Mississippi Vital Records: The 2025 Guide

Complete information for requesting certified vital records in Mississippi — office address, current fees, processing times, county shortcuts, and step-by-step instructions for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce decrees.

Mississippi Vital Records Office

Birth Certificates in Mississippi

Mississippi processes vital records through the Mississippi State Department of Health in Jackson. The $17 fee applies to both birth and death certificates. Mississippi birth registration was not consistently statewide before 1912 — records before that date are patchy and may only exist at the county level.

To request a certified birth certificate by mail: download the official request form from msdh.ms.gov, complete it with the registrant's full name at birth, date of birth, county of birth, and both parents' full names (including mother's maiden name). Attach a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Include a check or money order payable to the Mississippi vital records office for $17 per copy. Mail to the address above.

Faster option: Hinds County (Jackson) Health Dept: 570 E. Woodrow Wilson Dr., Jackson — 601-576-7400. Harrison County (Biloxi/Gulfport) Health Dept: 2463 Pass Rd., Biloxi — 228-863-1025. County health departments can process walk-in requests faster than the state office.

For the complete birth certificate request guide including eligibility rules, handling missing records, and what to do when a record contains an error, see our complete birth certificate guide.

Death Certificates in Mississippi

Death certificates in Mississippi are $17 per certified copy, issued by the same vital records office. For an estate, order at least 10–15 certified copies when the funeral home files — each bank, insurance company, and government agency requires its own original. See our estate copy calculator for a personalized count, and our guide on getting a death certificate before or right after the funeral for urgent timelines.

Deaths older than 50 years are public record in Mississippi — anyone may request a copy. Requests for more recent deaths require proof of an eligible relationship.

Marriage Records in Mississippi

Marriage licenses in Mississippi are issued at the county level by the Circuit Clerk (marriages). To get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, contact that county office directly. If you don't know which county issued the license, the Mississippi vital records office can search the statewide marriage index. See our marriage certificate guide for the full process.

Divorce Decrees in Mississippi

Divorce decrees are court documents held by the clerk of the county court where the divorce was filed — not by the state vital records office. Contact the county court clerk to request a certified copy of the final divorce decree. The Mississippi vital records office can usually identify the county if you don't know it. See our divorce decree guide.

Public Access Rules for Genealogy

In Mississippi, birth records become publicly accessible to anyone after 100 years from the birth year. Death records become publicly accessible after 50 years. Within those windows, certified copies are restricted to eligible requestors — immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized parties. For genealogy research on records within the restricted window, demonstrate your direct-line relationship using a chain of birth certificates and death certificates. See our genealogy research guide for full details.