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Clerk and Recorder

The Fergus County Records department is responsible for the recording, scanning and indexing of deeds, mortgages, surveys, mining work, mortgage releases, power of attorney, military discharges and many other various documents.  The department also files birth and death records, federal tax liens, notices of action, attachments, judgments, executions and other miscellaneous documents. In addition, the department processes realty transfer certificates which are used by the State of Montana, Department of Revenue, to determine the market value of real property and must be included with every deed conveying real property.

Search of Public Records 
Records recorded or filed since June 30, 1989 have been automated and are easily accessed by computers provided to the public in the Recorder’s vault. Conversion of the older records is an ongoing effort. The office does not do detailed legal and binding searches. Names can be searched by our office for $2/name/1st 7 years and $1 for every year after 7 years. To email documents, $2 per document.

Filing costs are $5.00 per document.

Recording costs are:

  • Conforming documents are $8.00 per page
  • Non-conforming documents are $8.00 per page , plus $10.00
  • See MCA 7-4-2636 for further details or the “Document Standards” link on this page

When searching for Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings, please be advised that Montana law was changed in 2001 requiring only those UCC’s pertaining to real estate are required to be filed in the local Clerk and Recorder’s Office. All other UCC’s are now filed with the Montana Secretary of State.

Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records on file for Fergus County may date back to the late 1800's.  The current State system enables all counties to issue State birth certificates since 1921 and death certificates since 2003, with continuing updates.  The present county costs for a certified birth record is $8.00 and certified death records are $7.00, with genealogical copies $2.00 each. Be advised that you must come to the Recorder’s office to get your child’s initial birth certificate, as you do not get a free copy mailed to you.

Fill out the form you need and save it to your computer. You can then print it out, sign it and return it to our office with the appropriate fee & identification.

The recorder’s office does now take credit card payment. A service fee is assessed by the credit card company.

To mail requests to Fergus County use the following address:

Fergus County, Records Department
712 W Main St, Suite 204
Lewistown, Montana 59457

Other Information:

Fergus County Montana Digital Archive - The Fergus County, Montana, Historical Document Research Site contains digitized key county records held by the County Clerk and Recorder's Office. A portion of these documents, County Commission Minutes (December 1, 1886, through June 25, 2003) and historic Road Petitions and Plats were digitized in 2013 by ArcaSearch Digital Archiving.

Based on previous success and the need to preserve and protect the County's historic documents as well as efficiencies realized in the Clerk and Recorder's office and in serving Fergus County citizens, the County Commission authorized the expansion of the digital archive and research site in 2021. The primary purposes are to preserve, protect and provide ready access to historic documents.

At this time, the following materials are available to the public for research purposes and specifically to locate Book/Page information to a recorded document.

  • Commission Minutes as described
  • Road Petitions and Plats
  • Index to Declaration of Homestead
  • Index to Patents and Receipts
  • Index to Deeds Grantor
  • Index to Deeds Grantee
  • Index to Water Rights Direct-Reverse
  • Index to Miscellaneous Papers
  • Index to Miscellaneous Records Direct and Reverse

eRecording Services - The Fergus County Records Department offers eRecording services. eRecording enables customers to file and record documents with the Fergus County Official Records Department via the internet.

Address
712 W Main, Suite 204
Lewistown MT  59457

Contact
Phone: 406-535-5242
Fax: 406-601-3384
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Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 AM 5:00 PM

Janel Tucek
Clerk and Recorder
Election Administrator

Abbie Craig
Deputy Clerk and Recorder
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