Getting a Marriage License in Chickasaw County
In Mississippi, the Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses. For Chickasaw County, that office belongs to Circuit Clerk Cassandra Pulliam. The county runs two judicial districts, so couples can apply in either seat. The First Judicial District office sits in Houston at 1 Pinson Square, Room 2, Houston, MS 38851, phone 662-456-2331. The Second Judicial District office sits in Okolona at 234 W. Main Street, Room 203, Okolona, MS 38860, phone 662-447-2838. Both offices keep hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both applicants usually appear together to sign and to show proof of age and identity. A driver license, birth certificate, or state ID is the common form of proof. Mississippi does not require a county residency to marry here, so out-of-county couples may still apply. A Chickasaw-specific marriage license fee and a printed application form were not located in public sources, so confirm the current fee and the exact documents with the Circuit Clerk before you appear. The two-district setup means a license issued in Houston and one issued in Okolona may be filed in different drawers, which matters later when you search.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process is short when both people arrive prepared. Bring valid photo ID, know the details the clerk will ask for, and be ready to pay on the spot. Call ahead to confirm whether the office takes walk-ins or prefers an appointment, and ask which payment types it accepts.
- Call the Circuit Clerk in Houston at 662-456-2331 or Okolona at 662-447-2838 to confirm the fee, accepted ID, and walk-in or appointment rules.
- Gather proof of age and identity for both applicants, such as a driver license, state ID, or birth certificate.
- Note prior marriage details, including how and when any last marriage ended, since the clerk may ask for that information.
- Visit the Circuit Clerk office in Houston or Okolona together, complete the application, and sign in front of the clerk.
- Pay the license fee, then keep the issued license and any receipt for your records and for the officiant.
After the ceremony, the signed license returns to the Circuit Clerk for recording. That recorded copy becomes the local marriage record you or anyone else can later request.
Marriage License Application Fields
No Chickasaw County application form was published online, so the fields below reflect standard Mississippi practice rather than a confirmed local document. Treat the list as a preparation checklist and verify every item with the Chickasaw Circuit Clerk. The clerk decides what proof satisfies each requirement and what a recent prior marriage demands.
| Field or Requirement | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 full legal name | Likely yes | Confirm with Chickasaw Circuit Clerk. |
| Applicant 2 full legal name | Likely yes | Both applicants generally appear together. |
| Proof of age or ID | Likely yes | Driver license, birth certificate, or state ID. |
| Date of birth | Likely yes | Used for age verification. |
| Parents' full names, including maiden names | Likely yes | A common Mississippi application item. |
| Prior marriage information | Conditional | Date a last marriage ended; a decree may be needed if recent. |
| Fee payment | Yes | Local amount not located; confirm with the clerk. |
Note: Because this inventory is not a verified Chickasaw form, call the Circuit Clerk to confirm each field and any document the office expects from out-of-state applicants.
How to Look Up Chickasaw County Marriage Records
A recorded marriage license becomes a public marriage record at two levels. The Circuit Clerk that issued the license holds the local copy, and the Mississippi State Department of Health, known as MSDH, holds a statewide copy for many years. Where you search depends on when and where the marriage happened.
The Mississippi State Department of Health explains how it handles marriage records and can search for the county where a license was issued. MSDH warns that not every marriage record is on file with the Office of Vital Records, even though the records are supposed to be registered. When the state cannot locate a record, the issuing Circuit Clerk is the next stop.
Dates matter for a marriage and divorce records search. MSDH keeps statewide marriage records from January 1, 1926 forward. A narrow window from July 1, 1938 through December 31, 1941 was kept only by the county Circuit Clerk, so records from those years come from the local office rather than the state. For older or genealogical marriages, start with the Circuit Clerk in Houston or Okolona and bring the names and an approximate date.
Chickasaw County Marriage and Divorce Record Fees
Fees split between the county offices and the state. A Chickasaw marriage license fee was not published, and the Circuit Clerk sets local certified-copy charges, so confirm those before you order. The state copy fees through MSDH are fixed and apply statewide. Court filing fees in Chancery Court for a divorce vary by case and should be confirmed with the Chancery Clerk.
