Tippah County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Tippah County in 2026

TippahRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Tippah County, Mississippi. Members of the public may use this resource to locate data that may include court filings, property documents, vital records, law enforcement logs, and other government-generated materials. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Record categories that may be accessible through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs (where permitted)
Land use, zoning, and planning documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access:

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History maintains digitized historical county records for Tippah County dating to 1836, accessible through its online digital archives portal.
The Mississippi State Department of Health provides online ordering for vital records in Mississippi, including birth and death certificates.
The Mississippi sex offender registry is searchable online through the Department of Public Safety at no charge.
Some property and tax records may be accessible through the Tippah County Tax Assessor's office portal.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public wishing to inspect records in person should visit the appropriate custodial office. The Tippah County Circuit Clerk maintains court records and is located at the Tippah County Courthouse, 101 Main Street, Ripley, MS 38663. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the records sought and be prepared to provide identification if required by the custodian.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the specific custodial office and must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under § 25-61-5 of the Mississippi Public Records Act, public bodies are required to respond to records requests within a reasonable time.

Phone/Email:

Tippah County Circuit Clerk: (662) 837-7374
Tippah County Tax Assessor/Collector: (662) 837-8171
Tippah County Health Department: (662) 837-8212

What Are Public Records in Tippah County?

Public records in Tippah County are defined under Mississippi law as any books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials prepared, owned, used, or retained by any public body. Under § 25-61-3 of the Mississippi Code, all public records are presumed to be open for inspection unless a specific exemption applies.

The following record types are maintained by designated county offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Clerk, Chancery Clerk
Property deeds and mortgages	Chancery Clerk
Vital records (birth, death)	Mississippi State Department of Health
Marriage and divorce records	Chancery Clerk
Tax assessment records	Tax Assessor/Collector
Business licenses and permits	County or Municipal Clerk
Voting and election records	Circuit Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	Board of Supervisors
Law enforcement records	Tippah County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	County Planning Department

Historical Tippah County records, including early land and tax documents, are preserved through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which holds county records dating to the 1830s.

Is Tippah County an Open Records County?

Tippah County operates in full compliance with Mississippi's statewide open records framework. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, § 25-61-1 et seq., all public bodies in the state — including county offices — are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request.

The Mississippi Ethics Commission administers and enforces the Public Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and related transparency laws. As stated by the Commission, "The Public Records Act provides that all public records shall be available for inspection by any person." This mandate applies to Tippah County's Board of Supervisors, clerk offices, law enforcement agencies, and all other county governmental bodies.

Mississippi's Open Meetings Act further requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions for executive sessions. The Ethics Commission provides guidance documents and advisory opinions to assist county agencies in meeting their obligations under state transparency law. Members of the public who believe a records request has been improperly denied may file a complaint with the Mississippi Ethics Commission.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Tippah County?

The cost to obtain public records in Tippah County varies by record type and the office maintaining the record. Standard fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Document copies (per page)	$0.25–$1.00
Certified copy of court record	$1.00–$5.00 per page
Birth certificate (certified)	$17.00 (MSDH)
Death certificate (certified)	$17.00 (MSDH)
Marriage certificate (certified)	$17.00 (MSDH)
Record inspection (in-person)	No charge
Electronic copies	Varies by office

The Mississippi State Department of Health vital records office charges a standard fee for certified copies of birth certificates, with additional fees for expedited processing. Fees for court records are set by the Mississippi Legislature and may differ from general copy fees.

Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, money order, and personal check. Some offices accept credit or debit cards; members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request. Fee waivers are not broadly available under Mississippi law, though indigent requestors may petition the court for waiver of certain court-related fees.

Does Tippah County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at county offices during regular business hours. Under Mississippi law, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to certain public records:

In-person inspection at the Tippah County Circuit Clerk's Office, Chancery Clerk's Office, and Tax Assessor's Office — no fee is charged for viewing records on-site.
The Mississippi sex offender registry is available to the public at no cost through the Department of Public Safety's online portal.
Historical county records held by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History are accessible online without charge.
The Tippah County Health Department provides access to certain public health data and records through the Mississippi State Department of Health's public records request process.
Child support case information may be accessed through the Division of Child Support Enforcement at the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the standard fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Tippah County?

Any person may request public records in Tippah County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Mississippi's Public Records Act does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requestors to explain why they are seeking a particular record.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Mississippi retain full rights to request public records.
Identification: Custodial offices may request identification for administrative purposes, but proof of identity is not a prerequisite for access to most public records.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a reason for their request under standard open records procedures.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records — such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents — are restricted regardless of who is requesting them.
Personal records: Individuals requesting their own records (e.g., criminal history, child support case files) may be required to provide identification and, in some cases, a signed authorization.

The city municipal courts in Ripley follow the same open records framework. The Municipal Court sits in regular session on the third Thursday of each month at the Tippah County Courthouse, and court records from those proceedings are subject to the same access rules as other public court documents.

What Records Are Confidential in Tippah County?

Not all government records in Tippah County are open to public inspection. Mississippi law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. Under § 25-61-11 of the Mississippi Code, the following types of records are exempt from the Public Records Act:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors in the youth court system are confidential
Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with active investigations
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers embedded in otherwise public documents
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services
Personnel records — employee records of public bodies, with limited exceptions for salary and position information
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety

The Mississippi Ethics Commission provides formal advisory opinions on the application of exemptions and the balancing of public interest against privacy concerns in specific cases.

Tippah County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Tippah County Chancery Clerk (primary recorder of deeds, land records, and vital statistics at the county level)

Physical Address: 101 Main Street Ripley, MS 38663

Phone: (662) 837-7374 Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed on state and federal holidays

Additional Offices:

Tippah County Circuit Clerk 101 Main Street, Ripley, MS 38663 (662) 837-7374 City Municipal Courts — Ripley, Mississippi

Tippah County Tax Assessor/Collector 101 Main Street, Ripley, MS 38663 (662) 837-8171

Tippah County Health Department 129 Hospital Street, Ripley, MS 38663 (662) 837-8212 Tippah County Health Department — Northeast Mississippi

Mississippi State Department of Health — Vital Records Office 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157 (601) 206-8200 Mississippi vital records and birth certificate requests

Mississippi Department of Archives and History 200 North Street, Jackson, MS 39201 (601) 576-6850 Tippah County historical records — Mississippi Department of Archives and History