Montana Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Editorial Staff

Montana public records are government-created documents, databases, filings, and communications maintained by state and local agencies that are broadly accessible under both a constitutional guarantee and the Montana Public Records Act, codified at Mont. Code Ann. §§ 2-6-1001 through 2-6-1014. Unlike most states where open records access is purely a statutory right, Montana’s 1972 Constitution enshrines the right to know in Article II, Section 9: no person shall be deprived of the right to examine public documents unless the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure.

Residents and nonresidents frequently perform a Montana public records search — sometimes called a Montana open records request, Montana Public Records Act request, or Montana right-to-know request — to locate court filings, property ownership records, criminal history information, business registrations, vital records, and other documents held by state and local agencies across Montana’s 56 counties.

Public records in Montana are distributed across state agencies, 56 county-level offices including district courts, clerks, and recorders, and municipal bodies. Understanding which agency maintains each record type is particularly important in Montana because marriage and divorce records, for example, are maintained at the county level rather than by a central state office.

On This Page

• Quick Answer: Where to Search Montana Public Records
• Legal Notice
• Why This Guide Is Reliable
• Why Montana Public Records Law Is Distinctive
• The Legal Framework
• Montana Court Records
• Montana Criminal Records
• Montana Property Records
• Montana Business Records
• Montana Vital Records
• Montana Inmate and Corrections Records
• Professional License Records
• Charity and Nonprofit Records
• How to Submit a Montana Public Records Request
• Free Government Databases for Montana Public Records
• Common Mistakes When Researching Montana Public Records
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts
• Related Guides
• Disclaimer

Quick Answer: Where to Search Montana Public Records

The most important free and low-cost government databases for researching Montana public records include:

• Montana Courts — District Court Public Access Portal (courts.mt.gov/Courts/portals) — statewide district court case search as courts transition to centralized case management system; covers felony, civil, probate, and family matters
• Montana Courts — Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal (courts.mt.gov/Courts/portals) — justice court, city court, and municipal court records; misdemeanors and traffic matters
• Montana Supreme Court — Opinion and Docket Search (courts.mt.gov) — free search of Supreme Court opinions, briefs, and docket
• Montana DOJ — CHOPRS Criminal History Online (doj.egovmt.com/choprs) — online name-based criminal history background check; $20/search
• Montana DOJ — Sexual or Violent Offender Registry (app.doj.mt.gov/apps/svow/search) — free statewide sex and violent offender registry
• Montana Department of Corrections — Offender Search (app.mt.gov/conweb) — free state prison inmate and probation/parole locator
• Montana Secretary of State — Business Entity Search (somt.gov/business) — corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and UCC filings
• Montana DPHHS — Vital Records (dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords) — birth ($12) and death ($16) certificates; marriage and divorce records held at county level
• Montana Department of Revenue — Property Assessment (mtrevenue.gov) — statewide property assessment data and county resources
• Montana Transparency Project (montanatransparencyproject.org) — free public assistance with records requests; guides, templates, and appeal support

These systems provide access to the majority of publicly searchable government records in Montana.

⚠️ Legal Notice

Montana public records law is grounded in both the Montana Constitution (Art. II, § 9) and the Montana Public Records Act (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 2-6-1001 through 2-6-1014). The constitutional standard is that records are presumptively open unless the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure — this is a balancing test, not a list of enumerated exemptions. Statutory exemptions also exist for specific categories including confidential criminal justice information, adoption files, child abuse investigation records, victim contact information for certain crimes, and attorney-client privileged materials.

This guide explains lawful public records research methods and does not constitute legal advice.

Why This Guide Is Reliable

inet-investigation.com publishes research-based guides built on primary government sources, investigative research methods, and public records law. All databases referenced in this guide link to official government websites whenever possible.

For jurisdiction-specific legal questions, consult a licensed Montana attorney or the relevant government agency responsible for the record.

Why Montana Public Records Law Is Distinctive

Montana operates under one of the strongest open records frameworks in the country, rooted in a constitutional guarantee rather than purely statutory protection, with a privacy balancing test rather than enumerated exemptions and a series of significant recent legislative reforms.

