MT · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Montana?
Partly — some Montana counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
Official source
Open an official county search Opens an official county site in a new tab. Coverage varies by county — a name that isn’t listed does not rule out a warrant in another county or court.Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage Some countiesJurisdiction Montana
The official online lookup
Montana has no single statewide public 'active warrant' search, but several county sheriffs and municipal courts publish official online active-warrant lists.
The strongest example is the Flathead County Sheriff's Office Warrants List, a searchable, A-to-Z-filterable roster showing name, current age, last known location, felony/misdemeanor classification, specific charges, and a 'last updated' timestamp.
Great Falls Municipal Court and Yellowstone County (Billings) also post warrant listings.
Coverage is county-by-county and not comprehensive statewide — a warrant issued in a county that does not publish an online list will not appear there, so confirm any result with the issuing court or county sheriff.
Separately, the Montana Judicial Branch offers two public access portals (the District Court Public Access Portal and the Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal), but these are case-record lookups and do not function as a warrant-status search.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Montana
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Search your county sheriff's or municipal court's online active-warrant list
Several Montana counties publish official public warrant lists online. For example, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office (Kalispell) posts a searchable, A-to-Z-filterable Warrants List showing names, current age, last known location, felony/misdemeanor classification, specific charges, and a 'last updated' timestamp; Great Falls Municipal Court and Yellowstone County (Billings) also publish warrant listings. Coverage varies by county and is not statewide, so a warrant issued in a county without an online list may not appear — confirm any result with the issuing court or county sheriff.
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Contact the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case is pending
Felony and many other cases are handled by Montana's district courts. The Clerk of District Court can tell you whether an active warrant is on your case, plus any bond or court date. Use the Court Locator on the Judicial Branch site to find the right court's contact information.
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Contact the local court of limited jurisdiction (Justice, City, or Municipal Court)
Misdemeanor, traffic, and municipal matters are handled by courts of limited jurisdiction. Contact the specific court where your citation or charge was filed to ask about a bench/failure-to-appear warrant.
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Contact the county sheriff's office
County sheriffs hold and serve warrant records. Ask the records or warrants staff whether a warrant is outstanding for you.
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Request a Montana criminal history / background check from the Department of Justice
The Montana DOJ processes name-based criminal history background checks. This returns criminal history, not a live warrant search. See the DOJ Criminal Records page for the current request process.
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Types of warrants in Montana
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Bench warrant / failure-to-appear
- FTA) warrant — issued by a judge when a person misses a required court date or does not comply with a court order
- Arrest warrant
- probable-cause) — issued on a sworn showing of probable cause that a person committed an offense
- Search warrant — authorizes law enforcement to search a specified place or person
What happens if a warrant is ignored
A warrant does not expire on its own; it stays active until the court recalls it or you are arrested on it.
You can be taken into custody during any routine contact with law enforcement, such as a traffic stop.
A bench/failure-to-appear warrant can lead to an additional failure-to-appear charge, and for unresolved traffic matters your driving privileges may be affected in some circumstances.
Any bond already posted may be forfeited.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Verify the warrant directly with the court that issued it (the Clerk of District Court, or the justice/city/municipal court, in the issuing county).
Confirm the exact case, the charge, any bond or bail amount, and whether a court date is set.
Gather your identification and case details.
Consider resolving it promptly rather than waiting for an arrest — options can include appearing before the court, asking the court to recall or quash the warrant, or arranging to surrender on your own schedule.
Do not rely solely on an online list, which may be incomplete.
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Montana
Is there an online warrant search in Montana?
Some Montana counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Montana?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Search your county sheriff's or municipal court's online active-warrant list; Contact the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case is pending; Contact the local court of limited jurisdiction (Justice, City, or Municipal Court).
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Montana?
A warrant does not expire on its own; it stays active until the court recalls it or you are arrested on it. You can be taken into custody during any routine contact with law enforcement, such as a traffic stop. A bench/failure-to-appear warrant can lead to an additional failure-to-appear charge, and for unresolved traffic matters your driving privileges may be affected in some circumstances. Any bond already posted may be forfeited.
What should I do about a warrant in Montana?
Verify the warrant directly with the court that issued it (the Clerk of District Court, or the justice/city/municipal court, in the issuing county). Confirm the exact case, the charge, any bond or bail amount, and whether a court date is set. Gather your identification and case details. Consider resolving it promptly rather than waiting for an arrest — options can include appearing before the court, asking the court to recall or quash the warrant, or arranging to surrender on your own schedule. Do not rely solely on an online list, which may be incomplete.
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 5 official sources