What to Do When Someone Dies in Harrison County, Mississippi
Probate in Harrison County runs through the Chancery Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Harrison County, settling their estate runs through the Chancery Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneys
Chancery Clerk: Angela Thrash. Two judicial districts: District 1 (Gulfport, P.O. Drawer CC, Gulfport, MS 39502), District 2 (Biloxi, 730 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530, P.O. Box 544, Biloxi, MS 39533, Phone: 228-435-8220, Fax: 228-435-8292).
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 Harrison County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 1801 23rd Ave, Gulfport.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Mississippi intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Mississippi estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. The 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 creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Harrison County
What probate costs in Harrison County, Mississippi comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Chancery Court at 1801 23rd Ave, Gulfport.
Mississippi charges $143Miss. Code Ann. § 25-7-9; § 37-26-3; § 37-26-9(4)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Chancery Court (https://courts.ms.gov/mec/mec.php). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Mississippi are negotiated, typically 1.6%Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Mississippi requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Miss. Code Ann. §§ 91-7-41, 91-7-45, 91-7-67Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Mississippi typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Chancery Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Harrison County, Mississippi, you can file at the Chancery Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Harrison County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Chancery Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Handwritten documents no longer accepted
Effective September 24, 2025, pursuant to House Bill 600 (amending Miss. Code 89-5-24), handwritten documents are no longer accepted for filing. All documents must be typed or printed.
To file at the Chancery Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Harrison County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Chancery Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Harrison County are recorded with the Chancery Clerk, led by Chancery Clerk Angela Thrash, at 1801 23rd Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501. Phone: 228-865-4036. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Drawer CC, Gulfport, MS 39502.
The Chancery Clerk charges $25 for the first 5 pages plus $1 for each page beyond 5.
Recording Office Record
Chancery Clerk
Harrison County · Chancery Clerk · Angela Thrash
Address
1801 23rd AveGulfport, MS 39501Mailing: P.O. Drawer CC, Gulfport, MS 39502
Mississippi allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Harrison County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Mississippi are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.6%Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.5%Miss. Code § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable; reasonable); see also § 91-7-299Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Harrison County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Chancery Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Joel L. Blackledge is both a licensed attorney and certified public accountant with over 25 years of experience serving residents in Gulfport, Harrison County, Jackson County, and Hancock County, Mississippi. The firm assists with creating wills or trusts, naming guardians or powers of attorney, and guides clients through probate proceedings.
Gulfport firm serving Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson counties from Boyce Holleman Boulevard since 1950. Wills and estates work covers estate planning documents, probate, and guardianships, alongside the firm's personal injury, family law, and criminal defense practice.
Biloxi firm on Main Street serving Harrison, Jackson, and Hancock counties since 1987. Handles estate administration and probate, will contests and estate litigation, and guardianships and conservatorships, alongside commercial litigation and real estate. Robert A. Byrd holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Biloxi firm on Howard Avenue serving Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Stone, and Pearl River counties since 1971. Guides executors and trustees through probate and trust administration and advises on breach-of-fiduciary-duty exposure and will contests. On the planning side, drafts pour-over wills, special needs and generation-skipping trusts, and business succession plans. Free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningBusiness Successionand 2 more
Gulfport boutique practicing exclusively in estate planning, probate, and elder law, serving Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson counties. Handles probate administration, trust and estate disputes, conservatorships, special needs and public benefits planning, and Medicaid fair hearings. Patrick Kirby is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
Ocean Springs firm on Government Street serving Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock counties across the Gulf Coast since 1908. Handles probate and estate and trust litigation — including breach of a trustee's fiduciary duty — alongside estate planning and wealth preservation for individuals and families.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Harrison County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Harrison County, Mississippi.
