What to Do When Someone Dies in Simpson County, Mississippi
Probate in Simpson 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 Simpson 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
Simpson County
Address
111 West Pine AveMendenhall, MS 39114Mailing: P.O. Box 367
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneys
Chancery Clerk: Tim Gray (sworn in December 2022). County-website SSL certificate currently expired; verified via Mississippi Chancery Clerks Association directory.
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 Simpson County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 111 West Pine Ave, Mendenhall.
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 Simpson County
What probate costs in Simpson 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 111 West Pine Ave, Mendenhall.
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 Simpson 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 Simpson 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 recording in any Mississippi Chancery Clerk office. 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 Simpson 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 Simpson County are recorded with the Chancery Clerk, led by Chancery Clerk Tim Gray, at 111 West Pine Ave., Mendenhall, MS 39114. Phone: 601-847-2626. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 367, Mendenhall, MS 39114.
The Chancery Clerk charges $25 for the first 5 pages plus $1 for each page beyond 5.
Recording Office Record
Chancery Clerk
Simpson County · Chancery Clerk · Tim Gray
Address
111 West Pine Ave.Mendenhall, MS 39114Mailing: P.O. Box 367, Mendenhall, MS 39114
Mississippi allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Simpson 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 Simpson 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.
Oxford firm at The Park at Oxford Commons, with a Jackson office, serving Lafayette and Hinds county clients. Its estate planning practice covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives; the rest of the firm is weighted toward litigation, real estate, and insurance defense. Founded in Clarksdale in 1885, making it one of the state's oldest firms.
Greenville firm on Central Street serving Washington County and the Delta since 1919, with a second office in Madison. Handles estate planning, probate administration, and trust management alongside its litigation and business practice. Multiple attorneys hold AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, and firm attorneys have led the Mississippi Bar.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate AdministrationTax Law
Tupelo firm on North Green Street serving clients throughout Mississippi and Tennessee. Handles probate and estate administration, estate planning, elder law and Medicaid planning, asset protection, and charitable planning. Founder Cory R. Lancaster is a tax attorney, which shapes the practice toward estates with tax exposure or business interests to unwind.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planningand 2 more
Founded in 1904, one of Mississippi's largest firms, serving the Golden Triangle and north Mississippi from offices in Columbus, Tupelo, and Oxford. Ten attorneys carry the estate planning, probate, and elder law practice: wills and testamentary trusts, life insurance and special needs trusts, durable powers of attorney, guardianships, Medicaid planning, and estate tax returns.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax Planningand 4 more
Clinton firm serving the Jackson metro and, from a second Hattiesburg office, the Pine Belt. Focused on elder law and estate planning: protecting assets from nursing home costs, taxes, creditors, and Medicaid recovery, and qualifying wartime veterans for special pension benefits. Runs a fixed-fee estate planning process completed within two weeks.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningAsset Protectionand 3 more
Flowood-based firm serving the Jackson metro and central Mississippi chancery courts on estate planning and administration, with satellite offices in Mendenhall and Magee. Drafts wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, and handles probate and estate administration plus estate tax planning. Attorney Kannan Stubbs leads the practice.
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.
Enter estate details
Select your state and enter an estate value to see a detailed cost estimate.
Quick examples:
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.
$
Total probate assets (exclude beneficiary-designated accounts)
Can you self-file probate?
Enter your state and estate value to get a personalized recommendation with estimated cost savings.
Score-based assessment with reasoning
Cost comparison vs. hiring an attorney
This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Simpson County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Simpson County, Mississippi.
