Marriage & Divorce Records

If you are looking for an official marriage certificate or divorce decree, please note that these are maintained at the local level rather than the state office.

Where to Find Your Official Documents
Official certificates and decrees can only be issued by the Clerk of District Court in the county where the event was filed.

Pro Tip on Filing Location: The record is kept where the license was purchased, not necessarily where the ceremony occurred. For example, if you bought your license in Lewis and Clark County but held the ceremony in Cascade County, your record remains in Lewis and Clark County.

State Index Search Services
While Montana Vital Records does not issue the certificates themselves, we maintain a comprehensive index of these events dating back to 1943. We can perform a search to help you locate where a record is filed or to verify an event occurred.

• To Request a Search: Please download and mail the Vital Records Application for Search of Marriage and Divorce Indexes.
• Search Fees:
  • $10.00 for a search covering up to 5 years.
  • $1.00 for each additional year searched.
  • Example: A search from 1990–2000 (11 years) would cost $16.00.

Need Assistance?
If you have questions about the search process or aren't sure where to start, our team is here to help.

Call us: 406-444-2685

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I get my marriage certificate from the State office?
In Montana, the Clerk of District Court in each county is the official custodian of marriage and divorce records. While we maintain a statewide index for tracking purposes, the legal authority to issue certified copies rests with the county where the license was originally filed.

How do I know which county to contact?
The record is filed in the county where the marriage license was purchased. This is often the county where one or both parties lived at the time, even if the ceremony took place in a different part of the state.

What information is included in a State Index Search?
A search of our index (1943–Present) will verify that an event was recorded and identify the specific county where the record is held. It does not provide a certified copy of the certificate itself.

How long does a search take?
Typically, mail-in requests for index searches are processed within 7–10 business days once received by our office.

Find Your Local Clerk of Court
Since records are kept at the county level, you will need to contact the specific Clerk of District Court where your license was filed to receive a certified copy.

Can't find your county?
You can view the full, updated directory for all 56 Montana counties on the Official Montana Judicial Branch Court Locator.