Flathead County District Court, Montana Sealing & Redaction Procedures

Specified documents in domestic relations cases must be filed under seal and remain restricted to the parties and authorized court personnel, unless the court orders them unsealed after a proper motion.

The Clerk of Court is directed to file under seal the following documents in all domestic relations (DR) cases: (1) Reports and Recommendation from Family Court Services; (2) Medical records, chemical dependency evaluations, sex offender evaluation, and psychiatric or mental health evaluations, including therapist case notes; (3) Financial affidavits and child support worksheets; All financial documents, including W-2s, pay stubs and tax returns; and (5) Confidential Disclosure Statements and Sensitive Data Forms. Parties and counsel are directed to file these documents separately from related pleadings they are filed in support of. The sealing of these documents ensures that only the parties and authorized personnel of the District Court will have access to them, and that the privacy rights of the parties as to these documents will be protected. However, there may be circumstances under which the public's right to know will outweigh the parties' right to privacy. In those cases, the documents will be unsealed after proper motion and order of the District Court.

Records and files in dependent/neglect and adoption actions may not be accessed or removed without a court order.

The records and files in dependent/neglect and adoption actions shall not be withdrawn, examined, or inspected by anyone except upon order of the Court.