Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

Members of the public seeking publicly available information related to government documents, court filings, property data, and vital statistics in Union County, Mississippi may access a range of records through official government channels. The directory at UnionMSRecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating relevant record sources. Records available through official Union County offices and state agencies may include, but are not limited to, the following categories:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and chancery)
Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessments
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access: The Mississippi Courts case search portal provides online access to circuit and chancery court case information. Property records and land documents are maintained by the Union County Chancery Clerk and may be searched through the county's online land records system. Some records require in-person review or a formal written request.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Union County Chancery Clerk's Office or the Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours to inspect records. The Chancery Clerk's Office is located at 109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should include the requester's full name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, agencies are required to respond to public records requests promptly. Requests may be mailed to the applicable office at its official address.

Phone/Email: The Union County Chancery Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (662) 534-1900. The Circuit Clerk's Office may be contacted at (662) 534-1904.

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Union County are defined under Mississippi state law as all books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, cards, tapes, recordings, or reproductions thereof, and any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct, transaction, or performance of any business, transaction, work, duty, or function of any public body. This definition is established under Mississippi Code § 25-61-3, which governs the Public Records Act statewide.

The following record types are maintained by specific Union County offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Deeds, mortgages, liens	Chancery Clerk
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Clerk / Chancery Clerk
Probate and estate records	Chancery Clerk
Vital records (birth, death)	MS State Department of Health
Marriage and divorce records	Chancery Clerk
Property tax assessments	County Tax Assessor
Business licenses and permits	County Board of Supervisors
Voting and election records	Circuit Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	Board of Supervisors
Law enforcement records	Union County Sheriff's Office

Individuals seeking background check information or fingerprint-based records may access services through the Mississippi State Department of Health's live scan fingerprint program, which schedules appointments at county health department locations statewide.

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's statewide open records framework. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 et seq., all public bodies in the state, including county governments, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The Mississippi Public Records Act establishes that government transparency is a fundamental right of the public.

As stated in the Mississippi Public Records Act, "it is the policy of the Legislature that public records must be available for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by this chapter." This provision ensures that Union County agencies cannot impose blanket restrictions on access to government documents without a specific statutory exemption.

The Mississippi Attorney General's Office provides guidance to public bodies and citizens regarding compliance with open records obligations. Union County public bodies are subject to the same sunshine laws that govern all Mississippi counties, including requirements for open meetings under the Mississippi Open Meetings Act.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Union County?

The fee structure for public records in Union County follows the standards established under Mississippi state law. Under current law, agencies may charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of reproducing records, but may not charge fees that effectively deny access to public information.

Standard fees applicable to public records requests in Union County include:

Paper copies: $0.25 to $1.00 per page, depending on the office and document type
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; certified copies of court documents are subject to clerk-set fees
Vital records (birth/death certificates): $17.00 per certified copy, as set by the Mississippi State Department of Health
Electronic records: Fees for electronic copies reflect the actual cost of duplication
Search fees: Agencies may charge for staff time when a search requires extensive labor, as permitted under state guidelines
Inspection: No fee is charged for in-person inspection of public records

Accepted payment methods at Union County offices include cash, money order, and personal check made payable to the applicable office. Fee waiver provisions may apply for indigent requesters or for records requested in the public interest, subject to agency discretion.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Union County government offices during regular business hours. Mississippi law does not require payment for the act of inspecting records; fees apply only when copies are requested. Members of the public may review documents at the Chancery Clerk's Office, Circuit Clerk's Office, and other county offices without charge.

The following resources provide free access to certain public records:

The Mississippi Courts online case search provides free access to court case information, including case numbers, party names, and hearing dates
The Union County Board of Supervisors publishes meeting minutes and agendas on the county's official website at no cost
Property assessment data may be reviewed through the county tax assessor's public access terminal at no charge
Inmate and offender records maintained by the state may be searched through the Mississippi Department of Corrections public records portal

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while any person may inspect public records at no cost, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the applicable fee schedule.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any person may request public records in Union County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Mississippi law does not restrict public records access to state residents, and requesters are not required to explain why they are seeking a particular record. This broad access right is established under the Mississippi Public Records Act and applies to all public bodies within the county.

Specific provisions regarding requester eligibility include:

Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification for most public records requests, though some offices may ask for contact information to facilitate delivery of records
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for records that are publicly available
Non-residents: Non-residents of Mississippi retain the same access rights as residents under state law
Requesting personal records: Individuals requesting their own records, such as vital records or court documents, may be required to provide proof of identity and relationship to the subject of the record
Restricted record types: Certain records, including juvenile court records, sealed court files, and adoption records, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity

Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public all hold equal standing to submit public records requests under current Mississippi law.

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Not all government records in Union County are subject to public disclosure. Mississippi law establishes specific categories of exempt records that agencies are not required to release. The following record types are currently exempt from public disclosure under Mississippi Code § 25-61-11 and related statutes:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in youth court proceedings are confidential
Ongoing criminal investigations: Records compiled in connection with active law enforcement investigations are exempt until the investigation is closed
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
Medical records: Health information protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws is not subject to public disclosure
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Mississippi law
Child welfare records: Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions involving public officials
Trade secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to government agencies in confidence is protected from disclosure
Security and infrastructure plans: Documents detailing security vulnerabilities of public facilities are exempt

As noted in the Mississippi Public Records Act, "the burden of proving that a public record is exempt from the provisions of this chapter shall be on the public body seeking to withhold the record." This provision ensures that exemptions are applied narrowly and that agencies cannot withhold records without a specific legal basis.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Union County Chancery Clerk
109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652
(662) 534-1900
Union County Chancery Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Union County Circuit Clerk
109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652
(662) 534-1904
Union County Circuit Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Union County Tax Assessor/Collector
109 Main Street, New Albany, MS 38652
(662) 534-1902
Union County Tax Assessor

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Union County Sheriff's Office
112 Bankhead Street, New Albany, MS 38652
(662) 534-1455
Union County Sheriff's Office

Office Hours:
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week for law enforcement services; records requests processed Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Mississippi State Department of Health – Vital Records
570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 576-7960
Mississippi State Department of Health