Montana’s right to examine public records is guaranteed by the state constitution, not just a statute. Montana’s 1972 Constitution, Article II, Section 9, provides that no person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions — except when individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure. This constitutional foundation means the right to know cannot be eliminated by ordinary legislation, and courts apply it with a strong presumption of openness that supplements the statutory Public Records Act.

Montana uses a privacy balancing test rather than a fixed list of exemptions. Unlike states with enumerated exemption categories, Montana’s primary standard asks whether the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure in each case. Courts and agencies must affirmatively weigh these competing interests rather than simply checking whether a record falls into a statutory exempt category. The Montana Supreme Court has applied this standard to require disclosure of records that agencies sought to withhold — including a star quarterback’s student discipline records at Montana State, and the dollar amount of a government lawsuit settlement. The “clearly exceeds” threshold is demanding: the privacy interest must substantially outweigh the public interest, not merely equal it.

SB 232 (2023) established Montana’s first mandatory response deadlines for some agencies. Prior to 2023, Montana had no statutory response timeline — agencies were required only to respond “promptly.” Senate Bill 232, signed in 2023, introduced tiered deadlines for designated state agencies (Secretary of State, Department of Justice, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and State Auditor, effective fall 2025): five days for a single, clearly identifiable document; 90 days for more complex requests; and up to six months for the largest and most complicated requests. Sponsors described it as a “test deadline bill” intended to expand to more agencies in future legislative sessions. Many state agencies and all local governments remain without a statutory deadline as of 2026, still bound only by the “promptly” standard.

HB 100 (2025) standardized public records fees statewide, effective October 2025. Before HB 100, fee practices varied widely across agencies. The 2025 Legislature passed House Bill 100 creating a uniform fee schedule: the first hour of staff time is provided free of charge, with a maximum rate of $25 per hour for additional services. This applies to state agencies covered by the bill; local governments and some other entities have their own fee schedules. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies have historically waived fees for contractors, legislators, journalists, students, and government representatives — confirming that fee waivers are available in practice even beyond any statutory waiver program.

Public business conducted on private devices and private email is still a public record. Montana courts and the AG have confirmed that the medium of communication does not determine whether a record is public. Under § 2-6-1002(11), public information includes information prepared by government relating to the conduct of official business — regardless of whether it was created on a government device or a personal phone or email account. This is an important rule for researchers seeking communications between officials who may use personal accounts for official matters.

Montana expressly makes government settlement payments public by statute. After the Montana Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the amount of a lawsuit settlement paid by a state agency could not be withheld, the Legislature enacted §§ 2-9-303 and 2-9-304 to codify this principle — making court settlements involving state agencies and their political subdivisions explicitly public records. This is a concrete example of constitutional right-to-know principles being converted into black-letter statutory requirements.

Initial arrest records, offense reports, and jail rosters are explicitly public criminal justice information. Under § 44-5-102(13)(e), initial arrest records, initial offense reports, and jail occupancy rosters are defined as public criminal justice information — meaning they are presumptively accessible without a right-to-know balancing analysis. Government employee salaries are also public under AG opinion. This makes Montana’s initial-contact law enforcement records more accessible than in states where arrest records are categorically exempt pending charging decisions.

The Legal Framework

Montana Court Records

Montana’s court system consists of the Supreme Court (court of last resort), district courts (56 courts of general jurisdiction, one in each county), the Water Court, Worker’s Compensation Court, justice courts, municipal courts, and city courts. Montana is in an active multi-year transition to a centralized electronic case management system, which is changing how court records are accessed online.

Montana District Court Public Access Portal (courts.mt.gov/Courts/portals). As courts statewide migrate to a new centralized case management system, the Montana Judicial Branch is building a unified District Court Public Access Portal covering felony, civil, probate, and family matters. Availability varies by county as the rollout proceeds. Researchers should check the portal for current county coverage before defaulting to in-person courthouse visits.

Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal (courts.mt.gov/Courts/portals). A separate portal covers justice courts, city courts, and municipal courts handling misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims. Like the district court portal, this is rolling out statewide as courts convert to the new system.

