Miami County Court Records Search
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Miami County, Kansas, located just south of the Kansas City metropolitan area, is served by the 6th Judicial District, which covers Bourbon, Linn, and Miami counties. The district court in Paola functions as the county’s primary trial court, handling the full spectrum of civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, and family law matters. Records produced through these proceedings are considered official public documents subject to Kansas law, and understanding where they are held — and how to request them — is a practical necessity for anyone involved in litigation, conducting background research, or verifying legal history.
Wisconsin residents searching for court case information have several avenues available. In Kansas, records can be searched through clerk offices at the courthouse, public access computer terminals located in each district court, or through the statewide online portal. KansasCourts.us may help direct users to the correct court division and available public case information tools across the state’s 31 judicial districts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Miami County?
The Miami County District Court Clerk’s office is the central repository for trial court records in the county. The Clerk of the District Court, Stephanie Gerken, oversees records for all divisions of the district court.
Miami County District Court
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 S Pearl Street, Paola, KS 66071 (P.O. Box 187) |
| Phone | (913) 294-3326 |
| Fax | (913) 294-2535 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Chief Clerk Administrator | Stephanie J. Gerken |
| Chief Clerk Phone | (913) 294-4374 |
| Chief Clerk Email | sgerken@kscourts.gov |
Judges of the Miami County District Court:
- Chief Judge Amy L. Harth — (913) 294-3644
- District Judge Elizabeth Sweeney-Reeder — (913) 294-9523
- District Judge Richard M. Fisher, Jr. — (913) 285-6497
Online Case Search
Miami County District Court case records are searchable through the Kansas Case Search portal, which provides public access to case information for courts operating on the Kansas eCourt centralized case management system. The portal allows searches by case number, party name, and other identifiers. Importantly, the portal provides access to case information (parties, hearing dates, case types, attorneys, and judges); court records (actual filed documents) are available only for cases filed after the court migrated to the Kansas eCourt system.
The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal and the Kansas eCourt Statewide Rollout Plan explain which courts and records are accessible online. For courts or records not yet accessible online, public access computer terminals are available at the Miami County Courthouse during regular business hours.
The Miami County District Court website also hosts court calendars that allow parties and attorneys to locate scheduled hearings by entering a party’s last name or browsing dockets by date or judge.
Are Court Records Public in Miami County?
Under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., public records in Kansas — including most court records — are open for inspection by any person. Miami County’s Freedom of Information Officer is the County Clerk, whose office is located in the Administration Building at 201 S. Pearl, Suite 102, Paola, KS 66071, Phone: (913) 294-3976
However, K.S.A. 45-221 identifies specific categories of records that are not required to be disclosed, including:
- Juvenile case files and records (many child in need of care cases)
- Adoption proceedings and related documents
- Expunged criminal records
- Grand jury proceedings and records
- Records relating to ongoing criminal or civil investigations
- Sealed records ordered closed by a court
- Information that could facilitate identity theft or endanger individuals
Additionally, Supreme Court Rule 22 governs which electronic district court case records are accessible through the public access portal. Sealed cases and sealed records cannot be accessed through courthouse terminals either. A fee schedule for KORA requests has been established by Miami County through Resolution R22-01-001.
Miami County Criminal Court Records
The Miami County District Court prosecutes all felony cases and shares jurisdiction over misdemeanors with municipal courts in Louisburg, Osawatomie, and Paola. The County Attorney, Kenton D. Harding, handles felony prosecutions from offices at 120 S Pearl Street, Room 300, Paola, KS 66071.
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case information can be searched through the Kansas Case Search portal for cases in the Kansas eCourt system. For older records not yet digitized, visit the District Court Clerk’s office in person or submit a written records request.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Criminal History
For a statewide criminal history background check, the Kansas criminal history record search is available through the KBI’s online portal:
- Fee: $30.00 per name-based search
- Availability: Daily from 4:00 a.m. to midnight (Central Time); unavailable midnight to 4:00 a.m. for maintenance
- Access: Online at kansas.gov/criminalhistory
- Scope: Felony and misdemeanor arrests, prosecution data, court dispositions, and related information maintained in Kansas’s central repository
- Fingerprint-based checks: $45.00 per individual; contact KBI Criminal Records Unit at (785) 296-2454
Miami County Sheriff’s Office Records
The Sheriff’s Records Division processes requests for incident reports and locally held criminal records:
Miami County Sheriff’s Office — Records Division
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 209 South Pearl Street, Paola, KS 66071 |
| Main Line | (913) 294-3232 |
| Fax | (913) 294-9118 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed holidays) |
To request a report, provide the report number (if available), the date, time, and location of the incident, and the names of parties involved. Cash payments require the exact amount (no change is kept on site); no credit or debit cards are accepted. Money orders should be payable to “Miami County Sheriff’s Office”. Accident reports can be purchased online at crashdocs.org using the accident number, party name, and date.
