Mississippi Insurance Commissioner

Mike Chaney

Mike Chaney, Mississippi’s 11th Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal, is currently serving his fourth term in office. First elected in 2007, Chaney brought extensive business
knowledge and experience to the office combined with 15 years of service in the Mississippi House and Senate.

His priorities throughout his terms in office remain steadfastly committed to consumer protection and application of technology for efficiency of the department to serve the state and consumers.
He is leading the department in making strides in healthcare reform; disaster recovery from flood, tornado and hurricane events; bail bond industry reform; and reductions in state fire deaths.

An active member of the NAIC, Chaney serves on numerous committees, task forces and working groups. Among the issues he is involved in addressing are examination oversight, accounting practices,
producer licensing, health insurance and managed care, senior issues, catastrophe and property and casualty insurance.

As Commissioner, he was inducted into the Insurance Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Mississippi State University. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Mississippi
Risk Management and Insurance program and its Professional Society. He has been named one of the top insurance professionals by Insurance Business America Magazine, and was named a Healthcare
Hero by the Mississippi Business Journal.

Commissioner Chaney has served on numerous community development entities and corporate boards. He is also a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow.
He is a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam. Chaney and his wife, Mary have three children and eight grandchildren.

Duties of the Insurance Commissioner

The Commissioner of Insurance is elected to a four-year term and may be re-elected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 83-1-1 et seq.
The Commissioner is charged with execution of all laws relative to insurance companies, corporations, associations and
fraternal orders, their agents and adjusters. The Commissioner licenses and regulates the practices of all insurance
companies, agents, burial associations, fraternal societies, bail bondsmen, and other entities engaged in the
business of insurance. The Commissioner, as State Fire Marshal, acting through the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal,
investigates all fires called to his attention occurring in the state, licenses manufacturers, installers/transporters
and dealers of mobile homes and regulates their practices. The Commissioner, through the State Fire Marshal Division,
administers the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code. The Commissioner, through the Fire Service Development Division,
establishes guidelines, use and accountability for municipal and county fire protection funds. The Commissioner administers
the Liquefied Compressed Gas Equipment Law (Miss. Code Ann. § 75-57-1 et seq.) and enforces the National Fire
Protection Association Code, Books 54 and 58. The Commissioner encourages and supports all employees to attain and
maintain professional designations in their career fields.

The Mississippi Surplus Lines Association (MSLA) is a non-profit association created to provide a stamping procedure
for all eligible non-admitted/surplus lines insurance policies sold on risks to ensure the proper payment of premium taxes
to the State of Mississippi. This association, under the direction of the Commissioner, has no separate regulatory
powers. MSLA enables the Department to ensure that proper taxes are paid to the State of Mississippi. As a result of this
law, the State receives additional taxes that were not received in previous years. Miss. Code Ann. § 83-21-17 et seq.

In addition to his regular duties, Commissioner Chaney participates in the following:

• Health Insurance Management Board

  –
  Commissioner Chaney serves on this board, which oversees the activities of the statewide Children’s Health Insurance Program,
  established under Title XXI of the Social Security Act to provide child health care assistance to targeted, uninsured,
  low-income children.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 41-86-1 et seq.

• Mississippi Automobile Insurance Plan

  –
  Commissioner Chaney or his designee attends meetings of the Mississippi Automobile Insurance Plan, which was created to
  provide automobile insurance coverage to eligible individuals who are unable to obtain such coverage through
  the voluntary market.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 63-15-65 et seq.

• Mississippi Comprehensive Health Insurance Risk Pool Association

  –
  Commissioner Chaney appoints four members to this nine-member board, which provides a mechanism to make health and accident
  insurance coverage available to those citizens of Mississippi who, because of health conditions, cannot secure such coverage.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 83-9-211 et seq.

• Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board

  –
  Commissioner Chaney serves as an ex-officio member of this board, and appoints fifteen members to this seventeen-member
  board. The Director of the State Fire Academy also serves as an ex-officio member of the board.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 45-11-251 et seq.

• Mississippi Fire Prevention Code Board of Adjustments and Appeals

  –
  Commissioner Chaney appoints all five members to this board per the Standard Fire Prevention Code as adopted by

  Miss. Code Ann. § 45-11-103 et seq.

