Silver Bow County Court Records Search
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Silver Bow County, located in southwestern Montana, is home to the historic mining city of Butte. The county operates under a consolidated city-county government known as Butte-Silver Bow, which administers three distinct courts handling everything from minor traffic violations to complex estate proceedings. Whether you need records from a felony criminal case, a civil dispute, a family law matter, or an estate proceeding, understanding which court holds the records you need — and how to request them — is the essential first step.
Court records in Silver Bow County can be searched through several channels. MontanaCourts.us provides a useful starting point for locating publicly available case information in Montana, and the state’s online portals allow remote access to many district and limited jurisdiction court records. Beyond online tools, the Clerk of the District Court and the Justice Court clerks maintain physical records and can assist with in-person and mail-based requests.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Silver Bow County?
The most direct way to search for a Silver Bow County court case is through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal, which the Montana Judicial Branch maintains as part of an ongoing transition to a centralized case management system. A companion portal, the Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal, covers records from the Justice Courts and City Court. Both portals are accessible online and allow basic case searches by name or case number.
For in-person searches, all three Silver Bow County courts are located in the Butte-Silver Bow County Courthouse at 155 West Granite Street in Butte. The steps below outline how to approach an in-person or remote records search:
- Identify the correct court — Determine whether the case you are looking for originated in District Court, Justice Court, or City Court, as each maintains its own records.
- Gather identifying information — A case number, the full names of the parties involved, and the approximate date of filing will significantly speed up a search.
- Search online first — Use the District Courts Public Access Portal or the Limited Jurisdiction portal at courts.mt.gov to check whether the case is available digitally.
- Contact or visit the appropriate clerk’s office — If online results are incomplete or you need certified copies, contact the relevant clerk’s office directly.
- Submit a written request if needed — Justice Court requires a completed request form for records; District Court requests may also be made by mail with payment.
Are Court Records Public in Silver Bow County?
Montana’s Public Records Law, found at MCA Title 2, Chapter 6, establishes a general presumption in favor of public access to government records, including court records. Most Silver Bow County court records — including case files, docket entries, judgments, and orders — are open to inspection by any member of the public.
However, certain categories of records are restricted by statute or court order. The Second Judicial District Court’s local rules (Rule 13) expressly state that no file shall be sealed from public inspection except for records made confidential by law or court order, and that sealing in extraordinary cases requires a written motion and a showing of good cause. The following types of records are commonly restricted or withheld:
- Juvenile court records — Records involving persons under 18 are sealed under MCA 41-5-216 and are generally not available to the public.
- Sealed criminal records — When a criminal history record is sealed under MCA 46-18-204, public access is blocked unless ordered by a district court.
- Adoption records — Petitions for adoption and related documents may be restricted.
- Sexual assault victim information — Names and identifying details of victims are withheld.
- Medical and financial records — Personal health information and financial data included in court files may be redacted.
- Active investigation records — Materials related to ongoing criminal investigations are generally not disclosed.
Individuals who believe they are entitled to access a sealed or restricted record may file a motion in the Second Judicial District Court explaining the basis for their request.
Silver Bow County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Silver Bow County are distributed across all three courts depending on the severity of the offense. The Butte-Silver Bow County District Court, which serves as the Second Judicial District for Montana, handles all felony prosecutions and maintains the associated criminal case files. The Butte-Silver Bow Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, including citations issued by the Montana Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Transportation, and airport authorities. The Justice Court also holds initial appearances for individuals charged with felonies. Butte City Court handles traffic citations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and violations of city ordinances.
Butte-Silver Bow County District Court
Address: Courthouse, Room 313, 155 W. Granite St., Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 497-6350
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Butte-Silver Bow County Justice Court
Address: Courthouse, Room 305, 155 W. Granite St., Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 497-6390
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Friday
Butte City Court
Address: Courthouse, Room 401, 155 W. Granite St., Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 497-6365
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Friday
To request records from the Justice Court, requesters must submit a completed Butte Justice Court Request for Public Records form, available from the clerk’s office in Room 305 or as a downloadable document from the county website. The fee schedule for Justice Court record searches is as follows:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record search (per name) | $10.00 |
| Copies (first 10 pages) | $1.00 per page |
| Copies (beyond 10 pages) | $0.50 per page |
| Government agency searches (on agency letterhead) | No charge |
District Court copy fees are established by MCA 25-1-201 and include $1.00 per page for the first 10 pages of a file, $0.50 per page thereafter, and $0.25 per page for copies transmitted electronically. A records search at the District Court costs $2.00 per name per year searched (up to seven years), with an additional $1.00 per name for each additional year searched.
Fines associated with City Court citations can be paid online through CitePay USA by selecting Montana and then Butte City Court. For outstanding warrants in Butte City Court, the court maintains an active warrants list updated on a regular basis.
Silver Bow County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Silver Bow County are handled at two levels based on the amount in controversy. The District Court has broad civil jurisdiction covering property disputes, contract matters, and cases where the amount at issue exceeds the Justice Court’s threshold. The Justice Court handles civil actions involving amounts up to $15,000 (excluding court costs), while small claims matters with amounts up to $7,000 may also be heard there. Counterclaims in small claims cases cannot exceed $6,500.