In-Person and Mail Access. For counties not yet covered by the online portals, contact the district court clerk or justice court clerk in the county where the case was filed. The Montana Courts website (courts.mt.gov) provides a court locator with contact information, hours, and staff for all courts statewide.

Montana Supreme Court. Supreme Court opinions, briefs, docket entries, and daily orders are searchable for free at courts.mt.gov. The court also provides a live webstream of oral arguments.

No General Exemption for Court Records. Montana courts have held that there is no blanket exemption for court records under state law. Courts may seal specific records only after applying a strict balancing test between the public’s right to know and competing interests such as the right to a fair trial. Blanket sealing orders are unconstitutional under Montana law.

Federal Court Records. Montana has one federal judicial district — the District of Montana — with courthouses in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, and Missoula. Federal case records are accessible through PACER (pacer.gov) at $0.10 per page. Each courthouse has a free public terminal for in-person case information access; documents require clerk assistance and copy fees.

Montana Criminal Records

The Montana Department of Justice, Criminal Records and Identification Services Section, maintains the state’s central criminal history repository. The DOJ provides both online and mail-based background check services to the general public.

CHOPRS — Criminal History Online Public Record Search ($20). The online CHOPRS system at doj.egovmt.com/choprs allows anyone to conduct a name-based criminal history search using the subject’s complete name and date of birth. The fee is $20 per search, payable by credit card or eCheck. Social Security numbers are optional but improve accuracy. Up to four alias names may be searched at no additional cost. Results include arrest and prosecutor/court information on felony and misdemeanor charges accessible to the public under Montana privacy law. Important limitation: criminal records that have been deferred and later dismissed cannot be released to the public.

Fingerprint-Based Background Checks. More comprehensive fingerprint-based background checks are available by mail or in-person appointment at DOJ headquarters in Helena. Fees range from $10 to $30 depending on the type and extent of the check. Blank fingerprint cards are available from local law enforcement offices.

Public Criminal Justice Information. Under § 44-5-102(13)(e), initial arrest records, initial offense reports, and jail occupancy rosters are explicitly public criminal justice information, meaning law enforcement agencies must release them without applying the privacy balancing test. The AG has confirmed that 9-1-1 calls and dispatch recordings are also initial offense reports and generally public. Mug shots have been held by a state district court to be akin to jail roster information and therefore public.

Non-Conviction Removal and Record Sealing. Individuals may request removal of non-conviction information from their criminal record. Individuals convicted of misdemeanor offenses may petition the district court for expungement after completing their sentence. Felony records have more limited relief options. Deferred sentences that are later dismissed are not releasable to the public through the DOJ criminal history system.

Sexual or Violent Offender Registry. The Montana DOJ maintains the Sexual or Violent Offender Registry, searchable for free by name, city, or county at app.doj.mt.gov/apps/svow/search. Email alerts are available when a registered offender moves into a specified area.

Montana Property Records

Montana property records are maintained at the county level by two primary offices: the County Assessor (property valuation and ownership for tax purposes) and the County Clerk and Recorder (deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments). In Montana, these functions are typically combined in a single County Clerk and Recorder office, though the assessor function may be separate.

County Clerk and Recorder. Each of Montana’s 56 counties has a Clerk and Recorder who records deeds, mortgages, judgments, and other instruments affecting real property title. These records establish chain of title and are the primary source for deed history research. Access and online availability vary by county; larger counties like Cascade (Great Falls), Gallatin (Bozeman), Missoula, and Yellowstone (Billings) have online document indexes. Contact the Clerk and Recorder in the relevant county for access details and copy fees.

Montana Department of Revenue — Property Assessment. The Department of Revenue (mtrevenue.gov) provides statewide property assessment data and links to county appraisal and assessment information. Property tax records and assessments are both public information in Montana. Individual state and federal income tax records are confidential, but property tax assessments are not.

