Sheila Brunkhorst, Clerk
Carly Anderson, Deputy
Beaverhead County Courthouse
2 S. Pacific ST., #5
Dillon, MT 59725
Phone: (406) 683-3725
Fax: (406) 683-3728
E-mail: sbrunkhorst@mt.gov
Office open 8:00 to 5:00 daily, except weekends and state holidays.
You may click on the following topics for more information:
|
|
The clerk of the district court maintains court case files (civil above $7,000, dissolution, child custody, criminal [felony], probate, guardian/conservator, adoption, youth court, search warrants, etc. ) and provides related services, such as serving as jury commissioner, processing criminal monetary obligation and child support payments, performing record searches, issuing marriage licenses, providing notary services and computing and processing decreed water distribution charges.
In addition, the clerk provides passport acceptance agent services for the federal government. The clerks have not been to law school and therefore cannot give legal advice.
Marriage license applicants must complete the Montana Marriage Application, Form V.S. 18, provide proof of age (a driver’s license or birth certificate), a premarital blood certificate or waiver (if the bride is under 50 years of age) and, if previously married, proof that the former marriage is over (a copy of a death certificate or a divorce decree; if the previous marriage was dissolved in Beaverhead County there is no need to bring the decree). If both parties are nonresidents, the license must be issued in the county where the marriage will take place. Both parties must appear. There is no waiting period. Applicants are asked to appear before 4:30 to allow time to process the application.
The fee for a license is $53.00. Most brides plan to change their name on their social security card and drivers license, both of which will require a certified copy of the license, and that fee is $7.00. It’s often convenient for the couple to arrange for the certified copy at the time the license is issued, and the total cost would then be $60.00. Contact the office for information regarding marriages involving minors under 18 and proxy marriages.
For licenses issued and recorded in the past, see Genealogy.
Click the link State Law Library of Montana (http://courts.mt.gov/library/topic/default.mcpx) for:
- Links to Sample Forms
- Links to Selected Laws about Your Topic
- Links to Other Web sites about Your Topic
- Recommended Books in the Law Library on Your Topic.
The fees for various services from the clerk of court are set by state statute and can be found in the current version of the Montana Codes Annotated at 3-1-317, 25-1-201, 25-2-202 and 25-9-506. To find these statutes online, go the web site of the state law library (www.lawlibrary.mt.gov), go down to and click on Montana Code / Administrative Rules of Montana, then on 1 Montana Code 2007 (or the most recent version), then on Title 3, Judiciary, Courts or 25, Civil Procedure, and then on to the chapter and part number. Since some fees involve more than one statute, they are summarized below:
Fee schedule for Clerk of the District Court services
(effective October 1, 2005)
|
For filing a civil action (includes paternity and invalidity of marriage) |
$120.00 |
|
For filing a petition for dissolution |
$200.00 |
|
For filing a petition for legal separation |
$180.00 |
|
For filing an application for probate/guardianship/conservatorship |
$100.00 |
|
For filing a petition for adoption |
$105.00 |
|
For filing an appearance, from each defendant/respondent, etc. |
$70.00 |
|
For filing a complaint in intervention |
$80.00 |
|
For filing a petition for a contested amendment of parenting plan |
$120.00 |
|
For filing and docketing of a judgment, transcript of judgment, renewal of judgment or confession of judgment |
$45.00 |
|
For filing a motion for substitution of judge (non-criminal cases) |
$100.00 |
|
For filing an appeal from justice or city court |
$30.00 |
|
For filing an appeal from small claims court |
$10.00 |
|
For transmitting a case (change of venue, appeal to the supreme court, removal to federal court) (does not include supreme court filing fee or cost of transporting file) |
$5.00 |
|
For filing a transfer from another county |
$10.00 |
|
For preparing a transcript of judgment |
$4.00 |
|
For filing a foreign judgment |
$90.00 |
|
For filing a foreign probate, with certificate |
$85.00 |
|
For certification, with a seal |
$2.00 |
|
For authentication or exemplification, with seals |
$6.00 |
|
For a copy of a decree of dissolution |
$10.00 |
|
For a copy of a marriage license/certificate |
$5.00 |
|
For copies of court documents -- $1.00 per page for the first 10 pages, $.50 per page thereafter |
|
|
For searches of court records -- $2.00 per name per year up to 7 years, $1.00 per name per year thereafter |
|
|
For issuing a marriage license |
$53.00 |
|
For filing a declaration of marriage |
$53.00 |
|
For issuing a writ of execution, writ of assistance or order of sale |
$5.00 |
|
For notarization/oath and jurat, for each notarization with court seal |
$1.00 |
Most district court records are public information. Prior to August of 1997, they were maintained in books. Since that time they have been maintained electronically and may be searched at no charge using a public terminal computer located in the office vault. Court personnel will perform searches for the statutory fee ($2.00 per name per year for each of the first 7 years and $1.00 per name per year thereafter) and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. At this time, fax request are able to be accommodated, if a copy of the check and a toll free return fax number are included and the check is received timely. Hopefully there will be no bad experience that will force this procedure to be discontinued.
The clerk of the district court is a passport acceptance agent for the U. S. Department of State. The application forms, DS-11, renewal by mail application forms, DS-82, and miscellaneous other forms are available and DS-11 applications are taken. The applications require proof of citizenship (certified copy of birth certificate or original naturalization certificate), 2 identical passport photographs (recent) and a government-issued photo ID. Photographs are not taken at the office; you can have them taken by a photographer who provides that service or take your own digital photos (as long as they comply with the requirements). The current cost of an adult passport (age 16 and over) by regular processing (received within 6 weeks) is $100.00 ($75.00 for the passport book fee and $25.00 for the execution fee) and $120.00 for both passport book and passport card ($75.00 for the passport book fee, $20.00 for the passport card fee and $25.00 for the execution fee). For ages 0-15 is $85.00 ($60.00 for the passport book fee and $25 for the execution fee) and $95.00 for both passport book and passport card ($60.00 for the passport book fee, $10.00 for the passport card fee and $25.00 for the execution fee). The fee for expedited service is an additional $60.00. Two-way express U. S. mail may be added, if desired, to get the passport back in 2 weeks. All persons not eligible to apply by mail (using the renewal form) must appear in person. Parents must sign applications for applicants under the age of 16.
The clerk of any court is authorized to perform notarial acts. Proper identification is required and the statutory fee is $1.00 per seal.
The clerk of the district court maintains marriage records for licenses issued in Beaverhead County, court case records (including divorces), probate records and naturalization records, all of which are often of interest to persons pursuing family history. If found here, the fee for a marriage license/certificate is $5.00 and a divorce/dissolution decree is $10.00 (add $2.00 for a certified copy), and copies of court documents, including wills, are $1.00 per page for the first 10 pages and $.50 per page thereafter. Fees are payable by cashiers check or money order with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Naturalization records cannot be copied but information can be taken from them. Birth and death records are kept by the clerk and recorder. The local genealogical society, the Beaver Head Hunters, is available to do basic research, which would include sources other than courthouse offices (cemetery records, old city directories, obituaries, etc. ). Its web site is www.3rivers.net/~abcs/BHH and its mailing address is: Beaverhead Head Hunters, 15 S. Montana ST., Dillon, MT 59725. The web site contains a marriage index, censuses from 1910 and 1930 and an obituary index, which can be searched online.
The clerk of district court office is located on the third floor of the courthouse, just off the courtroom.
Clerk of the District Court
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Welcome...