Chouteau County Recorder Information

Office locations, recording fees, and document requirements in Montana

Recorder Office

Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.

Chouteau County Clerk / Recorder
1308 Franklin Street, Fort Benton, Montana 59442
Mailing address: P.O. Box 459, Fort Benton, MT 59442
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
406-622-5151
Checked September 2026 against the office's own page.

About the Chouteau County Clerk & Recorder

Land records in Chouteau County are recorded by the Clerk & Recorder. The office is held by Lana Claassen.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Clerk and Recorder / Elections — Chouteau County

Recording Fees

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

All documents$20.00 first page, $10.00 each additional page (standard document meeting 7-4-2636)

Other charges

Document that does not meet the formatting standards$10.00 per document when Non-Conforming Fee
Copies, per page$0.25
Certification$2.00

Fee schedule effective October 1, 2025.

StatewideCopies of a record or paper: 50 cents for the first page of any document and 25 cents for each subsequent page (MCA 7-4-2631(1)(e)(i)). Of each page recorded, $2 goes to the records preservation fund, 75 cents to the county land information account, and $2.25 to the Montana geospatial information account (MCA 7-4-2637(3)). Beginning July 1, 2027, the Department of Revenue sets the recording fee by administrative rule to adjust for inflation, every two years.

County fee schedule: Writ of Attachment $5.00; Assignment of Finance Statement $5.00; Certificate of Sale $5.00; Certificate of Survey and amendments $25.00 plus $0.50/tract or lot; Continuation Statement $5.00; Electronic Document Request $5.00/request plus $0.50/page; Execution $5.00; Finance Statement $7.00; Financing Statement Amendment $5.00; Lien $5.00; Subdivision and Townsite Plats $25.00 plus $0.50/lot up to 100 lots; Termination of Finance Statement No Fee.

Transfer tax

No transfer tax. None is collected when a document is recorded. (statewide, Mont. Const. Art. VIII, Sec. 17 (CI-105, 2010))

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: 7-4-2637. Fees for recording documents -- rulemaking, MCA · 7-4-2631. Fees of county clerk, MCA · Section 17. Prohibition on real property transfer taxes, MCA · Clerk and Recorder Fee Schedule

Document Requirements

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

Paper size8 1/2 x 11 inches or 8 1/2 x 14 inches (statewide, MCA 7-4-2636(1)(a))
First page top margin3 in (statewide, MCA 7-4-2636(1)(e)(i))
Ink and paperBlue or black ink on white paper; all signatures, initials, dates, or handwriting in blue or black ink (statewide, MCA 7-4-2636(1)(a),(d))
Return address requiredYes (statewide, MCA 7-4-2636(1)(f))

StatewideAt least 1 inch at the top of the second and subsequent pages, at least 1 inch on the bottom of each page, and at least 1/2 inch on the sides of each page. Page numbers, the return name and address, and other administrative information may appear in the margins.

StatewideNames of the parties to the conveyance appear on the first or second page of any document with more than one page, and a document conveying an interest in real property includes a description of the property. Notary acknowledgments are exempt from the color and margin requirements, and an embossed notarial seal is exempt from the margin requirements. Officially certified court or government documents are exempt. Documents acknowledged as executed before April 28, 2007 are accepted as standard documents.

Forms filed along with a transfer

  • Realty Transfer Certificate (Form RTC) Statewide Montana Department of Revenue
    An instrument or deed evidencing a transfer of real estate may not be accepted for recordation until the certificate has been received by the county clerk and recorder.

Verified September 2026 against official publications. Sources: 15-7-305. Realty transfer certificate required, MCA · 7-4-2636. Standards for recorded documents -- exemptions, MCA

Deeds.com Resources & Services

Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.

How to Get a Copy of Your Deed

Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.

Deeds.com eRecording

Not available through Deeds.com

Deeds.com does not currently offer eRecording in Chouteau County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.

Recorder Office

Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.

Chouteau County Clerk / Recorder
1308 Franklin Street, Fort Benton, Montana 59442
Mailing address: P.O. Box 459, Fort Benton, MT 59442
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
406-622-5151
Checked September 2026 against the office's own page.

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