Riley County Court Records

Riley County court records contain important information about cases filed at the various courts in the county. They include materials filed by case participants and those created by the court clerk during legal proceedings. Examples of court records include exhibits, summonses, warrants, orders, motions, and indictments, and they may exist as paper, photographs, or recordings.

Riley County court records play an important role in preserving legal precedent and providing educational aid for the public. Their existence and public nature advocate the citizens' right to know, promoting fairness, accountability, and transparency in the justice system. This, in turn, helps to protect the litigants' rights in court cases.

Are Court Records Public in Riley County?

Riley County court records are public under the Kansas Open Record Act (KORA). Pursuant to this Act, custodians of court records and other records created and maintained by public offices in the state are mandated to appoint officers to handle all public record requests at a reasonable time and under reasonable requirements. Furthermore, this law provides that all requests be satisfied within three days from the day the request was received. Any required fees must reasonably be within the cost of retrieving the records or expediting any copying by request.

However, certain cases are exempt from the provisions of this Act, such as those involving special parties like juveniles or classified entities. Generally, the following are non-public:

• Record about sealed or expunged cases (typically available to record subjects and law enforcement agencies)
• Information about minor case parties that may reveal their identity
• Juvenile dependency and delinquency records
• Information about ongoing investigations or litigation that may jeopardize their integrity
• Sensitive information, such as social security numbers, financial information, or other information whose dissemination may warrant an unlawful invasion of personal privacy
• Subpoenaed records
• Information that may endanger the safety of any case party or law enforcement officer

Riley County Court Records Search

Interested parties may obtain Riley County court records using any of the following methods:

• Online repositories provided by the court
• Online court dockets
• Walk-in at the court clerk's office
• Third-party websites.

Riley County Courts

The Kansas state court system comprises county, district, and municipal courts. The Riley County District Court has general jurisdiction, handling all civil and criminal cases, including juvenile matters, domestic relations, and probate cases. The county has two municipal courts, one in Manhattan and one in Ogden. Municipal courts in the county handle smaller cases, like traffic offenses and violations of city ordinances. Find the addresses and contact information of these courts below:

Riley County District Court
100 Courthouse Plaza
P.O. Box 158
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785-) 537-6364
Fax: (785) 537-6382

Manhattan Municipal Court
610 Colorado Street
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 587-2450
Fax: (785) 587-2459

Ogden Municipal Court
222 Riley Avenue,
P.O. Box C
Ogden, KS 66517
Phone: (785) 539-0311
Fax: (785) 539-3115

Riley County Criminal Records

The Riley County Police Department maintains a repository of criminal records for the county. Interested parties may obtain records from this agency Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except on public holidays). Inquirers may submit their requests by mail, by fax to (785) 565-6550, by email (records@rileycountypolice.org), and to records personnel at the agency's physical location. Inquiries by phone can be made by calling (785) 537-2112 ext. 0.

Riley County Police Department
1001 South Seth Child Road
Manhattan, KS 66502.

Requests to the Police Department involve completing a request form and submitting it to the agency. Responses to requests are typically fulfilled within three days of receiving the form. Meanwhile, statewide searches can be performed on the Kansas criminal history record check website. All searches and requests for Riley's criminal records require fees.

Get Riley County Civil Court Records

All the courts in Riley County adjudicate civil cases, which are non-criminal disputes between individuals or business entities. The Riley County District Court has general jurisdiction, presiding over all civil cases. Clerks of these courthouses are responsible for civil case records for their respective courts. For civil cases filed in the county's district court, interested parties can find case information on the online docket provided by the court.

In-person record inspections can also be performed at the relevant court clerk's office. Requesting parties must possess sufficient case details to aid the identification and retrieval of the sought records. Search fees may apply depending on the number of pages to be obtained and whether the obtained copy will be plain or certified.

Riley County Marriage Records

The Riley County District Court conducts all marriages for licenses issued in the county. Related records are filed and maintained by the court clerk and are largely public. Interested parties should contact the court clerk's office during operating hours with the names of the parties involved in the marriage. The Vital Records Office also facilitates record searches at its office during operating hours.

The Kansas Office of Vital Statistics also maintains a repository for the county's marriage records. Researchers may request records from this office in person or by phone. Different processing times and fees apply to the various ordering methods.

Riley County Divorce Records

The county's district court grants divorces in Riley, and its clerk maintains copies of divorce decrees and other relevant documents. The court clerk facilitates searches at its office during opening hours. Inquirers must possess the names of the parties named on the divorce decree to perform a search. Alternatively, inquirers may query the Vital Statistics Office.

Riley County Birth and Death Records

Riley County birth records and death records are kept by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The County Register of Deeds also keeps death certificates for residents of Riley County and may be contacted for inquiries. They provide information about every birth and death that occurs in the county and are relevant for genealogical and historical research. These records are classified as Riley County records and are non-public. Vital records are generally confidential and may only be provided to the record-bearer, immediate family members, or a legal representative.

Requesting third parties must provide proof of direct interest, such as joint ownership of a property or a named beneficiary of the sought record's subject. More so, the sought record must be necessary to determine any property or personal rights. Eligible record seekers must complete a birth or death application detailing their request's specifics and submit it to the state's Office of Vital Statistics. Further inquiries may be made at:

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

Riley County Probate Court Records

Riley County does not have a dedicated probate court. Matters of probate are adjudicated in the Riley County District Court. Probate court cases are largely confidential, and most related records are non-confidential. Examples of probate cases include will contests, guardianship of minors and disabled adults, trusts, and name changes.

Other than participants of a probate case, related records are only available to their legal representative, immediate family members, and third parties with a legitimate interest in the case. Eligible parties with sufficient case particulars, such as case numbers or party names, should query the office of the district court clerk for records.

Riley County Property Records

Various agencies maintain record repositories for real property in Riley County, mainly the Riley County Appraiser and the Register of Deeds. Property records provide a comprehensive overview of pieces of real estate and taxable personal property, detailing information about ownership, sales, characteristics, and location. Relevant documents include plats, mortgages, deeds, and liens. The aforementioned offices also facilitate public property searches.

Interested parties may search for tax information online using parameters like company name, last name, tax ID, and tax year. Inquirers may request property records at the appraiser's office by completing an Open Record Request Form and submitting it to this office with the applicable fees. Inquiries at this office can also be done using property record cards. The office may be contacted at:

110 Courthouse Plaza
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 537-6310
Fax: (785) 537-6312

The Register of Deeds Office provides public access terminals for this purpose. This office also offers remote access to records on a subscription basis. Interested parties may contact the Register of Deeds using the contact form or at

110 Courthouse Plaza
2nd Floor, Room B202
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 537-6340
Fax: (785) 537-6343

Riley County Court Records Online

Many online resources, such as Kansascourtrecords.us, maintained by private companies, exist for court record searches. These websites aggregate data from multiple courts and typically contain information about numerous courthouses and jurisdictions. They offer convenient search parameters, such as case numbers, part names, and filing dates.

However, search fees are usually required for detailed case information. Users are advised to verify the credibility of the websites they obtain information from. More importantly, third-party websites should only be used for research purposes. Record copies used for official purposes should be obtained from court websites.