How to Search Calhoun County Court Records
Calhoun County court records run through more than one system. The right path depends on the case type and the court that keeps the file. Circuit Court records move through the Third Circuit District MEC system. Chancery Court records move through the Eighteenth Chancery District MEC system. Land and deed index entries sit in a separate Chancery Clerk portal. Justice Court and Municipal Court files are not in any countywide online search, so those calls go straight to the local clerk.
The Third Circuit District publishes its electronic court system through the Mississippi Electronic Courts network, known as MEC.
You can preview the portal that holds Calhoun County Circuit Court cases at the Third Circuit MEC site.
The MEC and PAMEC system is login gated, so set your expectations before you click. Have the party name or a case number ready, and know whether the matter is criminal, civil, family, or land related. That single choice points you to the correct clerk and the correct portal.
- Pick the court first. Felonies, major civil suits, and appeals from lower courts point to Circuit Court. Divorce, custody, probate, guardianship, and land title point to Chancery Court. Small claims and county tickets point to Justice Court, and city tickets point to Municipal Court.
- For Circuit Court, open the Third Circuit MEC portal and sign in with MEC or PAMEC credentials. Call the Circuit Clerk for older, sealed, or paper files.
- For Chancery Court, open the Eighteenth Chancery MEC portal and sign in. Many family and probate files carry sealed or restricted documents.
- For deeds and land title, use the Chancery Clerk land records portal instead of MEC.
- For Justice Court cases, call the Justice Court Clerk at 662-412-3134.
- For Calhoun City tickets and ordinances, call City Hall at 662-628-8345.
- When no online path works, file a written public records request with the clerk who keeps the record.
The Calhoun County Judicial System
Mississippi gives Calhoun County a layered court structure. At the top sit the state appellate courts, the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Below them sit the trial courts. Circuit Court is the main trial court for felonies, large civil suits, and appeals from the lower courts. Chancery Court is a separate trial court for equity, divorce, probate, and land title. Justice Court and Municipal Court handle smaller local matters. There is no separate County Court in Calhoun County, and the trial court is never called a District Court here.
Calhoun County belongs to the Third Circuit Court District for Circuit Court, alongside Benton, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah, and Union counties. The Circuit Court judges are Grady F. Tollison III, Kent Smith, and J. Kelly Luther. For Chancery Court, the county sits in the Eighteenth Chancery District with Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, and Tippah. The Chancery judges are Larry Little and Robert Q. Whitwell. You can read the state overview of how these courts fit together on the Mississippi Judiciary site.
That overview confirms the split that shapes every Calhoun County records search.
Case flow: Justice or Municipal Court › Circuit Court › Mississippi Court of Appeals › Mississippi Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals | Statewide appellate review | Appeals from Circuit and Chancery Court |
| Circuit Court | Third Circuit District | Felonies, major civil suits, lower-court appeals |
| Chancery Court | Eighteenth Chancery District | Divorce, probate, guardianship, land title, equity |
| Justice Court | County, outside cities | Small claims to $3,500, misdemeanors, traffic |
| Municipal Court | Inside a city | City ordinances, city traffic, municipal misdemeanors |
| Youth Court | Juvenile, confidential | Delinquency and child welfare, not public |
Where Calhoun County Keeps Each Record
The phrase Calhoun County court records covers several offices, not one filing room. The Circuit Clerk, Carlton Baker, keeps Circuit Court files and marriage licenses. The Chancery Clerk, Kathy Poynor, keeps Chancery Court files, probate, and land records. The Justice Court Clerk holds small claims and county traffic cases. Calhoun City keeps its own municipal files. The Sheriff's Office holds booking and jail records. Matching the record to the office saves a wasted trip to Pittsboro.
The Eighteenth Chancery District runs its own electronic portal for Chancery cases filed in Calhoun County.
You can see the Eighteenth Chancery MEC portal that serves divorce, probate, and equity matters.
That portal is the Chancery counterpart to the Circuit system, which is why a single search box cannot cover the whole county.
