Courts
Chancery Court handles special court cases involving wills and estates, support and custody of minor children, divorces and alimony, and lunacy or commitment hearings. The Chancery Court also handles petitions to incorporate or enlarge a city, the establishment and management of drainage districts, and children's welfare funds.
Tate County is part of Mississippi's 3rd Chancery Court District. Also included in the district are Desoto, Grenada, Montgomery, Panola, and Yalobusha counties. Chancery Court has jurisdiction over equity, divorce, probate, guardianship, and sanity. In Tate County, the Chancery Court has jurisdiction over juvenile matters. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Hale, Chancery Court Clerk, at (662) 562-5661.
Judges:
Hon. Percy L. Lynchard, Jr.
Hon. Mitchell M. Lundy, Jr.
Hon. Vicki Daniels
Hon. Rusty Harlow, Youth Court Judge
Tim Hale is Tate County's Chancery Court Clerk. He serves as the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and the Clerk of the Chancery Court, as well as the County Auditor. The Tate County Chancery Clerk's office is divided into three departments: Land Records, Court Records and Taxes (Delinquent Tax and Homestead Exemption).
Circuit Court
The Circuit Court tries felony criminal cases and civil actions involving issues of $200,000 or more. Circuit Courts hear appeals from County, Justice, and Municipal Courts and administrative boards and commissions.
Tate County is part of Mississippi's 17th Circuit Court District. Also included in that district are DeSoto, Panola, Tallahatchie and Yalobusha counties.
The Circuit Court tries felony criminal cases and civil actions involving issues of $200,000 and above. Juries are widely used in the circuit court.
The Circuit Court Clerk assists the court in summoning potential jurors. The Circuit Court Administrator assists the Judge by scheduling cases and preparing the court docket.
Circuit Court Judges
Honorable Celeste Wilson
- 2535 Highway 51 S
Hernando, MS 38632 - Phone: 662-469-8359
Honorable Gerald Chatham, Sr.
- 2535 Highway 51 S
Hernando, MS 38632 - Phone: 662-469-8314
Honorable James McClure, III
- 215 S Pocahontas
Sardis, MS 38666 - Phone: 662-487-2072
Honorable Judge Smith Murphey
- P.O. Box 1191
Water Valley, MS 38965 - Phone: 662-385-4261
Kenda Blount serves as the Clerk of the County and Circuit Courts. The Tate County Circuit Clerk's Office is divided into numerous departments including Circuit and County Courts, Jury Selection, Marriage Licenses along with medical and professional licenses, plus Voter Registration and Election duties.
County Courts in Mississippi handle cases under its three divisions: Civil Division, Criminal Division, and Youth Court Division. The jurisdictional limit of County Courts is up to $200,000. County Courts may handle non-capital felony cases transferred from Circuit Court. County Court judges may issue search warrants, set bonds, and preside over preliminary hearings.
Justice Courts have jurisdiction over small claims civil cases involving amounts of $3,500 or less, misdemeanor criminal cases, and any traffic offense that occurs in the County involving the Tate County Sheriff's Department or Highway Patrol. Justice Court judges also sign warrants, set bonds, conduct preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases, issue temporary protective orders, and issue search warrants.
The County Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all cases wherein a juvenile (a child under the age of 18 years) is alleged to be a child in need of supervision, an abused child, a neglected child, or a delinquent child (one who commits a crime).
Juvenile Drug Court is a three-phase intervention program for juveniles who are on probation and who are having difficulty staying clean and sober.