Court records of Yellowstone County, Montana, are available through several channels. YellowstoneCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through official state online portals, the office of the Clerk of District Court, and public terminals in the courthouse in Billings.
Yellowstone Court System & Jurisdictions
Several courts operate in Yellowstone County, each handling specific categories of cases.
District Court (13th Judicial District)
The District Court is the main branch of the county's judicial system. It handles criminal cases involving felonies, civil lawsuits over $15,000, divorce and child custody cases, as well as probate cases (the legal process of distributing a deceased person's estate). The Clerk of District Court maintains all records of this court, processes documents, and provides access to case materials.
Justice Court
Yellowstone County Justice Court is divided into three divisions:
- Criminal Division — handles misdemeanors and traffic violations
- Civil Division — lawsuits up to $15,000
- Small Claims Division — disputes up to $7,000, where parties usually represent themselves
Billings Municipal Court
The Billings Municipal Court handles violations of city ordinances, traffic offenses within the city, and some misdemeanors. Information about arrest warrants in this court can be checked through the Billings City Warrants page.
Adoption cases, juvenile cases, and some family cases with protective orders often have limited public access according to Montana law.
Yellowstone Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The District Court schedule is available online through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal. This portal allows you to view the hearing calendar, search for cases by party name or case number.
To find the schedule for today, tomorrow, or the current week:
- Go to the Montana District Courts public access portal
- Select 13th Judicial District (Yellowstone County)
- Use the Court Calendar viewing feature
- Specify the desired date range
For courts of limited jurisdiction (Justice Court, Municipal Court), the hearing schedule is available through a separate Courts of Limited Jurisdiction portal. If the required information is not displayed online, contact the relevant court office directly by phone.
How to Get a Copy of a Yellowstone Court Document
Copies of District Court documents are issued by the Clerk of District Court. There are two types of copies:
- Regular (uncertified) copy — suitable for reviewing case materials
- Certified copy — has an official seal and the clerk's signature; required for submission to other courts, government agencies, or for legal purposes
Ways to Obtain
Online: Through the public access portal, you can view the case register and some documents. Downloading full copies of documents may be restricted — in such cases, contact the office.
In person or by mail: Contact the office of the Clerk of District Court. Information on ordering document copies is published on the county's website.
When contacting, provide the case number, party names, and the type of document you need. Certified copies may require additional processing time.
Documents recorded by the Clerk & Recorder (deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses) can be searched through the Clerk & Recorder document search system. This is a separate database from court records.
Yellowstone Court Records Fees & Payment
Below are the main fees charged for obtaining copies of court documents and records in Yellowstone County. The fee amounts are set according to Montana law and the internal rates of the clerk's office.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular document copy (first page) | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $2.00 per document (in addition to copying cost) |
| Documents through Clerk & Recorder (first page) | $2.00 |
| Documents through Clerk & Recorder (each additional page) | $0.25 |
| Annual subscription to Clerk & Recorder database | Available for a separate fee (details on the website) |
Payment at the Clerk of District Court office is usually accepted in cash, check, or money order. Confirm the possibility of card payment directly with the office. For mail orders, send a written request with case details and a check for the appropriate amount to the Clerk of District Court address.
Fees for searching online databases of the Montana Judicial Branch portal are not charged — viewing the case register is free. Downloading individual documents may require payment depending on the court and type of records.