Yellowstone County, Montana public records

In Yellowstone County, deeds are recorded by the Yellowstone County Clerk & Recorder; property values come from the Montana Department of Revenue, Billings office; court files are split between the Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court and the Yellowstone County Justice Court.

Last checked against official sources on November 4, 2026.

On this page

1. Where to get each record
2. Deeds and land records
3. Property values, owners and tax bills
4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
5. Marriage records
6. Divorce records
7. Birth certificates
8. Death certificates
9. Probate records and wills
10. Voter records
11. Historical records
12. Good to know about Yellowstone County records
13. Office addresses, phones and hours
14. Questions people ask
15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
16. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Yellowstone County are recorded by the Yellowstone County Clerk & Recorder.⁴

Online search

crdocs.yellowstonecountymt.gov²Free search, fee for copies

Cost

Index (document information, no images) free; images by $100/year unlimited subscription or $2.00 first page + $0.25 each additional page per document²

Years online

Documents from June 2, 1997²

Copy fee

$0.50 first page, $0.25 each additional page of the same document³

Certified copy fee

$2.00 certification fee plus copy fees³

Recording fee

$20 first page, $10 each subsequent page (standard documents); UCC lien $7.00; construction lien $5.00; plats/COS $25.00 + per-lot fees³

How to order

Copies at the Clerk & Recorder office (316 N. 26th Street) or by phone/mail inquiry; online purchase through the C&R Document Search⁴

Document types

Deeds, mortgages, liens, powers of attorney, homestead declarations, subdivision plats, certificates of survey, military discharge, federal tax liens⁴

How deeds work in Montana

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Montana Department of Revenue, Billings office (property assessment) sets property values⁵; the Yellowstone County Treasurer bills and collects the tax⁷.

Property search

yellowstonecountymt.gov/…⁶

Tax bill search

yellowstonecountymt.gov/…⁶

Tax payment

yellowstonecountymt.gov/…¹⁵

Parcel map (GIS)

gis.yellowstonecountymt.gov/…¹⁶

Appealing a value

First request informal review (Form AB-26) from DOR within 30 days of the assessment notice, or appeal to the Yellowstone County Tax Appeal Board; file the county appeal form with the Clerk & Recorder⁵

Due dates

Real estate: 1st half November 30, 2nd half May 31; personal property June 30¹⁷

Penalty

2% penalty plus 5/6 of 1% interest per month on delinquent taxes¹⁷

How property tax works in Montana

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Fees

Copies $1 per page first ten pages, $0.50 thereafter; electronic image $0.25 per page; certification $2; authentication $6; decree of dissolution copy $10; marriage license copy $5¹¹

Search fee

$2 per name per year for the first seven years, $1 per name each additional year; charged only for years 1994 and older¹⁸

Payment

Cash or credit card in person (no personal checks); by mail certified check, money order or card authorization (2.5% bank fee)¹⁸

Criminal records and background checks

Summary

Felony: Clerk of District Court; misdemeanor: Justice Court.¹³

How Montana courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court (13th Judicial District).⁸

Marriage license

Clerk of District Court; appointment recommended; 4:30 p.m. latest start; online application via mt.accessgov.com¹⁹

Marriage license fee

$53.00 (3% processing fee for card payments; no personal checks)¹⁹

Valid

180 days from issuance¹⁹

Copies

Copy $5, certified copy $7; licenses within the last 30 years are sealed and only the parties may get copies (photo ID)¹⁸

Montana marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by the Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court (13th Judicial District), whose cases include “domestic relations (DR)”.⁸

Decree

Clerk of District Court; copy of decree of dissolution $10 (plus $2 certification)¹⁸

Filing fee

$200.00 dissolution commencement of action¹¹

Montana divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Yellowstone County Clerk & Recorder (birth and death records).¹²

County

Clerk & Recorder issues certified birth records ($8.00, immediate family only); mail requests answered within 24 hours of receipt³

By mail

Mail form, documentation and in-state check/money order to Yellowstone County Clerk & Recorder, PO Box 35001, Billings, MT 59107¹²

Ordering a Montana birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Yellowstone County Clerk & Recorder (birth and death records).¹²

County

Certified death certificate $7.00 each; informational copies over 30 years old $1.00³

Informational

$1.00 for death certificates over 30 years old (informational)³

Ordering a Montana death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court (probate).¹³

Filing fee

$100.00 probate/guardianship/conservatorship (formal or informal; ancillary)¹¹

Voter records

Yellowstone County Elections, new office at MetraPark (former Cedar Hall); 406-256-2740²⁰

Historical records

Commissioner records (ArcaSearch) linked from the Clerk & Recorder pages²

Good to know about Yellowstone County records

• First Clerk & Recorder took office February 2, 1883; the office records about 200 documents per day⁴
• Deed scam warning: out-of-state mailers charge large fees for deed copies that cost $0.50 first page and $0.25 each additional page at the Clerk & Recorder⁴
• One elected official serves as Treasurer, Assessor and Superintendent of Schools⁷
• Marriage licenses within the last 30 years are sealed (parties only)¹⁸
• District Court search fees are charged only for years 1994 and older¹⁸
• Jury-duty phone/email scam warning from the Clerk of District Court⁸

Office addresses, phones and hours

Questions people ask

Other counties in Montana with a full guide: Gallatin County. Every county in the state: Montana county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 25 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
2. Clerk & Recorder Document SearchYellowstone County Clerk & Recorder
3. Clerk & Recorder Fees ChargedYellowstone County Clerk & Recorder
4. Clerk & RecorderYellowstone County Clerk & Recorder
5. Tax Appeal BoardYellowstone County
6. Tax & Assessment Data SearchYellowstone County Treasurer
7. TreasurerYellowstone County Treasurer
8. District CourtYellowstone County Clerk of District Court
9. Justice CourtYellowstone County Justice Court
10. Montana Public Access Portal(s)Montana Judicial Branch
11. District Court Fees ChargedYellowstone County Clerk of District Court
12. Birth RecordsYellowstone County Clerk & Recorder
13. District Court Case TypesYellowstone County Clerk of District Court
14. Mont. Code Ann. § 30-13-203, Application for registration of assumed business nameMontana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025)
15. Online Tax Payment OptionsYellowstone County Treasurer
16. Geographic Information SystemsYellowstone County GIS
17. Property TaxesYellowstone County Treasurer
18. District Court Searches & CopiesYellowstone County Clerk of District Court
19. Marriage LicenseYellowstone County Clerk of District Court
20. Yellowstone County home pageYellowstone County
21. DepartmentsYellowstone County
22. Office HoursYellowstone County
23. Election Administrators Contact ListMontana Secretary of State
24. Elections homeYellowstone County, MT
25. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau