After the Governor’s Executive order on March 24 and a discussion with county supervisors in most counties, leadership at the courthouse set precautions for the staff and offices at the courthouse.
Every community is preparing for the COVID-19 virus in different ways and with the situation evolving daily the courthouse staff is taking precautions.
The courthouse staff has added sanitizer near the entrances and encourage use by all citizens entering.
With the risks and dangers of the COVID-19, the operational procedures of the Chancery Clerk's Office until the county-wide State of Emergency ends are:
• Please call 662-773-3631 to make an appointment. The office will remain "OPEN" to conduct business however, the entry will be closed and restricted.
“We are here to serve and will gladly assist you with your recording needs, etc,” said Chancery Clerk Rusty Foster
• Vault (Records Room) - Access to the vault will be limited to 5 or less at any time; less than 10 combined throughout the office. While conducting business, please practice social distancing and respect the efforts of others who may be performing similar work. Please note: Attorneys and Abstractors will be given priority to access. Anyone performing genealogy research will be restricted to an hour.
A sign-in sheet will be used to keep a record of the start and end time.
If your business requires you to visit the office, a hand sanitizing machine is located conveniently inside the
entrance to the office and the entrance to the vault (records room). If you sneeze or cough, please do so in a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
“We are asking you to take precautions but want to assure you, we are taking safety precautions considering your safety and the safety of our staff,” said Foster.
As a first consideration, if you are sick please stay home. If it is possible for you to conduct business over the phone or mail, we encourage you to do so. These efforts will minimize any unnecessary office visits. In the near future, you will be able to search public records and submit records maintained by the Chancery Clerk's office via the internet.
Updates for this and other services will be provided on the Chancery Clerk's website at http://www.winstonms.com/p/chancery-clerk.html.
“Everyone can do their part in response to this emerging public health threat. The threat is real and should be taken seriously. Your efforts will make a difference and are greatly appreciated,” said Foster.
Darlene Bane, Winston County Tax Assessor and Collector explained that the deadlines for filing homestead exemption and personal property rendition forms have both been extended by Governor Tate Reeves until May 1st.
“Please do not visit the Tax Office unless absolutely necessary. This is for your safety and ours. Most transactions may be handled by mail or telephone,” stated Bane.
Call the office before you visit at 662-773-3694.
“The average age of our customers today was well over the “elderly” guideline of 60. They are in the highest risk category and are out and about. Please stay home and let your parents and grandparents know to do the same. I care about my employees and our citizens,” stated Bane.
Courts must remain open while taking safety precautions
The Supreme Court has ordered that some proceedings cannot be delayed. in Emergency Administrative Order 5 issued March 20 set out types of in-person proceedings that shall go forward without postponement:
a. Jury trials currently in progress.
b. Department of Child Protection Services emergency matters related to
child protection.
c. Proceedings directly related to:
(1) Protecting the constitutional rights of all persons;
(2) Habeas corpus;
(3) Emergency child-custody orders;
(4) Relief from abuse and orders of protection;
(5) Mandatory youth court detention hearings for youth held in custody;
(6) Emergency mental-health orders;
(7) Emergency protection of elderly or vulnerable persons;
(8) Petitions for temporary injunctive relief;
(9) Issues involving the COVID-19 public-health emergency;
(10) Obtaining arrest and search warrants, and other
proceedings required by law enforcement;
(11) Ensuring the Mississippi Judiciary has met its constitutional requirements.
d. Any other emergency and time-sensitive matters, in the discretion of individual judges.