Montana Business Records

Business entity records for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities are maintained by the Montana Secretary of State. The online Business Entity Search at somt.gov/business allows free searches by entity name, registered agent, or filing number. Results include entity type, status, registered agent, and principal office information. UCC financing statements are also filed with and searchable through the Secretary of State’s office.

The Secretary of State’s online Public Information Request portal manages FOIA-style requests submitted to all executive agencies — a useful centralized starting point for state agency records requests.

Montana Vital Records

Montana’s vital records system is split between the state and county levels in an unusual way: the state office handles births and deaths, but marriage and divorce records are maintained by county clerks — the state does not hold certified copies of marriage or divorce records.

Birth Certificates ($12). The Montana Office of Vital Records (a division of DPHHS) holds birth records from 1907 forward. Certified copies cost $12 per copy. Requests are accepted by mail (completed application form, notarized or acceptable government-issued ID copy, check payable to “Montana Vital Records”) or online through VitalChek. Most information in birth records is public, but certified copies are restricted to the subject and authorized family members or legal representatives.

Death Certificates ($16). The state Vital Records office holds death records from 1907 forward. Certified copies cost $16 per copy. The same application and ID requirements apply.

Marriage Records — County Level Only. Montana does not maintain a centralized state repository for marriage records. Certified copies of marriage records must be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. Each county sets its own process and fees. This is one of the most important structural distinctions for researchers expecting a single statewide source for marriage records.

Divorce Records — County Level Only. Similarly, divorce records are not held at the state level. Certified copies of divorce decrees must be obtained from the district court clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Contact the appropriate county courthouse directly.

VitalChek. The DPHHS has partnered with VitalChek (vitalchek.com) for online ordering of birth and death certificates with credit or debit card payment. Processing times vary.

Montana Inmate and Corrections Records

The Montana Department of Corrections manages the state prison system and provides a free Correctional Offender Network (CON) search at app.mt.gov/conweb. The search returns current incarceration status, facility, offense information, and probation or parole status for individuals in the corrections system.

For county jail information, contact the county sheriff’s office in the relevant county. Many Montana county sheriffs publish online jail rosters. Under § 44-5-102(13)(e), jail occupancy rosters are explicitly public criminal justice information.

Professional License Records

Montana professional licensing is administered by the Department of Labor and Industry’s Business Standards Division, which oversees licensing for a broad range of trades, contractors, and occupations. The Montana Board of Medical Examiners (medboard.mt.gov) licenses physicians. The Montana Supreme Court’s Admissions and Practice of Law unit oversees attorney licensing, and the State Bar of Montana (montanabar.org) maintains the attorney directory. Most licensing boards provide free online license verification.

Charity and Nonprofit Records

Charities soliciting funds in Montana must register with the Montana Department of Justice Consumer Protection Office. Registration records are searchable through the DOJ website. Federal Form 990 filings — the primary source for financial disclosures, program activities, and officer compensation — are publicly available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (projects.propublica.org/nonprofits) and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (apps.irs.gov/app/eos).

Montana’s constitutional right to know extends to organizations or agencies “supported in whole or in part by public funds” — a potentially broad definition that may subject publicly funded nonprofits, quasi-governmental entities, and university foundations to the right-to-know requirement even if they are technically private. The scope depends on the degree of public funding and the nature of the activities involved.

