Beaverhead County, MT Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The trial court for Beaverhead County is the District Court in Judicial District 5. It hears felonies, civil cases above the Justice Court limit, family law, probate, youth matters, and appeals from lower courts.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Montana District Court, Judicial District 5 |
| Clerk Office | Clerk of District Court, Beaverhead County, Dillon, MT 59725 |
| Main Phone | Clerk of District Court: 406-683-3727 |
| Website | courts.mt.gov |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Dillon) |
| Handles | Felonies, civil cases above the Justice Court limit, family law, probate, youth matters, and appeals from Justice and City courts |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (U.S. District Court for Montana), most traffic and misdemeanor cases (Justice Court or City Court), city ordinance violations (City or Municipal Court), and parking tickets (issuing city or agency) |
| Online Case Search | MTCourts.org (see the How to Search section for this county) |
| Criminal Records Requests | Clerk of District Court, 406-683-3727 |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Statewide Montana court payment site: citepayusa.com |
How to Search Beaverhead County Court Records
Have the full name, the case number if known, and approximate dates ready. Beaverhead County District Court records are kept by the Clerk of District Court in Dillon.
Online
Go to courts.mt.gov for official Montana court information and links.
Search case records where the court portal offers them.
Check with the clerk, since not all records are online.
Best for: Checking court information first
In Person
Visit the Clerk of District Court in Dillon, MT 59725.
Bring the full name and case number if you have them.
Ask the clerk which office handles your case type.
Best for: Records and copies not available online
By Phone
Call the Clerk of District Court at 406-683-3727.
Ask which court holds your case and what records it can release.
Ask the clerk how to request copies of a file.
Best for: Questions about a specific case
Search by Name on MTCourts.org
Go to MTCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Beaverhead County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
Beaverhead County courts handled an estimated 502 new cases in CY 2024 and disposed of an estimated 487. The estimate scales Montana statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~502
Total filings in CY 2024
~487
Total dispositions in CY 2024
~502
Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)
~+2.0%
Change in total filings vs CY 2023
| Metric | CY 2024 | CY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~502 | ~492 | ~+2.0% |
| Total Dispositions | ~487 | ~478 | ~+1.9% |
| Criminal Filings | ~122 | ~119 | ~+2.5% |
| Civil Filings | ~172 | ~168 | ~+2.4% |
| Family Law Filings | ~88 | ~86 | ~+2.3% |
| Probate Filings | ~43 | ~42 | ~+2.4% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~8 | ~8 | ~+0.0% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~21 | ~21 | ~+0.0% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~1 | ~1 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in civil filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Beaverhead County's 0.88% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Beaverhead County?
Estimated total filings in Beaverhead County moved up over the last five years; dispositions are estimated at a similar level.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CY 2024 | ~502 | ~487 | ~+2.0% |
| CY 2023 | ~492 | ~478 | ~+1.2% |
| CY 2022 | ~486 | ~471 | ~+1.2% |
| CY 2021 | ~480 | ~465 | ~+3.0% |
| CY 2020 | ~466 | ~452 | ~+3.0% |
Estimated filings changed +7.7% between CY 2020 and CY 2024, from 466 to 502. The largest annual change was +3.0% in CY 2021. The latest change of +2.0% reflects statewide Montana trends. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Beaverhead County's 0.88% share of the state population.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Beaverhead County?
Civil cases are estimated to be the largest category in Beaverhead County, at about 34.3% of filings in CY 2024.
| Case Type | Filings CY 2024 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil | ~172 | ~34.3% | ~+2.4% |
| Criminal | ~122 | ~24.3% | ~+2.5% |
| Family law | ~88 | ~17.5% | ~+2.3% |
| Probate | ~43 | ~8.6% | ~+2.4% |
| Juvenile | ~21 | ~4.2% | ~+0.0% |
| Mental health | ~8 | ~1.6% | ~+0.0% |
Criminal cases are estimated as the fastest-growing category and juvenile cases as the fastest-falling. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Beaverhead County's 0.88% share of the state population.
How Does Beaverhead County Compare With Montana Overall?
Beaverhead County is estimated to account for about 0.88% of the 57,082 cases filed in Montana courts in CY 2024.
| Metric | Beaverhead County | Montana | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~502 | 57,082 | ~0.88% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~+2.0% | +2.0% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~502 | 1,019 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~487 | 989 | Estimated at the state level |
| Criminal share of filings | ~24.3% | 24.3% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Civil share of filings | ~34.2% | 34.2% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Family law share of filings | ~17.5% | 17.5% | Same as state (estimate) |
These county values are estimates built from statewide Montana figures, so they track the state mix by design. Actual county dockets may differ. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Beaverhead County's 0.88% share of the state population.
