Estate Planning & Probate in Hancock County, Mississippi
Hancock County estate questions split two ways—planning so your family skips probate, or settling an estate that is already in it. Start with your situation below; both paths use Hancock County's actual court and recording details.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Chancery Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Hancock County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Hancock County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Hancock County→The Probate Process in Hancock County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Hancock County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 152 Main Street, Suite A, Bay St. Louis.
Full Hancock Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Chancery Court
Hancock County
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
Chancery Clerk
Hancock County · Chancery Clerk · Tiffany Lee Cowman
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
$25 for the first 5 pages plus $1 for each page beyond 5; a 2-page TOD deed records for $25; TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax.
Full recording details →Verified September 7, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the Chancery Court
Passport applications are accepted at the Hancock County Government Annex, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (an earlier cutoff than the 5:00 PM office close). Land recording and historical records are handled at the Hancock County Land Office, 854 Hwy 90 Suite B, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 (228-467-5404), separate from the Court Office at 152 Main Street. Online land records cover May 2005 to present; new records are uploaded each day at 7:00 PM.
Mississippi Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Hancock County.
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