Searching Custer County: what to expect
Custer County keeps a modest online footprint — just one of the 14 sources below is the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. Montana courts search county by county, and Custer County has no public online docket listed — case records mean the clerk's office, or the statewide options on the Montana court records page. The standout local source is custercountymt.gov, covering local vital-records requests. The county posts nothing for criminal records, so that search runs through the statewide sources on our Montana criminal records page.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Custer County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Montana state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Custer County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Custer County, Montana — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
11,964
Population
Census estimate
4,996
Households
Census estimate
$61,114
Median income
Annual household
$201,000
Median home value
Census ACS
Miles City
County seat
In Montana
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
2 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
2 sources
Vital records
2 sources
Voter records
2 sources
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Custer County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Custer County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Court Administrators Office Montana Court Locator |
| Criminal records | Montana Sexual Violent Offender Registry |
| Wants & warrants | Background Checks – Montana Department of Justice |
| Property records | Treasurer Property Record Card - Montana Online Services |
| Vital records | Clerk Recorder Vital Records - Montana: Local History & Genealogy Resou… |
| Voter records | Custer County Election Administration 2024 Election Voter Information |
| Professional licenses | DLI Record Search |
| Recorded documents | Custer County Commercial Registered Agent List KALISPELL, MT 59901, UNITED STATES |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Custer County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Custer County Records
2026
Custer County official government portal active
The official Custer County government website at www.custercountymt.com continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Custer County court records portal verified
State court system links for Custer County verified against the Montana judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Custer County property records online
Custer County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Montana, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Custer County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Custer County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Custer County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Montana statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Montana state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Custer County Records
MYTH"Custer County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Custer County are held by the Montana state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Custer County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Custer County data."
FACTOnly the official Montana state repository has verified, current Custer County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Custer County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Custer County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.custercountymt.com — Official Custer County government website
- courts.mt.gov — Court records — official source
- custercountymt.gov — Property records — official source
- guides.loc.gov — Vital records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Custer County & Montana Records
For records not specific to Custer County, use Montana's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Montana statewide record systems:
- Montana Court Records →
- Montana Criminal Records →
- Montana Property Records →
- Montana Vital Records →
- Montana Voter Records →
- Montana Wants & Warrants →
- Montana Licenses →
- Montana Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Montana statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Shortcuts for the most common Custer County lookups:
About Custer County, Montana
Custer County is located in southeastern Montana. The county seat is Miles City (official site: http://www.custercountymt.com/).
- Population: 11,964
- Households: 4,996
- Median household income: $61,114
- Median home value: $201,000
- Below poverty line: 11.1%
- Land area: 3,783.3 sq mi
- Population density: 3.2 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 1
- NCES schools indexed: 13
Court Administrators Office
Official Free
Under the direction of the Supreme Court, the court administrator is charged with assisting the Montana Supreme Court and is responsible for providing administrative services to the Judicial Branch. Services are provided to the Branch through three primary divisions: Court Services, Budget and Finance, and Information Technology.
Montana Court Locator
Criminal & Court Records
.gov
Court case information for Montana. Juvenile, adoption, and sealed matters are excluded by rule everywhere. Fee waivers and forms usually live on the same court site.
Clerk Recorder
Official Free
The fee for documents that are subject to filing per Montana statute, not recording, will remain at $5.00 for each document. We have available Custer County Birth and Death Certificates, also we have access to Birth Certificates for persons who were born in the State of Montana since 1920 and Death Certificates for persons who died statewide since 2003.
Vital Records - Montana: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress
Official Free
Compiled by reference specialists at the Library of Congress, this guide identifies key print and online resources for pursuing family history, as well as state, county and municipal historical research, for the state of Montana.
Vital Records
Official Free
DPHHS is offering one-time incentive payments to recruit employees at Montana’s state-run health care facilities. For more information go to Work4DPHHS.com · The Office of Vital Records in Montana provides various services related to vital events .
Custer County Election Administration
Official Free
The Election Department administers the maintenance of the voter registration files, candidate filings and all aspects of the election process.
2024 Election Voter Information
Official Free
Visit Montana’s voter resources website VoteMT.gov to confirm your voter registration information, find your polling place, view your sample ballot or other election information.
Montana | Candidate Filings
Official Free
Candidates who have filed for office in Montana, listed by race through the Secretary of State's filing system.
Treasurer
Official Free
Second installment due – May 31st Real Estate tax bills are mailed in October of each year to the owner of record, as their name and mailing address appear on the tax roll. The tax roll is prepared and maintained by the State of Montana, Department of Revenue, Assessor’s Office.
Property Record Card - Montana Online Services
Official Free
To access your property information, enter a property number, assessment code, name, or address in the search box above · TIP: After entering a search term, select a county to improve search speed
Montana Sexual Violent Offender Registry
Official Free
Montana's sexual or violent offender registry from the Department of Justice — search by name or map an area for registered offenders.
Background Checks – Montana Department of Justice
Official Free
Certain information may be available from local law enforcement and other agencies but is not available from Montana Criminal Records. For example, requests for police reports, court transcripts, warrant information and probation/parole information should be directed to the appropriate local law enforcement agency or court.
Montana | Professional License Lookup
Official Free
Montana's professional and occupational license search from the Department of Labor and Industry — verify status and discipline for licensed trades and professions statewide.
Montana | Registered Agent List
Business, Voter & Other
.gov
Montana's list of commercial registered agents on file with the Secretary of State — the parties authorized to accept service for business entities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Custer County?
Custer County court cases are searchable through the Court Administrators Office portal: https://courts.mt.gov/cao/. Montana also operates a state-level case lookup through the Montana Courts system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Are Montana marriage records public?
Marriage records in Montana are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in Montana?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most Montana counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
Are Montana criminal records public?
Mostly yes. Montana's public-records law makes adult arrests, court filings, and conviction histories accessible to anyone unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Juvenile cases and sealed records are generally excluded by statute.