The division is simple once you sort it by record type. Felony and civil cases stay with the Circuit Clerk through the Third Circuit MEC system. Divorce, probate, guardianship, and deed records stay with the Chancery Clerk, either through the Eighteenth Chancery MEC system or the land records portal. Small claims and county traffic cases belong to the Justice Court Clerk at 662-412-3134, and city tickets and ordinance cases belong to the Calhoun City Municipal Court Clerk through City Hall at 662-628-8345.
Note: A case filed near the county line may belong to a neighboring county, so confirm the arresting agency or filing court before you assume the file sits in Pittsboro.
Court Records Available in Calhoun County
Calhoun County court records cover criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic matters. Circuit Court produces the felony case files and large civil suits. Chancery Court produces divorce, estate, guardianship, and land title files. Justice and Municipal Court produce misdemeanor, small claims, and traffic records. Each court generates its own paper trail, and each one follows its own access rules.
The exact contents depend on the court and the case stage. A criminal file grows from charging document to disposition, while a probate file grows from the first petition to the final order.
- Criminal records - Circuit Court felony files with indictments, pleas, and sentencing orders.
- Civil records - complaints, answers, motions, judgments, and damage awards.
- Family and divorce records - Chancery divorce, alimony, and custody filings, often partly sealed.
- Probate records - wills, estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship files.
- Traffic records - Justice or Municipal Court citation cases, separate from your state driver record.
What Calhoun County Court Records Show
A Calhoun County court record lays out the basic facts of a case. Most files list a case number, the court and county, the parties, the filing date, and a running list of docket entries. Criminal files add charges, pleas, disposition, and sentence. Civil and Chancery files add motions, orders, and judgments. The Mississippi Electronic Courts system is the main digital home for Circuit and Chancery files, though the public login pages do not expose a free sample record.
Calhoun County Circuit and Chancery Courts both went live on MEC on March 20, 2023, so older files may not appear online and may need a clerk request.
The MEC court information page for Calhoun County Circuit Court lists the address, phone, and go-live date.
That page confirms the court metadata you can rely on before you request a copy.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The clerk's unique tracking number for the file |
| Filing Date | The date the case opened with the court |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, or respondent and their attorneys |
| Charges / Cause | The criminal charge or the civil cause of action |
| Disposition | The current or final outcome of the case |
| Sentence / Judgment | The penalty, money award, or order entered by the judge |
Note: MEC rules bar Social Security numbers, birth dates, minor names, account numbers, and home addresses from public filings, so a docket may exist while protected data stays hidden.
Public Access Laws in Calhoun County
Mississippi treats court and government records as open unless a law, court rule, or sealing order says otherwise. The Mississippi Public Records Act sets the baseline, while court rules and MEC procedures control how case files move and what stays redacted. The Mississippi Ethics Commission hosts the plain text of the act for the public.
You can read the full statute on the Mississippi Public Records Act page.
That act is the starting point when an online search fails and you need to file a written request with the clerk.
Key Statutes:
Miss. Code § 25-61-1 - sets the public-records policy that records should be open unless an exemption applies.
Miss. Code § 25-61-7 - lets public bodies charge reasonable fees for search, review, copying, and mailing.
Miss. Code § 99-19-71 - the main expunction statute that can remove eligible criminal records from public view.
Miss. Code § 43-21-261 - keeps youth-court records confidential and limited to authorized people.
Calhoun County MEC and PAMEC Access
Both trial courts in Calhoun County route their electronic files through MEC and its public companion, PAMEC. The system is a restricted website for official court business. There is no free anonymous case search visible from the login page, so casual users often hit a wall. Attorneys of record see more than the general public, and some documents stay locked even after you log in. The MEC and PAMEC helpdesk answers at 601-576-4650 or helpdesk@mec.ms.gov.
The Chancery court information page mirrors the Circuit one, listing the Calhoun County Chancery Court address, phone, and the same March 20, 2023 go-live date.