Municipal Courts
Three municipal courts handle local ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and minor criminal matters within their respective cities:
Louisburg Municipal Court
Address: 5 South Peoria Street, Suite 101, Louisburg, KS 66053
Phone: (913) 837-5371 ext. 6
Osawatomie Municipal Court
Address: 509 5th Street, P.O. Box 37, Osawatomie, KS 66064
Phone: (913) 755-3695 | Fax: (913) 755-3558
Paola Municipal Court
Address: 805 North Pearl, Paola, KS 66071
Phone: (913) 259-3630 | Fax: (913) 259-3639
Miami County Civil Court Records
The Miami County District Court has general civil jurisdiction over money claims, property disputes, contract actions, foreclosures, and other civil matters. The District Court Clerk maintains all civil case files, and most records are open for public inspection under KORA.
Small Claims Court
Small claims cases in Miami County follow the 6th Judicial District’s procedures, with a monetary limit of $10,000:
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $500.00 | $47.50 |
| $500.01 to $10,000.00 | $67.50 |
| Small claims appeal | $195.00 |
Additional small claims costs include:
- Sheriff’s service of process fee: $15.00 (paid by separate check/money order to “County Sheriff’s Office”)
- Witness subpoena fee: $10.00 witness fee plus mileage, plus a $15.00 sheriff’s service fee
- Filing restrictions: No more than 10 small claims cases may be filed by one individual or business per calendar year
Small claims petitions must be signed before a notary public or a clerk’s office employee. Attorneys are generally not permitted in small claims proceedings, except when an attorney is personally a party to the case. Forms are available from the clerk’s office or through the Kansas Judicial Council.
Requesting Civil Records
Written requests for civil case documents should include the case number, party names, and type of document sought. Research fees and per-page copy fees apply; the fee schedule established under Resolution R22-01-001 governs KORA-based requests from county offices. Contact the clerk’s office at (913) 294-3326 to confirm current copy rates and acceptable payment methods before submitting a request.
Miami County Family Court Records
The Miami County District Court handles all family law matters, including divorce (dissolution of marriage), child custody and visitation, child support, adoption, guardianship of minors, and domestic violence protective orders. These matters are filed with the District Court Clerk and are generally accessible to the public, with the exception of adoption records and certain sealed proceedings.
Divorce Records
Divorce case records filed in Miami County are maintained by the District Court Clerk at the Paola courthouse. Certified copies of final divorce decrees may be obtained in person or by written request. For divorces finalized after July 1951, certified records may also be obtained directly from the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics. To request through either channel, provide the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case number if known.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by the Miami County District Court. After an officiant files the completed license, records are transmitted to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Office of Vital Statistics. Certified copies of marriage certificates are available from the KDHE Office of Vital Statistics. The standard fee for each certified copy is $20.00, with an additional $15.00 for expedited processing within 3–5 business days. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by phone at (877) 305-8315.
Birth and Death Certificates
Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Kansas are maintained by the KDHE Office of Vital Statistics, located at 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221, Phone: (785) 296-1400, email: kdhe.VitalRecords@ks.gov. Applications for certified copies are available through that office. Access to birth and death records is regulated to protect personal privacy, with restrictions based on the requester’s relationship to the individual on record.
Miami County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Miami County are handled by the Miami County District Court, which administers cases involving deceased persons’ estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. Probate records are generally public under KORA unless sealed by a judge. The District Court Clerk maintains all probate filings.
Types of Records in Probate
- Wills, codicils, and testamentary documents
- Estate inventories and orders of distribution
- Guardianship and conservatorship petitions and orders
- Trust-related filings and accountings
- Creditor claims and estate settlement documents
- Adoption records (restricted — generally sealed)
- Archived marriage license records in some historical cases
Requesting Probate Records
To access probate records in Miami County:
- Contact the District Court Clerk at (913) 294-3326 or visit the courthouse at 120 S Pearl Street during business hours (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday).
- Provide the decedent’s full name, approximate date of death, and probate case number if known.
- Specify whether you need plain copies or certified copies, and ask about current copy and certification fees.
- Submit a written request if the clerk requires it for formal KORA compliance.
The Miami County District Court Self-Help Center, operated in partnership with Kansas Legal Services, provides assistance to self-represented litigants in probate and other court matters, including wills and estate planning resources.
Property records that commonly intersect with probate matters — including deeds, mortgages, tax liens, and plats — are maintained by the Miami County Register of Deeds, at 201 S. Pearl Street, Suite 103, Paola, KS 66071, Phone: (913) 294-3716, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Miami County Appraiser’s Office at 201 S. Pearl Street, Suite 200, Phone: (913) 294-9311, handles property tax assessments and ownership records that may be relevant to estate inventories.