Cascade 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 Clerk of District Court in Great Falls keeps the records of the Cascade County District Court, Judicial District 8. The District Court 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 8 (Cascade County) |
| Courthouse Location | Great Falls, MT 59401 |
| Main Phone | 406-454-6780 (Clerk of District Court) |
| Clerk | Faye Mcwilliams, Clerk of District Court |
| Handles | Felonies, civil cases above the Justice Court limit, family law, probate, youth matters, and appeals from lower courts |
| Does NOT Handle | Misdemeanors and most traffic tickets (Justice Court or City Court), city ordinance violations (City or Municipal Court), federal cases (U.S. District Court for Montana), and parking tickets (the citing agency) |
| Online Case Search | Search on MTCourts.org |
| Criminal Records Requests | Call the Clerk of District Court at 406-454-6780 for District Court criminal records |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | citepayusa.com, the statewide Montana court payment site |
How to Search Cascade County Court Records
Have the full name, a case number if you know it, and approximate dates ready. Cascade County District Court records are kept by the Clerk of District Court in Great Falls.
Online
Go to MTCourts.org to search statewide court records.
Search by name or case number for District Court cases.
Check whether the record type is available online.
Best for: Quick checks of case status and parties
In Person
Go to the Clerk of District Court in Great Falls, 59401.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Ask the clerk about records that are not available online.
Best for: Copies and records not available online
By Phone
Call the Clerk of District Court at 406-454-6780.
Ask what the clerk needs before you request records.
Ask the clerk about copy costs before you order.
Best for: Confirming what a records request needs
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
Cascade County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
Cascade County courts handled an estimated 4,243 new cases in CY 2024 and disposed of an estimated 4,115. The estimate scales Montana statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~4,243
Total filings in CY 2024
~4,115
Total dispositions in CY 2024
~1,061
Filings per judicial position (4 estimated positions)
~+2.0%
Change in total filings vs CY 2023
| Metric | CY 2024 | CY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~4,243 | ~4,159 | ~+2.0% |
| Total Dispositions | ~4,115 | ~4,034 | ~+2.0% |
| Criminal Filings | ~1,030 | ~1,009 | ~+2.1% |
| Civil Filings | ~1,450 | ~1,421 | ~+2.0% |
| Family Law Filings | ~743 | ~729 | ~+1.9% |
| Probate Filings | ~362 | ~355 | ~+2.0% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~69 | ~68 | ~+1.5% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~179 | ~175 | ~+2.3% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~4 | ~4 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in civil filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Cascade County's 7.43% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Cascade County?
Estimated total filings in Cascade 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 | ~4,243 | ~4,115 | ~+2.0% |
| CY 2023 | ~4,159 | ~4,034 | ~+1.4% |
| CY 2022 | ~4,103 | ~3,980 | ~+1.3% |
| CY 2021 | ~4,051 | ~3,929 | ~+2.8% |
| CY 2020 | ~3,939 | ~3,821 | ~+2.8% |
Estimated filings changed +7.7% between CY 2020 and CY 2024, from 3,939 to 4,243. The largest annual change was +2.8% in CY 2021. The latest change of +2.0% reflects statewide Montana trends. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Montana statewide figures scaled by Cascade County's 7.43% share of the state population.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Cascade County?
The Cascade County District Court hears the case types listed below. The source file gives only total District Court filings for the county, so counts by case type are not shown.
| Case Type |
|---|
| Abuse and neglect |
| Adoption |
| Civil |
| Commitment |
| Criminal |
| Developmental disability |
| Domestic relations |
| Guardian conservator |
| Investigative subpoena and search warrant |
| Juvenile |
| Paternity |
| Probate |
How Does Cascade County Compare With Montana Overall?
Cascade County is estimated to account for about 7.43% of the 57,082 cases filed in Montana courts in CY 2024.
| Metric | Cascade County | Montana | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~4,243 | 57,082 | ~7.43% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~+2.0% | +2.0% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~1,061 | 1,019 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~1,029 | 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 Cascade County's 7.43% share of the state population.
Cascade County Crime Statistics (2024)
These figures are Montana statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Cascade County. County crime counts are not available in this section, and agency reporting may be incomplete, so these are not complete statewide totals.
Statewide violent crimes fell 4.3% in 2024, while statewide property crimes fell 10.6%.