You can review the Calhoun County Chancery Court MEC page for the official court details.
The login screen for both districts asks for the same short set of fields.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Login | text | Yes | MEC filer login or PAMEC login |
| Password | password | Yes | MEC or PAMEC password |
| Client code | text | Optional | 32-character field shown on the login page |
| Login | button | Yes | Submits the credentials |
| Reset | button | No | Clears the fields |
Restricted or Confidential Records
Not every Calhoun County court record is open to the public. Youth Court files are confidential and are not a public lookup. Sealed cases and expunged charges may show limited information or none at all. Adoption files and mental-health or capacity proceedings in Chancery Court carry strong privacy limits. Even in an open file, MEC redaction rules can mask personal identifiers.
To view a sealed record, you usually need to be a party, an attorney of record, or someone the court authorizes by order. The first step is to call the clerk for the court that handled the case and ask what the law allows. Expunction is its own process, filed in the court where the charge was handled, and it can apply to dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain convictions with waiting periods.
Calhoun County Chancery Land Records
Land and deed records sit with the Chancery Clerk, not with MEC. The Calhoun County Chancery Clerk offers internet access to the index of county land records through a separate online portal and its DuProcess inquiry application. The office runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a credit-card service fee of 3.5 percent, with a $2.00 minimum, applies to online copy purchases. All online credit-card copy purchases are final and non-refundable.
You can open the official land-record inquiry application linked by the Chancery Clerk.
The application searches the index, but it is not the official record of title.
Important: The online land-record index is not the official index. Only the Land Records Index kept in the Calhoun County Courthouse controls, so order a certified copy from the Chancery Clerk for any legal use.
Specialty Courts in Calhoun County
Calhoun County shares a problem-solving court with its judicial district. The Third Circuit District Drug Intervention Court serves Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah, and Union counties. It offers eligible defendants treatment, supervision, drug testing, and regular court review in place of, or alongside, ordinary criminal processing. A 2015 Mississippi Judiciary report counted 203 participants across the district.
No separate Calhoun County veterans court, mental health court, or family treatment court was found in official sources. For a misdemeanor or traffic matter, ask the relevant lower-court clerk whether a deferred disposition or diversion option exists for your exact charge. Eligibility, phase lengths, and graduation rules for the drug court were not published in Calhoun-specific sources, so the district court staff are the place to confirm current terms.
Calhoun County Sheriff and Jail
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and jail share an address at 178 South Murphree Street in Pittsboro. The current sheriff is Greg Pollan, and the office lists a 24-hour phone line at 662-412-5000. Jail Administrator Andy Eubanks can be reached at 662-412-3149. The jail page says current inmates are posted online, and that booked inmates stay listed for at least one week after release with a release date showing. Highlighted names link to Mississippi VINE for photo and status details.
The county also runs an official mobile app, "Calhoun County Sheriff MS," on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It supports crime reporting, tips, and public-safety news. For the full jail roster details, see the Calhoun County inmate records page, and for active warrants and the Most Wanted status, check the warrant records page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Chancery Records
Marriage and divorce records split between two offices in Calhoun County. The Circuit Clerk, Carlton Baker, is the local marriage-license office. The Chancery Court handles divorce and alimony, with the Chancery Clerk, Kathy Poynor, as the local custodian. The Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records office can also supply certified marriage copies and reflects divorce reports received through the state court system. For a deeper walkthrough, see the marriage and divorce records page and the Chancery Court probate page.
- Testator
- A person who makes a will that the Chancery Court later admits to probate.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to manage and settle the estate.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will, which routes the estate through state succession rules.
- Guardianship
- Court-authorized care and decisions for a minor or an incapacitated person.
- Conservator
- A person the court appoints to manage another person's finances or property.
