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Douglas County, Kansas State Court Records

Douglas County court records are official documents created or filed to document county court proceedings and case outcomes. These records are maintained by the Douglas County Clerk of the District Court. Court records intersect with other public records, like arrest records and vital records. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment maintains vital records. Together, these public records give residents comprehensive access to legal and civil matters in the county. The Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.) governs access to public records.

Are Douglas County Court Records Public?

Yes. Douglas County Court records are public under the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.). This law gives access to government records, including court records, as long as they are publicly available and not restricted by law. Some records are exempted from unauthorized public access, including adoption files, juvenile records, and sealed and expunged records (under K.S.A. 21-6614). Access to copies of court records can be online, by phone, or in person. Online searches do not require an ID for access, but it may be required during an in-person record request. Individuals can also request certified copies of court records from the custodian, but fees may apply.

What Information is Available in Douglas County Court Records?

Information contained in a public Douglas County Court Record includes:

  • Case number
  • Names of parties involved in the case (defendant, plaintiff, attorney, judges)
  • Type of case
  • Case filing date
  • Judgements
  • Description of charges
  • Claims
  • Hearing dates
  • Sentencing information
  • Motions
  • Appeals

Douglas County Court Records Search

A records search in Douglas County can be conducted online, in person, by mail, or by phone.

Online Access

For online access to court records in Douglas County, there is an online tool for individuals to search for civil and criminal cases online. A case search can be performed using case number or party name, and results can be further filtered by court type or case type. Court officials and attorneys are required to register and sign in for more extensive usage of this tool.

The Clerk of the District Court of the 7th Judicial District of Kansas also has a statewide online CaseSearch tool for individuals to find court records across Kansas. Individuals are required to register for a Kansas District Court Public Access Portal account. Several search types can be conducted using this tool, including case type, party name, business name, and citation number.

In-Person Access

For in-person access to county court records, individuals can visit the Douglas County Court or contact the clerk for the record sought. The county court also has public access terminals and staff available to help individuals find their requested records. The contact information of the court is as follows:

Douglas County District Court Clerk's Office

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center

111 East 11th Street,

Lawrence, KS 66044

Mail and Phone Requests

For mail and phone requests for court records, a written request can be made by mail to the court. It takes 5-10 business days for a mail record to be processed, and applicable fees should be made by check or money order. The mail address is as follows:

Clerk of the District Court

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center

111 East 11th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone requests and inquiries can be made to (785) 832-5256.

Fees for Court Records in Douglas County

Inspection of court records is free, but making copies of the records and certified copies of the records comes at a fee. It costs $0.25 per page to make a copy of the record but $1 per page for certified copies of records. Even though they are classified as public records, the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) allows agencies to charge for retrieving court records due to staff time spent retrieving the records, redacting, printing, copying, and certifying the records. The Douglas County District Court Clerk publishes a fee schedule for individuals to find updated fee schedules.

Douglas County Courthouse Locations

The addresses and contact information of courts in Douglas County are as follows:

County Courthouse

1100 Massachusetts Street,

Lawrence, KS 66044, USA

Phone: (785) 832-5218 (Court Services)

Douglas County Judicial & Law Enforcement Center (Main Courthouse)

111 East 11th Street,

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone: (785) 832-5256

Douglas County Juvenile Services / Youth Services Center

330 Industrial Lane,

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone: (785) 331-1300

Criminal Records Access in Douglas County

Criminal records in Douglas County are managed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), not local county courts. The KBI serves as the state's repository for criminal records and provides access to these records in response to public records requests. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Search is the online repository for giving access to these records, and access to this and other public records is governed by K.S.A. 22-4701 et seq. The KBI also offers statewide background checks, while the Douglas County District Court provides copies of local case-level criminal records. Access to local criminal records is typically available online through the Kansas Case Search, in person at the Douglas County District Court Clerk's Office, and by mail.

Douglas County Probate Records

Douglas County probate records are records of cases concerning the administration of estates and related legal matters. The probate division of the Douglas County District Court maintains probate records in Douglas County and is a part of the 7th Judicial District of Kansas. Examples of probate records include wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and estate settlement documents. Under the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.), probate records are generally available to the public upon request. However, cases involving minors, confidential information on guardianships, and sealed probate filings are not public. They are restricted to protect individuals' privacy. Probate records are available through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal.

Douglas County Family Court Records

Douglas County Family Court records are records of family-related cases. The family division of the Douglas County District Court handles family court records. These include divorce, child custody, child support cases, paternity cases, adoption cases, and child protection cases. Some family court records are restricted from unauthorized public access. Examples are adoption files and juvenile custody cases. Certified copies of family court records are available from the Douglas County District Court Clerk's Office.

Federal Court Records in Douglas County

The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the custodian of federal court records in Douglas County. Federal court records are different from county court records, as they fall under federal law. Examples include bankruptcy filings, federal criminal cases, civil rights rules, and interstate disputes. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) is the online case repository for federal case records. Registration is required to use this tool, but charges may apply to obtain copies of the record.

Douglas County Court