Lincoln County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Lincoln County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Lincoln County, Mississippi may access publicly available information through LincolnMSRecords.us, which aggregates data related to a range of official record categories. Records that may be located through official channels include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, and law enforcement logs, subject to applicable exemptions under state law. The availability and completeness of any given record depends on the maintaining agency, the age of the document, and whether the record falls within a protected category.

Online Access: Members of the public may search several digital platforms to locate Lincoln County records without visiting a government office in person. The Lincoln County GIS tax parcel viewer provides compiled data drawn from recorded deeds, plats, tax maps, surveys, and other public records. The Mississippi State Courts Administrative Office maintains an online case search portal for circuit and chancery court filings. No registration is required to conduct basic property or court searches through these platforms.

In-Person Requests: Individuals may inspect records in person at the Lincoln County Circuit Clerk's Office or the Chancery Clerk's Office, both located at the Lincoln County Courthouse, 300 South First Street, Brookhaven, Mississippi 39601. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding state holidays. Requestors should identify the record by name, date range, case number, or parcel number to facilitate retrieval.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the applicable clerk's office at 300 South First Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601. The request should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the record 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:

Lincoln County Circuit Clerk: (601) 835-3411
Lincoln County Chancery Clerk: (601) 835-3402

What Are Public Records in Lincoln County?

Public records in Lincoln County are defined under Mississippi Code § 25-61-3 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 transaction of public business. The following record types are maintained by various county offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Clerk
Probate and chancery records	Chancery Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Chancery Clerk
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Mississippi State Department of Health
Property tax assessments	Tax Assessor/Collector
Business licenses and permits	County Administrator
Voting and election records	Circuit Clerk / Election Commission
Meeting minutes and agendas	Board of Supervisors
Budget and financial documents	County Administrator
Arrest logs and incident reports	Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Department
Child support enforcement records	Mississippi Division of Child Support Enforcement

Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are issued through the Mississippi vital records program administered by the Mississippi State Department of Health, which maintains statewide registration of these documents.

Is Lincoln County an Open Records County?

Lincoln County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's open records framework. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, § 25-61-1 et seq., all public records are presumed to be open for inspection and copying by any person unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act establishes that government transparency is the default position of the state.

As stated in the Mississippi Attorney General's guidance on public records: "The Public Records Act reflects the Legislature's intent that government records be available to the public, and that any exemptions to that availability be narrowly construed." This principle applies to all county-level agencies in Lincoln County, including the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff's Office, and all clerk offices.

The Mississippi Ethics Commission, which oversees compliance with the Public Records Act, has affirmed that local governments must designate a records custodian and respond to requests without undue delay. Lincoln County's Board of Supervisors meetings are subject to the Mississippi Open Meetings Act, § 25-41-1 et seq., which requires that deliberations of public bodies be conducted in open session with advance public notice.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Lincoln County follows the schedule established under Mississippi law and the individual policies of each maintaining office.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.25 per page
Certification of documents	$1.00 per document
Electronic copies (where available)	Varies by office
Search fees	Not permitted under state law
Inspection of records	No charge

Inspection fees: Members of the public may inspect records at no charge during regular business hours.
Copy fees: Standard paper copies are assessed at $0.25 per page at most county offices.
Certification fees: Certified copies of court documents and recorded instruments carry a per-document fee set by the clerk.
Vital records copies: Certified copies of birth and death certificates issued through the Mississippi State Department of Health carry a separate fee schedule established by state statute.
Payment methods: Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, money order, and personal check made payable to the applicable clerk. Some offices accept credit or debit cards; requestors should confirm accepted methods prior to submitting payment.

Fee waivers are not broadly established by statute for general public records requests in Mississippi, though individual agencies retain discretion to waive fees in cases involving indigency or public interest.

Does Lincoln County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Lincoln County government offices during regular business hours. Any person may review documents in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office or Chancery Clerk's Office without incurring a fee, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records carries no cost, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Several categories of records are accessible at no cost through official online platforms:

Property and parcel data: The Lincoln County GIS parcel viewer provides free access to compiled property records, including deeds, plats, and tax maps, without requiring registration or payment.
Court case information: Basic case status and docket information for Mississippi courts is available through the Mississippi Electronic Courts system at no charge.
Child support case information: Parties to child support proceedings may access case-related records through the Mississippi child support enforcement portal administered by the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
Board of Supervisors minutes and agendas: Meeting minutes and agendas are posted publicly on the county's official website at no cost.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lincoln County?

Any person may request public records in Lincoln 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 identify themselves or explain the reason for their request when seeking non-exempt records. This broad access standard reflects the Legislature's intent that government information remain open to the public.

Specific provisions apply in the following circumstances:

Identification: Requestors are not required to present identification to inspect general public records. However, certain offices may require identification when the requestor seeks records pertaining to their own personal information or when accessing restricted terminals.
Purpose: No statement of purpose is required for standard public records requests under § 25-61-5.
Non-residents: Non-residents of Mississippi retain the same access rights as residents under the Public Records Act.
Requesting personal records: Individuals seeking their own vital records, such as birth or death certificates, must provide proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of relationship to the subject of the record, as required by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Restricted record types: Certain categories, including juvenile court records, sealed case files, and adoption records, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Lincoln County?

Not all government documents held by Lincoln County agencies are subject to public disclosure. Mississippi law establishes specific categories of exempt records that agencies are not required to release. The following records are currently withheld from public access under applicable state and federal law:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Mississippi Code § 43-21-261.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents.
Medical and health records: Records protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are not subject to disclosure through public records requests.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under state and federal law.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files held by county agencies are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for salary information of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting is protected from release.
Security and infrastructure plans: Documents detailing the security arrangements of public facilities are withheld to protect public safety.

As stated in the Mississippi Attorney General's open records guidance: "Exemptions to the Public Records Act are to be strictly construed, and the burden of establishing that a record is exempt rests with the agency asserting the exemption."

Lincoln County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The primary offices responsible for maintaining public records in Lincoln County are the Circuit Clerk's Office and the Chancery Clerk's Office, both located at the Lincoln County Courthouse.

Lincoln County Circuit Clerk's Office
300 South First Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601
(601) 835-3411
Lincoln County Circuit Clerk

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

Lincoln County Chancery Clerk's Office
300 South First Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601
(601) 835-3402
Lincoln County Chancery Clerk

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

Lincoln County Tax Assessor/Collector
300 South First Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601
(601) 835-3424
Lincoln County Tax Assessor

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records
571 Stadium Drive, Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 576-7960
Mississippi State Department of Health

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
325 West Court Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601
(601) 833-5231
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office