About the Scott County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk is an elected county officer in Scott County. The current clerk is Rebecca "Becky" Gray. Her office sits inside the county seat of Forest and works out of the Scott County Courthouse area. The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk of both the Circuit Court and the County Court, which means the same office handles the paperwork for the county's primary trial court. Scott County is part of Mississippi Circuit Court District 8.
This office is not the same as the Chancery Clerk. Scott County splits its clerk duties between two elected offices. The Circuit Clerk takes civil suits, criminal cases, judgments, juries, marriage licenses, and voter registration. The Chancery Clerk handles divorce, estates, land records, and the Board of Supervisors. If your matter involves a will, a deed, or a divorce decree, the Scott County Chancery Clerk holds those files instead.
Scott County Circuit Clerk
Clerk: Rebecca "Becky" Gray
PO Box 371
Forest, MS 39074
601-469-3601
Fax: 601-469-5188
scottcircuitclerk@scottcountyms.gov
Call to confirm hours
What the Scott County Circuit Clerk Does
The duties of this office are broad. The Circuit Clerk receives and files lawsuits, indictments, motions, and related papers in all civil and criminal cases brought in Circuit Court. The clerk also issues the legal papers that move a case forward, such as summonses and subpoenas. Court work is the core job, but the office carries election and licensing tasks too.
The official Scott County Circuit Clerk page lists a clear set of jobs. Each one touches records that the public may need at some point.
- Receives and files civil and criminal Circuit Court cases, plus related motions and papers
- Issues process, including summonses and subpoenas
- Draws jurors and qualifies juries for court terms
- Keeps a record of judgments and executions
- Issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records
- Records medical and other professional licenses
- Registers citizens to vote and performs election duties
The county's own FAQ backs this up. It says jury duty questions go to the Circuit Clerk. It also routes requests for criminal history, civil litigation, and tax lien records to this office. So the Circuit Clerk is the first call for a wide range of court and county records.
Civil and Criminal Filings in Scott County
Most files this office keeps fall into two camps. Civil cases cover money disputes, contracts, and other claims that are not crimes. Criminal cases cover felony charges that a grand jury indicts. The Circuit Clerk files the papers for both and keeps the docket that tracks every step.
A civil Circuit Court file can hold the complaint, the answer, motions, summonses, subpoenas, orders, the judgment, and any execution to collect on that judgment. A criminal file can hold the indictment, pleadings, jury trial materials, the judgment, and the sentencing order. The clerk does not decide cases. The clerk records what the court does and keeps those papers safe and findable. For the full criminal case file and how a case moves through the system, see the Scott County court records page.
Remote viewing of trial court files runs through Mississippi Electronic Courts, known as MEC. Public remote access to MEC is account based and may require a subscription. The official state pages were not fully open during research, so confirm the current login and search rules on the live portal. When the online system does not show what you need, the clerk counter in Forest is the fallback.
Note: Justice Court tickets and fines are paid through nCourt, not the Circuit Clerk, so a traffic citation is handled on a separate track.
Scott County Circuit Clerk Office Online
The clerk's official county web page is the best starting point for contact details and current notices. You can view the Scott County Circuit Clerk page to confirm the address, phone, and the office's listed duties before you visit or mail a request.
The page names Rebecca "Becky" Gray and lays out the office duties, contact lines, and the records the Circuit Clerk handles. Use it to check details against anything you read elsewhere, since contact information can change between elections and terms.
Marriage Licenses at the Scott County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses for Scott County. Both people must apply together. The fee is an exact amount, and the office expects the right cash at the counter. A few rules apply before a license can be issued, so it helps to gather documents first.
The county lists these requirements. Bring a valid photo ID. Bring exactly $37.00. If either person is under 21, parental consent is required. If either person was married before, bring a copy of the legal end of that marriage, such as a divorce decree or a death record. Applications made after 4:00 p.m. are issued the next business day. After the wedding, the marriage record stays with the Circuit Clerk, and the state health department keeps a copy too. To learn how to order a certified marriage record, see the Scott County marriage and divorce records page.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Both applicants present | Yes | Couple applies jointly at the clerk's counter |
| Valid photo ID | Yes | One for each applicant |
| License fee | Yes | $37.00 exact amount |
| Parental consent | If under 21 | Required when either party is under age 21 |
| Prior dissolution proof | If previously married | Copy of the legal end of any prior marriage |
| Time of application | Yes | After 4:00 p.m. issues the next business day |
Jury and Election Duties of the Scott County Clerk
The Circuit Clerk does more than file court papers. The office draws jurors and qualifies the juries that sit for Circuit Court terms. If you receive a jury summons in Scott County, the Circuit Clerk's office is the place to ask about your service date, an excuse, or a scheduling problem. The county FAQ sends jury duty questions straight to this office.
