SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Petroleum County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Montana state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Petroleum County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Petroleum County, Montana — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
525
Population
Census estimate
189
Households
Census estimate
$57,981
Median income
Annual household
$152,600
Median home value
Census ACS
Winnett
County seat
In Montana
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
4 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
1 source
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Petroleum County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Petroleum County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Contact Directory - Petroleum County Montana Montana Judicial Branch |
| Criminal records | No verified source — see Petroleum County state portal below |
| Wants & warrants | No verified source — see Petroleum County state portal below |
| Property records | Property Record Card - Montana Online Services |
| Vital records | No verified source — see Petroleum County state portal below |
| Voter records | No verified source — see Petroleum County state portal below |
| Professional licenses | No verified source — see Petroleum County state portal below |
| Recorded documents | No verified source — see Petroleum County state portal below |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Petroleum County. Data verified June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Petroleum County Records
2026
Petroleum County official government portal active
The official Petroleum County government website at petroleumcountymt.org continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Petroleum County court records portal verified
State court system links for Petroleum County verified against the Montana judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Petroleum County property records online
Petroleum County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Montana, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Petroleum County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Petroleum County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Petroleum County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Montana statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Montana state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Petroleum County Records
❌ Myth: "Petroleum County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Petroleum County are held by the Montana state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Petroleum County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Petroleum County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Montana state repository has verified, current Petroleum County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Petroleum County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Petroleum County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources (All Verified)
- petroleumcountymt.org — Official Petroleum County government website
- courts.mt.gov — Court records — official source
- svc.mt.gov — Property records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Petroleum County & Montana Records
For records not specific to Petroleum County, use Montana's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Montana statewide record systems:
- Montana Court Records →
- Montana Criminal Records →
- Montana Property Records →
- Montana Vital Records →
- Montana Voter Records →
- Montana Wants & Warrants →
- Montana Licenses →
- Montana Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Montana statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
About Petroleum County, Montana
Petroleum County is located in central Montana. The county seat is Winnett (official site: http://petroleumcountymt.org/).
- Population: 525
- Households: 189
- Median household income: $57,981
- Median home value: $152,600
- Below poverty line: 6.2%
- Land area: 1,655.6 sq mi
- Population density: 0.3 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 1
- NCES schools indexed: 3
Contact Directory - Petroleum County Montana
Official Free
JavaScript is disabled in your browser · Please enable JavaScript to proceed · A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser
Montana Judicial Branch
Official Free
Locate contact information, staff and operating hours for any Montana Court by the Judicial District or county it resides in. Public records available through the Montana District Court Public Access Portal and the Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Public Access Portal.
1 Petroleum County Resource Guide
Official Free
Petroleum County Resource Guide · This Resource Guide was prepared by Justice For Montanans AmeriCorps Members. Although we do our · best to keep these guides current, please contact programs directly for the most accurate and up-to- date information. Last Updated: January 2024 · Justice of the Peace · William Menager · 302 E Main, PO Box 226, Winnett, MT 59087 · 406-429-5104 · FAX 406-429-6328 · wmenager@mt.gov · A local judicial official who’s empowered to administer oaths, perform marriage ceremonies, and certify documents.
Property Record Card - Montana Online Services
Official Free
To access your property information, enter a property number, assessment code, name, or address in the search box above · TIP: After entering a search term, select a county to improve search speed
Petroleum County Sheriff
Official Free
Petroleum County Attorney · 801 W. Broadway, Lewistown, MT 59457 · Diane Cochran · (406) 535-8127 · dcochran@co.fergus.mt.us · Fergus County Courthouse · 712 West Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457 · (406) 535-5026 · https://www.co.fergus.mt.us/ Fergus County Attorney · 712 West Main, ...
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DATA GOVERNING BOARD
Official Free
Montana Department of Administration | P.O. Box 200101, Helena, MT 59620-0101 | Director’s Office (406) 444-2460 · Location: Capitol Building or Zoom
DLI Record Search
Official Free
DLI RECORD SEARCH · Home Help License Search Permit Search Underground Utility Incident Report Search Continuing Education Course Search Continuing Education Provider Search · Continuing Education Search · Course Search Provider Search · License Search
Clerk and Recorder - Petroleum County Montana
Official Free
JavaScript is disabled in your browser · Please enable JavaScript to proceed · A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser
Petroleum County
Official Free
Field notes are the narrative record of the cadastral survey . They are written in tabular format and contain the detailed descriptions of entire survey process including the instrumentation and procedures utilized, calling all physical evidence evaluated in the survey process, and listing all ...
Online Business Services | Official Montana Secretary of State
Business, Voter & Other
.gov
Montana SOS business search.
biz.sosmt.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Petroleum County?
Petroleum County court cases are searchable through the Montana Judicial Branch portal: https://courts.mt.gov/. Montana also operates a state-level case lookup through the Montana Courts system. For federal matters, see PACER.
How long does an arrest stay on my record in Montana if I wasn't convicted?
In Montana, an arrest stays on your record indefinitely unless you petition the court to seal or expunge it, even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Montana's rules for clearing non-conviction records are stricter than for convictions — start with the Montana Department of Justice.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Montana?
In Montana, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Montana law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
What's the difference between a court record and a criminal record in Montana?
A court record shows everything filed in a specific case — pleadings, motions, judgments. A criminal record (rap sheet) is a person-centric history from the Montana Department of Justice that aggregates arrests and dispositions across all courts in Montana. Court records are searched by case; criminal records by person.