Gallatin County
Founded in 1865, Gallatin County is located in southwestern Montana and was named after Albert Gallatin, a former United States Senator. The county covers 2,605 square miles and has a population of 118,960 residents. The City of Bozeman serves as both its county seat and largest city.
Gallatin County's judicial system comprises four trial courts, including the District, Justice, City, and Municipal Courts. The District Court in Gallatin County is also Montana's 18th Judicial District Court. As the highest county's trial court, the District Court handles all felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $12,000, family law matters, juvenile cases, probate matters, and mental health cases. Residents can appeal judgments from Justice, City, and municipal courts at the Gallatin County District Court. The Justice Court has civil and criminal divisions. Misdemeanors and felony preliminary trials are tried at the criminal division, while the civil division oversees small claims up to $7,000, landlord/tenant disputes, and contract disputes involving $15,000 or less. The City Courts located in Belgrade, Manhattan, and West Yellowstone have jurisdiction over city ordinance violations, traffic crimes, and tax collection cases within their respective cities/towns. Gallatin County has a Municipal Court in Bozeman that handles criminal or civil violations in the city.
Gallatin County public court records are official documents recorded during legal proceedings and made available to the public following the Montana Public Records Act. These records include case filings, court orders, dockets, judgments, and other materials generated during court cases. The following are the types of public court records in Gallatin:
- Civil court records
- Criminal court records
- Property records
- Small claims records
- Family law records
However, specific court documents such as mental health reports, adoption records, and confidential business or financial data. These records are not accessible because of their sensitive nature. To obtain public court records in Gallatin County, interested persons can contact the Clerk of the District Court by phone or in person at:
Gallatin County Clerk of the District Court
615 South 16th Avenue
Room 302
Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone: (406) 582-2165
Court records are also accessible online through the Montana Public Access Portal, allowing users to search by case number or name. While online viewing is generally free, certified or physical copies of documents from the Clerk's Office may incur fees for processing and duplication.
