Blaine 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 Blaine County is the District Court in Judicial District 17. 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 17 |
| Clerk Office | Clerk of District Court, Blaine County, Chinook, MT 59523 |
| Main Phone | Clerk of District Court: 406-357-3230 |
| Website | courts.mt.gov |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Chinook) |
| 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, 406-357-3230 |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Statewide Montana court payment site: citepayusa.com |
How to Search Blaine County Court Records
Have the full name, the case number if known, and approximate dates ready. Blaine County District Court records are kept by the Clerk of District Court in Chinook.
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 Chinook, MT 59523.
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 406-357-3230.
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
Blaine County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
Blaine County courts handled an estimated 346 new cases in CY 2024 and disposed of an estimated 336. The estimate scales Montana statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~346
Total filings in CY 2024
~336
Total dispositions in CY 2024
~346
Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)
~+1.8%
Change in total filings vs CY 2023
| Metric | CY 2024 | CY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~346 | ~340 | ~+1.8% |
| Total Dispositions | ~336 | ~329 | ~+2.1% |
| Criminal Filings | ~84 | ~82 | ~+2.4% |
| Civil Filings | ~118 | ~116 | ~+1.7% |
| Family Law Filings | ~61 | ~60 | ~+1.7% |
| Probate Filings | ~30 | ~29 | ~+3.4% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~6 | ~6 | ~+0.0% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~15 | ~14 | ~+7.1% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~1 | ~1 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in criminal filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Blaine County's 0.61% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Blaine County?
Estimated total filings in Blaine 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 | ~346 | ~336 | ~+1.8% |
| CY 2023 | ~340 | ~329 | ~+1.5% |
| CY 2022 | ~335 | ~325 | ~+1.2% |
| CY 2021 | ~331 | ~321 | ~+2.8% |
| CY 2020 | ~322 | ~312 | ~+2.8% |
Estimated filings changed +7.5% between CY 2020 and CY 2024, from 322 to 346. The largest annual change was +2.8% in CY 2021. The latest change of +1.8% reflects statewide Montana trends. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Blaine County's 0.61% share of the state population.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Blaine County?
Civil cases are estimated to be the largest category in Blaine County, at about 34.1% of filings in CY 2024.
| Case Type | Filings CY 2024 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil | ~118 | ~34.1% | ~+1.7% |
| Criminal | ~84 | ~24.3% | ~+2.4% |
| Family law | ~61 | ~17.6% | ~+1.7% |
| Probate | ~30 | ~8.7% | ~+3.4% |
| Juvenile | ~15 | ~4.3% | ~+7.1% |
| Mental health | ~6 | ~1.7% | ~+0.0% |
Juvenile cases are estimated as the fastest-growing category and mental health cases as the fastest-falling. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Blaine County's 0.61% share of the state population.
How Does Blaine County Compare With Montana Overall?
Blaine County is estimated to account for about 0.61% of the 57,082 cases filed in Montana courts in CY 2024.
| Metric | Blaine County | Montana | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~346 | 57,082 | ~0.61% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~+1.8% | +2.0% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~346 | 1,019 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~336 | 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 Blaine County's 0.61% share of the state population.
Blaine 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 Blaine County cannot be compared with the statewide rates of 427.6 violent and 1648.3 property crimes per 100K.
Blaine County Courthouse Locations
Blaine County has 1 listed Clerk of District Court office, in Chinook. Check your notice or paperwork for the courthouse and office before you go.
| Courthouse | City and ZIP | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of District Court, Blaine County | Chinook, MT 59523 | 406-357-3230 | 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 Blaine 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 Blaine County Court Records Public?
Yes, most court records in Blaine 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 Chinook to view or request records. Call 406-357-3230 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 Blaine County Court Records Online
Use the official Montana court search to find Blaine 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 406-357-3230 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 Blaine County
Blaine 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 406-357-3230 or visit the office in Chinook.
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.
Blaine County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Blaine County court records?
Use MTCourts.org to search by name or case number, or call the Clerk of District Court at 406-357-3230.
Are Blaine 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 406-357-3230 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 406-357-3230; 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 Blaine County each year?
Blaine County District Court recorded 168 new and reopened cases in 2024, up 8.4% from 155 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
Blaine County District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 420 Ohio St N, Chinook, MT, 59523 |
| Phone Number: | 406-357-3230 |
| Website: | https://blainecounty-mt.gov/district-court/ |
Useful Links
- Montana Judicial Branch The official Montana Judicial Branch website provides comprehensive access to statewide court services, resources, and records for public use.
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services - Vital Records Provides access to official vital records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates in Montana for legal purposes.
- Montana Department of Justice - Background Checks Learn about conducting criminal history checks in Montana, including procedures and necessary forms to complete the process.
- Montana Supreme Court Docket Search Access the docket and case records for the Montana Supreme Court, featuring historical case information crucial for legal research.
- Montana Legal Services Association A non-profit organization providing free legal services and resources for low-income Montanans and vulnerable populations.
- Blaine County Clerk of District Court Find information on accessing district court services, public records, and filing processes in Blaine County, Montana.
- Montana Association of Counties Offers a wealth of resources and guidance on county government operations, including court services across Montana.
- Blaine County Sheriff's Office Provides public access to law enforcement information, including inmate search, records, and local law and safety resources.
- Montana Clerk of Court Offices Lists contact information and details for each Clerk of Court Office in Montana, aiding in accessing district court records.
- Montana Supreme Court Official resource for accessing information, records, and decisions related to the Montana Supreme Court and its justices.
- Montana Justice Foundation Acts as a catalyst for access to justice in Montana, funding programs and resources for legal aid and public interest law.
- State Law Library of Montana Provides an extensive collection of legal resources, including statutes, case law, and forms for legal research needs in Montana.
- Legal Resources and Information - Montana Legal Services Association Offers legal guides and self-help resources to navigate legal issues and court processes across Montana effectively.
- Blaine County Public Records Access Access public records in Blaine County, Montana, including property records, court records, and other vital documents online.
- Montana Sheriff's and Peace Officers Association Supports and provides resources for Montana's sheriff's agencies, ensuring law enforcement transparency and public records access.
- National Association for Court Management Offers guidance and resources for effective court management practices, improving court services nationwide including Montana.
- United States Courts The federal judiciary's official website offering access to federal court records, rules, and regulations applicable in Montana.
- Court & Legal System - ACLU of Montana Advocates for civil liberties, providing resources related to court challenges, legal rights, and systemic reform in Montana.
- Blaine County Crime Reports Provides detailed crime statistics, reports, and public safety information relevant to residents and researchers in Blaine County.
- Montana Court Locator Tool for locating court jurisdictions, offices, and records retrieval across different counties within the state of Montana.
Table of Contents
- Blaine County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Blaine County Court Records
- Blaine County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Blaine County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Blaine County?
- How Does Blaine County Compare With Montana Overall?
- Blaine County Crime Statistics (2024)
- Blaine County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Blaine County?
- Are Blaine County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Blaine County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Blaine County
- Blaine County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links