Quitman chancery calendar lists estate and uncontested divorce hearings

The W.M. Sanders chancery calendar for the 7th Chancery Court District posted selected dockets in early January that referenced Quitman County matters, including an estate matter and an uncontested divorce scheduled in Marks. The entries, dated January 7 and January 8, appeared on the district calendar that covers multiple counties and lists specific call times and locations.

On January 7 the calendar showed Quitman County Cause No. 09-24: Estate of Clara Dodd King, captioned to determine unknown heirs and close the estate, with attorney B. Sanders listed and a 9:30 a.m. call-only appearance in Marks. A subsequent entry for January 8 included Quitman County Cause No. 25-cv-13: Butts v. Butt, an uncontested divorce set for an 11:00 a.m. in-person hearing in Marks with attorney A. Shah. The January 8 schedule also listed a Bolivar County divorce matter earlier that morning, highlighting that the W.M. Sanders calendar spans several counties.

Administrative entries like a petition to determine unknown heirs are significant for a rural county like Quitman. Determinations of heirship and the closing of estates have direct consequences for land ownership, property tax rolls and clear title for transactions. In small, land-rich jurisdictions where family plots and long-standing property claims are common, closing an estate without locating heirs can trigger changes in how property is managed or, in some cases, lead to escheat or other mechanisms to resolve unclaimed real property. Those outcomes can affect local records, tax assessments and potential sales or development of parcels.

The use of a call-only appearance for the Jan. 7 estate matter also raises questions about public access and notice. Call-only dockets reduce the physical foot traffic at the courthouse in Marks and can make it harder for potential heirs or neighbors to observe proceedings. In contrast, the in-person uncontested divorce on Jan. 8 follows the common chancery practice of handling straightforward family-law matters efficiently when both parties agree.

For residents, these entries are a reminder that chancery dockets can carry practical impacts beyond courtroom formality. If you have family ties, property interests or questions about an estate in Quitman County, checking court dockets and following up with the chancery clerk can clarify whether you should take action. Likewise, uncontested divorces typically move more quickly through the system, but they still alter legal relationships that have implications for custody, property division and local records.

The takeaway? Keep an eye on the Marks chancery calendar and the chancery clerk’s records if you have any connection to listed causes. A timely check can protect your property rights and make sure you don’t miss a proceeding that could affect your household or land.