Newton County Chancery Clerk

The Newton County Chancery Clerk keeps its office in the historic courthouse at 92 West Broad Street in Decatur, and it doubles as a passport acceptance agent for people across the county. The staff who handle land records and court filings are also authorized to verify your identity, witness your DS-11 signature, and send your application on to the State Department.

Applying at a county office suits residents who are already downtown for other business, and the clerk's window keeps regular weekday hours of roughly 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Even so, call ahead at (601) 635-2367 to make sure a passport-trained clerk is available and to ask whether photos are taken on site, since staffing for the service can vary.

Weighing this office against the nearby Decatur Post Office is worth a moment; some applicants prefer the courthouse's longer midday window. You can also review every acceptance point statewide on our Mississippi passport page.

Because this is a county office rather than a dedicated passport counter, phone ahead to confirm the clerk who processes applications will be in. Bring your unsigned DS-11, proof of citizenship such as a certified birth certificate, and a photo ID with a photocopy. Applicants under 16 must appear with a parent or guardian, and the government's application fee is paid separately from any acceptance or photo charge. If the courthouse schedule doesn't fit yours, the post office option in Decatur may have different openings.