Beaverhead County Crime Statistics (2024)
These figures are Montana statewide totals of offenses reported to the FBI for 2024 and 2023, not county counts. Total violent and property crimes fell 9.4% from 26,052 in 2023 to 23,608 in 2024 statewide.
4,863
Violent crimes, Montana statewide 2024
18,745
Property crimes, Montana statewide 2024
427.6
Montana statewide violent crime rate per 100K in 2024
-9.4%
Change in total violent and property crimes, Montana statewide, vs 2023
| Offense | 2024 | Rate per 100K | 2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 33 | 2.9 | 33 | 0.0% |
| Rape | 697 | 61.3 | 665 | +4.8% |
| Robbery | 217 | 19.1 | 278 | -21.9% |
| Aggravated assault | 3,916 | 344.3 | 4,106 | -4.6% |
| Violent crimes total | 4,863 | 427.6 | 5,082 | -4.3% |
| Burglary | 1,922 | 169.0 | 1,952 | -1.5% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1,884 | 165.7 | 2,174 | -13.3% |
| Property crimes total | 18,745 | 1648.3 | 20,970 | -10.6% |
County violent and property crime rates are not available in the data used here, so Beaverhead County cannot be compared with the statewide rates of 427.6 violent and 1648.3 property crimes per 100K.
Beaverhead County Courthouse Locations
Beaverhead County has 1 listed Clerk of District Court office, in Dillon. Check your notice or paperwork for the courthouse and office before you go.
| Courthouse | City and ZIP | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of District Court, Beaverhead County | Dillon, MT 59725 | 406-683-3727 | Call the clerk |
To confirm the courthouse address, check the Montana Court Locator at courts.mt.gov/CourtLocator/index.
Which Court Handles Your Case in Beaverhead County?
District Court handles felonies, family law, probate, and most civil cases above the Justice Court limit. Justice Courts and City Courts handle most other matters, and some cases are handled outside the courts.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | Justice Court or City Court, depending on where the ticket was issued | Check the court date and citation number on your ticket. |
| Parking ticket | The city or agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are handled outside the courts. |
| Misdemeanor | Justice Court (City Court for city ordinance violations) | Justice Courts hear misdemeanors. |
| Felony | District Court | Justice Court holds the preliminary hearing before a felony moves to District Court. |
| DUI | Justice Court for misdemeanor DUI, District Court for felony DUI | The charge on your paperwork decides which court hears the case. |
| Domestic violence | Justice Court or District Court | The charge level decides the court; ask the clerk which court holds your case. |
| Civil lawsuit | District Court or Justice Court | District Court hears civil cases above the Justice Court limit. |
| Small claims | Justice Court | Justice Courts hear small claims. |
| Eviction | Justice Court | Justice Courts hear eviction cases. |
| Divorce | District Court | District Court hears family law cases, including divorce. |
| Child custody or support | District Court | District Court hears family law cases, including custody and support. |
| Probate or estate | District Court | District Court hears probate matters. |
| Juvenile case | District Court (youth matters) | Youth matters are heard in District Court, and many of these records are confidential. |
| Appeal | Montana Supreme Court | Appeals from District Court go to the Montana Supreme Court; appeals from Justice and City courts go to District Court. |
Are Beaverhead County Court Records Public?
Yes, most court records in Beaverhead County are public, with exceptions. Montana's Constitution, Article II, Section 9, gives the public a right to examine documents, subject to privacy limits, and the Montana Rules for Access to Court Records set how courts release records.
Public records
Most District Court case files are open to the public, including filings and orders, subject to the court access rules. Justice and City courts keep their own records and set their own access process.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, sealed, expunged, adoption, mental health, and protective-order-restricted records are not publicly available. Other records may be confidential under Montana law or a court order.
Online access
Search case information on MTCourts.org by name or case number. Not all documents or case types are online, and restricted records do not appear.
In-person access
Visit the Clerk of District Court in Dillon to view or request records. Call 406-683-3727 to confirm which office holds your case.
Fees
The files used for this page do not list fees for copies. Ask the Clerk of District Court or the court that holds the record before you request copies.
How to Search Beaverhead County Court Records Online
Use the official Montana court search to find Beaverhead County cases by case type, and ask the clerk for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open MTCourts.org or courts.mt.gov for official Montana court information and links.
- Search by name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case information shown for status and parties.
