Missoula County Court Records

Missoula County Court records provide information on legal proceedings in the court. They give a complete and formal account of all court actions. Court records also incorporate various materials, ranging from written documents and visual aids to digital information.

Depending on the type of case, court records may provide information on the following:

• Case number
• Case type
• File date
• Case party’s information
• Disposition events
• Events and hearings
• Name of judicial officer

Are Court Records Public in Missoula County?

Missoula County court records are public records and are therefore open to examination by law. Per the Montana Public Records Act, members of the public are authorized to view these records with few exceptions. For instance, records of juvenile proceedings are generally considered confidential. They are, therefore, not disclosed to the public.

Access to confidential Montana Country court records is restricted to government officials exercising their duties. Expunged, sealed, and juvenile court records are not publicly available and may require a court order to inspect.

Members of the public may access the following court records from the record custodian:

• Claimant/case party indexes filed with a court
• New case filings and case information, such as party names
• Chronological case summaries of events
• Court dockets and calendars, including the case number, hearing date, and location of the proceeding
• Case status of pending and closed cases

However, in a bid to ensure privacy and prevent identity issues, the following information is redacted from public court records:

• Telephone numbers of case parties
• Home or office addresses
• Social security numbers
• Credit card information and other financial information
• Other personal identifying numbers like a license number or I.D number

Missoula County Court Records Search

Court records extract court data from their custodians. Public access to these records enhances transparency and accountability in administering justice. According to their preferences, individuals seeking court records have a number of options to choose from. They can take advantage of online resources available at the courts to verify basic information, including case events, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Or they could choose to stop over in person and can view and obtain official court records by visiting the Missoula County Clerk’s office. Otherwise, they can take advantage of third-party resources to look up Missoula County Court Records.

Interested persons may search for Missoula Country court records at any of the following locations:

• The Missoula County Clerk’s Office
• The courthouse where the case was adjudicated
• Electronic search tools approved by the judicial system
• Third-party aggregate sites.

Missoula County Court Records Search by Name

Searching court records by name entails using the individual or organization's name or that of their attorneys to find court records. Requesters can input names as search parameters on online case search databases provided by the state or the Missoula County Clerk. Alternatively, they can also request name-based searches when they visit the clerk’s office.

Missoula County Courts

The Missoula County court system comprises a District Court, a Justice Court, and a Municipal Court. Each court has distinct jurisdictional boundaries. The Missoula County District Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, with jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil cases involving amounts over $50,000, domestic relations cases, probate cases, and juvenile cases. The District Court also has appellate jurisdiction over decisions from the Justice Court and Municipal Court.

The Missoula County Justice Court is a limited jurisdiction court that handles misdemeanor criminal cases, as well as civil cases such as small claims, contract disputes, traffic violations, and fish and game violations. Its decisions can, however, be appealed at the District Court.

On the other hand, the Missoula Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that handles city ordinance violations, traffic violations, and misdemeanor criminal cases that occur within the city limits of Missoula. The Municipal Court's jurisdiction is limited, and its decisions can be appealed to the District Court.

The list below outlines the different Missoula County, Montana courts and their contact addresses:

Missoula County District Court
Missoula County Courthouse
200 West Broadway,
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-4780
Fax: (406) 258-4899

Missoula County Justice Court
Missoula County Courthouse
200 West Broadway,
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-3470
Fax: (406) 258-3935

Missoula Municipal Court
435 Ryman Street,
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 552-6180
Fax: (406) 327-2129

Missoula County District Court Records

The Fourth Judicial District Court has a rather broad jurisdiction over Missoula County, adjudicating both criminal and civil matters within this region. Court records, including dockets, decrees, and transcripts, serve as official documentation of legal proceedings. They are maintained by the court of record and are accessible to interested parties at the respective court where the case was originally filed.

Missoula County Criminal Records

In Missoula County, Montana, access to criminal records is governed by the Montana Criminal Justice Information Act of 1979. According to Montana Code Annotated Section 44-5-301, there is a general blanked principle of open access to criminal justice information since it is generally considered public. It allows the public to follow cases involving public offenders and fosters public confidence in the judicial system and law enforcement. However, there are some restrictions and exceptions to the general principle of open access. These include:

• Confidential criminal justice information
• Juvenile records
• Records sealed or expunged by court order
• Missoula County arrest records where the arrestee was not indicted or where acquitted

In Montana, individuals can access criminal background checks through two channels- the Montana Department of Justice and the Missoula Police Department. The Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) provides statewide searches through its Criminal Records and Identification Services Section. This can be conducted online, by mail, or in person. Additionally, residents can request personal criminal records from the Missoula Police Department. The cost of these checks varies from $10 to $30, depending on the request method and the extent of the search.

Completed requests should be delivered to:

Montana Department of Justice – Criminal Records and Identification Services Section
2225 11th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(Mondays to Fridays: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Email: dojcriss@mt.gov
Phone: (406) 444-3625
Fax: (406) 444-0689

Missoula County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Missoula County, there are designated courts authorized to adjudicate criminal cases. Individuals can find criminal case records by using resources provided by these courts. To begin, requesters should identify the case they seek. Having done this, they should determine the court that mediated the case. This information narrows the search and produces faster results.