The MSDH page that lists marriage record dates and copy fees sets the state charge for a record search plus one certified copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost less per copy. Use the table for the confirmed state amounts and treat the local rows as items to verify.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| MSDH marriage record search plus certified copy | $17 |
| MSDH additional copy ordered at the same time | $6 each |
| VitalChek online or phone ordering | State fee plus a vendor fee |
| Chickasaw marriage license | Not located; confirm with Circuit Clerk |
| Local certified copy at the Circuit or Chancery Clerk | Confirm current clerk fee |
Note: No local Chickasaw County marriage license fee was found in public sources, so verify the current amount and accepted payment with the Circuit Clerk before applying.
How to Find Chickasaw County Divorce Records
Divorce is an equity matter in Mississippi, so divorce records are Chancery Court records. Chickasaw divorce files route to Chancery Court in Houston at 1 Pinson Square, phone 662-456-2513, or in Okolona at 234 W. Main Street, phone 662-447-2092. The Fourteenth Chancery Court District handles divorce, alimony, annulment, separate maintenance, child custody, child support, and the division of marital property. For estate and guardianship matters that often touch the same families, the county Chancery Court probate records sit with the same clerk.
The Mississippi Bar explains the grounds and timing for a Mississippi divorce, which shape what a file contains and how long it takes. A few rules apply to nearly every case, and they help you read a docket or estimate where a case stands.
- Residency
- At least one spouse must live in Mississippi for six months before filing.
- Irreconcilable differences
- A 60-day waiting period applies once both spouses agree and the court approves the terms.
- Fault grounds
- Other grounds require notice to the other spouse at least 30 days before trial.
To find a specific divorce, identify the district first, then choose an access channel. Newer Chancery cases are on Mississippi Electronic Courts, known as MEC, with public viewing through PAMEC registration rather than a free anonymous search. Older Chancery Court records from 2008 through June 28, 2021 may appear in the Delta Computer Systems subscription database, which is paid and not the official record. The courthouse file controls in any conflict. A divorce file can hold the complaint, answer, a property settlement agreement, custody and support filings, temporary orders, and the final decree. Sealed exhibits, minor information, and protective orders may be restricted from public view.
Getting Certified Copies of Chickasaw County Records
Certified copies carry an official seal and are what most agencies accept for a name change, a benefit claim, or a court matter. For a marriage record, you can order a certified copy from the issuing Circuit Clerk or from MSDH. For a divorce decree, request a certified copy from the Chancery Clerk that holds the case. The office that recorded the original is always a safe starting point.
MSDH also offers an online and phone ordering route. The MSDH vital-record ordering page through VitalChek lets you place a request remotely, with a vendor fee added on top of the state charge. VitalChek suits people who live out of state or cannot visit a Mississippi office in person.
Order extra certified copies in the same request when you can. MSDH charges $17 for the first certified marriage copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, which is cheaper than a second order later.
For circuit and chancery records, the local clerk fee is the one to confirm, since a per-page or per-copy charge may apply. The county Circuit Clerk office can quote the current rate and tell you whether mail, phone, or in-person pickup works best for your request.
Mississippi Vital Records Office
The Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, is the statewide source for certified marriage copies and for confirming the county that issued a license. It holds statewide marriage records from 1926 forward, with the brief 1938 to 1941 gap that only the county Circuit Clerk filled. Call or email before ordering to confirm processing times and the documents you must include.
The marriage record search that pulls a certified copy runs $17, with additional same-order copies at $6 each. VitalChek adds a vendor fee for remote orders. When the state cannot find a record, return to the Chickasaw Circuit Clerk that issued the original license.
MSDH Office of Vital Records
Marriage record search plus certified copy: $17
Additional copy, same order: $6 each
601-206-8200
The MSDH page that describes its marriage record service is the best place to confirm current dates, fees, and the email address for written questions. Email vital-record questions to VRInfo@msdh.ms.gov when you prefer to write rather than call.