Montana, Flathead County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of coroner's records, deed records, divorce records, jail records, and probate records located at Flathead County courthouse, Kalispell, Montana. This collection is being published as images become available.

The records currently available are:


 * Divorce Records (1895-1980)
 * Court Records (1895-1981)
 * Probate Records (1895-1950)

County officials began keeping records from the time the county was formed.

For a list of record categories currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

The records cover the years 1895 to 1981.

Each type of record within the county was created for a different purpose, but most were created to keep track of the vital events happening in the lives of the citizens and to safeguard their legal interests and the legal interests of their heirs.

Facts current at the time of the event are generally reliable.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in the Divorce Records may include the following information:


 * Name of Defendant
 * Name of Plantiff
 * Date of Marriage
 * Names of the executor, administrator, or guardian
 * Names of witnesses
 * Dates the documents were written and recorded (used to approximate event dates since a will was usually written near the time of death)

The key genealogical facts found in the Jail Records may include the following information:


 * The prisoner's number
 * Name of Prisoner
 * Age
 * Height
 * Weight
 * Color of hair and eyes
 * Prisoner's complexion
 * Where prisoner was born
 * Special marks or peculiarities as to prisoner or history (i.e juvenile, body descriptions)

The key genealogical facts found in the Probate orders may include the following information:


 * Name of Deceased
 * Name of Petitioner
 * Date and place of death
 * Date of court order
 * Name of judge
 * Name of children (if any)

How to Use the Record
To search the collection, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the Record Category ⇒ Select the Record Type, Volume, and Year Range which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:


 * The place where the event occurred
 * The approximate date the event occurred
 * The name of the individual or individuals, such as the deceased

Identify the record to be searched

From the Record Description list, identify the kind of record you would like to search (divorce, court, or probate) and click on the title link to select it.

Find the image

Start searching individual images or pages that you have listed. Compare the information in the records to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

Using the Information:

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

The following examples show ways you can use the information:


 * Use the probate date as a substitute death date.
 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in census records.
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and land records.
 * Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or military records.
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 * The name of the officiator may be a clue to their religion or area of residence in the county.
 * The name of the undertaker, mortuary, or cemetery could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married, or died in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Tips to Keep in Mind:


 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800s.
 * There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another record.

If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Check for a different index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.

Related Websites
Flathead County Montana Free Public Records Directory

Related Wiki Articles

 * Flathead County, Montana
 * Montana
 * Montana Land and Property
 * Montana Probate Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Montana, Flathead County Records, 1871-1981" digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 4 April 2012), David LeRoy Lansberry, died, August 25 1971; citing County Records, Coroner's records, Coroner's register, vol. G, 1971-1979, image 5; Flathead County Clerk of the Court, Kalsipell, Montana, United States.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.