Ravalli County
Ravalli County is located along the southwestern border of Montana. It was established in 1893 and was once home to the Bitterroot Salish tribe. The county has its seat in Hamilton, its largest city. According to data recorded in 2020, its total population is around 44,174.
The Ravalli County judiciary comprises the District, Justice, and City Courts. The District Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. Felonies, most misdemeanors, general civil claims, probate matters, and naturalization cases all fall within its purview. It also has jurisdiction over civil claims where the claimant requests monetary damages against the State. The Justice Courts are all located in Hamilton. They primarily hear misdemeanors, civil claims under $7,000, and disputes over real estate titles. They also have the jurisdiction to conduct pre-trial hearings for felonies, and they have a Small Claims Division that hears civil claims valued under $3,000. Lastly, there are four City Courts. These courts are located in:
- Darby
- Hamilton
- Pinesdale
- Stevensville
The City Courts have jurisdiction over criminal and civil violations of city ordinances as well as certain tax disputes.
Public court records are official documents that provide details about cases handled in Ravalli County District, Justice, and City Courts. These records are processed and managed by the Ravalli County Clerk of Courts. Examples include:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Family Law records
- Property records
- Probate records
Physical copies of court records can be obtained from the clerk's office. Interested individuals may mail a request or visit the office at the Ravalli County Courthouse in Hamilton. Alternatively, requesters can contact the clerk's office by calling (406) 375-6710. For interested persons who may not be able to visit the courthouse in person, the Montana Public Access Portal provides an option to access court records online.
Requesters may incur certain fees to obtain court records in Ravalli County. If the court record requested is uncertified, a $1 per page fee applies for the first ten pages and $0.50 per page for each additional page. Where the record is to be certified, an extra $2 charge per page applies.
