Smith County Chancery Clerk Cindy Austin

The title "Chancery Clerk" can't begin to describe the various duties and responsibilities attendant to the office. The chancery clerk assists not only the functions of the chancellor and the court, but assists the board of supervisors and plays a vital role in many county affairs, as well. The duties of the chancery clerk include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Clerk of the Court, Custodian of Public Land Records, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Auditor, County Treasurer.

Clerk of the Chancery Court:

Attending and maintaining the minutes of the chancery court
Creating and maintaining files for each chancery court suit
Issuing process for service upon defendants
Recording the court's activities in various dockets and minute books
Scheduling courtroom time (where counties share a common courtroom between chancery
and circuit, or other, courts)
Maintaining dockets (in those districts without a court administrator who performs this duty)
Processing all phases of civil commitments
Summoning jurors (in those chancery court matters in which a jury trial has been granted)
Receiving and accounting for various filing fees required to accompany pleadings and appeals
Attending each session of the chancery court
Transmitting statistical data to the Mississippi Supreme Court, AOC
Processing the court's record(s) for appellate review

Cindy Austin, Chancery Clerk
Cindy Austin
Smith Co Chancery Clerk

CONTACT:
Chancery Clerk
P O Box 39
Raleigh, MS 39153
Phone: 601-782-9811
Fax: 601 782-4690
(The Chancery Clerk Records and Chancery Court Sessions are now in the new Chancery Building across from the Smith County Courthouse. )


Custodian of Public Land Records: Creating and maintaining various indexes for documents filed in the public land records (i.e., sectional index, direct/reverse index, etc.) Creating and maintaining volumes which contain copies of all documents filed and indexed in the public land records (i.e., deed books, deed of trust books, or some combination thereof, etc.) Receiving and accounting for various filing fees required to accompany documents left for recording Maintaining all records of property sold for taxes by the county tax collector each year and accepting and processing payment in redemption of those taxes
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors: Attending all meetings of board of supervisors Recording the minutes of the board Receiving and processing claims made against the county, which necessarily includes maintaining the county's Docket of Claims Assisting the board in equalizing the assessment rolls of real and personal property Compiling various reports on the board's behalf and submitting them to other state governmental entities as required Receiving and processing all applications made for homestead exemption and reporting thereon to the State Tax Commission Assisting the board in preparing the annual county budget (not required, but routinely done as a courtesy to the board) Submitting a monthly report of all county funds to the board
County Auditor Keeping accounts with each county office Keeping ledger accounts of all receipts and disbursements of county funds Keeping financial records for all county officers responsible for receiving or collecting money for the county, including a detailed account for debits and credits against the tax collector Issuing receipt warrants and properly documenting funds paid to the county Collecting privilege taxes and issuing privilege licenses on an annual basis
County Treasurer Receiving and disbursing money on behalf of the county Reconciling statements from the county depository