Homeland Security Definitions and Guidelines Revised to Include County Clerks Among Essential Services Workforce

Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued new guidelines and definitions that include among our nation’s essential services workforce:

Staff at government offices who perform title search, notary, and recording services in support of mortgage and real estate services and transactions.

(see Other Community- or Government-Based Operations and Essential Functions on page 12)

In Mississippi, this includes the Chancery Clerk’s office (and land records rooms), Circuit Clerk’s office, and the Tax Assessor and Collector’s office – since all of these government offices are required to search title.

To learn more, read CISA’s Advisory Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response.