Butler County Court Records

Butler County court records contain documents filed in the case. They also include case information such as the case's type, parties, hearing date, the name of the judge assigned to the case, and the attorneys' names. This information is open to the public and can be accessed online and in person. This access is vital for understanding the history of a case, doing background checks, or investigating a person's case status. Access to Butler County court records also helps to promote transparency and accountability.

Are Court Records Public in Butler County?

Yes, court records are public pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-221). Therefore, all Butler County courts are mandated by law to release such records upon request. Record seekers might find it difficult to inspect or copy some records if they are deemed confidential by state law. Examples of confidential Butler County court records include:

• Sealed court records
• Adoption proceeding
• Grand jury proceedings
• Juvenile court proceedings
• Expunged criminal records
• Child custody or support proceedings
• Certain criminal investigation records
• Guardianship and conservatorship cases
• Psychiatric, medical, or psychological records
• Alcoholism or drug dependency treatment records
• Personal identifying information like name, address, and telephone number of victims of sex offenses.

Butler County Court Records Search

Individuals can find Butler County court records through the following means:

• Online through the Public Access Portal
• In person at the courthouse
• By phone, by email, and in writing
• Though the public access terminals
• Online through third-party platforms

Butler County Courts

Butler County is one of the three counties that comprise the 13th Judicial District. It has a District Court and several Municipal Courts.

Butler County District Court
201 W. Pine
El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone: (316) 322-4370
Fax: (316) 321-9486

Andover Municipal Court
1609 E Central
Andover, KS 67002
Phone: (316) 733-4510
Fax: (316) 927-6014
Email: courtmail@andoverks.com

Augusta Municipal Court
2100 N. Ohio Street
Augusta, KS 67010
Phone: (316) 775-4500
Fax: (316) 775-4565

Benton Municipal Court
154 S Main St
Benton, KS 67017-9770
Phone: (316) 778-1625
Email: court@bentonks.org

Cassoday Municipal Court
133 S Washington
Cassoday, KS 66842-9098

Douglass Municipal Court
322 S Forrest St
Douglass, KS 67039-8824

El Dorado Municipal Court
220 E 1st Ave
El Dorado, KS 67042-2003

Elbing Municipal Court
215 Main
Elbing, KS 67041-0099

Latham Municipal Court
233 W Blaine St
Latham, KS 67072-9760

Leon Municipal Court
111 S Main St
Leon, KS 67074-9785

Potwin Municipal Court
207 N Randall St
Potwin, KS 67123-9725

Rose Hill Municipal Court
125 W Rosewood St
Rose Hill, KS 67133-9301

Towanda Municipal Court
110 S 3rd
Towanda, KS 67144

Whitewater Municipal Court
201 S Elm St
Whitewater, KS 67154-8877

Butler County Criminal Records

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) permits individuals, companies, and organizations to obtain Butler County criminal records by name or fingerprints. The Criminal History Record Search portal allows for a name-based search. Users need a KanAccess account to log in to the portal. Requests can be made on the portal daily between the hours of 4:00 am and Midnight.

Individuals who want to conduct fingerprint-based checks should have their fingerprints taken on the FBI's Applicant Fingerprint Card, FD Form 258. They can receive fingerprint cards by sending a mail to the KBI. The mail should include:

• Their name.
• Mailing address.
• The type of card they need.
• The purpose of the card.
• The number of persons to be fingerprinted.

This service is free. The request should be mailed to:

Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal History Records Section
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612-1837

After receiving the fingerprint card, complete it and submit it to the KBI's to the Central Repository. Fingerprint-based searches cost $45 per individual.

Record seekers who want to get certified copies of criminal records by completing a Certified Record Check Request form (English or Spanish) and proper payment. This service costs $40 for a name-based check and $55 for a fingerprint-based check.

The Butler County Sheriff's Office provides arrest information to the public online. Individuals can use the Inmate Roster to locate Butler County arrest records. The rosters are published weekly.

Get Butler County Civil Court Records

The Butler County District Court maintains records of all civil cases filed at the courthouse. These records are available to the public, and copies cost $0.50 per page and $1 per document for certified copies. The court charges about $12 per hour for search fees. The processing time for civil court record requests is three business days. Civil court records can be viewed or copied via the following means:

• Online: The District Court has a Public Access Portal through which individuals can access public civil court records electronically. Users must register an account to search for a record via the portal. After that, they can use a username and password to sign in.
• In-person: Record seekers can visit the courthouse to view or copy civil court records. However, they must make an appointment by calling (316) 322-4375 before the visit. The requester must provide a case number when making the appointment. The courthouse has public-access computers that can be used to view civil court records. Copies of records can also be retrieved from the record staff for a fee.
• By phone: The Court also issues civil court records by phone at (316) 322-4372. To conduct the search, the requester should provide a name or case number.
• By mail: Individuals can submit a Request Form for Court Records to the court.

