How to Obtain Closed Salish Adoption Records
- 1). Contact the Flathead County District Court. The Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the main governing arm of the Flathead nation, has empowered the district courts to enforce law and order and oversee general matters of justice. Flathead courts are run in accordance with Montana's state laws and regulations. There are phone numbers, contact names and email addresses listed on the Flathead information page on the Montana State website. Find the details for the clerk of the court and get in touch with all the details of your query. You'll find further contact information on Flathead County's website.
- 2). Apply to the County Clerk and Recorder of the Flathead County Courts for access to the closed adoption records. Do this either in writing or by visiting them in person at 800 S. Main, Kalispell, MT 59901. Closed adoption records contain identifying information. This includes any details that reveal the full identity of an individual such as current and previous names, home addresses and employment records.
- 3). If you were born after 1967, present a valid reason for requesting identifying information. Montana and Flathead County courts do give access to information if all parties are consenting. There must, however, be a compelling reason for the information to be revealed. There may be written consents already on file, included at the time of the adoption, in which case the process is straightforward. If no consent exists at the time of your request, however, you must seek a court order to proceed further. File a petition for this through the clerk of the court.