How to Search Quitman County Court Records
Quitman County court records are spread across more than one office. There is no county-branded free case search on the official Quitman County website. The main electronic channel is Mississippi Electronic Courts, reached through the public access system known as PAMEC. It covers electronically filed Circuit, Chancery, and County Court records statewide. Justice Court traffic tickets and fine payments run through a separate portal called My Fine Payment. Older, sealed, or non-electronic files still require a clerk.
Before starting, gather what you know. A full party name, an approximate filing year, and a case number all help. Decide whether the matter is criminal, civil, family, probate, or traffic, because that points you to the right court. The official county Court Systems page lists every local court, clerk, and prosecutor in one place.
That same county listing shows the Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk, Justice Court, district attorney, and county prosecutor side by side. The steps below move from the online tools to the clerk counters in a logical order.
- Identify the court. Felony and major civil cases sit in Circuit Court. Divorce, estate, guardianship, and land matters sit in Chancery Court. Traffic, misdemeanors, small claims, and evictions sit in Justice Court.
- Search PAMEC for Circuit and Chancery filings. Register or log in, then view by party name or case number.
- If the case is restricted remotely, contact the clerk. Sealed and several sensitive categories are not viewable online.
- For a traffic ticket or fine, use My Fine Payment or call the Justice Court at 662-326-2104.
- For older files or certified copies, call or visit the correct clerk at 220 Chestnut Street in Marks.
The Quitman County Judicial System
Mississippi uses several trial courts rather than one combined county court. Quitman County does not have a separate County Court, so cases that a County Court might hear elsewhere are handled by the Quitman County Circuit Court. The county Court Systems page lists three local trial venues: Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and Justice Court. City ordinance and city police citations may be handled through a Municipal Court channel tied to the City of Marks.
The Circuit Court sits in Circuit District 11, served by judges Linda F. Coleman, W. Hunter Nowell, and Charles E. Webster. The Chancery Court sits in Chancery District 7, served by chancellors Willie Perkins, Catherine Farris-Carter, and W.M. Sanders. Appeals leave the trial level and route to the Mississippi appellate system. The state Mississippi Judiciary site explains each court level in more detail.
Case flow: Justice Court / Municipal Court › Circuit Court › Mississippi Court of Appeals › Mississippi Supreme Court
| Court | District / Role | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Quitman County Circuit Court | Circuit District 11 | Felonies, major civil suits, jury trials, appeals from lower courts |
| Quitman County Chancery Court | Chancery District 7 | Divorce, custody, estates, wills, guardianship, land and equity |
| Quitman County Justice Court | Lower court | Traffic, misdemeanors, small claims to $3,500, evictions, warrants |
| City of Marks Municipal Court | City court | City ordinance cases and city police citations |
The Mississippi Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court, and the Mississippi Supreme Court is the court of last resort. An appeal is usually filed with the Supreme Court and may be assigned to the Court of Appeals by issue and workload.
Circuit and Chancery Clerks in Quitman County
Record ownership is split between two clerks who share the same building. The Circuit Clerk keeps circuit criminal and civil files, appeals from the lower courts, and marriage licenses. The Chancery Clerk keeps divorce, probate, estate, guardianship, conservatorship, land, and equity files. Sending a request to the wrong office is the most common reason a search stalls. The table below compares the two trial clerks and the Justice Court so you can match a record type to the correct counter.
| Office | Records Held | Suite / Address |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Clerk | Circuit criminal, circuit civil, lower-court appeals, marriage licenses | Suite 4, 220 Chestnut St., Marks |
| Chancery Clerk | Divorce, probate, estates, guardianship, land, equity | Suite 2, 220 Chestnut St., Marks |
| Justice Court | Traffic, misdemeanors, small claims, evictions, warrants | 275 East Main St., Marks |
The current Circuit Clerk is Teareathrea Keeler, reached at 662-326-8003. The Chancery Clerk is T.H. "Butch" Scipper, reached at 662-326-2661. The Justice Court Clerk is Gloria Survillion at 662-326-2104. The official county officials page lists these officers and their county roles.