Elections form the other major duty. The Circuit Clerk registers citizens to vote and performs election tasks for the county. The office also records medical and other professional licenses. These functions sit outside the courtroom but still depend on careful record keeping by the same staff.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy is an official copy that the clerk stamps and signs to prove it is genuine. Courts, lenders, and government offices often demand a certified copy rather than a plain printout. The Circuit Clerk can certify Circuit Court records, judgments, and marriage records that the office holds.
- Identify the record and its case number. Know the party names, the year, and the type of case so staff can find the file. For a marriage record, have the names and the approximate date.
- Contact the Circuit Clerk at 601-469-3601 to confirm the office has the record and to ask about current copy and certification charges.
- Submit your request in person at the Forest office or by mail to PO Box 371, Forest, MS 39074, with payment for the copies.
- Pick up the certified copy at the counter or wait for it to arrive by mail if you asked for delivery.
If a record sits with another office, the clerk can point you the right way. Divorce decrees, estates, and land records belong to the Chancery Clerk, not the Circuit Clerk.
Public Records Requests in Scott County
Mississippi law makes most government records open to the public. The Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, found at Title 25, Chapter 61 of the state code, sets the rules. Under Mississippi Code Section 25-61-1, records are open for inspection unless a law exempts them. Section 25-61-5 directs each public body to adopt written request procedures. Scott County meets that duty with a printed request form and policy.
The county's public records officer for the Board of Supervisors is the Chancery Clerk. So a written public records request is routed to the Chancery Clerk, even though court records themselves may belong to the Circuit Clerk. Mail a completed and signed form to Scott County, Attention: Chancery Clerk, PO Box 630, Forest, MS 39074. Mark the envelope and the form clearly as a "Public Records Request." For court case files, it helps to call the Circuit Clerk first so the request reaches the right office. The form fields below show what to include.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Date of Request | Yes | Date you complete the form |
| Name of Person Requesting | Yes | Full name of the requester |
| Address | Yes | Mailing or contact address |
| Phone | Yes | Contact phone number |
| Subject Matter | Yes | The general topic of the request |
| Public Records Requested | Yes | A clear and concise description of the records |
| Manner of Compliance | Yes | Inspect in person, or request copies at $0.50 per page |
| Manner of Delivery | Yes | By mail, in person, or by email with an email line |
| Signature of Requester | Yes | Signed copy required by procedure |
| Date | Yes | Date you sign the form |
Note: The county may charge for search time even when no record is found or when a located record later turns out to be exempt from release.
Scott County Clerk Fees and Timelines
Fees fall into two groups. Marriage licenses carry one fixed price set by the Circuit Clerk. Public records carry copy and labor charges set by the county policy under Mississippi Code Section 25-61-7, which lets agencies recover actual search, review, copy, and mailing costs. Section 25-61-9 allows the county to redact exempt material and release the rest.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $37.00 exact |
| Copies, per page | $0.50 |
| Labor for research and processing, per hour | $20.00 |
| Non-standard records | Actual material and equipment cost |
| Delivery, such as postage | Actual cost |
| Legal review and redaction | Actual attorney time |
Timelines are set by policy. The county aims to produce records within 7 business days after it receives a request. If that is not possible, the county provides a written explanation. In any case, records are to be provided within 14 business days unless both sides agree otherwise, and always subject to legal exemptions. Plan ahead if you need a record by a court date.
Recent Circuit Clerk Updates
The office is modernizing its older paper records. In 2026 the county moved forward on a Circuit Clerk Marriage Licenses Digitization Project. The Board of Supervisors reviewed bids and weighed the lowest and best proposal, valued at $19,680.90, against a higher competing bid.
The project is partly funded by an outside grant. A $10,000 reimbursement grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Local Government Records Office helps cover the work. Once complete, digitized marriage license records should be easier for staff to pull and certify. For now, call the office to confirm whether a specific older record is already scanned.