What to Do When Someone Dies in Jones County, Mississippi
Probate in Jones 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 Jones 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.
Probate Court Record
Chancery Court
Jones County
Address
415 North 5th AvenueLaurel, MS 39441Mailing: P.O. Box 1468
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneys
Chancery Clerk: Concetta Brooks. Primary entry uses the 2nd District (Laurel) Chancery Clerk office. Two judicial districts: 1st District (Ellisville, 101 North Court Street, Suite D, Ellisville, MS 39437, P.O. Box 248, Phone: 601-477-3307, Fax: 601-477-1240), 2nd District (Laurel, 415 North 5th Avenue, Laurel, MS 39441, P.O. Box 1468, Phone: 601-428-0527, Fax: 601-428-3602). Note: 601-425-2556 is the Jones County Circuit Clerk, not the Chancery Clerk.
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 Jones County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 415 North 5th Avenue, Laurel.
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 Jones County
What probate costs in Jones 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 415 North 5th Avenue, Laurel.
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 Jones 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 Jones 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.
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 Jones 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 Jones County are recorded with the Chancery Clerk at 415 North 5th Avenue, Laurel, MS 39440. Phone: 601-428-0527. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 1468, Laurel, MS 39441.
The Chancery Clerk charges $25 for the first 5 pages plus $1 for each page beyond 5.
Recording Office Record
Chancery Clerk
Jones County
Address
415 North 5th AvenueLaurel, MS 39440Mailing: P.O. Box 1468, Laurel, MS 39441
Mississippi allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Jones 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 Jones 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.
Hattiesburg practice serving Forrest, Lamar, and the surrounding south-central Mississippi counties from West Pine Street. Angela Davis-Morris builds estate plans covering wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, and handles Medicaid qualification for long-term care, including crisis planning after a parent has already entered care.
Pine Belt practice handling wills and estate planning, family law, and bankruptcy from a single Hattiesburg office. Founder Richard Allen Flowers has practiced Mississippi law since 1989 and has served Forrest, Lamar, and surrounding counties since 1992.
One of the oldest firms in Jones County with roots to 1893 (Stone Deavours), relocated to Laurel in 1902. Provides wills and estates services alongside corporate law, litigation, real estate closings, employment law, and contract negotiations. Notable regional clients include Howard Industries, Sanderson Farms, Mississippi Power Company, and Laurel School District.
Hattiesburg firm on West Pine Street serving Forrest, Lamar, and Jones counties since 1987. Handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and trust administration. Al Shiyou previously managed the trust department at Trustmark National Bank — direct experience with how a bank actually administers a trust and releases estate assets.
A general practice law firm in Meridian with a focus on domestic law. The firm assists clients with all aspects of estate planning, including will and trust creation, probate matters, and will contests. Serves clients throughout East Central Mississippi.
Flowood firm serving the Jackson metro and the Gulf Coast from a second Biloxi office. Estate and trust planning, probate and trust administration, and estate and trust litigation are the core practice, built around wills, trusts, family limited partnerships, and business succession plans for owners transferring closely held assets.
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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Jones County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Jones County, Mississippi.
