Marriage Licenses at the Lincoln County Circuit Clerk
The Lincoln County Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps the county's marriage records. The current clerk is Christy Sheppard, whose office is in Room 205 of the Lincoln County Courthouse at 301 S First Street in Brookhaven. You can reach the office by phone at 601-835-3435 or by fax at 601-835-3482. Both parties apply together in person, so plan a joint visit during regular business hours. The work the Circuit Clerk does on marriage records runs from issuing the license to indexing the return after the ceremony.
Mississippi does not route county marriage licenses through a separate vital records bureau. The license starts and ends at the Circuit Clerk counter, and the same office can later confirm that a marriage was recorded. The official Circuit Clerk page lists Sheppard's contact details and notes that the office issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records. Divorce is handled by a different court, which is covered further down, so it helps to keep the two record types straight from the start.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Applying is straightforward once both people are ready to appear together. The Circuit Clerk's posted marriage license instructions set out the basic steps and the documents to bring. Walking in prepared keeps the visit short.
- Both parties travel together to the Circuit Clerk's office in Room 205 of the courthouse.
- Each person brings proof of identification, such as a current driver's license.
- Confirm eligibility, since applicants must be 21 or have a parent's consent if under 21.
- If either party was married before, know the exact date that the prior divorce became final.
- Pay the marriage license fee at the counter.
- Receive the license, since no blood test and no waiting period apply.
The marriage license instruction sheet is a one-page guide rather than a full fill-in form. The clerk completes the official record at the counter, so most of the work is bringing the right people and the right documents.
Marriage License Requirements
The clerk applies a short list of state rules before issuing a license. Each requirement below comes from the Lincoln County marriage license instructions. Meeting all of them in one trip is the goal.
| Requirement | Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Both parties present | Yes | Bride and groom must appear together at the Circuit Clerk's office. |
| Photo identification | Yes | A driver's license or similar proof of identification for each party. |
| Age 21, or consent under 21 | Yes | Applicants 21 and older need no consent; under 21 requires a parent's consent. |
| Prior divorce date | If applicable | A party married before must know the date the divorce became final. |
| Blood test | No | No blood test has been required since July 1, 2012. |
| Waiting period | None | No waiting period applies since July 1, 2012. |
| Minimum-age exception | Special | Males under 17 and females under 15 must show a judge sufficient reasons and get parental or in loco parentis consent. |
These rules are uniform across Mississippi, but the Lincoln County Circuit Clerk is the office that applies them locally. When a younger applicant is involved, expect extra documentation and a judge's review before any license is granted.
Mississippi Vital Records for Marriage Certificates
The state can supply certified marriage certificates through the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Vital Records. This is useful when you need an official certificate rather than a county index entry, or when you do not know which county issued the license. The MSDH page notes that not every marriage record is on file with the state office, so coverage has limits.
The agency's marriage records page explains how to order and lists the Vital Records contact line. The screenshot below shows the official state marriage records guidance for Lincoln County residents and others statewide.
State certificate availability has a known gap. Mississippi marriage certificates are available for events from January 1, 1926 to June 1, 1938 and from January 1, 1942 to the present. Records from July 1938 through December 1941 are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the license was issued, so a Lincoln County license from that window is requested at the courthouse, not the state office. Certified copies can be ordered through VitalChek or by phone.
MSDH Office of Vital Records
Mississippi State Department of Health
601-206-8200
VRInfo@msdh.ms.gov
How to Search Lincoln County Marriage Records
Lincoln County marriage records can be searched through an online index hosted for the Circuit Clerk. The index helps confirm that a marriage was recorded and points to the book and page where the record sits. It is a finding aid, not a copy service.
The marriage license search lets you query by a single field and submit. The interface below shows the search boxes available to the public.
You can search using any one of the fields listed here, then read the matching index entry. To order an actual certificate, return to the Circuit Clerk because the images of marriage records are not posted online.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groom/Spouse | Name | Optional | Search by groom or spouse name. |
| Bride/Spouse | Name | Optional | Search by bride or spouse name. |
| Marriage Date | Date | Optional | Month, day, and year. |
| Book/Page | Text | Optional | Enter the record book and page. |
Note: The online marriage search returns index information only, and images of Lincoln County marriage records are not available online, so certified copies come from the Circuit Clerk.
Lincoln County Marriage License Fees
Marriage costs at the Circuit Clerk are modest and posted on the office fee schedule. The application fee covers the license itself, while certificate fees apply when you want a copy of the record. The amounts below come from the Circuit Clerk fee schedule.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license application | $36 |
| First marriage certificate | $17 |
| Each additional certificate | $6 |
| Copy of application | $1 |
The full Circuit Clerk fee schedule lists these alongside other clerk services. Because the posted fee sheet still carries a former clerk's name in places, call 601-835-3435 to confirm current amounts before mailing payment.
Lincoln County Divorce Records at Chancery Court
Divorce in Lincoln County is a Chancery Court matter, not a Circuit Court one. Chancery Court is the equity court that handles divorce, child custody, property division, alimony, and related family cases. The Chancery Clerk, Alisha McGehee, is clerk of that court and keeps the case files. The office is in Room 111 of the courthouse at 301 S First Street, with phone 601-835-3411 and fax 601-835-3423.
To find a divorce file, start with the Lincoln County Chancery Clerk. Access channels include the clerk's counter, a written or in-person copy request, and Mississippi Electronic Courts if the case was e-filed and is available to you. No dedicated online divorce search form was located for the county, so a call or visit is often the fastest path. The official Chancery Clerk page describes the office's role over divorces and other equity matters.
A divorce file can include the complaint, the answer, financial filings, temporary orders, parenting terms, the final decree, and any later contempt or modification actions. A court decree is different from a state vital record, so for proof of a divorce you usually want a certified copy of the decree from the Chancery Clerk.
How to File for Divorce in Lincoln County
Filing a divorce follows a set sequence in Chancery Court. The steps below outline the practical path; cases involving children, property, support, or contested grounds usually call for an attorney. Exact local filing fees were not posted, so confirm costs with the clerk.
- Confirm that Lincoln County Chancery Court is the proper venue under Mississippi residency and venue rules.
- Prepare the complaint for divorce and the required domestic relations documents.
- File with the Chancery Clerk in Room 111 and pay the filing and service fees.
- Serve the other spouse unless service is waived.
- Address temporary orders for custody, support, possession, or property if needed.
- Finalize through an agreed judgment or a trial before the chancellor.
- Request certified copies from the Chancery Clerk after the decree is entered.
Because the county does not publish a divorce filing fee online, plan to ask the Chancery Clerk at 601-835-3411 for the current amount and any service costs before you file.
Restricted Family Records in Lincoln County
Not every family record is open to the public. Chancery Court hears adoptions, but adoption files are not ordinary public case files and generally require court authority or statutory eligibility to view. Sensitive divorce filings, such as financial details or matters involving minors, can also be restricted or redacted.
Mental-health commitments and minor settlements handled in Chancery Court carry similar limits because the files contain medical or protected information. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers and dates of birth may be redacted from otherwise public records. When a file touches adoption, a child, or a commitment, expect access to be limited and route the request through the Chancery Clerk. Probate and estate matters share the same court, and you can read more about them in the Lincoln County Chancery Court probate records overview.