Butler County Marriage Records

The Clerk's Office maintains Bulter County's vital records from the 1800s to 1911. They issue marriage records to individuals by phone at (316) 322-4239, by email at tstafford@bucoks.com, or in person during business hours.

Individuals interested in obtaining certified copies of Butler County marriage records from 1913 till date are available at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Office of Vital Statistics. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $20. The office does not provide marriage records online or by phone but partners with a third-party vendor to provide such services. The vendor charges a $13.95 expedited service fee by credit card. The processing time is from 3 to 5 business days.

Records seekers can also submit marriage records requests via the mobile app, by mail, or in person. To use the mobile app, requesters should download "IKAN" from their device app store and pay the standard fee plus a $5 processing fee by credit card or ACH. Those who want to submit their requests by mail should complete an Application for Certified Copy of Kansas Marriage Certificate (English or Spanish) Form. The mail package must contain the form, a valid photo ID, and the appropriate fees by check or money order. The turnabout time for mail requests is from 7 to 10 business days. The office accepts walk-in services from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. The processing time is from 15 to 20 minutes. The office is located at:

Kansas Office of Vital Statistics
1000 SW Jackson
Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Phone: (785) 296-1400

Butler County Divorce Records

Divorce records are open to the public at the Butler County District Court. Requesters should make an appointment at (316) 322-4375 and be willing to provide a case number. The court has a public access computer where individuals can view divorce records for free, but copies of a record cost a fee.

Interested individuals can also request divorce records by phone, online, in writing, or by email. Online requesters can use the Public Access Portal to locate the desired documents. Users must register an account to use the portal.

Butler County Birth and Death Records

Per K.S.A. 65-2422d, birth and death records are not Bulter County public records. Certified copies of these records are only released to record holders (applicable to Butler County birth certificates), immediate family members, legal representatives, or anyone with a direct interest in the record. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Office of Vital Statistics provides birth and death records from 1911 to date. The cost of certified copies of vital records is $20 per copy. Individuals can order any of these records through the following methods:

• Online or Phone: An approved third-party vendor provides birth and death records online and by phone at (877) 305-8315. This service comes with an extra $13.95 expedited service fee payable by credit card. It takes 3 to 5 business days to process such requests.
• Mobile App: Requesters should search for "IKAN" on their app stores and select "IKAN - State of Kansas". This service costs an extra $5 processing fee. Payments for birth or death certificates can be made by credit card or ACH. The processing time depends on the delivery method.
• Will Call: This method also requires downloading the "IKAN" app from a mobile device app store. When a request is received, the office will send an email to the requester, who must visit the office with a valid government-issued photo ID to pick up the desired record.
• Mail: Requests can be made by submitting an Application for a Certified Copy of Kansas Death Certificate (English or Spanish) or an Application for a Certified Copy of Kansas Birth Certificate (English or Spanish) Form to the office. The form should be accompanied by a valid ID and the appropriate fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope should be enclosed.
• Walk-in: Visit the office during business hours with a valid ID and the appropriate fees. The Office of Vital Statistics provides same-day services.

Butler County Probate Court Records

The Butler County District Court has general original jurisdiction over probate and estate administration. Requests for probate court records can be made by phone at (316) 322-4331, by email at informbu@kscourts.org, in writing, or in person. Customers who want to submit their requests in person should visit the courthouse from Monday through Friday, 8 am to Noon, 1:00 pm to 5 pm. Note that the court closes on Thursday from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm for a district-wide staff meeting. The District Court has a public access computer that in-person requesters can use to find probate court records. Also, they can request copies of records from the court staff. Each copy of probate court records cost $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $1 per document.

Butler County Property Records

All Butler County property record custodians (Appraiser's Office, Register of Deeds, Treasurer's Office) issue documents in person at their offices. They only accept requests from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. When conducting a search, customers should have basic information about the record, like name, address, or parcel ID. Property record custodian offices are located at:

Butler County Appraiser, Register of Deeds, and Treasurer's Offices
205 W. Central
El Dorado, KS 67042

Butler County property record custodians also have a central Parcel Search tool where individuals can view property information. Users must enter the appropriate criteria in the search field to locate their desired records. Some property custodians also have other methods of issuing records to their customers. For example, the Butler County Register of Deeds provides some property information over the phone at (316) 322-4113 and via email at regdeeds@bucoks.com.

Butler County Court Records Online

Third-party sites like kansascourtrecords.us have user-friendly interfaces that make it easy for record seekers unfamiliar with navigating official sites to locate court records. These sites require users to provide a name or case number to conduct a search. The search will return limited court information for free, but access to comprehensive records requires a fee. Sometimes, court records obtained from third-party sites might not match those on official records. Therefore, users should do due diligence in verifying all information retrieved from such platforms.