Flathead County Recorder

The Clerk and Recorder is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records in Flathead County.

To record a standard document, the fee is $8 per page.

For non-standard documents, add a $10 document fee.

EXAMPLES OF RECORDING FEES
Pg. / Standard Fee / Non Standard Fee
1...............$8.00.......................$18.00
2...............$16.00......................$26.00
3...............$24.00......................$34.00
4...............$32.00......................$42.00
5...............$40.00......................$50.00
6...............$48.00......................$58.00
7...............$56.00......................$66.00
8...............$64.00......................$74.00
9...............$72.00......................$82.00
10.............$80.00......................$90.00
etc

Documents can be mailed or e-mailed to be recorded. For questions on e-mailing documents, contact the Clerk and Recorder directly.

Certified copies of documents are $2 for the certification fee plus $0.50 for the first page and $0.25 for each page thereafter.

All documents that are acknowledged as having been recorded before April 28, 2007 are accepted for recording as a standard document.

* Documents should be submitted on 8.5 x 11 white paper or 8.5 x 14 inch white paper.

* Printing or typing should be in black or blue ink. If an entire document is legibly printed in blue or black ink and meets all other requirements, it is a standard document. A whole document that is written in cursive is a nonstandard document.

* At the top of the first page, the top margin should be 3 inches. At the top and bottom of subsequent pages, include a 1 inch margin. Side margins should be at least 1/2 an inch. If an insignificant portion of a signature (such as the tail-end of a letter) extends into the margin, the document is still considered standard. If a significant portion of a signature (such as a designation like II, III, or Attorney in Fact) extends into a margin, the document will be nonstandard and will be subject to an additional fee.

* In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, include the name and mailing address of the person to whom the document should be returned after recording. This should be legibly printed or typed in black ink. If no return address is in this designated section, the document will be considered nonstandard.

* If a document conveys an interest in real property, a legal description of the property must be provided. A street address is not a legal description of property, nor is a deed reference. The full metes and bounds description, subdivision with lot number, or certificate of survey number must be included in the document.

* On the first or second page of any document with more than one page, provide the names of the parties to the conveyance.

* The instrument must be acknowledged by the person executing it before it can be recorded.

* Any instrument or deed evidencing a division or merger of real property cannot be recorded unless it is accompanied by a certificate from the county treasurer stating that taxes and special assessments have been assessed, levied, and paid.

All deeds recorded in Flathead County must be accompanied by a Realty Transfer Certificate. The certificate can be obtained via the Montana Department of Revenue webpage.