Sedgwick County Court Records
According to Rule 21 of the Kansas Supreme Court Rules, court records refer to any document filed during a judicial proceeding. The Records Department maintains all court records of the Sedgwick County District Court. All court records in Sedgwick County are kept according to the provisions outlined in the Local Court Rules. Court records help boost accountability and transparency in the Swdgwick Couty judicial system. A court record performs various functions, like initiating proceedings and safeguarding the memory of a case. Attorneys can use court records as evidence in a case.
Are Court Records Public in Sedgwick County
Yes. The Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-221) permits custodians to open court records for inspections and copying. Therefore, interested members of the public can view or obtain copies of court records from Sedgwick County Courts. However, some court records are deemed confidential. Such records include:
- Sealed records
- Juvenile records
- Adoption records
- Grand jury proceedings
- Expunged criminal records
- Child custody or support proceedings
- Certain criminal investigation records
- Guardianship and conservatorship cases
What Do Sedgwick County Court Records Contain?
The components of Sedgwick County court records differ based on case type and the court where the case was filed. However, the following information can be found in a typical court record:
- Case numbers
- Judge's name
- Attorneys names
- Probation officer
- Case party's full name
- Race, sex, and date of birth
- Case status, nature, and caption
- Accounting (assessed type, assessed amount, amount paid, and balance)
- Calendar (court date and time, division, and proceeding time)
- Charges (count, section, date, title, finding, jail time, and probation)
Where to Conduct a Sedgwick County Case Lookup
Individuals can conduct a Sedgwick County case lookup at the 18th Judicial District. Municipal Courts in cities under Sedgwick County allow requesters to find case information on traffic and other minor offenses. Appealed cases from the District Court can be retrieved at the Kansas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
How to Conduct a Sedgwick County Case Records Search
The Sedgwick County District Court Records Department provides several ways for members of the public to access court records:
- In-person: Requesters can visit the Courthouse to view records on a public access computer. They can also request copies of court records from the staff at the courthouse. A case number or party name will be required to initiate the search. The Courthouse opens Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Online: Case records can be obtained through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. Requesters are required to register for an account. The search criteria are by party name or case number.
- Email: Court records requests can be sent by email to sg.micro@kscourts.org.
- Fax: Individuals can fax their court records requests to (316) 941-5358
Requesters can also submit a Request for Record Inspection or for a Copy form to the District Courthouse. Individuals can also use the Daily Dockets published by the Sedgwick County District Court. The docket information is updated once every 15 minutes. Requesters can use CTRL+F to search for a specific name. Record seekers must provide specific information when requesting court records from the Records Department. They must include case number, case type, specific documents requested, name(s) of parties, dates of birth, social security numbers, and date or approximate filing date in the request. Note that providing dates of birth and social security numbers helps the Department verify if they are giving the requester the correct information about the case. The department charges a small fee for copies of court records:
- Uncertified copies cost 25 cents per page
- Certified copies cost $1 per certification
- Faxed copies cost $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page
Sedgwick County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records contain information on legal disputes between two or more parties. The Sedgwick County District Court Civil Clerks is responsible for filing and maintaining records on civil actions. Individuals can file four types of cases in the Civil Department, including civil, limited civil, small claims (claims not exceeding $4,000), and transcripts. The Civil Department generally handles cases like breach of contract, mortgage and tax foreclosures, recovery of money, evictions, name changes, and recovery of damages for personal injury. Approximately 27,000 cases are filed each year in the Civil Department. Civil court records can be requested online, by email, or in person on the 11th floor of the Sedgwick County Courthouse.
Sedgwick County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records contain information on proceedings that involve a person accused of a crime. The Sedgwick County District Court Criminal Clerk is the record custodian of criminal cases. Individuals file several types of actions in the Criminal Department, including appeals from municipal court, fish and game cases, felony and misdemeanor cases, search warrants, and inquisitions. Approximately 3,000 cases are filed yearly with the Department. Criminal court records can be requested online, by email, or in person. Olie requests can be made through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. Email requests should be sent to micro@DC18.org. In-person requesters can visit the 7th floor of the Sedgwick County Courthouse to obtain copies of criminal records or use the public access computer. The office opens from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Rule 22 of the Kansas Supreme Court Rules permits individuals to view District court records online through the Public Access Portal. Individuals must register for an account before they can conduct a search. A search can be conducted by party name or case number. Alternatively, requesters can visit the courthouse to use public access computers to view court records online for free.
Courts in Sedgwick County
Below are the addresses of all the courts in Sedgwick County:
Sedgwick County District Court
525 N Main Street
Wichita, KS 67203
Phone: (316) 660-5900
Sedgwick County Juvenile Courthouse
1900 E Morris St,
Wichita, KS 67211
Phone: (316) 660-5900
