Mississippi Legal Overview: Hattiesburg The Hattiesburg metropolitan area in Mississippi is defined by the Census Bureau as covering Forrest, Lamar and Perry counties. Forrest and Perry counties come under the 12th Judicial Circuit Court District, while Lamar County is served by the 15th Judicial Circuit Court District along with four other counties. These circuit courts are the main trial courts with general jurisdiction over criminal cases and civil lawsuits filed in the county. Listed below are the major cities and towns in the Hattiesburg metro area.
Top Mississippi cities for Legal Issues: Hattiesburg
1. The Forrest County Circuit Court located in Hattiesburg is the county’s main trial court with general jurisdiction over everything from felony prosecutions to large civil disputes. The Forrest County Chancery Court, also located in Hattiesburg, handles equity matters, family law and probate cases. The county, justice and municipal courts have limited jurisdiction. The county court shares jurisdiction over civil cases not exceeding $200,000 with the circuit and chancery courts. The justice court has limited jurisdiction over small claims not exceeding $3,500, along with misdemeanors and traffic violations.
Trending Legal Topics: The City of Hattiesburg Court is a municipal court and has limited jurisdiction over city ordinance violations, traffic tickets and misdemeanors. Appeals against municipal, justice or county court decisions may be filed with the county’s circuit court. Circuit court appeals must in turn be filed with the Mississippi Supreme Court, which may then assign the case to the intermediate appellate court. Federal cases in the Hattiesburg metro area are to be filed with the Hattiesburg Division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. |