Oxford office, opened in 1995 to serve north Mississippi, of a litigation firm that traces its origins to 1946 and also has offices in Madison and Gulfport. Drafts wills and handles small estates and probate for executors and beneficiaries, from asset inventory and debts through tax filings and final distribution, and defends will contests. Shareholder Lauren E. Ward practices estate planning.
Canton is in Madison County.
More Probate Litigation Firms in Madison County
Ridgeland firm on South Pear Orchard Road in Madison County, founded in 2001 by Pamela L. Hancock. Handles probate and estate administration, including small estate affidavits, muniments of title, insolvent estates, ancillary proceedings, and will contests, and drafts wills, revocable living trusts, and special needs, bypass, and life insurance trusts.
Ridgeland firm serving estate clients throughout Mississippi since 1991. Works with executors and administrators from the application for appointment through accountings, estate tax returns and distribution, handles trust administration and heirship, and litigates will contests and fiduciary-duty cases. Named a Best Law Firm in Mississippi for Trusts & Estates by U.S. News & World Report.
Probate in Madison County
Probate Court Record
Madison County Chancery Court
Madison County · Chancery Court District 11
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
146 West Center Street, Canton, MS 39046
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Attorney of record required
How to file probate in Madison County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Madison County? →Settling an estate in Madison County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Mississippi
Free Mississippi forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Mississippi.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Last Will and Testament
In Mississippi, a will is signed before 2Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyMiss. Code Ann. § 91-5-1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Mississippi
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Mississippi: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Mississippi costs an estimated $23,712Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.6%Modeled estimate under Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Modeled estimate under Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Mississippi, descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesMiss. Code Ann. § 91-1-3Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and the state sets no survival period for heirs.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Mississippi, creditors have 3 monthsMiss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151 (90 days after first publication); § 91-7-145 (notice to creditors; publish weekly for 3 consecutive weeks)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Mississippi: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysMiss. Code §§ 91-7-93, 91-7-95, 91-7-109Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsMiss. Code §§ 91-7-145, 91-7-149, 91-7-151, 91-7-165, 91-7-261Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Mississippi pays executors reasonable compensationMiss. Code § 91-7-299 (such sum as the court deems proper; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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