4,863
Violent crimes, Montana statewide, 2024
18,745
Property crimes, Montana statewide, 2024
427.6
Montana statewide violent crime rate per 100K
-9.4%
Change in total violent and property crimes vs 2023 (Montana statewide)
| 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% |
The property crimes total includes larceny-theft and arson, which are not shown here.
Cascade County Courthouse Locations
Cascade County has one Clerk of District Court office, in Great Falls. Check the Montana Court Locator for court assignments, or call the clerk before you go.
| Courthouse | City | ZIP | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of District Court, Cascade County | Great Falls | 59401 | 406-454-6780 | See location page |
This office listing comes from the Montana DNRC list of Clerks of District Court, cross-checked against the Montana Court Locator. The list is undated, so confirm details with the clerk before you go.
Which Court Handles Your Case in Cascade County?
Most Cascade County cases go to either the District Court or a Justice or City Court, depending on the type of case and the charge or claim.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | Justice Court or City Court | Traffic citations go to the court named on the citation. |
| Parking ticket | The citing city or agency | Parking tickets are not handled by the courts. |
| Misdemeanor | Justice Court or City Court | Misdemeanors are heard in Justice Court and City Court. |
| Felony | District Court | Felonies are heard in District Court, with preliminary hearings in Justice Court. |
| DUI | Justice Court or City Court, or District Court for felony DUI | Check the charge on your paperwork to find the right court. |
| Domestic violence | Justice Court or City Court, or District Court for felony charges | Criminal charges follow the misdemeanor or felony route. |
| Civil lawsuit | District Court or Justice Court | The amount of the claim decides which court hears it. |
| Small claims | Justice Court | Small claims are heard in Justice Court. |
| Eviction | Justice Court | Eviction cases are heard in Justice Court. |
| Divorce | District Court | Divorce cases are heard in District Court. |
| Child custody or support | District Court | Custody and support cases are heard in District Court. |
| Probate or estate | District Court | Probate matters are heard in District Court. |
| Juvenile case | District Court | Youth matters are heard in District Court. |
| Appeal | Montana Supreme Court | The Montana Supreme Court is the state court of last resort. |
Are Cascade County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Cascade County District Court records are public, with exceptions. Article II, Section 9 of the Montana Constitution gives the public the right to examine documents, subject to privacy limits, and the Montana Rules for Access to Court Records set how courts apply that right.
Public records
Most District Court case records are open to the public, and the Clerk of District Court keeps them. Justice and City court records are kept by those courts.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, sealed, expunged, adoption, mental health, and protective-order-restricted records are not publicly available.
Online access
Search MTCourts.org by name to find leads. Results are not official court records, and not every record or document is online.
In-person access
Visit or call the Clerk of District Court in Great Falls to view or request records. Call 406-454-6780 to confirm what the clerk needs.
Fees
No fees are listed in the source files for this county. Ask the Clerk of District Court about copy costs.
How to Search Cascade County Court Records Online
Use the statewide MTCourts.org search to look for Cascade County cases, then ask the Clerk of District Court for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, civil, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open MTCourts.org and search by name or case number.
- Note the case number and court from the results.
- Review the case details, including status and parties.
- Call the Clerk of District Court at 406-454-6780 to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | MTCourts.org for felonies; Clerk of District Court | Case information listed on MTCourts.org | Misdemeanors are kept by Justice Court or City Court |
| Traffic | The Justice Court or City Court that issued the citation | Ask that court for case details | Most traffic cases are not in District Court |
| Civil | MTCourts.org; Clerk of District Court | Case information for District Court civil cases | Smaller civil claims are heard in Justice Court |
| Small claims | The Justice Court that handles the claim | Ask that court for case details | Not kept by the District Court |
| Family law | Clerk of District Court | Case information from the clerk | Confidential details are restricted |
| Probate | Clerk of District Court | Case information from the clerk | Some files may be restricted |
| Juvenile | Clerk of District Court | Case information only through the clerk | Juvenile records are confidential |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Cascade County
Citations can be paid through the statewide Montana court payment site or with the court handling the case.
- Online: Pay citations at citepayusa.com, the statewide Montana court payment site, not a Cascade County site.
- By phone: Call the Clerk of District Court at 406-454-6780 to pay or to ask which court handles your citation.