How to Submit a Montana Public Records Request

1. Identify the custodian of the records. Montana public records requests must be submitted to the specific public agency that holds the records you seek. There is no single state FOIA office. Use the Montana Secretary of State’s Public Information Request portal as a starting point for state executive agency requests. For county records — including property documents, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees — contact the appropriate county office directly. The Montana Transparency Project (montanatransparencyproject.org) offers free assistance identifying the right agency and refining requests.
2. Submit a written request. Written requests are strongly recommended even though not expressly required in all cases, as they document the submission date, scope, and any fee parameters. Describe the records sought with reasonable specificity — both to help the agency locate documents and to reduce delays. Reference Mont. Const. Art. II, § 9 and Mont. Code Ann. § 2-6-1003 in your request letter to signal familiarity with the applicable law.
3. Understand the response timeline. For most Montana agencies — including all local governments — the legal standard remains “promptly,” with no specific number of days. If the information is complex or cannot be immediately located, the agency must provide written notice and has a maximum of 90 days to respond (per the SB 232 framework for covered agencies). For the Secretary of State, DOJ, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and State Auditor (effective fall 2025): five days for a single clearly identifiable document, 90 days for complex requests, and up to six months for the largest requests. Plan for variability in response times across different agencies.
4. Know the fee rules under HB 100 (2025). For state agencies covered by the 2025 HB 100 reforms, the first hour of staff time is free and subsequent charges are capped at $25 per hour. Fee waivers are available for public interest requests. Some agencies waive fees for journalists, students, legislators, and government representatives — ask for a waiver explicitly if you qualify. For local governments, fee schedules vary and HB 100 caps do not apply. Request a fee estimate before production if cost is a concern.
5. Challenge denials through district court — attorney fees are available. A public agency that denies a request must provide a written explanation under § 2-6-1009. There is no pre-litigation administrative appeals process — the remedy for an improper denial is a district court action to enforce the constitutional right to know. Under § 2-3-221, a plaintiff who prevails may be awarded costs and reasonable attorney fees. The strong constitutional foundation and the “clearly exceeds” privacy standard mean that courts are generally receptive to disclosure claims where agencies have not made a specific, individualized showing that privacy outweighs the public interest. The Montana Transparency Project can help evaluate whether a denial is legally defensible before litigation.

Free Government Databases for Montana Public Records

Common Mistakes When Researching Montana Public Records

Searching for marriage or divorce records at the state vital records office. Montana is unusual in that the state DPHHS Vital Records office does not hold marriage or divorce records. Marriage records must be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. Divorce records must be obtained from the district court clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Researchers who submit a request to DPHHS for these records will be redirected or denied, wasting time. Always go directly to the county for marriage and divorce documents.

Assuming the old CourtView or county-by-county court search system still applies. Montana courts are in an active multi-year transition to a new centralized case management system. The public access portals at courts.mt.gov are expanding to cover more counties as the rollout proceeds, but coverage is not yet universal. Check the portal’s current county coverage before defaulting to in-person courthouse visits — some counties now have online access while others still require direct contact with the court clerk. The portal website provides an instructional video and current status information.

Treating Montana’s public records system as purely statutory and overlooking the constitutional dimension. Montana’s constitutional right to know under Article II, Section 9 is broader and stronger than the statutory Public Records Act in some respects. A denial that might be defensible under a narrow statutory exemption may still be challengeable under the constitutional balancing standard. Requesters who are denied access should specifically invoke the constitutional right and cite the “clearly exceeds” standard, not just the statute, in any appeal or legal challenge.

Not accounting for the “promptly” standard when planning research timelines. Despite SB 232’s deadlines for four specific state agencies (effective fall 2025), most Montana state agencies and all local governments are still subject only to the “promptly” standard — meaning there is no enforceable specific number of days. In practice, response times can vary widely. Build significant buffer time into any research project that depends on records from Montana agencies not covered by the SB 232 deadlines.

Expecting criminal records with deferred and dismissed sentences to be available through CHOPRS. Montana DOJ explicitly states that criminal records for deferred sentences that were later dismissed cannot be released to the public through the criminal history system. Researchers using CHOPRS or mail-based background checks will not see these entries even though they represent prior criminal justice involvement. For court-level case records covering deferred sentences, check the district court public access portal or contact the court clerk directly.

Overlooking the public business on private devices rule. Montana is one of the clearest states on the rule that official business conducted on personal phones, personal email, or personal messaging accounts is subject to the Public Records Act. If you are seeking communications from a specific official and suspect they used personal devices, explicitly request records regardless of the medium used — and cite § 2-6-1002(11) in your request. Agencies cannot refuse disclosure simply because a communication was sent from a personal Gmail account if it relates to official business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Montana public records open to anyone?

Yes. Under both the Montana Constitution (Art. II, § 9) and the Public Records Act (§ 2-6-1003), every person has the right to examine and obtain a copy of public information. There is no residency requirement and no purpose requirement. Both residents and nonresidents may request records on equal terms. The only threshold is whether the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure — and courts have repeatedly held that this standard strongly favors disclosure.