• Mississippi Insurance Guaranty Association (Property and Casualty)

  –
  Commissioner Chaney approves the members of this board, which consists of not less than five nor more than nine members.
  The Association assists in the detection and prevention of insurer insolvencies and provides a mechanism for the payment
  of covered claims for insurance policies written by licensed property and casualty insurance companies to avoid
  excessive delay in payment and to avoid financial loss to claimants or policyholders because of insurer insolvencies.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 83-23-101 et seq.

• Mississippi Life Health Insurance Guaranty Association

  –
  Commissioner Chaney approves the members of this board, which consists of not less than five nor more than nine members.
  The Association assists in the detection and prevention of insurer insolvencies and provides a mechanism for the
  payment of covered claims for insurance policies written by licensed life and health insurance companies to avoid
  excessive delay in payment and to avoid financial loss to claimants or policyholders because of insurer insolvencies.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 83-23-201 et seq.

• Mississippi Tort Claims Board

  –
  Commissioner Chaney serves on this board, which provides coverage to governmental entities for every risk for which the board
  determines the respective governmental entities to be liable in the event of a claim or suit for injuries.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 11-46-18 et seq.

• Mississippi Rural Risk Underwriting Association

  –
  Commissioner Chaney approves the plan of operation of this association, which is charged with providing essential property
  insurance coverage to eligible individuals who have been unable to secure such insurance through the voluntary market.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 83-38-1 et seq.

• Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association

  –
  Commissioner Chaney approves the plan of operation of this board and appoints three members to the board, which coordinates
  the availability of wind and hail coverage in the six Mississippi Coastal counties (Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River,
  Stone, and George). Additionally, a designee of the Commissioner attends each meeting of the Association.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 83-34-1 et seq.

• Mississippi Workers Compensation Assigned Risk Plan / Mississippi Workers Compensation Assigned Risk Pool

  –
  Commissioner Chaney is responsible for administration of the Mississippi Workers Compensation Assigned Risk Plan, and its
  reinsurance mechanism, the Mississippi Workers Compensation Assigned Risk Pool, as stipulated in

  Miss. Code Ann. § 71-3-111 et seq.

  The Plan and Pool are organized to provide coverage to eligible employers who
  seek workers compensation coverage and are unable to obtain such coverage through the voluntary market.

• Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Review Committee

  –
  Commissioner Chaney chairs this committee, which is responsible for reviewing all applications for compliance in
  regard to established guidelines for applicants to the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program as outlined in

  Miss. Code Ann.

  § 17-23-1 et seq.

• State Employees Health Insurance Board Advisory Council

  –
  Commissioner Chaney serves on this council, which is responsible for advising the State and School Employees Health Insurance
  Management Board concerning the design of a state insurance plan for state employees.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 25-15-9 et seq.

• State Liquefied Compressed Gas Board

  –
  Commissioner Chaney oversees this board, which is vested with the power to regulate matters pertaining to liquefied
  compressed gas in Mississippi. Commissioner Chaney appoints seven members to this board, including one from each of
  Mississippi’s five congressional districts, as well as two at-large members.
  

  Miss. Code Ann. § 75-57-1 et seq.

Contact Us

Mailing Address:

Mississippi Insurance Department
P.O. Box 79
Jackson, MS 39205

Street Address:

1001 Woolfolk State Office Building
501 N. West St.
Jackson, MS 39201

Phone Numbers:

Mississippi Insurance Department – 601-359-3569

Email:

[email protected]

Mississippi Insurance Department – 601-359-3569

Mississippi.StateRecords.org is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). You understand and acknowledge that these reports are NOT “consumer reports” as defined by the FCRA. Your access and use of a report is subject to our Terms of Service and you expressly acknowledge that you are prohibited from using this service and this report to determine an individual’s eligibility for credit, insurance, employment or any other purpose regulated by the FCRA.

1. Mississippi.StateRecords.org

2. Mississippi Vital Records

Are Mississippi Vital Records Open to the Public?

Per the Mississippi Vital Statistics Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-2), persons with a tangible, legitimate interest in a vital record may access and obtain copies of vital records in Mississippi. These vital records include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and death records maintained by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Mississippi Vital Records Online?

Requesters or immediate family members with direct interest who wish to obtain vital records in Mississippi must provide details such as:

• The full name on the certificate
• Gender on certificate
• The location of the birth, death, or marriage 
• The date when the birth, death, or marriage occurred
• The reason/purpose for the certificate/ record request
• The applicant’s relationship to the person(s) named on the certificate/record

How Do I Obtain Mississippi Vital Records?

