Licensing
How Montana Licenses Private Investigators
Montana regulates investigators under Montana Code Annotated Title 37, Chapter 60. Licensing was handled by the Board of Private Security until Senate Bill 454 (2023) moved that authority to a licensing program in the Department of Labor and Industry, now called the Private Security Program. It issues private investigator and private investigator trainee licenses, among other security licenses. Investigators and trainees must carry photo identification cards under the program's rules.
For a client, the main check is the individual license. The department's online license lookup shows whether a Montana private investigator or trainee license is active. If the person is a trainee, ask who their supervising investigator is and check that license too. Ask to see the photo identification card and match the name to the lookup before you sign.
Courts
How Montana Courts Are Organized
Montana's general-jurisdiction trial courts are the district courts, organized into judicial districts that each cover one or more of the state's 56 counties. They hear felonies, larger civil cases, divorce, custody, probate and juvenile matters. Courts of limited jurisdiction include justice courts in each county, plus city and municipal courts, which handle misdemeanors, traffic cases and smaller civil claims. A Water Court and a Workers' Compensation Court handle specialized matters statewide.
Communities
Montana Communities With a Private Investigator Page
Every Montana community over 3,000 residents, by population (U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2024 estimates (Vintage 2024)).
| Community | County | Population (2024 est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | Yellowstone County | 121,483 |
| Missoula | Missoula County | 78,204 |
| Great Falls | Cascade County | 60,013 |
| Bozeman | Gallatin County | 57,894 |
| Helena | Lewis and Clark County | 34,729 |
| Kalispell | Flathead County | 31,296 |
| Belgrade | Gallatin County | 12,741 |
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | Deer Lodge County | 9,811 |
| Whitefish | Flathead County | 9,256 |
| Havre | Hill County | 9,204 |
| Livingston | Park County | 9,021 |
| Miles City | Custer County | 8,407 |
| Laurel | Yellowstone County | 7,251 |
| Lewistown | Fergus County | 6,204 |
| Sidney | Richland County | 6,031 |
| Columbia Falls | Flathead County | 5,713 |
| Polson | Lake County | 5,631 |
| Hamilton | Ravalli County | 5,383 |
| Glendive | Dawson County | 4,760 |
| Dillon | Beaverhead County | 4,242 |
| Hardin | Big Horn County | 3,719 |
| Shelby | Toole County | 3,273 |
| Libby | Lincoln County | 3,235 |
| Glasgow | Valley County | 3,169 |
| Deer Lodge | Powell County | 3,006 |
Read the full Montana investigator guide
Neighboring states: Idaho · North Dakota · South Dakota · Wyoming
How this service works
Investigator Consulting in Montana
Delator Group is a private investigation firm licensed in Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. In Montana, Delator Group is not licensed as a private investigator or private investigative agency and does not perform, supervise or direct investigations. We review requests and refer them to independent investigators who hold the license Montana requires. Those investigators contract with clients directly, set their own fees and are responsible for the work. Delator Group may receive compensation from participating investigators for referrals.
FAQ
Questions About Finding an Investigator in Montana
Which Montana communities have their own page?
Every incorporated Montana city, town or village with more than 3,000 residents, plus every township or town government of that size, has its own page here, 25 in all. Smaller places are covered by the nearest page and the statewide guide.
Is Delator Group licensed in Montana?
No. In Montana, Delator Group provides investigator consulting and referral only. Investigations are performed by independently licensed Montana investigators who contract with you directly.
Who licenses private investigators in Montana?
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Private Security Program, under Montana Code Annotated Title 37, Chapter 60. Individuals who investigate for pay need a Montana private investigator license, and trainees need a private investigator trainee license and work under a supervising investigator.
How do I check an investigator's Montana license?
Search the investigator's name or license number in the Department of Labor and Industry's online license lookup and confirm an active license.
Is Montana a one-party or two-party consent state?
Montana is generally treated as an all-party, or two-party, consent state. MCA 45-8-213(1)(c) makes it an offense to record a conversation with a hidden device without the knowledge of all parties, with limited exceptions such as when the parties were warned. An attorney can confirm how this applies to your situation.