statutes. These confidential records include:
- Personnel records (except for names, titles, salaries, and dates of employment)
- Law enforcement investigative reports for pending cases
- Juvenile court records and youth court proceedings
- Grand jury proceedings and deliberations
- Records containing personal identifying information such as:
- Social Security numbers
- Dates of birth
- Financial account numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
- Adoption records and related court proceedings
- Child abuse and neglect investigations
- Trade secrets and confidential commercial information
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Educational records protected under FERPA
- Records related to security measures and emergency response plans
- Tax return information
- Certain economic development records during negotiation phases
The Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-11 provides for a balancing test in some cases, where agencies must weigh the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests or potential harm from release.
When records contain both exempt and non-exempt information, county officials are required to redact the confidential portions and provide access to the remainder of the record when reasonably possible.
Forrest County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Forrest County Chancery Clerk's Office
641 Main Street, Suite 110
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-6060
Forrest County Chancery Clerk
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Forrest County Circuit Clerk's Office
641 Main Street, Suite 105
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-6080
Forrest County Circuit Clerk
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Forrest County Tax Assessor's Office
641 Main Street, Suite 100
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-6130
Forrest County Tax Assessor
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Forrest County Sheriff's Department
400 Forrest Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-7800
Forrest County Sheriff's Department
Hours of Operation: Administrative Offices: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Records Division: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM 24-hour emergency services available
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