Getting a Marriage License in Leake County
Marriage licenses in Leake County are issued by the Circuit Clerk. The clerk, Viktorea Pace, runs the office at the courthouse in Carthage and keeps the county marriage records once a license is filed. This is the same office that handles circuit case files, jury duty, and voter rolls, so the marriage desk shares a counter with general court work. A Leake County couple does not file a divorce here, but a license to wed starts at this window. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on legal holidays.
The rules to qualify are set by the county and listed in plain form. Both parties must come in together and apply in person. Each one must show valid ID, such as a birth certificate or a driver's license. As a rule, each applicant must be at least 21, and the ID serves as proof of age. An applicant under 21 faces an added step: a parent must sign, or a court order may be required. A recent divorce must be final by signed order before a new license can issue, though the clerk does not need to see the decree itself. A filing fee is due at the time of the application.
You can reach the Circuit Clerk by phone at 601-267-8357 or by mail at P.O. Box 67, Carthage, MS 39051. The official Leake County Circuit Clerk page lists the duty to issue marriage licenses and keep marriage records, and the county's own frequently asked questions page spells out the applicant rules. Both offer a good way to confirm details before a visit.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
A little prep keeps the visit short. Because both parties must appear together, line up schedules first. Bring the right ID, and sort out any under-21 or recent-divorce issue before the trip, since a missing signature or an open divorce can stall the whole thing. The steps below follow the county's own marriage rules.
- Call or visit the Circuit Clerk during weekday office hours to confirm the current fee and which forms of payment the office accepts.
- Both applicants appear together at the courthouse in Carthage.
- Each person shows valid ID and proof of age, such as a birth certificate or a driver's license.
- If either applicant is under 21, arrange the parent signature or required court order before relying on the trip.
- Confirm that any recent divorce is final by signed order.
- Pay the filing fee to complete the application.
- After the ceremony, make sure the signed license is returned and recorded through the Circuit Clerk.
Leake County Marriage License Fields
The application asks each party for proof of who they are, how old they are, and whether they are free to marry. Leake County does not post a blank form online, but its rules show what each applicant must bring and confirm in person. The table sums up the pieces the county lists, what type each one is, and whether it is always required.
| Field / Requirement | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First applicant appearance | Yes | Both parties must appear together in person. |
| Second applicant appearance | Yes | Both parties must appear together in person. |
| Valid ID and proof of age | Yes | Birth certificate or driver's license; each applicant at least 21 unless the underage process applies. |
| Under-21 parent signature | Conditional | A parent must sign, or a court order may be required. |
| Recent divorce finalization | If applicable | A recent divorce must be final by signed order; the clerk does not need proof. |
| Filing fee payment | Yes | Exact Leake amount is not published; confirm with the Circuit Clerk. |
Note: The county FAQ states the clerk does not need to see the divorce decree itself, but the prior marriage must be legally ended before a new license can issue.
How to Look Up Leake County Marriage Records
Two offices keep Leake County marriage records. The Circuit Clerk holds the local file for licenses issued in the county. The Mississippi State Department of Health, known as MSDH, keeps a statewide index and can search for the county where a license was issued. The state route helps when you are not sure where a couple married, or when you live far from Carthage and want a mail order.
State and county officials have kept Mississippi marriage records since January 1, 1926. One gap is worth a note: records from July 1, 1938, through December 31, 1941, are held only by the circuit court clerk in the county where the license was issued, not by the state. For Leake County licenses from that window, the Circuit Clerk in Carthage is the sole source. To pull any record, have the names of both spouses, the date or year of the marriage, and the county if you know it.
The MSDH Marriage Records page explains how to order a copy or run a county search by mail.
From this page a requester can start a certified copy order or ask the state to find the issuing county for a Leake County marriage record. When the state index comes up short, the Circuit Clerk's local books remain the backup.
Leake County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Leake County fees split between the local office and the state. The Circuit Clerk charges a marriage license filing fee, but Leake County does not publish the amount, so it pays to call ahead. The state health department sets a clear fee for a marriage record search and certified copy. Divorce filing fees and certified decree copies are handled by the Chancery Clerk, who does not post a fixed schedule either, so those figures should be confirmed at that office.
The MSDH marriage record application instructions lay out the state search and copy charges in detail.
That page sets the $17 search and certified copy fee and the $6 charge for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The table below pulls together the figures the official sources do publish.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Leake County marriage license filing fee | Not published; confirm with Circuit Clerk |
| MSDH marriage record search and certified copy | $17 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $6 |
| Divorce filing fee (Chancery Court) | Not published; confirm with Chancery Clerk |
| Certified divorce decree copy | Not published; confirm with Chancery Clerk |
Note: The state copy fee is not the same as the Leake County license filing fee, so do not assume the $17 amount covers a local marriage license.
How to Find Leake County Divorce Records
Divorce in Leake County is a Chancery Court matter, not a circuit case. Chancery is the court of equity, and it hears divorce along with child custody, property division, and alimony. The Chancery Clerk, Dot Merchant, keeps the public records for these files. Anyone tracing a Leake County divorce starts with that office, reachable at 601-267-7371 or dmerchant@co.leake.ms.us. For a wider look at family and estate matters, the county Chancery Court records page covers the same court.
The state index can help, but it carries a warning. Although the law requires divorces to be reported, not all divorce records are on file with state Vital Records. The state directs requesters to the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. So the local clerk in Carthage is the surest source for a Leake County decree.
The MSDH Divorce Records page states this caveat and points people back to the county clerk.
Because the state file may be incomplete, the steps below lean on the Chancery Clerk and treat the state index as a backup.
- Confirm the county where the divorce was granted; for Leake County, that means the Chancery Clerk.
- Gather the names of both parties, the approximate date, and the case number if you have one.
- Check Mississippi Electronic Courts for chancery case access if you are registered and the case is public.
- Contact the Chancery Clerk by phone, mail, or in person when the file is not online or a certified copy is needed.
- Use the state health department only as a statewide search option, knowing not all divorce records are on file there.
Certified Copies of Leake County Records
A plain printout is fine for personal use, but many Leake County tasks call for a certified copy. A name change, a passport, a Social Security update, or a court case often needs the stamped, official version. For a marriage record, two doors lead to one: the Circuit Clerk in Carthage holds the local license file, and the state health department can issue a certified copy by mail for $17, with each extra copy at the same time costing $6. Choose the local office for speed and the state office for reach.
A certified divorce decree comes from the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. For Leake County, that is Dot Merchant's office in Carthage. Bring or send the names of both parties, the year, and the case number if you have it, since a clear request moves faster. The clerk's counter, the Circuit Clerk for marriage matters described on the Circuit Clerk page, and the state mail order each have their own timing, so ask about processing time before you count on a date.
Mississippi Vital Records Office
The Mississippi State Department of Health runs the statewide Vital Records office. It holds the central index of marriage records and can search for the county where a license was issued, and it accepts mail orders for certified copies. Its divorce file is less complete, which is why the office sends requesters back to the county Chancery Clerk. The state does not publish a full street address and phone on the pages cited here, so confirm current contact and mailing details on the official site before sending a request or a payment.
Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records
Statewide marriage record index and certified copies
Confirm mailing address and phone on the official site
The MSDH Vital Records landing page is the gateway to marriage and divorce record services across the state.
From here a Leake County resident can find marriage and divorce record links, then follow the county routing the state spells out for older or missing files.