Vital records can be obtained by contacting the Mississippi State Department of Health. Generally, the process to obtain vital records requires the applicant to:

• Complete and sign an application form relevant to the request.
• Provide a copy of a valid photo ID.
• Attach payment for the relevant fees, typically check or money order, but in-person requesters can pay cash. 
• Show proof of guardianship or legal representation, if applicable.

Publicly available vital records are also managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a reliable jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:

• The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
• The name of someone involved providing it is not a juvenile. 

What’s The Difference Between a Certified Record and Informational Copy?

Generally, informational copies of vital records are documents given to persons who wish to obtain vital records for genealogy research or informational purposes. Such documents are considered ‘unofficial’ by the issuer and usually do not have any legal standing to establish identity.

On the other hand, certified copies of vital records are admissible for official purposes, including home applications, licensing, job applications, and immigration purposes. Certified copies are regarded as legal documents, making them equal to the original record. The Bureau of Vital Statistics issues certified vital records to persons who have sufficiently proved legitimate and tangible interest in the vital record.

Are Mississippi Marriage Records Public Information?

Marriage records in Mississippi are available to persons who can prove tangible interest in the marriage record. Public marriage records of marriages that happened before 1926 are available for public perusal.

How Do I Obtain Marriage Records in Mississippi?

Requests for certified copies of marriage records for marriages that happened after 1926 go to the Department of Health. These applicants must submit an application for marriage records in person, via mail, or online. On the other hand, publicly available records of marriages that happened before 1926 are available for public perusal through the Mississippi State Archives.

Note that persons looking to obtain certified marriage records must pay a non-refundable search fee and provide a copy of a valid, state-issued photo ID. These requests typically take seven to ten days to process. Thus, it is best to submit applications early. In-person and mail requests go to:

Are Mississippi Divorce Records Public Information?

Certified copies of Mississippi divorce records are only available to persons who can prove a direct interest in the divorce records. A public index of divorces in Mississippi is available for public perusal.

How Do I Obtain Divorce Records in Mississippi?

Requesters who want to obtain Divorce records have to visit the clerk’s office in the chancery court where the divorce was granted. The Mississippi Department Department of Health does not maintain divorce records. However, a five-year index of divorces is available at the State Archives. Note that each divorce record search by name costs a non-refundable $17.00. The State Archives is located at:

Are Mississippi Birth Records Public Information?

Birth records in Mississippi are only available to persons who can demonstrate a legitimate, tangible interest in the birth record. On the other hand, birth records for certain counties are available for public perusal on the state archives. However, these birth records are for specific periods before 1980.

How Do I Obtain Mississippi Birth Records?

Certified birth records from November, 1st 1912, are kept by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Persons who wish to order birth certificates and birth certificate replacements in Mississippi must submit an application in person, by mail, or order online. Generally, applicants are required to complete an application for a certified Mississippi birth certificate. Furthermore, the requester must pay the required fees and provide a valid, government-issued photo ID. Send mail requests to: 

Are Mississippi Death Records Open to the Public?

Mississippi death records are open to requesters who can demonstrate a legitimate interest in the record. These typically include the deceased’s immediate family members and legal representatives. Still, persons who can provide a document such as property deeds can obtain death records.

How Do I Obtain Death Records in Mississippi?

Requesters who want to locate and order death records from 1912 to present may use the walk-in service at the Department of Health’s Ridgeland Office. Provisions are also made for applicants who wish to make their requests by telephone or mail. Each death certificate search and a certified copy of a death record cost $17.00. Additional copies requested at the same time cost $6.00 each. Generally, individuals must complete an application for a certified death record. The requester must also attach a copy of a valid, government-issued photo ID and the check or money order for applicable fees. Send mail requests for Mississippi death records to:

How Do I Obtain Sealed Vital Records in Mississippi?

Sealed vital records are restricted to persons named on the document, immediate family members, legal representatives, and persons who are statutorily eligible to obtain the vital record. Persons who wish to obtain sealed vital records must demonstrate a tangible and direct interest in this record in a competent court of jurisdiction.

This requirement is fulfilled by showing documents that give the requester claim to the vital record, e.g., property deeds showing the requester’s name and the name of the person named on the vital record. If the requester satisfies this requirement, the court shall issue a court order granting access. Even at that, the record custodian shall redact parts of the record containing sensitive information such as social security numbers.