- Call the Clerk of District Court at 406-683-3727 to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | MTCourts.org, or the Clerk of District Court by phone | Case information, parties, and status | Confidential records are not released |
| Traffic | Justice Court or City Court that issued the ticket | Case information kept by that court | Justice and City court records are kept by those courts |
| Civil | MTCourts.org, or the Clerk of District Court | Case information and parties | Not all documents are online |
| Small claims | Justice Court | Case information kept by that court | Confirm with the court before you search |
| Family law | MTCourts.org, or the Clerk of District Court | Case information for District Court family cases | Sealed or confidential files are restricted |
| Probate | MTCourts.org, or the Clerk of District Court | Case information for probate cases | Ask the clerk for files not online |
| Juvenile | Clerk of District Court by phone | Limited case information | Juvenile records are confidential |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Beaverhead County
Beaverhead County citations can be paid through the statewide Montana court payment site or by contacting the court that issued the citation.
- Online: Pay citations at citepayusa.com, the statewide Montana court payment site linked from courts.mt.gov. Have your citation number ready.
- Phone or in person: For District Court matters, call the Clerk of District Court at 406-683-3727 or visit the office in Dillon.
Payment plans and other payment methods are not listed in the verified data, so ask the court before you go. Parking tickets are handled by the agency that issued them, not by the courts.
Beaverhead County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Beaverhead County court records?
Use MTCourts.org to search by name or case number, or call the Clerk of District Court at 406-683-3727.
Are Beaverhead County court records public?
Most are, under Montana court access rules and the Montana Constitution, but juvenile, sealed, and other confidential records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name on MTCourts.org, or call the Clerk of District Court at 406-683-3727 with the defendant's name and approximate dates.
How do I find a court date?
Check your notice or citation first. For District Court, call the Clerk of District Court at 406-683-3727; Justice and City court dates come from that court.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Pay citations at citepayusa.com, or contact the court that issued the citation by phone or in person.
How many cases are filed in Beaverhead County each year?
Beaverhead County District Court recorded 475 new and reopened cases in 2024, up 6.5% from 446 in 2023.
What is the most common type of case?
The data used here does not break down county cases by case type, so the most common type cannot be named. District Court hears criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate cases.
Is crime rising or falling?
Statewide in Montana, total violent and property crimes fell 9.4% in 2024 to 23,608 from 26,052 in 2023, according to FBI-reported figures. County crime counts are not available here.
Courts in the County
Beaverhead County District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 2 South Pacific Street, Suite 5, Dillon, MT, 59725 |
| Phone Number: | 406-683-3725 |
| Fax: | 406-683-3728 |
| Website: | http://beaverheadcounty.org/departments/district-court/ |
Useful Links
- Supreme Court of Montana - Official State of Montana Judicial Branch site, providing access to Montana courts, opinions, rules, and public information.
- Montana Court Locator - Tool for locating contact information and details of courts across Montana, including Beaverhead County courts.
- Beaverhead County Attorney's Office - Resource for legal assistance and prosecutorial information, includes contact details and service overview.
- Beaverhead County District Court - Information about the District Court's services, contacts, and processes in Beaverhead County, Montana.
- Montana Public Records - Access point for various Montana public records including vital records, public safety, and other state documents.
- Montana Secretary of State - Official site for business records, notary services, and public record filings in the state of Montana.
- Beaverhead County, MT - Official Website - Main governmental site for Beaverhead County, with departments and contact information available.
- Montana Board of Crime Control - Information about programs, policies, and resources for crime control and prevention in Montana.
- Montana Access to Justice Commission - Promotes increased access to civil legal justice for individuals in Montana, with helpful resources.
- Montana Department of Justice - Comprehensive resource for law enforcement, consumer protection, and legal services statewide in Montana.
- State Law Library of Montana - Resource for legal research and access to legal documents for Montana residents.
- Beaverhead County Commissioners - The board responsible for the administration and operation of services in Beaverhead County.
- Montana State Online Traffic Data - Platform for accessing traffic data and reporting capabilities across Montana, includes statistical insights.
- Montana Legislature - Portal for accessing current legislation, legislative services, and government operations in the state.
- Montana Legal Services Association - Provides free legal help to low-income individuals in civil legal matters in Montana.
- Montana School Boards Association - Legal and policy resources for Montana school boards and educational entities.
- City of Dillon, Montana - Official city site providing information on services, governance, and operations in Dillon, within Beaverhead County.
- Beaverhead County GIS & Mapping - Geographic Information System services for property, zoning, and public service mapping in Beaverhead County.
- Montana 4th Judicial District Court - Missoula County - Example of District Court services, similar to those provided in Beaverhead, covering court operations and contact.
- Montana Legislative Services Division - Research and development on state budgets, policy analysis, and state government activity monitoring.
Table of Contents
- Beaverhead County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Beaverhead County Court Records
- Beaverhead County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Beaverhead County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Beaverhead County?
- How Does Beaverhead County Compare With Montana Overall?
- Beaverhead County Crime Statistics (2024)
- Beaverhead County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Beaverhead County?
- Are Beaverhead County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Beaverhead County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Beaverhead County
- Beaverhead County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links