Knowing the name behind each office helps when you call ahead. A short phone call before a visit can confirm hours, accepted payment, and whether a file is even kept at that counter.
Searching the PAMEC Records Portal
Mississippi finished electronic filing statewide for circuit, chancery, and county courts, so all 82 counties now feed one system. Public viewing runs through PAMEC, which needs a login. The reported fees are a $10 annual registration and 20 cents per page. Use the viewing login if you only want to read filed documents, not the attorney filing account.
The login screen asks for a small set of fields. The Mississippi Electronic Courts program gives judges, court staff, attorneys, and the public access to docket information and documents. The field table below shows what the public access login expects.
The state Judiciary homepage also links to appellate dockets, court rules, and the public access registration page. Sensitive case categories stay restricted even after you log in.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication Login | text | Yes | Use the PAMEC login if viewing only |
| Password | password | Yes | Account password |
| Client code | text | Varies | Billing or client reference field |
| Forgot Password? | link | Optional | Password recovery |
| Forgot Username? | link | Optional | Username recovery |
Note: Remote access is blocked for sealed cases and for categories such as divorce, child support, guardianship, and protection from domestic abuse.
Types of Court Records in Quitman County
Each Quitman County court produces its own kind of file. The format and the access rules change with the case type, so it helps to know the categories before you search. Criminal and major civil files build up in Circuit Court. Family and probate files build up in Chancery Court. Traffic and minor cases build up in Justice Court.
A court file is not the same as a police report. The court record shows what prosecutors filed and how the judge ruled. The sheriff or police file shows arrest and booking detail. The main categories appear below.
- Criminal records hold indictments, pleas, dispositions, and sentencing orders, mostly in Circuit Court. The full case file lives in the Quitman County criminal court records.
- Civil records hold complaints, answers, motions, judgments, and execution papers from Circuit Court lawsuits.
- Family and divorce records hold divorce, custody, child support, and adoption matters filed in Chancery Court.
- Probate records hold wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships handled by the Chancery Clerk.
- Traffic records hold citations, fines, and dispositions kept by the Justice Court.
What Quitman County Court Records Show
A typical Quitman County electronic court file follows a steady pattern. The header names the court, the case number, and the parties. The body tracks every event in order, from the first filing to the final order. Reading a file is easier when you know what each part means.
The table below lists the fields you will most often see in a Circuit or Chancery case. Some fields, like financial account numbers and dates of birth, are redacted under court rules even when the case itself is public.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court-assigned identifier used to pull the file |
| Filing Date | When the complaint, petition, or indictment was entered |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant, or petitioner and respondent, plus attorneys |
| Charges / Cause | The criminal charge and statute, or the civil claim raised |
| Disposition | The final outcome of a charge or claim |
| Sentence / Judgment | The punishment, award, or relief the court ordered |
Docket entries fill in the middle of the story. Common lines include summons issued, answer filed, motion filed, hearing set, plea entered, and judgment entered. A complete read of those entries shows where a case stands today.
Quitman County Court Record Access Laws
Mississippi law leans toward open records, but Quitman County court files carry extra rules. The Public Records Act sets the general right to inspect records of public bodies. Court access then depends on court rules, sealing orders, and confidentiality statutes layered on top. Sheriff and booking records follow the agency public-records path, while court files follow the clerk and the court that holds the case.
Key Statutes:
Miss. Code § 25-61-1 sets the policy that public records are open for inspection unless a law makes them exempt.
Miss. Code § 25-61-5 bars a public body from delaying production or denial past seven working days after a request.
Miss. Code § 99-19-71 lets eligible convictions be petitioned for expunction after waiting periods and conditions are met.
Miss. Code § 43-21-255 controls youth law-enforcement records and limits who may see them.
