Kansas Court Records

The court system in Kansas comprises municipal courts, district courts, court of appeals, and the supreme court. Together, these courts handle about 600,000 cases annually.

At the base of the Kansas court system are the municipal courts, which operate in individual cities. These courts deal with violations of city ordinances, such as traffic tickets, minor misdemeanors, and other low-level offenses. Unlike the higher courts, municipal courts do not conduct jury trials. Appeals of the decisions of the municipal courts are heard in the district court in the same jurisdiction.

The district courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction and are divided into 31 judicial districts that cover all 105 counties in Kansas. These courts handle the bulk of legal cases in the state, including criminal trials, civil disputes, probate matters, family law cases, juvenile matters, and small claims cases.

Above the district courts but below the supreme court is the Kansas Court of Appeals, which was created to reduce the caseload of the supreme court. It typically hears appeals from district courts, including both civil and criminal matters. The court also reviews decisions from state agencies, such as the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board or the State Corporation Commission. Most appeals in Kansas are resolved at this level without proceeding to the supreme court.

At the top of the Kansas court structure is the supreme court, which is the highest court in the state. This court has both original and appellate jurisdiction, meaning it can hear cases directly in rare situations or review decisions made by lower courts. It primarily handles appeals from the Kansas court of appeals, direct appeals in serious criminal cases, and cases involving constitutional questions. Additionally, the Kansas supreme court oversees the entire judicial branch and regulates the legal profession in the state, including lawyer licensing and discipline.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Kansas?

Kansas court clerks maintain various records, including civil case records, criminal case records, probate records, domestic relations records, juvenile records, and traffic and small claims records. Following the Kansas Open Records Act and Supreme Court Rule 1.03(h), court clerks are designated as the official custodians of court records. Hence, each court in the Kansas court system has a clerk tasked with maintaining the records of that court.

The types of records maintained by each court in the Kansas judicial system include:

• Kansas Supreme Court
• Opinions and rulings on cases with statewide legal implications or constitutional matters.
• Case dockets detailing filings, motions, and court actions.
• Attorney and judicial disciplinary records, addressing ethics violations and professional misconduct.
• Administrative orders and rules that govern court operations and legal practice throughout Kansas.
• Petitions for writs of certiorari, which are requests to review decisions from the Kansas Court of Appeals or lower courts.

• Kansas Court of Appeals
• Appellate case dockets listing all appeals filed, including procedural steps, briefs, and rulings.
• Opinions and memorandum decisions, offering legal explanations and judgments issued in appeal cases.
• Motions and legal briefs submitted by parties involved in appeals.
• Oral argument summaries or transcripts for cases where verbal arguments were presented.
• Kansas District Courts
• Criminal records, including felony charges, indictments, trials, convictions, and sentencing.
• Civil litigation records encompass lawsuits involving contracts, tort claims, property disputes, and judgments.
• Family law records, such as divorce decrees, child custody rulings, and support orders.
• Probate and estate case files, detailing wills, estate settlements, guardianship, and conservatorship matters.
• Divorce and separation records, including petitions, final decrees, and property settlements.
• Child custody and support orders, determining parental rights, visitation, and financial obligations.
• Adoption and termination of parental rights cases, some of which are confidential and sealed by court order.
• Kansas Municipal Courts
• Traffic and misdemeanor records, such as speeding, DUI, reckless driving, and minor criminal offenses.
• Small claims cases, addressing civil disputes involving claims up to $4,000.
• Evictions and landlord-tenant disputes, including residential eviction proceedings and rulings.
• Local ordinance violations cover city code infractions like noise complaints, curfew breaches, and disorderly conduct.

Are Kansas Court Records Public?

Court records are generally accessible to the public under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). KORA affirms the public's right to inspect or obtain copies of public records maintained by state and local government agencies, including the judiciary. However, certain records are exempt from disclosure to protect individual privacy, ensure the integrity of ongoing investigations, or comply with other legal obligations.

Per K.S.A. 45-221, examples of court records that may be exempt from public disclosure include adoption records, juvenile records, medical and psychological records, attorney-client privileged information, grand jury proceedings, certain criminal investigation records, and sealed and expunged records. Note that some records are only partially exempt.

How Do I Search Kansas Court Records?

You may search court records in Kansas using the following methods:

• The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal: This tool allows users to search court case information using party name, case number, and court location. The types of records available via this portal include civil, criminal, probate, traffic, and limited domestic and small claims records. Users must register to create an account on the portal to use it.
• Kansas Appellate Court Public Access Portal: This portal provides access to court documents filed in the court of appeals and supreme court on or after March 13, 2025. Case information is available on the system, but only court documents filed on or after that date is available. Account creation is also required before a search may be conducted on the portal.
• Appellate Court Decisions: The Kansas Judicial Branch provides online access to decisions of the appellate courts. Access to these records is available in the form of a table. The table shows decisions of the appellate courts from the previous three months. However, results beyond the stated period may be accessed by selecting a start date and an end date in the filter options.
• Local court website: Many municipal courts have their own website through which they offer access to some of the records they maintain. Therefore, if you want a municipal court record, you may check if the municipal court has a court record search tool on its website.