Does Montana have a FOIA law?

Montana has its own open records law — the Montana Public Records Act, Mont. Code Ann. §§ 2-6-1001 through 2-6-1014 — which is separate from the federal Freedom of Information Act. The federal FOIA applies only to federal executive branch agencies. Montana’s law is supplemented by a constitutional right to know that is more powerful than a statute and cannot be overridden by ordinary legislation. The Montana Transparency Project and the Montana FOI organization (montanafoi.org) are valuable resources for navigating Montana’s specific framework.

Are Montana criminal records public?

Montana criminal history records are accessible to the general public for felony and misdemeanor charges through the CHOPRS online system ($20 per search by name and date of birth) or through fingerprint-based searches by mail or appointment. Records of deferred sentences that were later dismissed are not releasable to the public. Initial arrest records, initial offense reports, and jail rosters are explicitly public criminal justice information under § 44-5-102. Mug shots have been held to be public. Montana provides limited expungement options for misdemeanor convictions through district court petition.

Where are Montana property records searched?

Montana property records are maintained at the county level by the County Clerk and Recorder. The Clerk and Recorder holds recorded instruments including deeds, mortgages, and liens; the county assessor function (ownership and valuation) may be in the same office or a separate one depending on the county. Start with the Montana Department of Revenue (mtrevenue.gov) for statewide assessment data, then contact the County Clerk and Recorder in the county where the property is located for recorded documents. Property tax records and assessments are publicly accessible; individual income tax records are not.

Are Montana arrest records public?

Yes — initial arrest records are explicitly defined as public criminal justice information under § 44-5-102(13)(e) and must be released without applying the privacy balancing test. Jail occupancy rosters are also explicitly public. Mug shots have been held to be public. Active investigation records and confidential criminal justice information (including criminal intelligence) are protected, but the initial-contact information — arrest, booking, and offense report — is among the most accessible in the country under Montana law.

Can a Montana public agency charge fees for records?

Yes, but fees are capped for state agencies covered by the 2025 HB 100 reforms: the first hour of staff time is free, with a maximum of $25 per hour for additional services. For local governments, fee schedules vary and HB 100 caps do not apply. Fee waivers are available for public interest requests, and some agencies waive fees for journalists, legislators, students, and government entities. Agencies may require advance payment for estimated fees. Viewing records in person typically does not require payment — fees apply primarily to copying and extended staff time.

Final Thoughts

Montana’s public records framework is one of the most substantively open in the country. The constitutional right to know under Article II, Section 9 sets a high bar for withholding — privacy interests must clearly exceed public disclosure interests, not simply be plausible or inconvenient. The Montana Supreme Court has consistently enforced this standard, requiring disclosure of student discipline records, government settlement amounts, and other records that agencies sought to shield. The 2023 SB 232 deadlines and 2025 HB 100 fee reforms represent meaningful progress toward practical accessibility, though significant gaps remain — particularly for local governments and agencies not yet covered by those reforms.

The main practical challenges are infrastructure-related rather than legal. Court records are in active transition and online coverage is still uneven across 56 counties. Marriage and divorce records are held at the county level — not the state — catching many researchers by surprise. Response times for most agencies are still governed only by “promptly,” which in practice means timelines are unpredictable for complex requests. The Montana Transparency Project is a genuinely useful free resource for requesters navigating these complexities.

For the most common research tasks: use the DOJ CHOPRS system ($20) for criminal history and the growing district court public access portal for court-level case information. For property records, go directly to the County Clerk and Recorder. For vital records, go to state DPHHS for births and deaths — and directly to the county for marriages and divorces, which are not held at the state level.

Related Guides

• Idaho Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Wyoming Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• Colorado Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• North Dakota Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
• How to Search Property Records Step by Step
• How FOIA Requests Work
• Best Government Databases for Background Research

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Public records laws and agency procedures change over time. Always verify current law and agency requirements directly with the relevant government office or a licensed Montana attorney before relying on this information for legal or official purposes.