Shawnee County, Kansas State Court Records

Shawnee County, Kansas, state court records are official documents created during a county’s ongoing judicial process, from when a case is filed to when it is heard. They are important as they record court proceedings, thereby ensuring transparency of the judiciary during the administration of justice and ensuring case histories are preserved. These preserved records provide a reference for future cases and inform future judgments. According to the Kansas Open Records Act(KORA, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq.), court records must be made publicly available, in paper and electronic formats, except in cases of exceptions governed by the law.

The clerk of the District Court for Shawnee County is the custodian of court records at the trial level. The clerk’s office creates the records and processes public records requests for the records while maintaining state confidentiality rules for certain records. The Third Judicial District Court in Topeka serves as the trial court for Shawnee County. It handles felonies, civil disputes, probate, and family case records. Court records include pleadings, motions, attorney filings, orders, judgments, transcripts, and case exhibits or evidence.

Court records often include or consist of other public records, such as vital records, arrest records, and even federal case files. Federal records are not handled at the county level. but by the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Are Shawnee County Court Records Public?

Yes, the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) allows government records, including judicial records, to be open to the public for inspection and copying unless specifically restricted. As the custodian of court records in the county, the Clerk of the District Court of Shawnee County manages and disseminates public records according to the guidelines outlined in KORA. Examples of public court records in Shawnee County include the following.

• Contracts
• property dispute case files
• torts
• open felony and misdemeanor case files
• divorce records
• court dockets
• judgements
• court orders

Restricted court records include

• sealed or expunged case records
• juvenile and child in need of care cases
• records containing mental health information
• records containing personal identifiable information (social security number, account number, etc)
• restricted family court records, like adoption records

What Information is Available in Shawnee County Court Records?

A public Shawnee County court record typically contains the following information:

• case information (case number, case type, filing date)
• Names of parties involved in the case (plaintiff, defendant, attorney)
• Court information (name of presiding judge and courtroom information)
• Record of previous case proceedings in court
• sentencing information

Shawnee County Court Records Search

Shawnee County residents can access court records through various channels. The methods include online, in-person, mail, and phone requests. The method of record search selected can determine the length of time it takes to retrieve the record.

• Online: Individuals can get immediate access to court records by searching the Kansas Judicial Branch CaseSearch portal. This is the primary online record search for Kansas State, and it allows individuals to search for records by party name, case number, business name, or citation number. For more precise search results, individuals can also filter their search by case type and date of birth. All types of cases can be retrieved from this portal (civil, criminal, probate, or mental health) except for records restricted by law (juvenile or sealed cases).
• In-person search: Individuals can visit the public access terminals at the Clerk of the District Court’s office to retrieve records. Identifying details about the case, such as the case number and the names of the case party members. Records can be viewed digitally or in microfilm, but access to the microfilm is, however, timeboxed to 2-4 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The contact address of the court is as follows:

Shawnee County Courthouse

200 SE 7th Street, Room 209

Topeka, KS 66603

• Mail and Phone Requests: Individuals must complete the KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) Request Form and mail it to the court. Individuals can also call the court directly to confirm the existence and availability of a record, get clarity on how to submit a written request, or confirm the fees for a record request. Full records are not released over the phone. The mailing address and contact information are as follows:

Clerk of the District Court

200 SE 7th Room 209

Topeka, Kansas 66603

Phone: (785) 251-6700

Fax: (785) 251-4908

Fees for Court Records in Shawnee County

No registration is required for the general use of the Kansas Judicial Branch CaseSearch portal. Individuals are required to make a pre-payment of $20 as a research and copy fee when making a record request by mail. The final copy fee after printing a record is determined at the cashier’s window at the court, with the volume of the document taken into consideration. An additional $0.50 is required per page for microfilm and per document for imaging. A large volume of work may attract higher fees. Certified copies of court records can be obtained by sending a request to the Third Judicial District Court.

Shawnee County Courthouse Locations

The courthouses in Shawnee County and their addresses are as follows:

Shawnee County District Court (Third Judicial District)

200 SE 7th Street, Room 209

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 251-6700

Handles all types of cases (criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile)

Topeka Municipal Court

215 SE 7th Street

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 368-3776

Handles municipal cases, misdemeanors, and city violations within Topeka City

Shawnee Municipal Court

5860 Renner Rd, Shawnee, KS 66217

Phone: (913) 631-2500

Handles traffic violations and other enforcement within Shawnee City

Criminal Records Access in Shawnee County

Criminal records in Shawnee County can either be retrieved from the district court or from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). To access local criminal case records, individuals can contact the Shawnee County District Court’s clerk in person or search for the record through the Kansas Judicial Branch CaseSearch portal (if the record is public). Statewide criminal records are managed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and not the county courts. The KBI makes criminal records available through its online Criminal History Record Search. A search can be performed by name or date of birth, and the search is at a fee.

Shawnee County Probate Records

Shawnee County probate records are documents created from proceedings that deal with the management of a deceased person’s estate and last testament upon their death or incapacitation. They officially record how the estate will be distributed, oversee the appointment of guardians, and basically manage the financial affairs of the estate. Probate records include wills, trusts, documentation of estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Shawnee County District Court oversees probate and estate records in the county.

Probate records are available through the Kansas Judicial Branch CaseSearch portal, but if the record is for an older estate administration, individuals are required to visit the Clerk of the District Court in Topeka in person for access. While wills and probate filings are public, records containing information on minors and sensitive financial details are confidential by law.

County	Court Name	Address	Phone Number	Office Hours
Shawnee County	The Probate Department Shawnee County Courthouse	200 SE 7th Street, Room 209 Topeka, KS 66603	(785) 251-6362 (Probate/ Marriage)	Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm

Shawnee County Family Court Records

Shawnee County Family Court records are managed by the Domestic Relations Department of the Shawnee County Courthouse. They are constituted by court records from processing domestic cases, including annulment, child support, custody, divorce, grandparent visitation, adoption, domestic issues, and paternity.

Family court records are public, but information on sensitive matters is restricted. Family court records can be retrieved online through the Kansas Judicial Branch CaseSearch portal, or people interested in the record can pay in person at the Clerk of the District Court’s office. Certified copies of family court records can only be obtained from the clerk’s office in person or through a mail request at a fee. The contact information for the family court is as follows.

The Domestic Relations Department

Shawnee County Courthouse

200 SE 7th Street, Room 209

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: (785) 251-6709

Federal Court Records in Shawnee County

Federal court records in Shawnee County are overseen by the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, not the county court. There are several locations for this courthouse, such as the divisions in Topeka and Kansas City. These records are available through the nationwide records search tool. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). During an in-person visit to the Clerk’s Office at the Topeka federal courthouse, it is possible to view federal records at the courthouse.