Lee County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Lee County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Lee County, Mississippi, may access a range of publicly available information through LeeCountyRecords.org and through official county and state government offices. Public records maintained by Lee County agencies may include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, and other materials created or received by government bodies in the course of official business.

Record categories that members of the public may encounter include:

Court records (civil, criminal, chancery, and probate)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax and assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted by law)
Land use and zoning documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Lee County Chancery Records portal provides online access to official land records and related instruments. The portal designates the Lee County Courthouse as the Official Land Records Index. The DuProcess Official Records Online system, maintained by the Clerk of the Chancery Court, allows users to search recorded documents. Some features may require a subscription or registered account.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Lee County Chancery Clerk's Office or the Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours to inspect records at public access terminals. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to describe the records sought with reasonable specificity.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests should be directed to the appropriate clerk's office by mail. The request should identify the record type, the names of parties involved, approximate dates, and the requestor's contact information. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time.

Phone/Email:

Lee County Chancery Clerk: (662) 841-9100
Lee County Circuit Clerk: (662) 841-9101

What Are Public Records in Lee County?

Public records in Lee County are defined under Mississippi law as any books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, cards, tapes, recordings, or reproductions thereof, and any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct, transaction, or performance of any business, transaction, work, duty, or function of any public body. This definition is established under Mississippi Code § 25-61-3.

Available record types maintained by Lee County agencies include:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Clerk
Chancery, probate, and family court records	Chancery Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Chancery Clerk
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Mississippi State Department of Health
Tax and assessment records	Tax Assessor/Collector
Business licenses and permits	County Administrator
Voting and election records	Circuit Clerk / Election Commission
Meeting minutes and agendas	Board of Supervisors
Law enforcement records	Lee County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Department

The Lee County Chancery Records portal serves as the primary online index for land and property records. Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are maintained at the state level by the Mississippi State Department of Health, which also facilitates online ordering through VitalChek.

Is Lee County an Open Records County?

Lee County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's open records framework. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, § 25-61-1 et seq., all public bodies in the state are required to make their records available for inspection and copying by any person upon request, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

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 provision establishes a strong presumption of openness for records held by county agencies.

The Lee County Board of Supervisors and all county departments are subject to this statute. The Mississippi Attorney General's Office provides guidance to public bodies on compliance with open records obligations. No county-specific ordinance narrows the scope of access beyond what state law permits.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Lee County is governed by state law and individual office schedules. Standard fees applicable to most requests include:

Copies (paper): $0.25 per page for standard letter or legal size documents
Certification fee: Varies by document type; certified copies of recorded instruments typically carry a per-page fee plus a certification charge
Electronic copies: Fees may apply depending on the format and volume of records requested
Search fees: Permitted under state law when a search requires more than a reasonable amount of staff time
Vital records (birth/death/marriage certificates): Fees are set by the Mississippi State Department of Health; current fee schedules are available through the Mississippi vital records ordering service

Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit cards. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-7, fees charged for public records must be reasonable and may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Lee County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Lee County government offices during regular business hours. Members of the public may inspect records in person without charge; fees apply only when copies or certified reproductions are requested.

Free online access to certain records is available through the following official resources:

The Lee County Chancery Records portal provides searchable access to land records and recorded instruments at no cost for basic inquiry functions
The DuProcess Official Records Online system allows public users to search the Chancery Court's official records index; subscription options are available for expanded access
The Lee County Tax Assessor's Office maintains property assessment data accessible to the public during office hours at no charge
The Mississippi Secretary of State's office provides free online access to business entity records through its official portal

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while the right to inspect records is generally provided at no cost, obtaining physical or electronic reproductions is subject to applicable fees as described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lee County?

Any person may request public records from Lee County agencies. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, residency in Mississippi is not a prerequisite for submitting a public records request. Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request as a condition of access, nor are they required to provide identification in order to inspect records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or for certified copies.

Specific provisions apply to certain record categories:

Vital records: Access to birth, death, and marriage certificates is restricted to qualified applicants as defined by Mississippi law, including the subject of the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a demonstrated legal interest
Juvenile records: Access is restricted pursuant to state statute
Criminal history records: Full criminal history information may require a formal request through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety

Non-residents retain the same rights as residents to inspect and copy public records under state law. Requestors seeking their own records may be entitled to expedited processing in certain circumstances. Requests on behalf of another individual or entity should clearly identify the authorized representative and the basis for the request.

What Records Are Confidential in Lee County?

Certain records maintained by Lee County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under state and federal law. The Mississippi Public Records Act, at § 25-61-11, enumerates categories of records that public bodies are not required to disclose. Exempt and confidential record categories include:

Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Juvenile records and youth court proceedings
Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
Medical and health records protected under HIPAA
Adoption records
Child welfare and protective services records
Personnel records, with limited exceptions for public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans, infrastructure vulnerability assessments, and emergency response protocols
Attorney-client privileged communications involving government legal counsel

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." Agencies applying an exemption bear the responsibility of identifying the specific statutory basis for withholding a record. In cases where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Lee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Chancery Clerk serves as the primary recorder of official documents in Lee County, Mississippi, maintaining land records, court records, and other instruments filed with the county.

Lee County Chancery Clerk's Office
200 Jefferson Street, Suite 104
Tupelo, MS 38804
(662) 841-9100
Lee County Chancery Clerk

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

Lee County Circuit Clerk's Office
200 Jefferson Street
Tupelo, MS 38804
(662) 841-9101
Lee County Circuit Clerk