Clerk of District Court

We do not provide paperwork for actions filed in our Court, except for Orders of Protection. Other forms may be found at www.courts.mt.gov/forms.

We are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. If you need advice or help with filling out forms, you should contact an attorney or the Self-Help Law Center. The one closest to Glacier County is:
        Cascade County Self Help Law Center
        301N 2nd Ave
        Great Falls, MT

        (406) 899-7109
        Cascadecountyselfhelp@mt.gov

Other Statewide Resources Include:
Montana law Help - www.montanalawhelp.org

Montana Legal Services Association-www.mtlsa.org

State of Montana Law Library - www.mt.gov/library
Office of Consumer Protection-www.dojmt.gov/consumer (800) 481-6896

Child Support Services Division-www.dphhs.mt.gov/cssd - (406) 655-5500

Montana State Extension - www.msuextension.org
Child and Famil Services Division - (866) 820-5437
Disability Rights - www.disabilityrightsmt.org (800) 245-4743

Montana Human Rights Bureau www.erd.dli.mt.gov/human-rights  (800) 542-0807
Lawyer Referral & Information Service - www.montanabar.org (406) 449-6577

Aging Services (800) 332-2272

ADOPTION - filing Petition ---$105.00

AMENDMENT OF PARENTING PLAN - contested only (does NOT apply to mod of child support only) --- $120.00

APPEAL FROM LOWER COURT (does not apply to small claims cases or courts of record) --- $30.00

APPEAL FROM LOWER COURTS OF RECORD/SMALL CLAIMS --- $10.00

APPEARANCE - For the appearance of each defendant or each respondent --- $70.00

AUTHENTICATION/EXEMPLIFICATION --- $6.00

CERTIFICATION - For certification with a seal --- $2.00

CIVIL COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION - by plaintiff, petitioner, or appellant - includes Invalidity --- $120.00

COPY OF DECREE OF DISSOLUTION - includes all docs incorporated by reference --- $10.00

COPY OF MARRIAGE LICENSE --- $5.00

COPY OF DOCUMENTS - hard copy - $1.00 per page for first ten pages, $.50 per page thereafter

COPY OF DOCUMENTS - electronic image - $.25 per page

DISSOLUTION COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION - Includes Summary & Joint Dissolution --- $200.00

EXECUTIONS/WRITS OF ASSISTANCE / ORDERS OF SALE - for Issuance --- $5.00

FOREIGN JUDGMENT --- $90.00

FOREIGN PROBATE - with certificate; appoint domiciliary PR; --- $85.00

GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE --- $126.00

INTERVENTION COMPLAINT --- $80.00

JUDGMENT - for entry of judgment from prevailing party --- $50.00

LEGAL SEPARATION COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION - for filing petition --- $180.00

MARRIAGE LICENSE ISSUANCE - for issuing, filing and recording marriage

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE - for filing and recording the declaration --- $53.00

MARRIAGE LICENSE-DOUBLE PROXY --- $83.00

NOTARIZATION / OATH and JURAT - for each Notarization with Court seal --- $1.00

PROBATE / GUARDIANSHIP/CONSERVATORSHIP - Formal or Informal Probate; Ancillary --- $100.00

SEARCHES - $2.00 per name per year per name up to 7 yrs - $1.00 per name per year thereafter

SUBSTITUTION OF JUDGE - For each motion filed (DJ, DN, DI cases exempt) --- $100.00

TRANSCRIPT OF JUDGMENT - For preparation of a transcript --- $4.00
For filing a transcript from another jurisdiction --- $50.00

TRANSMISSION of CASE TO ANOTHER COURT (removal to Federal Court; appeals to Supreme Court) --- 5.00

VENUE CHANGE - for filing from another district court (incoming) --- $10.00
- for Transfer to another jurisdiction (outgoing) --- $5.00

WRIT of EXECUTION /WRIT of ASSISTANCE / ORDERS of SALE - for issuance --- $5.00

In Montana, jurors' names for all courts are obtained annually from the Supreme Court Administrator. As Jury Commissioner, the Clerk of District Court is responsible for the management of the lists of names for each court in the county. Potential jurors are drawn from lists of registered voters, licensed drivers and holders of Montana Identification cards. Glacier County District Court pulls approximately 3,000 names for each annual pool and from that group jurors are randomly selected for specific jury trials.