The Clerk of the District Court is the official custodian of all District Court civil records, including case files, pleadings, motions, judgments, and related documents. Records consist of both physical documents and electronic files. Under the Second Judicial District Court Local Rules, original documents may not be removed from the clerk’s office, and no file may be taken without a written receipt.
Filing fees for civil matters at the District Court level, as set by MCA 25-1-201, include:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff filing fee (general civil) | $90.00 |
| Defendant appearance fee | $60.00 |
| Entry of judgment (prevailing party) | $50.00 |
| Filing a complaint in intervention | $80.00 |
| Issuance of execution or order of sale | $25.00 |
| Transfer of case to another court | $5.00 |
Civil cases in the Justice Court, including landlord-tenant disputes and orders of protection, are handled by both Justice Court departments. The court has concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court for civil actions between $7,000 and $15,000. To search for civil case records, users can access the District Court Public Access Portal or request records in person at the applicable courthouse office. For civil records from the Justice Court, the same $10 per-name search fee applies.
Silver Bow County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Silver Bow County fall under the jurisdiction of the Second Judicial District Court. The Clerk of the District Court maintains records for all domestic relations proceedings, including petitions for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and support matters, and contested amendments to parenting plans.
The filing fee for a petition for dissolution of marriage (divorce) is $170.00 under MCA 25-1-201. A portion of this fee is directed to the children’s trust fund, the civil legal assistance for indigent victims of domestic violence account, and the partner and family member assault intervention and treatment fund. Petitions for legal separation carry a filing fee of $150.00. A contested amendment to a final parenting plan requires a $120.00 filing fee, though this fee is waived if the non-moving party files a signed agreement not to contest the amendment.
To obtain a divorce record from the Clerk of the District Court, visit Room 313 at the courthouse or send a written request by mail. A copy of a dissolution decree costs $10.00 under MCA 25-1-201. You will need to provide the names of the parties and, if available, a case number or approximate date of filing.
The Butte-Silver Bow County Clerk of the District Court also issues marriage licenses. The fee is $53.00 (cash or money order only; personal checks and credit/debit cards are not accepted for this purpose). Licenses are issued between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Each applicant must provide proof of age, such as a driver’s license or birth certificate. The license is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. A certified copy of a marriage license costs $5.00.
Orders of protection in domestic violence matters may be filed through the Justice Court. The Justice Court also handles landlord-tenant disputes, which sometimes arise in the context of family housing situations. Domestic relations mediation, established under Rule 37 of the Second Judicial District Local Rules, is available to assist parents in resolving disputes involving children’s best interests.
Juvenile matters, including delinquency petitions, are handled by the Youth Court, which operates under the supervision of the Second Judicial District Court judges. Youth Court records are sealed by operation of MCA 41-5-216 and are not accessible to the general public. The Youth Court Probation Office works with law enforcement referrals for individuals under 18, and most cases involving juveniles are resolved through an informal process involving a probation officer and the child’s parent or guardian.
Birth and death records for individuals born or who died in Butte-Silver Bow are maintained by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office, located at Room 208, 155 W. Granite St., Butte, MT 59701. Phone: (406) 497-6335 Records older than 29 years are open to public inspection during office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copies of birth or death records cost $0.50. Certified copies of birth certificates can also be ordered using the Birth Certificate Application form or requested by calling (406) 497-6210. Death certificate requests may be submitted using the Death Certificate Request form.
Silver Bow County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Silver Bow County are filed with and administered by the Clerk of the District Court in Room 313 of the Courthouse. The Second Judicial District Court oversees estate administration proceedings, including informal, formal, and supervised probate, as well as petitions for the appointment of guardians and conservators for incapacitated adults.
Under MCA 25-1-201, the filing fee for a probate application — including informal, formal, or supervised probate, or a petition for appointment of a personal representative, guardian, or conservator — is $70.00. This fee includes the cost of filing a will for probate. A domiciliary foreign personal representative administering the estate of a nonresident decedent pays $55.00 to file the required statutory items. Under the Second Judicial District’s local rules (Rule 6), Tuesday is designated as probate day in Department No. I, where uncontested estate matters are routinely addressed.
Probate case records are generally public unless they contain information made confidential by law or by specific court order. Estate records typically include the will, inventory of assets, petitions, notices to creditors, accountings, and the final order of distribution. To obtain copies of probate documents, requesters should contact the Clerk of the District Court at (406) 497-6350 or visit Room 313 in person. Copy fees follow the schedule established by MCA 25-1-201: $1.00 per page for the first 10 pages of a given file request, and $0.50 per page thereafter. Certified copies carry an additional fee of $2.00 for the certificate and seal.
Property records related to estates — including deeds and recorded instruments — are maintained separately by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office in conjunction with the Land Records Department. Recorded document access is available online through iDoc Market, a platform used by Butte-Silver Bow County to provide remote access to recorded land and property documents. Recording times at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the standard recording fee is $8.00 per page for documents meeting established document standards.