Montgomery County, Kansas Court Records
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Montgomery County, Kansas sits within the 14th Judicial District, and the District Court headquartered in Independence is the primary home for the county's trial court records. Those records cover a wide range of official documents produced during civil and criminal proceedings — warrants, motions, indictments, judgments, transcripts, court orders, settlement agreements, and exhibits. Knowing which office holds a particular record, and how to request it, is the most direct way to get what you need.
Kansas residents looking for court case information have several routes to explore. Official courthouse terminals, the district court clerk's office, and state-maintained online systems are the most reliable options. KansasCourts.us may also assist in locating publicly available court case information for Kansas counties, pointing you toward official court resources and clerk contacts. The sections below explain how the Montgomery County court system is organized and how to navigate each type of record.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Montgomery County?
Start with the District Court Clerk's Office — the central point of contact for case-level records in Montgomery County. Chief Clerk Becky J. Dye oversees two courthouse locations serving the county. For most civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims matters, records requests begin here.
Independence Courthouse (Primary)
Address: 300 E. Main Street, Suite 201, Independence, KS 67301
Phone: (620) 330-1070
Fax: (620) 331-6120
Coffeyville Courthouse
Address: 102 W. 7th Street, Suite A, Coffeyville, KS 67337
Phone: (620) 251-1060
Fax: (620) 251-2734
Both locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For online searches, the Kansas Case Search portal provides public access to district court case information statewide, including Montgomery County. As courts complete their transition to the centralized eCourt case management system, the volume of records searchable online continues to grow. The Kansas Judicial Branch also maintains a dedicated page on how to search District Court records, which explains the current state of online availability across all 31 judicial districts.
To request documents from a specific case, submit the request in writing to the court that handled the proceeding. The Kansas Judicial Branch provides a standardized Request Form for Court Records for written submissions. The clerk is required to act on written requests by the end of the third business day following receipt. If additional time is needed, the office must notify the requester.
The 14th Judicial District's official website publishes court calendars and docket information for both the Independence and Coffeyville locations, organized by hearing type — criminal, civil/domestic, and traffic. It's worth checking the online calendar before making a trip to the courthouse.
Are Court Records Public in Montgomery County?
The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-221, governs public access to government-held records in Kansas, including court records. Under KORA, records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. The burden of proving an exemption falls on the agency withholding the record — not on the person requesting it.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Court case files and transcripts
- Final civil and criminal judgments
- Court budgets
- Certified oaths of office
- Docket schedules and hearing notices
Records that are not available to the public include:
- Adoption records
- Expunged criminal records
- Juvenile and child-in-need-of-care records (with limited exceptions)
- Grand jury proceedings
- Certain criminal investigation records
- Personal identifying information of public employees
- Records sealed by court order
If a request is denied in whole or in part, the clerk must identify the specific legal authority for that denial. Common reasons include: the record doesn't exist, the request was submitted to the wrong court, the request is unclear, or the record falls within a recognized KORA exemption.
One practical limitation worth knowing: court staff cannot make legal determinations as part of a records search — for instance, they won't confirm whether a lien is currently active or a judgment has been satisfied. Staff will also not create a new record or compile bulk data in response to a request.
Montgomery County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Montgomery County — covering felonies, misdemeanors, and related preliminary matters — are heard by the Montgomery County District Court. Felony and serious criminal cases are assigned to District Court judges, while lower-level matters may be heard by district magistrate judges depending on classification. The 14th Judicial District currently includes Chief Judge Jeffrey Gettler and District Court Judges F. Williams Cullins, Jeffrey Gossard, and Dan Reynolds, all serving Montgomery County.
Criminal records maintained by the District Court include charging documents, warrant records, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and transcripts of proceedings. You can access these through a written request to the clerk's office, or search for case-level summaries through Kansas Case Search.
Arrest records are separate from court records. Booking information and jail rosters are maintained by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, not the District Court. The Sheriff's Office is located at 300 East Main Street, Independence, KS 67301, and can be reached at (620) 330-1000. A current jail roster is available on the Sheriff's website.
Expunged criminal records are sealed under Kansas law and are not available for public inspection. If you need official criminal history information for employment or licensing purposes, contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation directly — court records don't substitute for a certified criminal history check.
