Missoula County, Montana Court Records
Court records in Missoula County are documents from civil, criminal, family, or probate cases. These records are created when a case begins in the court system and are updated until final adjudication. Generally, Missoula County court records are maintained by clerks in the court that handled the case. Hence, access to a record will depend on the methods supported by the custodian. For example, the Clerk of District Court is the custodian of records for cases filed and adjudicated in the District Court, including, civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate cases. On the other hand, requests for records on small claims and landlord-tenant disputes go to the Justice Court. Furthermore, information in court records may be found in other public records, and vice versa. For instance, if an arrest leads to an indictment, some information from the arrest record may be found in the corresponding criminal court record.
Are Missoula County Court Records Public?
Yes. Court records in Missoula County are generally public under Article II, Section 9 of the Montana Constitution and the Rules for Privacy and Public Access to Court Records in Montana. To ensure that court proceedings are not hidden and to keep the government accountable, the public has the right to see what happens in court.
That said, not all court records are fully accessible. For example, records involving involuntary mental health commitments and adoptions are generally confidential. Certain information in parentage cases, guardianships, and conservatorships may also be protected from public disclosure. Medical and other confidential details in dissolution of marriage cases and records involving the termination of parental rights in child abuse and neglect proceedings are also restricted from public view. A judge or court can also seal specific records or portions of records under Montana law.
What Information is Available in Missoula County Court Records?
Missoula County court records generally include:
- Case numbers
- Names of parties involved in a case
- Filing dates
- Court motions
- Petitions and complaints
- Orders issued by the court
- Judgments and rulings
- Hearing and trial dates
- Docket entries
- Attorney information
- Case status
- Sentencing information
- Final case dispositions
Missoula County Court Records Search
The courts in Missoula County provide access to court records mainly through online, in-person, and mail-in requests. Some courts also support phone and fax requests.
- Online Access: The online resource will depend on the case type and the court that handled the case. For example, to look up District Court records, use the Montana District Court Public Access Portal. In contrast, Justice Court records can be searched through the Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal.
- In-Person Access: To get copies of a court record in person, visit the courthouse where the case was adjudicated.
Missoula County District Court
200 West Broadway, 2nd Floor
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-4780
200 West Broadway, 1st Floor
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-3470
- Mail and Phone Requests: Mail-in requests for District Court records can be sent to the Clerk of District Court at 200 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802, or submitted by fax at (406) 258-4899. Copying and administrative fees apply. Hard copies cost $1 per page for the first ten pages and $0.50 per page after that, while certification with a seal costs an additional $2. Payment is required in advance, and card payments carry an additional processing fee.
Fees for Court Records in Missoula County
Per Montana Code Annotated § 2-6-1006, a public officer may not charge a fee for the examination of public information. Hence, court records in Missoula County are free to view. Instead, costs are usually limited to copying, certification, and search fees related to producing the records. According to the Montana Clerks of District Courts Fee Schedule, hard copies cost $1 per page for the first ten pages and $0.50 per page after that, while documents sent electronically cost $0.25 per page. Certification with a seal costs $2, and having staff search for a name in the records costs $2 per year for up to seven years, then $1 per year after that.
Missoula County Courthouse Locations
Missoula County has two primary court levels, including District Court and Justice Court. The District Court is a state court that handles major civil and criminal cases, family matters, and probate, since Montana does not have a separate probate court. Justice Court, by contrast, is a county court that handles minor criminal and traffic offenses, misdemeanor arraignments, and small claims. Additionally, Youth Court is a state court that operates under the judicial district rather than the county. It handles juvenile matters.
|
Court Name |
Address |
Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
|
200 West Broadway Missoula, MT 59802 |
(406) 258-4780 | |
|
200 West Broadway Missoula MT 59802 |
(406) 258-3470 | |
|
311 Woody Street, Missoula 59802 |
(406) 258-4735 | |
|
435 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT 59802 |
(406) 552-6180/ (406) 552-6170 |
Criminal Records Access in Missoula County
In Montana, the Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation handles state criminal history record checks, not the county court. The public can find criminal history information online through the Criminal History Online Public Record Search (CHOPRS) portal. Mail-in and in-person requests are also available. At any rate, requesters will need to provide a subject's full name and date of birth to find criminal history information.
Local criminal case records in Missoula County may be available through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal or the Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal. These portals support searches by name or case number. Those looking for local case records can also contact the Missoula County Clerk of Court office directly, since records requests are processed by staff rather than through a self-service search terminal.
Missoula County Probate Records
Probate records are official documents that are created in the administration of a deceased's estate or will. Examples include wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. Since probate records are considered public records, people can request them, but certain cases such as guardianship and conservatorship matters may contain sensitive personal information, and access to specific documents may be restricted by court order.
The Clerk of District Court is the custodian of Missoula County probate court records. Requests can be submitted by fax, mail, or online form to the Clerk's Office or in person. A valid photo ID may be required to process in-person requests.
Missoula County Family Court Records
In Missoula County, District Court handles family cases involving divorce, custody, adoption, and support, since Montana does not have a separate family court division. After records have been generated from these proceedings, the Clerk of District Court files and maintains them. However, records in juvenile and adoption cases are sealed and cannot be examined except by order of the court.
Missoula County does not offer a self-service portal for family court records. Instead, requesters can submit a request by fax, mail, or online form to the Clerk of District Court, or visit the office in person with a valid photo ID. Certified copies of records such as divorce decrees cost $10.00 per copy, plus an additional $2.00 for certification with a seal.
Federal Court Records in Missoula County
Not every court case goes through the state or county court. Cases in Missoula County that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government are handled in federal courts, i.e., the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Examples include bankruptcy, mail theft, and wire fraud. Records from these cases are maintained by the courts and made available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) unless otherwise restricted by law or court order.
Online access to federal court records is provided through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The public may use this tool to view case filings and docket information. Interested persons will have to create an account. Searches are done by using party name, case number, or filing date. Note, however, that some filings can be sealed under federal rules and restricted from public viewing. Also, fees apply.