How To Retrieve Court Records Offline

If you want certified copies of Kansas court records, you must submit a court record request to the office of the clerk. You may submit your request in writing using the Kansas Request Form for Court Records. Under KORA, the court must respond within three business days of receiving your request. The response will indicate whether the records are available, the cost, and any additional steps required. While fees for obtaining court records in Kansas vary by county and the type of document requested, typically, costs are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $10 per document for certification.

Note that you may also use the public access terminals in Kansas courthouses to inspect court records. Commonly requested records open for inspection include final judgments from civil and criminal cases, court case files and transcripts, court budgets, and certified oaths of office.

Can I Seal or Expunge a Kansas Court Record?

Typically, sealing refers to the removal of a record from public access, while expungement means that a record has been erased or destroyed. Kansas does not allow for the destruction of criminal records. While the state offers expungement, the term as defined by the state refers to the removal of an arrest or conviction from a person's criminal record. In Kansas, arrest records, juvenile adjudications, and criminal convictions may be expunged. The eligibility requirement for expungement in Kansas is outlined under KSA 21-6614.

Arrest records may be expunged if:

• The arrest happened due to a case of mistaken identity
• You were found not guilty in court
• A court determined there was no probable cause
• The expungement would be in the best interests of justice, and either charges have been dismissed or no charges are likely to be filed

A criminal conviction may be expunged if:

• You have not been convicted of a felony in the past 24 months, and no such proceeding is pending
• The expungement is consistent with the public welfare
• Your circumstances and behavior warrant the expungement
• Your conviction qualifies

Criminal convictions that cannot be expunged in Kansas include:

• Rape
• Abuse of a child
• Aggravated incest
• Murder in the first- or second-degree
• Capital murder
• Voluntary and involuntary manslaughter
• Sexual exploitation of a child
• Indecent solicitation of a child
• Criminal sodomy
• Indecent liberties with a child
• Aggravated sexual battery
• Sexual battery of an underage victim

Per Kansas expungement laws, a specific waiting period must have elapsed since the completion of your sentence. This period varies based on the offense. Typically, the following waiting periods apply:

• Misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and certain low-level felonies: 3 years
• Serious felonies, including DUI offenses: 5 years
• Specific offenses, such as vehicular homicide: 10 years

You may file for expungement in Kansas by following these steps:

• Obtain Necessary Forms: Download the appropriate expungement forms from the Kansas Judicial Council or your local district court's website.
• Complete the Petition: Fill out the petition for expungement, ensuring all information is accurate and complete.
• Prepare Additional Documents: This may include orders for expungement and notices of hearing.
• File with the Court: Submit the completed forms to the clerk of the district court in the county where the conviction occurred, along with the required filing fees. The filing fee for expungement in Kansas typically includes a docket fee of $176.00 and a surcharge of up to $19.00, making a total of $195.00 per case. A fee waiver may be available for individuals who demonstrate financial hardship.
• Notify Relevant Parties: Serve copies of the petition to the county attorney and the arresting law enforcement agency.
• Attend the Hearing: The court may schedule a hearing to consider your petition. You must be present in court.
• Await the Decision: If the court grants the expungement, an order will be issued, and the record will be sealed from public access.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Kansas

The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the only federal court in Kansas. It has jurisdiction over federal law violations, including cases involving civil rights, federal crimes, immigration, interstate commerce, and constitutional issues. The court also hears bankruptcy cases, admiralty cases, and other matters falling under federal jurisdiction.

Court records for the federal District Court of Kansas may be accessed online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. To search for a case, you will need to create an account on the portal and provide details such as the name of a party, case number, or filing date. Note that PACER charges $0.10 per page and a maximum of $3 per document.

You may also use public access terminals in the lobby of each division office of the court in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City. Case information may be searched using party name, case number, or filing date range.

Court records of the federal courts are also maintained at the clerk's office. To request copies of these or any open case files, you may contact the clerk's office in person, by phone, email, or U.S. mail. Payment is required before any copies are made. Once the copies are ready, they can be mailed, emailed, or collected in person. For large copy requests, you may need to provide postage or shipping details.

How To Get Kansas Court Records Online for Free?

Free online access is available to Kansas court records via official channels like the District Court Public Access Portal and the Appellate Court Public Access Portal. However, you must register on these portals to search. Decisions of the appellate courts are also made freely available via the Kansas Judicial Branch website.

You may also use unofficial but reliable third-party databases such as PeopleRecords.us. These websites aggregate information from official sources into databases that users may search to obtain free access to court records.