- In person: Pay at the Clerk of District Court in Great Falls, or at the court named on your citation.
Parking tickets are paid to the agency that issued them, not to the court.
Cascade County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Cascade County court records?
Search by name or case number on MTCourts.org, or call the Clerk of District Court at 406-454-6780. Search results are not official court records.
Are Cascade County court records public?
Most are, under Article II, Section 9 of the Montana Constitution and the Montana Rules for Access to Court Records, but juvenile, sealed, and other confidential records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Felony cases are kept by the Clerk of District Court. Search MTCourts.org by name or call the clerk at 406-454-6780.
How do I find a court date?
Check your ticket or notice first, then search MTCourts.org or call the clerk for the court that handles your case.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Pay online at citepayusa.com, the statewide Montana court payment site, or contact the court named on the citation.
How many cases are filed in Cascade County each year?
Cascade County District Court recorded 5,119 new and reopened filings in 2024, up 4.3% from 4,907 in 2023.
What is the most common type of case?
The source file does not give counts by case type for this county, so the most common type cannot be confirmed here.
Is crime in Cascade County rising or falling?
The figures available are Montana statewide, not county counts. Statewide violent crimes fell from 5,082 in 2023 to 4,863 in 2024, and property crimes fell from 20,970 to 18,745.
Courts in the County
Cascade County District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 415 2Nd Ave. N., Great Falls, MT, 59401 |
| Phone Number: | 406-454-6894 |
| Website: | https://courts.mt.gov/CourtLocator/8thJudicialDistrict |
Useful Links
- Montana Judicial Branch: Official website providing access to the Supreme Court, District Courts, and resources for understanding Montana's judiciary.
- Cascade County, Montana - Government: Website offers comprehensive information about Cascade County offices including judicial services and public records accessibility.
- District Courts - Montana Judicial Branch: Find information and resources for district court services, records, case management, and legal assistance within Cascade County.
- National Archives Court Records: Resource for accessing historic court records from Montana, providing public and government historians access to archival materials.
- Montana Department of Justice - Consumer Protection: Guidance on handling medical debt with courts offering educational resources and legal assistance recommendations.
- Montana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Professional organization providing resources, support, and information on criminal defense for citizens and legal practitioners in Montana.
- Montana Courts - Legal Resources: Database offering access to opinions, case law, court rules, forms, and other legal resources for Cascade County.
- Montana Legal Services Association: Nonprofit organization offering free legal help and services to low-income residents across Montana, including Cascade County.
- Montana Self-Help Law Center: Offers self-help resources to individuals representing themselves in court, including forms and instructional materials.
- Montana Supreme Court Docket: Access docket information for current cases before the Montana Supreme Court, involving Cascade County litigations.
- State Law Library of Montana - Self-Help Law Kits: Download legal forms and guides for use in courts across Montana, aiding citizens in legal processes.
- FindLaw Case Law - Montana Supreme Court: Database of Supreme Court case law to support legal research and case preparation in Cascade County court cases.
- American Red Cross - Montana Legal Preparedness: Offers preparedness resources including legal advisories and guidance for facing disaster-related court issues in Cascade County.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Montana Resources: Information and resources specifically for Montana criminal justice system, aiding defense practitioners and public.
- U.S. Department of Justice - Victim Notification System: Provides notification for victims regarding proceedings and events related to their cases in federal criminal cases.
- ACLU of Montana - Court Cases: Information on ongoing civil liberties cases impacting the rights of residents in Montana, including pertinent legal updates.
- ABA Free Legal Answers - Montana: Online platform offering residents of Cascade County free, fully confidential guidance on their legal questions from volunteer attorneys.
- Montanans for Marijuana Regulation: Advocacy group focusing on the legalities of marijuana regulation within Montana including important court cases and law changes.
- Montana LGBTQ+ Community Support: Coverage on an important lawsuit filed for recognition of non-binary gender identities in court proceedings across Montana.
- Montana Judicial Case Law: Comprehensive access to case law across various judicial platforms in Montana, essential for legal analysis and court cases.
Table of Contents
- Cascade County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Cascade County Court Records
- Cascade County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Cascade County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Cascade County?
- How Does Cascade County Compare With Montana Overall?
- Cascade County Crime Statistics (2024)
- Cascade County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Cascade County?
- Are Cascade County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Cascade County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Cascade County
- Cascade County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links