Electronic access adds its own layer. The MEC Administrative Procedures govern registration, redaction duties, and which categories stay restricted online.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Some Quitman County files never appear in a public search. Youth Court records are generally confidential and may be sealed when the juvenile reaches age 20 or when a case is set aside. Adoption files are Chancery Court matters and are not treated as ordinary public records. Mental health and sanity proceedings can be confidential as well, so access depends on statute, court order, and clerk review.
To view a sealed record, a person usually needs to be a party, an attorney of record, or someone the court allows by order. A separate path clears an eligible record entirely. Expunction removes a qualifying case from public records, and it is filed in the court where the conviction occurred. Eligibility is charge-specific, and many serious offenses are excluded.
The county also keeps a public document library with plans, historic district files, and notices. That library is separate from sealed court files, and it does not expose protected case detail.
Quitman County Traffic Tickets and Fines
Most Quitman County traffic cases run through the Justice Court at 275 East Main Street. The court takes county-level citations and Highway Patrol tickets, plus misdemeanors, small claims, and evictions. Payments and lookups also flow through a private portal called My Fine Payment, which lists Quitman County Justice Court as a participating jurisdiction.
The My Fine Payment portal lets a person search by two of three values. If the ticket does not appear, the portal advises calling 877-591-8768. The lookup fields are listed below.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name | text | Conditional | Provide two of the three fields |
| Date of Birth | date | Conditional | Provide two of the three fields |
| Citation Number | text | Conditional | Provide two of the three fields |
| Jurisdiction | dropdown | Yes | Includes Quitman County Justice Court |
| Search | button | Yes | Runs the lookup |
Paying a ticket can count as a plea, so call the court first if you want to contest. A missed court date can lead to a bench warrant or a license hold. The state driver record is separate and is purchased from the Mississippi Driver Service Bureau, where a certified online copy runs $14.31.
Quitman County Sheriff and Jail Information
The Quitman County sheriff is Oliver Parker, Jr., reached at 662-326-3131 for booking, custody, and warrant questions. There is no official Quitman County jail roster online. For tips or wanted information, the Quitman County Crime Stoppers line is 662-326-8477, run through the sheriff office at 233 Chestnut Street in Marks. The line is for reporting tips, not for checking your own status.
State custody is searched a different way. The Mississippi Department of Corrections runs a free inmate search by name or MDOC ID, and the Quitman County Community Work Center sits at 201 Camp B Road in Lambert. For custody alerts, Mississippi VINE sends notifications of transfers and releases. The county community directory lists the Marks and Lambert police departments and other local offices.
For the full roster process, search tools, and contact list, see the Quitman County inmate records page, and check warrant records for how to confirm an active warrant.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Quitman County marriage licenses come from the Circuit Clerk, who issues the license and keeps the county copy. The Mississippi State Department of Health can also provide a state marriage record for certain date ranges, with a copy fee of $17 and $6 for each added copy of the same record. The full process and form fields appear on the marriage and divorce records page.
Divorce and probate are Chancery Court matters. A certified divorce decree comes from the Chancery Clerk in the county where it was granted, since state Vital Records only runs an index search. Probate covers wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships, all detailed on the probate records page. The terms below appear often in these files.
- Testator
- A person who makes a valid will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to manage the estate.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will, which triggers estate administration.
- Guardianship
- A court appointment to protect a minor or incapacitated adult.
- Conservatorship
- A Chancery Court appointment to manage another person's finances.
Federal Court Records for Quitman County
Some cases never touch a state court. Quitman County sits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Oxford Division. Federal indictments, civil rights suits, bankruptcy, and Social Security appeals all belong to that system, not to the local clerks. These files are separate from anything in PAMEC.
Federal records are searched through PACER, the national electronic public access service. The Northern District of Mississippi keeps courthouses in Aberdeen, Greenville, and Oxford, with Oxford serving Quitman County by division. A state felony in Circuit Court and a federal felony in Oxford follow two completely different record trails.