For instance, some courts have jurisdiction only for misdemeanors and other small criminal offenses within their territory.

Get Missoula County Civil Court Records

Civil court records are records received by the courts in cases involving legal disputes between two or more parties. A civil action is initiated when one party to the dispute files a complaint, paying the filing fee as required. Civil court records include minor claims, foreclosure and liens, and commercial disputes.

In Missoula County, civil cases are handled by the county’s justice and municipal courts. Records for these cases are available at the county clerk’s office. Alternatively, requesters can submit online requests through the clerk’s website.

When filing a request, individuals are required to provide detailed information about the case. This includes, but is not limited to, the parties, attorneys of the record, the date the case was filed, and the case number assigned with respect to the accompanying fees. The district and justice courts charge $1 each for the first ten copy pages and 50 cents for each subsequent page. Name searches cost $2 per name in the district court and $10 per name in the justice court.

Missoula County Family Court Records

In Missoula County, Montana, family court records are handled by the Missoula County District Court. Family court records typically relate to cases involving spouses, parents, and children. These records cover a wide variety of cases involving domestic issues. The Clerk of the District Court's office is authorized to maintain and provide access to these records. Interested parties can access the court records via the clerk’s online request form. The clerk typically processes these requests within ten business days.

The most common family court records include:

• Marriage Dissolution
• Paternity and Child Custody
• Protection Orders Against Domestic Violence
• Name Changes
• Guardianship
• Termination of Parental Rights and Adoptions
• Juvenile Matters
• Emancipation and Approval of Underage Marriages

Missoula County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Missoula County District Court keeps records on all marriage licenses granted by the court. Missoula County marriage records cannot be disclosed until 30 years after the marriage date and are only accessible to the married couple. Individuals who want to get copies of marriage licenses after 30 years of marriage would need to send in their request letters to the District Court Clerk. In addition to these request letters, they are to accompany their requests with a $5 copy fee and a driver’s license. They should also include a self-addressed envelope.

Missoula County divorce records are accessible in the form of divorce decrees from the court where the marriage was terminated. The Missoula County District Court handles separation and divorce matters in the county. Individuals interested in copies of final divorce decrees can make inquiries in person or send written request letters to the District Court Clerk with specific case or record information.

Missoula County Birth and Death Records

The Missoula County Clerk and Treasurer maintains County birth certificates, while the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Office of Vital Records manages statewide birth records. Due to the sensitivity and privacy of these records, access to certified copies is restricted to authorized persons, such as the registrant (at least 14 years of age), parents, legal guardians, and authorized representatives. On the other hand, access to informative copies of birth records from more than 30 years ago is publicly available.

Individuals can get copies from the County Clerk and Treasurer by filling out the online request form with the required information or mailing completed application forms and requirements to:

Missoula County Clerk and Recorder
200 West Broadway,
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-4752
Fax: (406) 258-4811
Email: recording@missoulacounty.us

Certified copies of Missoula County birth records attract a fee of $8, while informational copies cost 50 cents. Individuals can pay fees with credit cards, money orders, or checks made payable to the Clerk and Recorder. For copies of birth certificates at the state level, requesters should mail filled application forms and requirements to:

Montana Vital Records
111 North Sanders
Room 6
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
Phone: (406) 444-2685

Individuals who would like to get Missoula County death certificates can access them from the Missoula County Clerk and Treasurer or the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Office of Vital Records. Individuals can get copies by filling out the online request form with the required information or mailing completed application forms and requirements to:

Missoula County Clerk and Recorder
200 West Broadway,
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 258-4752
Fax: (406) 258-4811
Email: recording@missoulacounty.us

To get death records from the county clerk, there is a fee of $7 attached to certified copies. Requesters can pay fees with credit cards, money orders, or checks made payable to the Clerk and Recorder. For copies of death certificates at the state level, requesters should mail filled application forms and requirements to:

Montana Vital Records
111 North Sanders
Room 6
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
Phone: (406) 444-2685

Missoula County Probate Court Records

The Magistrate Division of the Missoula County District Court is in charge of Probate cases. These include Wills, Guardianship, Trust Registration, Mental Commitment, and Child Support litigations. The County Clerk is the custodian of Missoula County's Probate court records. These records can be viewed and copied at the clerk's office during regular business hours or through the county's online search tool.

Missoula County Property Records

The county recorder's office is in charge of Missoula County's property records, which include deeds, plats, surveys, powers of attorney, and substitutions of trust. The recorder's office also offers an online search tool for those looking for property records.

Missoula County Court Records Online

As an alternative means to search for Missoula County Court records online, there are third-party websites. These third-party websites like montanacourtrecords.us collect data in their search tools from various repositories and make these available to requesters. These third-party databases are typically owned by private entities and maintained for commercial purposes.

However, users should verify the information obtained from such platforms. Third-party platforms are not official record websites or government affiliates. Therefore, the records they provide could be inaccurate or outdated.