Getting a Marriage License in Rankin County
In Rankin County, marriage licenses come from the Circuit Clerk, not the Chancery Clerk. Circuit Clerk Michelle Adcock runs that office at 215 East Government Street in Brandon. The doors are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can call 601-825-1466 or email circuitclerk@rankincounty.org with questions. The same office that issues the license also keeps the marriage record afterward. That makes the Circuit Clerk the single stop for both ends of a marriage record.
The Circuit Clerk also runs a standalone Circuit Clerk website that lists the Brandon office address, hours, and contact details.
That site confirms the office that handles Rankin County marriage licenses and stores each record once a couple weds.
No appointment is needed, but both applicants should arrive together by 4:30 p.m. The bride and groom must appear in person at the same time. Each person shows proof of age. Once the clerk issues the license, it does not expire. There is no separate waiting period written into the county instructions, so a prepared couple can finish the visit in one trip.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Applying is simple when both people come prepared. Bring identity documents, payment, and any extra paperwork your situation calls for. A short checklist keeps the visit quick.
The county lists marriage licenses on its online services index alongside other official county services.
That index points applicants to the Circuit Clerk as the issuing office for every Rankin County marriage license.
- Go together to the Circuit Clerk's office at 215 East Government Street during business hours, and arrive by 4:30 p.m.
- Bring proof of age for each applicant, such as a driver's license, birth certificate, or other legal document showing a name and date of birth.
- If either applicant was divorced or widowed, bring the month, day, and year the prior marriage ended.
- If either applicant is under 21, bring written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
- Pay $37 in cash or $38.50 by credit card.
- Keep the signed license, which does not expire once issued.
Marriage License Application Fields
The clerk records specific facts for each applicant before issuing the license. Most fields are mandatory. A few apply only in certain situations, such as a prior marriage or a young applicant. The table below lays out what the office asks for.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Both applicants present | Yes | Bride and groom must appear together in person. |
| Proof of age | Yes | Driver's license, birth certificate, or legal document with name and date of birth. |
| Prior marriage end date | If applicable | Month, day, and year the marriage ended for a divorced or widowed applicant. |
| Parent or guardian consent | If under 21 | Required when either applicant is under 21 years old. |
| Court order for underage applicant | If under age limit | Needed for a male under 17 or female under 15, signed by a Circuit, County, or Chancery judge. |
| License fee | Yes | $37 cash or $38.50 by credit card. |
The age rules are firm. The Circuit Clerk cannot issue a license to a male under 17 or a female under 15 without a court order from a Circuit, County, or Chancery judge. Applicants who are under 21 need a parent or legal guardian to sign consent before the office moves ahead.
Note: A divorced or widowed applicant must give the exact month, day, and year the prior marriage ended before the clerk can issue a new license.
Rankin County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage license pricing is set and easy to plan for. The license costs $37 in cash. Paying by credit card raises the total to $38.50 because card fees apply. Divorce and other Chancery filings follow a separate fee schedule kept by the Chancery Clerk, so those amounts are confirmed at that office.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license (cash) | $37.00 |
| Marriage license (credit card) | $38.50 |
| Chancery Court divorce and family filings | Per the Chancery Clerk fee schedule |
| Certified copies | Set by the holding office |
Because Chancery filing and copy fees can change, the clerk's office gives the current amount before you file or order a copy. Always confirm the accepted payment method too, since cash and card totals differ.
Looking Up Rankin County Marriage Records
Marriage records stay with the Circuit Clerk after the license is issued. To confirm a marriage or order proof of one, contact that office in Brandon. The staff can check the marriage record index and tell you what copies are available. This is the office that issues licenses and keeps marriage records for the county.
Helpful details speed the search. Have both spouses' full legal names and the year of the marriage ready. The Rankin County Circuit Clerk can then locate the entry and explain how to order a certified copy. A maiden name or former name also helps when records run back many years.
The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk for both the Circuit and County courts, and the same office keeps marriage records alongside its other duties. Marriage records are open to the public, so a person may request a copy of a license on file. There is no county website that returns full marriage records online. Each request runs through the office in Brandon, by phone, in person, or by mail.
Finding Rankin County Divorce Records
Divorce records are not held by the Circuit Clerk. They belong to Chancery Court, which handles divorce, alimony, child support, and custody of minor children. The Rankin County Chancery Court sits at 201 North Street, on the second floor of the Chancery-Justice Center in Brandon. Call 601-825-1649 to reach the court about a case.
A divorce file can include the complaint, the final decree, and orders on support, alimony, and custody. For older matters, Chancery Court offers a legacy case-number lookup that helps cross-reference past filings. The county's online land and official-records index is useful for recorded instruments, but it is not a full divorce case search. For copies of older files, ask the Chancery Clerk's court-records deputy.
Chancery Court in Mississippi is the equity court, and it is where divorce cases are heard and decided. A judge, called a chancellor, signs the final decree that ends a marriage. The Chancery-Justice Center in Brandon is the building where these files live. The court counter is the right place to ask about an active case or a recent decree.
Confidential Family Records in Rankin County
Not every family record is open to the public. Mississippi law seals adoption files. Under Section 93-17-25, adoption pleadings, reports, files, testimony, and records are confidential and are not public records unless a court orders disclosure for good cause.
The text of Mississippi Code Section 93-17-25 spells out how adoption records are kept private.
That rule shapes how Rankin County handles adoption files tied to Chancery Court.
Other family matters carry limits too. Some information about minor children can be redacted. Mental-health and commitment material heard in Chancery Court is sensitive and is not treated like an open money case. When a record touches a child's welfare, expect parts of it to be withheld from public view.
Requesting Certified Copies
A certified copy carries the clerk's seal and is accepted for legal use, such as a name change, a passport, or a benefits claim. A plain printout is not. Order certified marriage copies from the Circuit Clerk, and order certified divorce decrees from Chancery Court or the Chancery Clerk's court-records deputy.
Requests can start in person, by phone, or by mail. Give the office the full names of the people on the record and the approximate date. For a divorce decree, a case number speeds the search. If a record is not produced through normal channels, the Mississippi Public Records Act lets you file a written request with the office that controls the file.
Mail requests for Chancery records can go to the Chancery Clerk at P.O. Box 700, Brandon, MS 39043. Include a daytime phone number so the office can reach you about the fee. Allow extra time for older files that must be pulled from storage before a copy is made.
Note: Certified copies cost more than plain copies, so confirm the current fee and accepted payment with the holding office before you make the trip.