Flathead County
Flathead County stands as the second largest county by total area in Montana, with an estimated population of 111,814 in 2022. It was named for the Flathead Indians, a Salish-speaking group of Native Americans. It has a vast total area measuring 5,256 square miles and has a county seat set in Kalispell. The county is made up of the Flathead River, Valley, and Lake, all of which were crafted from melting glaciers more than 10,000 years ago.
Court proceedings are held in the District Court, Justice Court, and City Court as well as Municipal courts in Flathead County. The District Court reviews administrative agencies' decisions and has original jurisdiction over civil, probate, and criminal cases. It also adjudicates cases beyond the lower court's jurisdictions. The Justice Court takes care of the criminal charges filed by the county's attorney's office, traffic, and small claims matters. The City Courts handle cases of limited monetary value (small claims), and less serious crimes (misdemeanors), and enforce municipal laws, and zoning rules. The Municipal Courts pass laws regarding local ordinances involving noise regulations, handle simplified civil cases, and share jurisdiction with the City Courts over certain cases.
Court records are transcripts and files associated with proceedings concerning lawsuits. The Flathead County Clerk of Court is the officer in charge of record keeping. In order to ensure efficient case management and quick retrieval, records are kept onsite (physical storage) and also in online databases.
Most searches for court records are open to the public in the following cases:
- Civil
- Criminal
Copies and certified copies of court records are provided on request, and applicable charges apply. Records can be viewed via the Montana Public Access Portals maintained by the Montana Judicial Branch. An in-person visit will require a visit to the office located at 920 South Main, Suite 300, Kalispell, MT 59901. The Public Research Library at the clerk and recorder's office also provides loads of information on court case information.