Quitman County Court Record Fees
Quitman County court fees vary by office and by the kind of copy you need. The county website does not publish a local copy-fee schedule for the Circuit or Chancery Clerk, so those amounts must be confirmed by phone. The state-level fees below are fixed and reliable. Always ask the clerk for the current charge and accepted payment before mailing money.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| PAMEC annual registration | $10 |
| PAMEC document viewing | 20 cents per page |
| State marriage record copy (MSDH) | $17, plus $6 per added copy |
| State divorce index search (MSDH) | $17 per five-year span |
| DPS certified driver record (online) | $14.31 |
| Circuit or Chancery Clerk copy | Call to confirm |
Note: Local clerk copy and certification fees were not published online, so call the Circuit Clerk at 662-326-8003 or the Chancery Clerk at 662-326-2661 to confirm.
Visiting the Quitman County Courthouse
The main Quitman County courthouse stands at 220 Chestnut Street in Marks, near the center of the county. Both trial clerks work inside this building, with the Chancery Clerk in Suite 2 and the Circuit Clerk in Suite 4. The Justice Court is a short distance away on East Main Street, which matters for tickets and small claims.
The official county contact page lists the courthouse address and the main phone line. The contact card below gathers the details for a counter visit.
Call the office that handles your proceeding before you travel if you need an accommodation, since the county site does not post a building access policy.
History of Quitman County Courts
The county was carved out in 1877 from parts of Tunica, Coahoma, Panola, and Tallahatchie Counties. Leopold Marks, a dry-goods peddler who bought the old Hill plantation, introduced the bill that created it. The county took its name from General John A. Quitman of Mexican War fame, and the seat area was first called Belen before the town of Marks grew up around the courthouse.
The official county history page traces this story from Native American mound sites through steamboat-era Hill's Landing on the Coldwater River. Court and records work has always centered on Marks, the transportation hub of this Delta county.
Geography still shapes a courthouse visit today. The official county geography page notes that Mississippi Highways 6 and 3 cross in Marks and that three rivers run through the county.
Rail access is a rare detail for a rural courthouse. The Northwest Mississippi Regional Station in Marks sits on the Amtrak City of New Orleans route, linking the county seat to Memphis, Jackson, and New Orleans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free Quitman County court case search?
No county-branded free case search exists on the official county website. The statewide route is Mississippi Electronic Courts through the PAMEC public access login. It carries a $10 annual registration and 20 cents per page. For files that are not online, or for older cases, call or visit the Circuit Clerk or Chancery Clerk at 220 Chestnut Street in Marks.
Which clerk holds my record?
It depends on the case type. The Circuit Clerk keeps circuit criminal and civil files, lower-court appeals, and marriage licenses. The Chancery Clerk keeps divorce, probate, estate, guardianship, and land records. Traffic and small claims stay with the Justice Court on East Main Street. Matching the record to the right office saves time and avoids a wasted trip.
How do I check on a traffic ticket?
Use the My Fine Payment portal and search by two of three values: last name, date of birth, and citation number. Choose Quitman County Justice Court in the jurisdiction list. If the ticket does not appear within a week of the court date, call 877-591-8768 or the Justice Court at 662-326-2104. Paying may count as a plea, so call first if you plan to contest.
How do I find someone in custody?
Start by calling the sheriff at 662-326-3131, since no county jail roster is posted online. For state custody, search the Mississippi Department of Corrections by name or MDOC ID. The Quitman County Community Work Center in Lambert holds some state inmates. Mississippi VINE provides custody alerts for transfers and releases.
Are federal cases included?
No. Federal cases for Quitman County belong to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Oxford Division, and are searched through PACER. State and federal records sit in separate systems. A state felony in Circuit Court and a federal case in Oxford follow two different trails, so check the correct system for the matter you need.
Can I get a record removed?
Eligible convictions may be cleared through expunction under Miss. Code Section 99-19-71. The petition is filed in the court where the conviction occurred, and eligibility depends on the charge, the waiting period, and proof that the sentence and costs are complete. Many serious offenses are excluded. Sealed and youth records follow separate rules and are not part of a normal public search.