Mississippi Vital Records

What are Mississippi Vital Records?

Vital records in Mississippi are the official records of all births, deaths, marriages, and divorces in the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Vital Records Office maintains the birth and death records in Mississippi. The Mississippi marriage records and divorce records are maintained by the local county officials and courts. However, you may obtain a copy of marriage and divorce records and search these records through MSDH, as well as at the local level.

How Can I Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Mississippi?

You may obtain a copy of a Mississippi birth or death record dated from November 1912 to the present from the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Statistics Office. To get a record dated prior to November 1912, you should contact the local Mississippi Chancery Court Clerk's office.

To receive a certified copy of a birth certificate, you must be a person with a legitimate and tangible interest in the birth record. The persons who may obtain a certified copy of a Mississippi birth certificate include:

• The registrant, if of legal age.
• The parents listed on the record.
• The spouse, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the registrant.
• The legal guardian of the registrant, with legal guardianship documents.
• A licensed adoption agency working under the Mississippi state statutory authority of § 93-17-205.
• Any person with a court order.

If eligible, you may obtain a copy of a Mississippi birth certificate online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

To order online or by phone, you should visit Mississippi (MS) Vital Records | State Certificates - VitalChek. VitalChek charges a $17 fee for the delivery of a certified copy of a Mississippi birth certificate. This fee is in addition to the fees charged for the birth certificate. The first copy of a Mississippi birth certificate costs $17, and for each additional copy of the birth certificate ordered at the same time, there is a charge of $6. When ordering online, you may pay the fees by credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.

To order a Mississippi birth certificate by mail, you should complete the Application for Certified Mississippi Birth Certificate. The fee for the first certified copy is $17 and the fee for each additional copy ordered at the same time is $6. Mail your completed application, valid photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to Mississippi Vital Records for the correct amount to:

Mississippi Vital Records
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700

To obtain a Mississippi birth certificate in person, you may visit the MSDH Vital Records Office at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, Mississippi. Customer service is available at this office Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, you may contact the Office of Vital Records at (601) 206-8200 or VRInfo@HealthyMS.com.

How Can I Get a Copy of a Death Certificate in Mississippi?

Access to Mississippi death certificates is restricted to family members and those who can show a legitimate interest in the record, which includes the following persons:

• A child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of the decedent.
• The surviving spouse of the decedent.
• A parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent of the decedent.
• A sibling of the decedent.
• A health care agent of the decedent, with a valid health care power of attorney document.
• A personal representative of the decedent's estate.
• An heir of the decedent.
• A trustee of a trust created by or on behalf of the decedent.
• A person demonstrating that the death certificate is needed to determine or protect a personal or property right, with supporting documentation.
• Anyone with a court order.

If eligible, you may obtain a copy of a Mississippi death record online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

To order vital records online or by phone, you should visit Mississippi (MS) Vital Records | State Certificates - VitalChek. VitalChek charges a $17 fee for the delivery of a certified copy of a Mississippi death certificate. This fee is in addition to the fees charged for the death certificate. The first copy of a Mississippi death certificate costs $17, and for each additional copy of the death certificate ordered at the same time, there is a charge of $6. When ordering online, you may pay the fees by credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.

To order a Mississippi death certificate by mail, you should complete the Application for Certified Mississippi Death Certificate. The fee for the first certified copy is $17 and the fee for each additional copy ordered at the same time is $6. Mail your completed application, valid photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to Mississippi Vital Records for the correct amount to:

Mississippi Vital Records
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700

To obtain a Mississippi death certificate in person, you may visit the MSDH Vital Records Office at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, Mississippi. Customer service is available at this office Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, you may contact the Office of Vital Records at (601) 206-8200 or VRInfo@HealthyMS.com.

How Can I Get a Copy of a Mississippi Marriage Certificate?

A certified copy of a Mississippi marriage certificate may only be obtained by a person who can show a legitimate and tangible interest in the record, which includes the following persons:

• The marrying parties.
• The parents of the marrying parties, with proof of relationship.
• A current spouse of the marrying party on the certificate.
• The children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the marrying parties.
• A legal representative of anyone who is entitled to receive a copy.
• Anyone with a court order

Local Mississippi Circuit Clerks maintain the original records for marriages that occur in each county. However, you may order a copy of a marriage certificate from MSDH Vital Records for certificates dated January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present. You may also have MSDH conduct a search to determine which Mississippi county issued the marriage license and then obtain a copy from that Circuit Court's office.

If eligible, you may obtain a copy of a Mississippi marriage certificate online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

To order online or by phone, you should visit Mississippi (MS) Vital Records | State Certificates - VitalChek. VitalChek charges a $17 fee for the delivery of a certified copy of a Mississippi marriage certificate. This fee is in addition to the fees charged for the marriage certificate. The first copy of a Mississippi marriage certificate costs $17, and for each additional copy of the marriage certificate ordered at the same time, there is a charge of $6. When ordering online, you may pay the fees by credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.

To order a Mississippi marriage certificate by mail, you should complete the Application for Certified Mississippi Statistical Record of Marriage. The fee for the first certified copy is $17 and the fee for each additional copy ordered at the same time is $6. Mail your completed application, valid photo ID, such as a valid driver's license, and a check or money order made payable to Mississippi Vital Records for the correct amount to:

Mississippi Vital Records
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700

To obtain a Mississippi marriage certificate in person, you may visit the MSDH Vital Records Office at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, Mississippi. Customer service is available at this office Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, you may contact the Office of Vital Records at (601) 206-8200 or VRInfo@HealthyMS.com.

You may also visit the local Mississippi Circuit Clerk's office in the county where the marriage license was issued to obtain a copy of the marriage certificate.

How Can I Get a Copy of a Divorce Record in Mississippi?

The Mississippi Chancery Clerk in each Mississippi county maintains all divorce records in the state. The MSDH Office of Vital Records does offer a five-year search to locate the county where the divorce was granted, as well as the book and page number for the Chancery Clerk's office where the divorce decree is recorded. You will then need to contact the individual clerk's office to obtain a copy of the divorce record.

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