Where to Find Kansas Civil Court Records

Kansas civil court records are the proceedings of civil cases handled by Kansas Courts. Contents of civil court records include the transcripts, electronic recordings, docket entries, final judgments, exhibits, pleadings, orders, appearances, and other documents filed or used in the progress of the cases. In the State of Kansas, the Clerk of District Court is responsible for maintaining and disseminating civil court records to the public, except otherwise prohibited by statute, rule, or court order. Information on these records may also be obtained from third-party sites like KansasCourtRecords.Us.

Are Kansas Civil Court Records Public?

Yes, Kansas civil court records are open to the public. Under the Kansas Open Record Act, members of the public may inspect and obtain non-confidential civil case records, transcripts, and final judgments by request to the court with jurisdiction or through official online sites. Still, certain records are confidential under this law due to their sensitive nature and are not disclosed to the public. K.S.A 45-221 covers these types of records. Some of which include:

• Medical and treatment records
• Case information containing the addresses, phone numbers, financial numbers, and social security numbers of litigants
• Personal information of victims and alleged victims of sexual offenses
• Trade secrets
• Certain vital records
• Records that reveal a source or undercover agent
• Adoption records
• Hospital liens
• Juvenile records
• Personnel records in employee/employer contracts

Types of Cases in Kansas Civil Courts

In Kansas, the civil courts are the District Courts. The courts are divided into 31 judicial districts and have general and original jurisdiction over a variety of civil cases, including:

• Small claims
• Mortgages
• Domestic relations
• Guardianships and conservatorship
• Foreclosures
• Juvenile delinquencies
• Tax warrants
• Property disputes
• Mental illness
• Probate
• Name changes
• Administration of estates
• Contract disputes
• Malpractices
• Lien cases
• Torts
• Employee/employer disputes
• Consumer complaints
• Bankruptcy

What is the Difference Between Criminal Cases and Civil Cases in Kansas?

There are a couple of differences between criminal and civil cases in Kansas. Firstly, these cases are covered under separate laws and have distinct procedures on how they are handled by courts, law enforcement, and other public agencies in the state. Secondly, by definition, civil cases are non-violent and refer to disagreements between two or more parties while criminal cases refer to criminal acts that violate federal or state laws. Furthermore, in civil cases, the individual or business brings the action and is responsible for demonstrating that the damage occurred because of the negligent, deliberate, or intentional act of the other party. In criminal cases, the government brings the action against an individual or business and has the responsibility to prove that the offender is guilty. Lastly, civil litigations end in financial or equitable settlements while criminal offenses are punished by fine or confinement in a state or county jail facility for a term.

How Do I Find Civil Court Records In Kansas?

There are a few ways by which an interested party may find civil court records in Kansas.

• By request to the applicable Clerk of District Court office
• Through public access computers at District courthouses
• Remotely, through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal
• Remotely, through the court's official website
• Remotely, through the Kansas District Court Records Search

Parties requesting through the Clerk of District Court's office or public terminals may visit the applicable courthouse during business hours to request copies or search for the record. Applicants may also use the Request Form for Court Records or application forms provided by the courts to request copies. It is advisable to have relevant information on the record such as the subject of record's name, case number, type of case, and date of filing. Copy requests attract a $0.25 fee per page and $10 per certified document. Other copy fees may be assessed according to the staff time required to prepare the record and the cost of processing the request.

How Do I Find Kansas Civil Court Records Online?

Kansas civil court records can be found online through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal, the court's official website, or the Kansas District Court Records Search. However, not all District Courts have their records available through remote access. More information on these obtaining records through these platforms can be found below:

• The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal (eCourt): The Kansas judicial branch provides this service. Interested parties may search for open civil court records by the case/citation number, or subject's first, middle, and last name, record location, case type, case status, judicial officer, and filing date. However, it is not possible to access the following records through the online portal:
  • Adoptions
  • Divorces
  • Guardianship and conservatorship
  • Child custody or support proceedings
  • Inquisitions
  • Parentage
  • Care and treatment for mentally ill persons or persons with alcohol/substance abuse problems
  • Unexecuted warrants
  • Other records listed in the Supreme Court Rule 22: Access to Public Electronic District Court Case Records

Parties may visit the courthouse terminals or Clerk of District Court offices to obtain unavailable records, provided the records are not sealed or confidential.

• The court's official website: The 3rd (Shawnee County), 10th (Johnson County), and 18th (Sedgwick County) judicial districts provide online access to court records. Interested parties may search and view certain records at no charge in the former 2; however, there is a fee assessed to search civil court records in Sedgwick County. Below are the online access web links for the districts:
  • 3rd Judicial District public access system
  • Johnson County Kansas District Court Public Records
  • Sedgwick County Subscriber Access Network
• The Kansas District Court Records Search: This site is provided by the Kansas government for a fee. Parties may search for case information through this site. It costs $1.50 per search and $1.50 to view the case. However, the complete court record is not available on this site. To obtain complete records, parties may request at the courthouse with jurisdiction over the cases.

What Is Included In a Kansas Civil Court Record?

Although civil cases are different, they retain some similarities as to the contents of their records. A Kansas civil court record typically contains:

• Personal information of the plaintiff, defendant, witnesses, attorneys, and victims
• Transcripts
• Complaints, answers, appearances, and motions
• Amendments of complaints
• Settlements and agreements
• Search warrants, court summons, and orders of notices
• Final judgments
• Affidavits
• Evidence

How to Access Kansas Civil Court Records For Free

There is no charge to view Kansas civil court records through eCourt or in-person at the public access terminals located in District courthouses. Nor is there one to search and view civil court records through online public access systems provided by the 3rd and 10th judicial districts.

How to Seal Civil Court Records in Kansas

Under K.S.A 60-261, the court or an individual may request a hearing to seal or redact a civil court record in Kansas. However, a record may only be sealed or redacted upon discovery of a safety, privacy, or property concern or if the court identifies a public or private harm that outweighs the public's right of access to the record. Inquiries on scheduling a hearing may be directed to the applicable District courthouse.

How to Access Sealed Civil Court Records in Kansas

Members of the public are restricted from accessing sealed court records in Kansas. However, certain parties may access records from the courthouses with the records. These parties may include the persons involved in the case; their attorneys; law enforcement officials; county or district attorneys; public or private institutions providing medical, educational, or mental health services; the judge of the district court and other designated court staff.