Standard copy fees for criminal court records follow the judicial administrator's schedule:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies | $0.25 per page |
| Certified document | $10.00 per document |
| Mailing (first 5 pages) | $0.50 |
| Mailing (each additional 5 pages) | $0.25 |
| Fax: (per page, up to 15 pages) | $0.50 per page |
| Clerical staff time | $20.00/hour (quarter-hour increments) |
| Professional staff time | $60.00/hour (quarter-hour increments) |
Montgomery County Civil Court Records
The Montgomery County District Court has general jurisdiction over civil matters, including standard civil litigation, limited actions, small claims, dispossessory proceedings, and garnishments. Kansas raised its small claims jurisdictional ceiling to $10,000 effective July 1, 2024 (K.S.A. 61-2704), meaning the Magistrate Court division now handles informal claims for money or property up to that threshold. No party may file more than 20 small claims cases per year.
Statewide district court filing fees apply in Montgomery County. A typical civil case filing carries a fee of $195.00, a felony criminal filing is $193.00, and a misdemeanor criminal filing is $158.00. Fee waivers are available for qualifying low-income individuals through a poverty affidavit filed with the clerk. The Kansas Self-Help website publishes the current fee schedule for all case types.
Civil case records — complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments — are maintained by the District Court Clerk and are available through the court records request process. Online case summaries are searchable through Kansas Case Search.
Property-related civil instruments — deeds, liens, mortgages, and UCC filings — are recorded separately through the Montgomery County Register of Deeds, not the court clerk. Contact the Register of Deeds at:
Montgomery County Register of Deeds
Address: 217 E. Myrtle Street, Suite 205, Independence, KS 67301
Mailing: P.O. Box 647, Independence, KS 67301
Phone: (620) 330-1140
Fax: (620) 330-1144
Website: mgcountyks.org/174/Register-of-Deeds
An online parcel search portal is also available for property record lookups without an in-person visit.
Montgomery County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Montgomery County — divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, visitation, and domestic violence proceedings — are handled by the District Court. The docket calendar on the 14th Judicial District website shows Independence Domestic/Civil dockets scheduled on a regular weekly rotation, reflecting the volume of family-related filings handled at that courthouse.
Divorce records are filed and maintained by the District Court Clerk. To access a specific divorce record, have the names of both parties and the approximate date or case number ready when you contact the clerk. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be requested in writing from the Independence courthouse. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Office of Vital Statistics also maintains official documentation of Kansas divorces under K.S.A. 23-2701 and can provide certified copies for records within its holdings.
Marriage licenses in Montgomery County are issued at the District Court Clerk's Office. Marriage records are largely public and can be accessed at the clerk's office by providing the names of the parties and the date of the marriage. Alternatively, the KDHE Office of Vital Statistics holds statewide marriage records and can be contacted at:
Kansas Office of Vital Statistics
Address: 1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Phone: (877) 305-8315
Birth records in Kansas are restricted by K.S.A. 65-2422d to the record subject, immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals holding a valid court order. Certified copies cost $20.00 per copy through the KDHE Office of Vital Statistics.
Death records are managed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Eligible requesters — immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a court order — may apply in person, by phone, or by mail. Required documentation includes a completed application form, valid photo identification, proof of eligibility, and a fee of $20.00 per certified copy.
For self-represented parties navigating family court proceedings, the Kansas Self-Help Center provides forms and instructional resources covering divorce, custody, and related domestic matters. The Kansas Judicial Council also publishes standardized legal forms available at no charge.
Montgomery County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Montgomery County are handled within the District Court under Kansas probate statutes (K.S.A. 59-301 et seq.). The District Court has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of decedents' estates, guardianships for both adults and minors, conservatorships, and trust administration matters.
Unlike most civil records, probate records are not fully public under Kansas law. Access is generally limited to legal representatives of the estate, immediate family members, named beneficiaries, creditors with a legal interest, and others who can demonstrate a legitimate interest in the proceeding. Direct your requests to the District Court Clerk's Office in Independence, and include the case number, names of the parties involved, valid identification, and documentation establishing your eligibility.
Commonly requested probate documents include:
- Last wills and testaments admitted to probate
- Petitions for letters testamentary or letters of administration
- Inventories and appraisements of estate assets
- Final accounting documents
- Court-ordered guardianship or conservatorship appointments
- Orders authorizing or denying claims against an estate
The Kansas Judicial Council's probate forms page provides standardized forms for initiating probate proceedings — including petitions for estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship — available free of charge for non-commercial use. The Kansas Self-Help Center also maintains a Probate & Elder Law section with forms and guidance for those handling estate matters without an attorney.
Probate filings carry standard District Court filing fees; conservatorship petitions are assessed at $91.50 under the current Kansas fee schedule. For questions about specific case types or costs before filing, contact the District Court Clerk at (620) 330-1070.