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Mississippi vital records

The Office of Vital Records is the vital records office for Mississippi.1 It issues certified birth certificates, death certificates and marriage certificates1. It does not issue divorce records; this page shows who does.1 Local offices also issue certified copies.2

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The state office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records1November 1912 to today1$173In person: Same day1
Death certificateMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records1November 1912 to today1$174Online through VitalChek: 7 to 10 business days5
Marriage certificateMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (statistical record); county Circuit Clerk6January 1, 1926 to today (except July 1, 1938 to December 31, 1941)6$177Online through VitalChek: 7 to 10 business days8
Divorce recordsChancery Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted9January 1, 1926 to today (except July 1, 1938 to December 31, 1941; index search only)1––

Birth certificate

Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, by phone

How to get a Mississippi birth certificate

Death certificate

Older records
MDAH holds microfiche of state death records, November 1912 to 194310
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, by phone

How to get a Mississippi death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
Circuit Clerk holds the license; 1938–1941 records are only at the county7
Older records
County Circuit Clerk; MDAH microfilm of most county marriage books1
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, at a local office, by phone

How to get a Mississippi marriage certificate

Divorce records

Who holds it
MSDH holds no decrees; it only searches the index to find the county, book and page11
Older records
County Chancery Clerk1
Ways to order
At a local office

How to get Mississippi divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
Yes2
Which offices
Circuit Clerk (marriage); Chancery Clerk (divorce)2

Access rules and the law

Who may get certified copies
Closed: legitimate and tangible interest required1

Laws and rules the office cites

  • Miss. Code Ann. §41-57-2 (access; legitimate and tangible interest)12
  • Miss. Code Ann. §41-57-27 (false pretenses)12
  • Title 15, Part 5, Subpart 85, Rules Governing the Registration and Certification of Vital Events (Rev. October 10, 2025)2

The state office

Office
Office of Vital Records1
Mailing address
Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700
13
Walk-in address
222 Marketridge Dr., Ridgeland, MS 39157
1
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed state holidays1

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in Mississippi?

A certified birth certificate costs $17 for the first copy and a death certificate $17.34

What is the phone number of the Mississippi vital records office?

Office of Vital Records: 601-206-8200.1

Where do I get a marriage certificate in Mississippi?

Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (statistical record); county Circuit Clerk (license). Circuit Clerk holds the license; 1938–1941 records are only at the county.67

Where do I get divorce records in Mississippi?

Chancery Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted. MSDH holds no decrees; it only searches the index to find the county, book and page.911

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Vital recordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 14, 2026
  2. 1 Rev. October 10, 2025Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 10, 2025
  3. Birth certificatesMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 4, 2026
  4. Death Certificate Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 4, 2026
  5. Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 02/2026 Form 523Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 1, 2026
  6. Marriage recordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 28, 2026
  7. Marriage Record Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 29, 2026
  8. Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 02/2026 Form 502Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 1, 2026
  9. Skip directly to site contentCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated April 23, 2026
  10. Genealogy | Mississippi Department of Archives & HistoryMississippi Department of Archives and History
  11. Divorce RecordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 1, 2026
  12. Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 02/2026 Form No. 522Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 1, 2026
  13. Birth Certificate Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 31, 2026