Searching Garfield County: what to expect
Garfield County keeps a modest online footprint — just one of the 13 sources below is the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. No online docket is listed for the county itself; the Montana court records page maps the alternatives, and the clerk fills direct requests. The standout local source is garfieldcountyco.gov, covering deeds and recorded documents. 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 Garfield County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Montana state publishers on the review date. 6 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Garfield County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Garfield County, Montana — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
1,181
Population
Census estimate
412
Households
Census estimate
$61,786
Median income
Annual household
$164,900
Median home value
Census ACS
Jordan
County seat
In Montana
Criminal records
2 sources
Court records
2 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
1 source
Vital records
see state portal
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
Garfield County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Garfield County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | MONTANA JUDICIAL BRANCH Youth Court At-A-Glance Montana District Courts |
| Criminal records | Background Checks – Montana Department of Justice Montana Public Access Portal(s) |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Property Record Card - Montana Online Services |
| Vital records | Vital Records - Montana: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research |
| Voter records | Election & Voter Services - Official Montana Secretary o… Statewide Voter File Information - Official Montana Secretar… |
| Professional licenses | DLI Record Search |
| Recorded documents | Recording division – Clerk and Recorder Montana Business Search Garfield County |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Garfield County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Garfield County Records
2026
Garfield County official government portal active
The official Garfield County government website at www.garfieldco.us continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Garfield County court records portal verified
State court system links for Garfield County verified against the Montana judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Garfield County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Garfield County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Garfield County property records online
Garfield County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step Garfield County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Garfield County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Garfield 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 Garfield County Records
MYTH"Garfield County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Garfield County are held by the Montana state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Garfield 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 Garfield County data."
FACTOnly the official Montana state repository has verified, current Garfield County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Garfield County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Garfield 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
- Official Montana State Portal — Official Garfield County government website
- courts.mt.gov — Court records — official source
- dojmt.gov — Criminal records — official source
- svc.mt.gov — Property records — official source
- sosmt.gov — Voter records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Garfield County & Montana Records
For records not specific to Garfield 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
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the Montana guides:
About Garfield County, Montana
Garfield County is located in east-central Montana. The county seat is Jordan (official site: http://www.garfieldco.us/).
- Population: 1,181
- Households: 412
- Median household income: $61,786
- Median home value: $164,900
- Below poverty line: 9.4%
- Land area: 4,676.6 sq mi
- Population density: 0.3 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 1
- NCES schools indexed: 8
MONTANA JUDICIAL BRANCH Youth Court At-A-Glance
Official Free
Court case information for Montana. Hearing calendars on the same system show what is coming up, not just what happened. Case numbers speed searches considerably, but party names work.
Montana District Courts
Criminal & Court Records
.gov
The Montana judiciary's district court directory — judges, clerks, and contact points for each of the state's judicial districts.
Background Checks – Montana Department of Justice
Official Free
Your Content Goes Here Background checks, sometimes known as records checks or criminal history checks, are available to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the general public .
Montana Public Access Portal(s)
Official Free
As Montana courts transition to a new centralized case management system, certain public records will become available through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal and the Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal · Public Portal Instructional Video
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.
Election & Voter Services - Official Montana Secretary of State Website - Christi Jacobsen
Official Free
File Your 2026 Annual Report · Learn more about your Montana Secretary of State, Christi Jacobsen
Statewide Voter File Information - Official Montana Secretary of State Website - Christi Jacobsen
Official Free
Upon request, the Secretary of State shall furnish to any individual, for noncommercial use, available extracts and reports from the statewide voter
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DATA GOVERNING BOARD
Official Free
This is where Garfield County handles voter registration records and election operations. Searching the official side is free.
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
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.
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.
Recording division – Clerk and Recorder
Official Free
To accommodate this fee change in the recording system, the Garfield County Recording Department will not accept any recordings or e-recordings after 2:30 p.m. on June 30, 2025. If you have any questions, please email the recording department. Documents such as warranty deeds, deeds of trust, quit claim deeds, subdivision plats, etc., may be recorded as public records.
Montana Business Search
Business, Voter & Other
.gov
Business filing records for Montana. It is the first stop for confirming a business is real, active, and who stands behind it. The registered agent listed is who accepts lawsuits for the company; process servers work from this record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Garfield County?
Garfield County court cases are searchable through the MONTANA JUDICIAL BRANCH Youth Court At-A-Glance portal: https://courts.mt.gov/external/dcourt/yth_court/docs/reportcard_2012.pdf. Montana also operates a state-level case lookup through the Montana Courts system. For federal matters, see PACER.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Montana?
In Montana, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Montana law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
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 Garfield County records free to search?
Yes — every link on this page goes to an official government source. Basic searches are free. Certified copies and formal background checks carry the standard government fee.