Chancery Courts have jurisdiction of disputes in matters involving equity, domestic matters, including adoptions, custody disputes, and divorces; guardianships; sanity hearings; wills and any challenges as to the constitutionality of state laws. Additionally, land record disputes are filed and settled in the Chancery Court.
Clay County is part of the 14th Chancery Court District. Other Counties that are part of the 14th Chancery District are as follows: Chickasaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Webster Counties.
Chancery Courts have jurisdiction over juvenile matters and civil commitments in counties which have no County Court. Clay County has a Youth Court which is presided over by Judge H. Scott Ross, Special Master, and a Lunacy Court which is presided over by Judge Kristen Wood Williams, Special Master, both of whom are appointed by the Senior Chancery Judge of the 14th Chancery District.
The Judges which preside over the 14th Chancery Court District are as follows:
- Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis
- Judge Joseph N. Studdard
- Judge Rodney P. Faver
For more information as to when Chancery Court is held in Clay County and the Court docket, please call the Clay County Chancery Clerk’s office at (662) 494-3124 and ask for Vicki Ray.
Click here for the NEW 2023 Schedule of Chancery Court Filing Fees for Clay County
MEC-MS Electronic Court Filing
The Clay County Chancery Clerk’s Office has implemented the Mississippi’s Electronic Court (MEC) System. This is a comprehensive, internet-based document filing and case management system that will allow our court to maintain electronic case files and offer electronic filing. It is a version of the Federal Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) System. By order of our Senior Chancellor, Judge Dorothy W. Colom,, effective November 1, 2013, all filings, signings, verification and service of pleadings and papers shall be made in accordance with the Administrative Procedures in all MEC Cases.
If you have not registered to file in MEC, please do so by calling the help desk at (601) 576-4650 or by visiting the MEC website at www.mssc.state.us/mec.html. For all other questions on the MEC Filing System, please call (601) 576-4650.
Judge Paula Drungole- Ellis
101 East Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
(662) 323-5130
| Ct Reporter | Susan Alford | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 662-323-5130 |
| Ct Admin | Molly Jackson | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 662-323-5130 |
| Staff Attorney | Patricia Rives | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
Judge Joseph N. Studdard
P. O. Box 684
Columbus, MS 39703
(662) 329-5844 Office
(662) 241-1913 Fax
| Ct Reporter | Melissa Grimes | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
| Ct Admin | Cindy Strickland | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
| Staff Attorney | Patricia Rives | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
Judge Rodney P. Faver
101 East Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
(662) 323-5130
| Ct Reporter | Leigh Petit | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 662-323-5130 |
| Ct Admin | Molly Jackson | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 6622-323-5130 |
| Staff Attorney | Patricia Rives | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
Other Related Links Regarding Chancery Court:
http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.html
http://www.14thchanceryms.com/