Franklin County Court Records

According to Kansas Supreme Court Rule 106B, Franklin County court records refer to any activity, including filings relating to a particular case. These records include the case type, case number, case parties’ names, attorneys' names, hearing date, and the judge assigned. However, they exclude papers like notes, email, or correspondence not filed in a court case. Court records are particularly valuable to attorneys, who may use them as evidence in future legal proceedings.

Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes, according to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). The Act grants citizens the right to inspect and copy court records maintained by Franklin County District and Municipal Courts. These courts must respond to court records requests within three business days. However, the Act supports withholding some court records that are deemed confidential. For example, adoption, grand jury, and child custody or support proceedings are not available to members of the public.

Franklin County Court Records Search

The primary ways to access Franklin County court records are online and in person. Individuals can use the Public Access Portal to find court information online or visit the Fourth Judicial District Court during business hours to get copies.

Franklin County Courts

The Franklin County court system comprises a District Court and several Municipal Courts. The addresses of these courts are below:

Franklin County District Court
301 S. Main
Ottawa, KS 66067
Phone: (785) 242-6000
Fax: (785) 242-5970

Ottawa Municipal Court
715 W 2nd
Ottawa, KS 66067
Phone: (785) 242-5333
Fax: (785) 242-2564
email: municourt@ottawaks.gov

Pomona Municipal Court
219 Jefferson Street
Pomona, KS 66076

City of Richmond Municipal Court
600 Morton Street
Richmond, TX 77469
Phone: (281) 342-0578
Fax: (832) 595-0344
Email: court@richmondtx.gov

Wellsville Municipal Court
704 E. 7th St.
Wellsville, KS 66092
Phone: (785) 893-9724
Email: courtclerk@cityofwellsvilleks.com

Franklin County Criminal and Civil Records

The Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of Franklin County criminal records. These records can be obtained in person from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The record staff will need basic information about the Franklin County arrest records to conduct the search. The requester must pay a copying and searching fee before obtaining the record. The office is located at the address below:

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
220 S. Beech St. Suite A
Ottawa, KS 66067
Phone: (785) 229-1200
Fax: (785) 229-1210

The Fourth Judicial District Court provides civil court records online and in person at the courthouse. Online searches can be conducted using the Public Access Portal, but registration is required to search for civil cases. Individuals can also use this portal at the public terminals in the courthouse.

Franklin County Marriage Records

Individuals can request copies of Old marriage records (before 2/15/2001) by writing or email at the Franklin County Clerk’s Office. They must include the case numbers or book and page location of the documents in the request. The Clerk charges $.25 per page for photocopies of Franklin County marriage records and a search fee of $12.00 per hour.

Certified copies of Franklin County marriage certificates can be obtained online, by phone, or in person through the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics. Each copy costs $20, payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card, depending on the chosen method. Some request methods may include additional fees, so individuals are encouraged to consider their budget when selecting the most suitable option. Mail requesters must include a completed Marriage Application Form in their applications.

Franklin County Divorce Records

Members of the public can access Franklin County divorce records in person by visiting the Fourth Judicial District Court. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Requesters can use the Public Access Computers to view or copy desired records. The computers are in the hallways adjacent to the Clerks' offices or inside the clerks' offices. Record seekers can speak to a records staff to help with the request.

Franklin County Birth Records

Certified copies of Franklin County vital records, such as birth documents, are confidential. They are only released to the record holder, immediate family, a legal representative, or anyone with direct interest. Customers can order Franklin County birth certificates in person, online, by phone, mobile app, mail, or by will-call from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Office of Vital Statistics. All requests should be accompanied by a government (state or federal) issued photo ID and a fee. The standard fee for obtaining a copy of a Franklin County birth record is $20. Online and phone orders attract an additional expedited service fee of $13.95, while orders through the mobile app and calls cost an extra $5 processing fee. These fees can be paid by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Mail customers must include a completed Birth Application Form in their requests.

Franklin County Death Records

Per K.S.A. 65-2422d, death records are not included in Franklin County public records. The Kansas Office of Vital Statistics provides certified copies of death certificates to eligible individuals for a standard fee of $20. They must present a government-issued photo ID (state or federal) alongside their requests. Customers can get these certificates through the following methods:

• Online and by phone: An approved third-party vendor handles these orders for an additional fee of $13.95. Payments can be made using major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. Orders are processed within three business days. Phone customers should call (877) 305-8315. The vendor will respond to requests by mail within 3 to 5 business days.
• In-person: Individuals can walk into the Customer Service Lobby from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. on weekdays to request death records. They should come with appropriate fees in the form of a money order, cash, a check, or a credit card. The processing time is around 15 to 20 minutes.

• By mail: Requesters can obtain copies of death records by sending a completed Death Application Form or a letter with sufficient information to locate the record to the office. A check or money and a photocopy of a government-issued ID should accompany this form or letter. The processing time is between 7 and 10 business days. Mail the request to:

  Office of Vital Statistics
  Curtis State Office Building
  1000 SW Jackson
  Suite 120
  Topeka, KS 66612-2221

• Mobile App: Record seekers can download the app through their device's app store. They should search for "IKAN" (select IKan—State of Kansas). Afterward, requesters should follow the prompts to request death records and pay the record fees by credit card or ACH.

Franklin County Probate Court Records

Old probate records are available online on the Fourth Judicial District website. Users can click "Franklin" from the top menu, and select "Old Marriage and Probate Records" from the dropdown. Afterward, click the first letter of the party’s name to view probate records online. Individuals who want to obtain copies of old probate records by mail should submit a request in writing or by email. The request must include the case number or book/ page number. Photocopies of old probate records cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies cost $1.00 per document. The clerk charges $12.00 per hour for research and copying the document. Fees should be mailed to the Clerk’s office alongside a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Residents seeking recent probate records can visit the Fourth Judicial District Court in person during business hours. The courthouse has public access computers that can be used to view probate records for free. However, copies of such documents can be made for a fee.

Franklin County Property Records

Most property records in Franklin County are open to members of the public. The Franklin County Appraiser, Register of Deeds Office, and Treasurer’s Office maintain property records such as deeds, plats, liens, property taxes, leases, affidavits, and mortgages. These record custodians issue property records online and in person at their offices. Online requesters can use the Parcel Search portal to find property information using a name, address, or property identifier.

Franklin County Court Records Online

Third-party platforms like Kansascourtrecords.us are easily accessible sites that can be used to conduct Franklin County court records searches. They provide downloadable copies of these records for a small fee. However, record seekers cannot use information retrieved from third-party sites for official purposes because of inaccuracies and unreliability. Always verify any information these sites produce against official court records to ensure its validity.