Lincoln County Court Records Search
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Lincoln County, Montana covers a vast stretch of the state's northwest corner, with Libby as the county seat. The judicial system centers on the Montana Nineteenth Judicial District Court, which handles everything from felony prosecutions to probate estate administrations, generating records that document every step of each proceeding. Under MCA § 3-1-114, court records are defined broadly to include all materials in a docketed case file: decisions, administrative orders, registers of actions, court dockets, minute books, court ledgers, and court indexes. These documents form the permanent, verifiable record of judicial activity in the county.
You can search for Lincoln County court records in several ways — through official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, written or in-person requests, and online portals. Residents can also visit MontanaCourts.us to find publicly available case information and locate court resources across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lincoln County?
Start with the Montana District Court Public Access Portal, which provides free remote access to District Court case information. You'll need a party name to conduct a search. The portal returns case histories, docket entries, hearing schedules, and judgment information for cases filed in the 19th Judicial District.
For records not available through the portal, or when you need certified copies, contact the Clerk of the District Court directly. A public computer and manual index book are also available on-site for in-person research.
Lincoln County Clerk of the District Court
Address: 512 California Ave., 2nd Floor, Libby, MT 59923
Phone: (406) 283-2342
Fax: (406) 283-2350
Email: 19thCOC@mt.gov
Montana Nineteenth Judicial District Court (Judge's Office)
Address: 512 California Ave., Libby, MT 59923
Phone: (406) 293-8120
Fax: (406) 283-2350
Email: cynthia.miller@mt.gov
Lincoln County Justice Court
Address: 418 Mineral Ave., Libby, MT 59923 (Lincoln County Annex Building, 1st Floor)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Trials/Restitution: (406) 283-2411
Civil/Small Claims: (406) 283-2413
Citations/Prisoners: (406) 283-2412
When visiting the Clerk's office, bring the full name of at least one party in the case. A case number, if you have it, speeds up the search considerably. Fees apply for searches and document copies as outlined in the District Court's fee schedule.
Are Court Records Public in Lincoln County?
Public access to Lincoln County court records is supported by the Montana Public Records Act, MCA Title 2, Chapter 6, which establishes a general presumption that government records — including judicial records — are open to public inspection. The Clerk of the District Court's Office provides access to court records during regular business hours and processes requests for copies and certified copies on demand.
Certain categories of records are shielded from public release:
- Adoption case files and proceedings
- Paternity determination documents
- Records involving investigative subpoenas
- Abuse and neglect case files
- Involuntary commitment (sanity) proceedings
- Juvenile court records
- Records sealed or made confidential by specific court order
These exemptions reflect the Legislature's recognition that some proceedings involve particularly sensitive personal information. Records outside these categories are accessible to any member of the public without needing to state a reason or demonstrate a qualifying interest.
The Clerk of the District Court is the official custodian of all 19th Judicial District records, including those categorized as Adoption, Civil, Criminal, Dependent Neglect, Domestic Relations, Guardianship, Juvenile, Marriage License, Paternity, Probate, Sanity, and Statutory Liens. Records in the office date to 1909, with paper books covering proceedings through 1996 and electronic records maintained thereafter through the Montana Supreme Court's case management system.
Lincoln County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Lincoln County are handled at two levels. The 19th Judicial District Court has general jurisdiction over all felony cases, while the Lincoln County Justice Court processes misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic citations, Fish and Game violations, and initial appearances for persons arrested on felony charges. The Justice Court also sets bail at initial hearings and processes out-of-county and out-of-state warrants.
District Court criminal records — charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment entries — can be searched through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal by party name. Certified copies can be obtained from the Clerk of the District Court at 512 California Ave.
Document copy fees at the District Court:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copies — first 10 pages | $1.00 per page |
| Plain copies — pages 11 and beyond | $0.50 per page |
| Copies via fax or email (outgoing) | $0.25 per page |
| Copies via fax or email (incoming) | $0.50 per page |
| Search fee — per name, per year (up to 7 years) | $2.00 |
| Search fee — per name, beyond 7 years | $1.00 (no maximum) |
| Certification with seal | $2.00 |
Incident reports and arrest records maintained by law enforcement — as opposed to court filings — must be requested from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Records Unit. The Records Unit maintains local criminal history on all individuals arrested in Lincoln County and files investigative reports from Sheriff's deputies. Only the Initial Offense Report is releasable as public information.
To request a record from the Sheriff's Office:
- Gather all known details: case number (if available), date, names of parties, times, vehicles, and license plates.
- Visit the Records Unit in person at 512 California Ave., Libby, or submit a written request by mail.
- Pay the $5.00 fee by cash, check, or money order (mail requests: check or money order only).
- Mail requests to: Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, 512 California Avenue, Libby, MT 59923, Attn: Records Unit.
Appointments are preferred; call (406) 293-4112 ext. 2.
For a name-based criminal records check on yourself, the Sheriff's Office charges a $5.00 fee. This search covers Lincoln County records only and requires a valid photo ID and a signed Criminal Justice Waiver Form. Fingerprinting for state or national background checks is available for a $10.00 fee (up to five cards per session). For broader statewide criminal history, use the Montana DOJ Criminal History Search through the Montana Department of Justice.
