Yazoo County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Yazoo County in 2026

YazooRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Yazoo County, Mississippi. Members of the public may access a range of records through official county offices, state agencies, and authorized online portals. Available record categories include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessments
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law)
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and budgetary documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, the county clerk's office, public access terminals located at the courthouse, and authorized online tools.

Online Access: The Yazoo County Circuit Court Clerk maintains certain court and land records accessible through the county's official web portal. Members of the public may search property records and some court filings online without prior registration. The Mississippi Secretary of State's office provides an online portal for business entity records statewide.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public wishing to inspect records in person may visit the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk's Office, located at 211 East Broadway Street, Yazoo City, MS 39194. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the records sought; staff will assist in locating responsive documents.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk, P.O. Box 68, Yazoo City, MS 39194. Requests should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a specific description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, public bodies are required to respond to written requests within a reasonable time.

Phone/Email: The Yazoo County Chancery Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (662) 746-2661. Email inquiries may be directed through the county's official contact channels listed on the county website.

What Are Public Records in Yazoo County?

Public records in Yazoo County are defined under the Mississippi Public Records Act as all books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, artifacts, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any governmental body in the conduct of its official business. The following record types are maintained by designated county offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Court Clerk
Probate and chancery records	Chancery Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Chancery Clerk
Vital records (birth, death)	Mississippi State Department of Health
Marriage and divorce records	Chancery Clerk
Business licenses and permits	County Board of Supervisors
Property tax and assessment records	Tax Assessor/Collector
Voting and election records	Circuit Court Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	Board of Supervisors
Arrest logs and incident reports	Yazoo County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	County Planning Department

Birth certificates and other vital records are issued through the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records office, located in Ridgeland, MS. The Yazoo County Chancery Clerk maintains land records, probate filings, and marriage licenses at the county courthouse.

Is Yazoo County an Open Records County?

Yazoo County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's statewide open records framework. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 et seq., all public records are presumed to be open and accessible to any person unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Mississippi Public Records Act, commonly referenced as the state's sunshine law, governs the disclosure obligations of all county governmental bodies, including the Board of Supervisors, the Chancery Clerk, the Circuit Court Clerk, and the Sheriff's Office.

As stated in the Mississippi Public Records Act, "all public records are hereby declared to be public property, and any person shall have the right to inspect, copy, or mechanically reproduce or obtain a reproduction of any public record." This declaration establishes a broad presumption of openness that applies to all Yazoo County offices. The Mississippi Attorney General's office provides guidance to public bodies and requestors regarding compliance with open records obligations, and members of the public who believe a request has been improperly denied may seek review through the Attorney General or pursue judicial relief in chancery court.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Yazoo County?

The current fee structure for public records in Yazoo County is governed by state law and the policies of the individual office maintaining the records. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-7, public bodies may charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of searching, reviewing, and duplicating records.

Standard fees applicable at the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk's Office include:

Copies (standard paper): $0.50 per page for letter or legal-size documents
Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus a certification fee, which varies by document type
Land record copies: Fees are set per instrument and may vary based on document length
Electronic records: Fees for electronic reproduction are assessed at actual cost
Search fees: A search fee may be assessed when staff time is required to locate records

Accepted payment methods at the Chancery Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order made payable to the Yazoo County Chancery Clerk. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Mississippi law, though individual offices retain discretion to waive fees in limited circumstances, such as requests from governmental entities or indigent requestors. Vital records fees, including birth and death certificates, are set separately by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Does Yazoo County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Yazoo County government offices during regular business hours. Members of the public may inspect records in person at no charge; fees apply only when copies or certified reproductions are requested. The following resources provide free access to certain records:

Yazoo County Chancery Clerk's Office: Free in-person inspection of land records, court filings, and other documents maintained at the courthouse
Yazoo County Tax Assessor/Collector: Free in-person review of property assessment and tax records
Mississippi Secretary of State's Business Services Portal: Free online search of registered business entities statewide
Mississippi Department of Corrections Offender Search: The Mississippi Department of Corrections provides a free online tool to search for current and former offenders in the state corrections system
Mississippi Sex Offender Registry: The public sex offender registry maintained by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is accessible at no cost to any member of the public

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no charge, obtaining paper or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Yazoo County?

Any person may request public records in Yazoo County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Mississippi's Public Records Act does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requestors to provide identification or explain the reason for their request when seeking non-restricted records. This broad eligibility reflects the Act's foundational principle that public records belong to the public.

Specific provisions apply in limited circumstances:

Identification: Requestors are not required to present identification for standard public records requests, though some offices may request it for administrative purposes
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for records that are presumed open under state law
Non-residents: Non-residents of Mississippi retain the same rights of access as residents under the Public Records Act
Restricted records: Certain record types, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and records containing protected personal information, require the requestor to demonstrate a legal basis for access, such as being the subject of the record or holding a court order

Members of the public seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity. The Mississippi Department of Health background check services page outlines the process for obtaining personal records through the state health department, including live scan fingerprint appointments available at county health department locations.

What Records Are Confidential in Yazoo County?

Not all records maintained by Yazoo County government offices are subject to public disclosure. Mississippi law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from the Public Records Act's general disclosure requirements. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are protected under state law
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with active investigations are exempt from disclosure
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records: Records protected under HIPAA and state health privacy statutes are not subject to public disclosure
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Mississippi law
Child welfare and protective services records: Records of the Department of Child Protection Services are confidential
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for salary and position information of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in confidence is protected
Security and infrastructure plans: Documents detailing security vulnerabilities of public facilities are exempt

As stated in the Mississippi Public Records Act, "nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of records which are specifically exempted from disclosure by statute." The balancing of public interest in disclosure against privacy and security interests is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the custodial agency, subject to judicial review.

Yazoo County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Yazoo County Chancery Clerk
211 East Broadway Street
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(662) 746-2661
Yazoo County Chancery Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Yazoo County Circuit Court Clerk
211 East Broadway Street
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(662) 746-2375
Yazoo County Circuit Court Clerk

Yazoo County Tax Assessor/Collector
211 East Broadway Street
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(662) 746-2642
Yazoo County Tax Assessor/Collector

Yazoo County Sheriff's Office
206 East Broadway Street
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(662) 746-1971
Yazoo County Sheriff's Office

Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records
571 Stadium Drive
Ridgeland, MS 39157
(601) 206-8200
Mississippi State Department of Health