We send out a Notice of Jury Service along with a questionnaire to all potential jurors in May & June and ask for their return. If they are not returned and filled out within a reasonable time, Montana law requires this office to forward contact information to the County Sheriff for service for any juror that fails to respond. Whether you choose to fill out the jury questionnaire or not, you remain on our list for the term and may be called for a specific trial unless a request to be excused has been made and the Court has granted.

The Court recognizes the difficulties jurors face in making themselves available for participation in the judicial process and every effort is made to avoid all possible inconvenience to jurors, their families, and employers. Jury service is a privilege and can be a most rewarding and educational experience. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact this office. We will do our best to accommodate every juror's needs.

Marriage licenses are obtained from the Clerk of District Court's Office. We are available Monday Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., appointments are not necessary. We ask that you arrive no later than 4:30 to allow time for processing. The license will be issued the same day and must be obtained prior to the marriage ceremony.

The license can be used immediately or within 180 days from the date of issuance. It is valid in any county within Montana, but not in any other state or country.

After the marriage ceremony, the license must be returned to the Clerk's office within 30 days for completion. Once it is returned to the couple, the license can be used as proof of name change with Social Security and in changing the name on a driver's license.

What to Bring to Obtain a Marriage License
Both parties must appear.

• Each must show a valid photo I.D. with date of birth.
• if either party was previously married or widowed, a copy of the Divorce Decree and/or Death Certificate will be required.

Cost: The fee for a marriage license is $53.00.
Checks and cash are accepted, debit and credit cards are not accepted.
Who can marry you: See MCA 40-1-301.
Obtaining a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate after you are married:
Cost: regular copy - $5.00
certified copy-$7.00

How to Obtain In Writing (IF LESS THAN 30 YEARS OLD):
Provide a signed request with date of marriage, full names and maiden name(s), a legible copy of your photo I.D. with signature, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for return and the appropriate fee (cash, check or money order).

MARRIAGE LICENCE FOR THOSE AGE 16-17
A person must be at least 16 to marry in Montana.
Follow above requirements with the following additions:

Obtain parental permission (they will sign the application form from Clerk's office)

• • Show proof of couple attending two counseling sessions prior to filling out application
  • Obtain Judicial approval
  • Contact Clerk's office to get proper paperwork and more specific instructions.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE WITHOUT SOLEMNIZATION:
40-1-311. Declaration of marriage without solemnization.

• • 1. Persons may consummate a marriage by written declaration in this state without the solemnization provided for in 40-1-301. The declaration must be filed by the clerk of the district court in the county where the contract was executed.
       
       
    2. A declaration of marriage must contain substantially the following:
       
       1. the names, ages, and residences of the parties;
       2. the fact of marriage;
       3. the name of father and maiden name of mother of both parties and address of each;
       4. a statement that both parties are legally competent to enter into the marriage contract.
          
          
    3. The declaration must be subscribed by the parties and attested by at least two witnesses and formally acknowledged before the clerk of the district court of the county.
       
       
    4. The fee for filing a declaration is $53 and must be paid to the clerk at time of filing. Cash, check or money orders accepted; debit & credit cards are not accepted.

The Parties and their two witnesses must appear and sign the Declaration in front of the Clerk or a Deputy. All parties must have valid photo identification issued by any State.

Passport Applications are processed daily on a walk-in basis Monday - Friday. For Federal Status Update processing times, go to www.travel.state.gov.

The passport application, renewal application, and more detailed information on fees and required documentation is available at www.travel.state.gov or from our office. Passports for persons 15 years of age and younger are valid for five years and those for persons 16 years of age and older are valid for ten years. The application fees must be in the form of a check or money order. The $35 mandatory handling fee may be paid in cash. All persons age 16 and older must sign their own application. All passport applications for minors under age 16 require the consent of both parents. If both parents are not able to appear in person, the absent parent must submit a notarized statement of permission (Form DS 3053). This form is available at our office or online. Persons age 16 and 17 must have one parent or legal guardian's signature in addition to their own.

When applying through our office, you must submit a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, 1 passport photo, and have a valid photo I.D., along with the completed application form (filled out in black ink only), appropriate fees, and the application cannot be signed ahead of time. IT MUST BE SIGNED IN OUR PRESENCE.

Expedited Passports cost an additional $60 plus additional postage fees. For current fees, please check online at www.travel.state.gov..

If you have applied for a 10-year passport previously and it expired within the last 5 years, you are able to submit Form DS-82, U.S. Passport Renewal, along with your old passport, any documentation of a name change if needed, renewal fees, and you can apply through the mail bypassing this office and saving the $35 handling fee. The renewal form is available in our office or online.