Calhoun County Court Records Fees
Most Calhoun County copy and certification fees are not posted in official online sources, so the honest answer is to ask the clerk. The one published online figure is the Chancery Clerk's credit-card service fee for portal purchases. Plain copies, certified copies, marriage licenses, and search fees should be confirmed by phone before you travel or mail a request.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chancery online credit-card service fee | 3.5%, $2.00 minimum, non-refundable |
| Circuit plain or certified copy | Ask the Circuit Clerk, 662-412-3101 |
| Chancery plain or certified copy | Ask the Chancery Clerk, 662-412-3117 |
| Marriage license | Ask the Circuit Clerk before applying |
Note: The Public Records Act lets a public body charge reasonable fees for searching, reviewing, copying, and mailing records, so request a fee estimate before you authorize payment.
Calhoun County Courthouse Contacts
The county's court offices share the courthouse at 103 West Main Street in Pittsboro, while the Sheriff's Office and jail sit a short distance away on South Murphree Street. Court offices keep 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours. Use the street address for the courthouse, not the clerks' post office boxes, when you visit in person.
Circuit Court and Circuit Clerk
103 West Main Street #192
Pittsboro, MS 38951
662-412-3101
Chancery Court and Chancery Clerk
103 West Main Street #192
Pittsboro, MS 38951
662-412-3117
History of Calhoun County Courts
Calhoun County was formed in 1852 and named for John C. Calhoun, who served as Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832. Pittsboro has been the county seat from the start, and county government has kept records since the same year. The Sheriff's Office traces its own line of sheriffs back to Alfed M. Wilson in 1852 and forward to Greg Pollan today. Vardaman, one of the county communities, still calls itself the Sweet Potato Capital of the World.
The county's court records took a major step into the digital era on March 20, 2023, when both Circuit and Chancery Courts went live on MEC. Voluntary attorney e-filing began that month, and mandatory e-filing for Circuit Court followed in April 2023. By 2025, Mississippi had completed electronic filing statewide. That timeline matters for any search, because files opened before March 2023 may still live on paper at the clerk's counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one website for all Calhoun County court records?
No. Calhoun County uses a split system. Circuit Court records run through the Third Circuit MEC portal, Chancery Court records run through the Eighteenth Chancery MEC portal, and land records sit in a separate Chancery Clerk portal. Justice Court and Municipal Court files are not in any countywide online search, so you call those clerks directly.
Can the public search MEC for free?
The MEC and PAMEC login page does not offer a free anonymous case search. Access is gated behind credentials, and some documents are limited to attorneys of record. The public helpdesk can explain registration at 601-576-4650 or helpdesk@mec.ms.gov, but plan to confirm any viewing fee during registration.
Where do I get a marriage license in Calhoun County?
The Circuit Clerk, Carlton Baker, is the local marriage-license office at 103 West Main Street in Pittsboro, phone 662-412-3101. The specific fee and ID rules were not published online, so call before you travel. For a certified marriage copy, you can also order through the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records office.
How do I look up land or deed records?
The Chancery Clerk runs an online index of Calhoun County land records and a DuProcess inquiry application. The online index is not the official record. Only the index kept inside the courthouse controls, so order a certified copy from the Chancery Clerk for any legal use. Online copy purchases carry a 3.5 percent service fee with a $2.00 minimum.
Does Calhoun County post an online warrant list?
The Sheriff's Office has a Most Wanted page, but it showed no active entries during inspection. There is no confirmed live warrant search. For warrant questions, call the Sheriff's 24-hour line at 662-412-5000, or contact the court that issued the warrant, whether Justice, Municipal, or Circuit Court.
Why are some Calhoun County records missing online?
Calhoun Circuit and Chancery Courts went live on MEC on March 20, 2023. Older files may not appear in the electronic system and may still exist only on paper. For pre-2023 cases, certified copies, or sealed files, contact the Circuit Clerk or Chancery Clerk directly.
What records are not open to the public?
Youth Court records are confidential. Sealed and expunged cases may show little or nothing. Adoption files and mental-health proceedings carry privacy limits, and MEC rules redact personal identifiers like Social Security numbers and birth dates. Access to a restricted file usually requires being a party, an attorney of record, or a person the court authorizes.