Kansas Court Records

Accessing Kansas Court Records

In the USA, the courts are responsible for hearing legal cases and passing judgments, and for the protection and security of court records. The courts in the state of Kansas have the same responsibilities too. Thus, the preservation and retrieval of these records is one of the most critical activities the court must do.

General Information on Kansas Court Records

If the information that you had asked for is in the court record, then you will be permitted to go through the file. However, you cannot remove any files. However, you can get a copy if you want to. Kansas juvenile court records usually contain sensitive information. So, these records are filed separately and are confidential in nature.

Records Available at Kansas Courts

There many records available at the Kansas courts like the data regarding trial and appellate court performance, court budgets, files & transcripts of court cases, and final civil and criminal judgments.

However, according to The Kansas Open Records Act, certain records like adoption records, personal information of public employees, criminal investigation records, search warrants - unless entered into evidence, expunged criminal records, child-in-need-of-care and juvenile records, and grand jury proceedings are kept private. The exempted records have been listed as K.S.A. 45-221, and you cannot have access to them.

How and From Where Can You Get the Kansas Court Records?

To get the record that you need, you will have to contact the Clerk's office. It is this office that will conduct the search for you based on the information you provide. You can also check with the custodian or the officer in charge of Freedom of Information to find out whether the information is accessible or not.

You might be asked to submit your request in writing. There is a format prepared for this by the records custodian. Ensure that your request is precise, so that your request may be filled quickly. The records custodian might ask detailed questions to fulfill your request.

You will receive the information within just 3 business days since the time you made the request. If it is delayed or denied, then the office has to inform you in writing the cause of such denial or delay.

For further details, you may contact the local Freedom of Information Officer:

Office of Judicial Administration
Kansas Judicial Center

301 S.W. 10th Street

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

(785) 296-2256

(785) 296-7076 (fax)

You have to pay for per page of the record, and for the search. However, the Clerk of the District court will be able to inform you regarding the current fees for searching the record and the copy.

Can Your Request Be Denied?

Usually, records if available are provided. However, it can be denied under certain circumstances. It will be denied:

• If the record does not exist.
• If the office does not have the record.
• If the request was unclear or vague.
• If the record falls under the category listed at K.S.A. 45-221