Current inmate information is available through the Lincoln County Detention Center jail roster, updated Monday through Friday. For 24-hour inmate inquiry, call (800) 844-6591.
Lincoln County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Lincoln County is divided between the District Court and the Justice Court based on the amount in dispute. The Justice Court handles civil lawsuits not exceeding $12,000 and Small Claims actions up to $7,000. It also adjudicates landlord-tenant disputes, forcible entry and unlawful detainer actions, and local ordinance matters. Larger civil cases, equity actions, and special proceedings go to the District Court.
District Court civil filing fees include:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Commencement of Action (by Plaintiff/Petitioner) | $120.00 |
| Appearance (each defendant or respondent) | $70.00 |
| Legal Separation Commencement | $180.00 |
| Foreign Judgment (filing authenticated copy) | $90.00 |
| Intervention Complaint | $80.00 |
| Appeal from Lower Court | $30.00 |
| Judgment Entry (from prevailing party) | $50.00 |
Parties who cannot afford filing fees may submit a Request Waiver of Filing Fees form, which must be completed and submitted in person to the Clerk's office.
Civil case records in both courts are searchable through the Public Access Portal by party name. In-person searches at the Clerk's Office at 512 California Ave., 2nd Floor, give you access to both the public computer terminal and the manual index books. Records staff can help locate specific documents and produce copies at the standard per-page rates listed above. For Justice Court civil matters, call the Civil/Small Claims line at (406) 283-2413.
Note that Justice Court does not have jurisdiction over cases involving title or possession of real property, family law, child custody, false imprisonment, libel, slander, determination of paternity, or malicious prosecution — those matters must be filed in District Court.
Lincoln County Family Court Records
The 19th Judicial District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over family law matters in Lincoln County, including dissolutions of marriage, parenting plan modifications, child support proceedings, legal separations, and adoption proceedings. The Clerk of the District Court maintains all related records and can be contacted at 19thCOC@mt.gov or (406) 283-2342.
Family law filing fees at the District Court:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of Marriage (including Summary/Joint) | $200.00 |
| Legal Separation | $180.00 |
| Amendment of Parenting Plan (Contested) | $120.00 |
| Adoption Filing | $105.00 |
| Copy of Decree of Dissolution | $10.00 per copy |
Temporary Orders of Protection are handled by the Justice Court and may only be issued to persons who qualify under MCA § 40-15-201. Petitioners must file a sworn written application specifically describing the threat to their physical safety. If the application meets statutory requirements, the judge will grant a temporary order, and the Sheriff's Department will serve both the application and the order on the opposing party. A mandatory court hearing is scheduled within 20 days.
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Clerk of the District Court. The fee for issuing, filing, and recording a marriage license is $53.00, and licenses are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. Plain copies of a marriage license are $5.00 each; certified copies carry an additional certification fee of $2.00. For certified copies requested by mail, complete the Marriage License Request Form and submit it with the required fee.
Birth and death certificates are held by the Lincoln County Clerk & Recorder's Office at 512 California Ave., Libby, MT 59923. The Clerk & Recorder is connected with the Office of Vital Statistics in Helena and can access birth certificates for all Montana counties currently on record. Certified birth certificates cost $8.00 per copy and are restricted under Montana law to the registrant, their spouse, children, parents, guardians, or an authorized representative. Certified death certificates cost $7.00 per copy and are available to any person presenting a valid ID.
Both require a completed application — Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application — and payment by cash, money order, or check payable to the Clerk & Recorder. Mail-in applications must be signed before a notary public or accompanied by the identification referenced in the form instructions.
Lincoln County Probate Court Records
All probate matters in Lincoln County — estate administration, guardianship appointments, conservatorship proceedings, and trust disputes — fall within the general jurisdiction of the 19th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of the District Court is the official custodian of all probate records, which date back to 1909. Records from that year through 1995 are maintained in physical books; records from 1996 forward are maintained electronically through the Montana Supreme Court's case management system.
Probate filing fees at the District Court:
| Probate Matter | Fee |
|---|---|
| Formal/Informal or Ancillary Probate Petition | $100.00 |
| Guardianship/Conservatorship Commencement | $100.00 |
| Foreign Probate with Certificate | $85.00 |
Probate records are generally public, subject to the same access rules as other District Court records. To search for a probate case, use the Montana District Court Public Access Portal with the decedent's or ward's name, or visit the Clerk's Office at 512 California Ave., 2nd Floor, to use the on-site public computer terminal or consult the manual index books. Copies are charged at $1.00 per page for the first ten pages and $0.50 per page thereafter, with a search fee of $2.00 per name per year for searches covering up to 7 years, and $1.00 per name for each year beyond the 7-year window, with no maximum.
If filing fees are a hardship, you can apply for a waiver using the Request Waiver of Filing Fees form, submitted in person to the Clerk's office. For additional court forms and self-help packets relevant to probate and other proceedings, the Clerk's office provides online fillable forms and printed packets available for pickup at a $10.00 fee per packet.