Sedgwick County Court Records Search
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Sedgwick County, home to the city of Wichita and over half a million residents, operates within the 18th Judicial District of Kansas. The county’s trial court system processes tens of thousands of cases annually across criminal, civil, domestic, probate, traffic, and juvenile dockets. All district court records — including marriage licenses, divorce decrees, civil judgments, criminal case files, probate filings, and support orders — are maintained by the Records Department of the 18th Judicial District Court, which functions as the custodian for purposes of public records requests.
Individuals looking to locate court records in Kansas can draw on several resources. The clerk’s office at the Sedgwick County Courthouse offers in-person access through public computer terminals, and the Kansas judicial branch operates a statewide online search tool called CaseSearch, which replaced the former District Court Public Access Portal in late 2025. The Wichita Municipal Court separately maintains its own online docket search for municipal-level offenses. For broader orientation, KansasCourts.us may help users identify publicly available court case information and navigate to specific clerk offices, forms, and filing resources across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sedgwick County?
There are three principal methods for looking up court case information in Sedgwick County: online searches, in-person visits to the courthouse, and written requests submitted by mail or email.
Online searches. The Kansas judicial branch’s CaseSearch tool allows registered users to search district court records by party name or case number. Registration is free and requires identity verification through ID.me for users seeking expanded access under Supreme Court Rule 25. CaseSearch displays case data and certain documents but does not show all case types. The following categories are excluded from online public access:
- Adoptions
- Care and treatment cases
- Domestic cases (all DM cases)
- Protection from abuse and protection from stalking cases
- Juvenile CINC and juvenile offender cases
- Grand jury proceedings
- Guardian/conservatorship cases
- Expungement cases
- Coroner reports and inquests
- Sealed or confidential documents
Public records not available through CaseSearch can still be viewed at the courthouse using a public access terminal. For municipal-level matters (traffic tickets, city ordinance violations), the Wichita Municipal Court online search allows lookups by name, case number, or citation number without registration.
In-person access. The Records Department is located on the sixth floor of the Sedgwick County Courthouse. Public access computers are available during business hours for searching and viewing case records.
Sedgwick County District Court — Main Courthouse
Address: 525 North Main Street, Wichita, KS 67203
Phone: (316) 660-5900
Fax: (316) 941-5361
Courthouse hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Clerk hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sedgwick County District Court — Juvenile Courthouse
Address: 1900 East Morris Street, Wichita, KS 67211
Phone: (316) 660-5900
Courthouse hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Clerk hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Written requests. Court records relating to a specific case must be requested from the court that processed the case. For district court records, submit a completed records request form containing party names and case details to the Records Department by mail or email:
18th Judicial District Court
Records Department
525 North Main Street, Suite 616
Wichita, KS 67203
Email: sg.micro@kscourts.org
Copy and processing fees are established by the judicial administrator under Supreme Court Rule 1.03:
- Copies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 per document
- Mailing: $0.50 for first five pages, $0.25 per additional five pages
- Faxing: $0.50 per page (limit of 15 pages)
- Staff time for document preparation: $20.00 per hour (clerical) or $60.00 per hour (professional), charged in quarter-hour increments
All Sedgwick County district court filings also carry an additional $2.00 surcharge on top of standard statewide docket fees. Pre-payment may be required before a records request is processed.
Are Court Records Public in Sedgwick County?
The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), codified at K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., establishes a general right for any person to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by Kansas courts, unless those records are exempt from disclosure by statute, Supreme Court rule, or court order. Sedgwick County’s KORA information page further explains county-level procedures for requesting public records.
Commonly available court records include civil case files, criminal conviction records, court transcripts, marriage records, divorce records, wills, probate filings, and spousal and child support records. Public access extends to viewing these records on courthouse terminals and, for certain case types and documents, through CaseSearch online under the parameters of Supreme Court Rule 22.
Records that are closed or exempt under KORA include:
- Juvenile offender records (K.S.A. 38-2309)
- Adoption records
- Grand jury proceedings
- Expunged criminal records
- Sealed documents
- Certain criminal investigation records
- Medical, psychological, and psychiatric records
- Drug dependence and alcoholism treatment records
- Records involving care and treatment of mentally ill persons
- Privileged information under Kansas rules of evidence
When only a portion of a record is exempt, the court will separate or redact the restricted information and provide the remainder. A request that is denied in whole or in part must include the specific legal authority for the denial, per KORA requirements. The court clerk will not conduct searches that require legal determinations (such as confirming whether a judgment is current) or create records that do not already exist.
Sedgwick County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Sedgwick County are heard by the 18th Judicial District Court, which has general jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions, misdemeanors bound over from municipal courts, and related criminal proceedings. The Wichita Municipal Court handles city-level offenses such as traffic violations and ordinance infractions.
Searching criminal case records. Criminal case data is accessible through CaseSearch for cases that are not sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted. Municipal-level offenses can be searched through the Wichita Municipal Court portal. To obtain copies of criminal case documents, submit a written request to the Records Department (address and email listed above) with the defendant’s name, case number, and a description of the documents needed.
Filing fees for criminal cases (statewide schedule, plus the $2.00 Sedgwick County surcharge):
| Case Type | Docket Fee |
|---|---|
| Criminal Felony | $193.00 |
| Criminal Misdemeanor | $158.00 |
| Criminal Murder/Manslaughter | $202.50 |
Arrest and inmate records. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office maintains a searchable online inmate roster that contains booking information on persons currently in custody at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility (141 West Elm Street, Wichita, KS 67203). For arrest reports or other law enforcement records, direct requests to the Sheriff’s Office or the specific police department that made the arrest.
Statewide criminal history checks. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) maintains the Central Repository of criminal history record information for the state. Any person may request an adult conviction history through the following methods:
- Name-based online check — $30.00 per individual. Requires the subject’s first name, last name, and date of birth. Conducted through the KBI’s online record check system.
- Fingerprint-based check (mail) — $45.00 per individual. Submit a completed FBI Applicant Fingerprint Card (FD-258) and payment to KBI, Attn: Criminal History Records Section, 1620 SW Tyler, Topeka, KS 66612-1837.
- Certified record check (mail only) — $40.00 (name-based) or $55.00 (fingerprint-based). Required for visa applications, adoptions, and similar formal validations. Use the KBI’s certified record check request form.
Public criminal history results include court convictions for felonies and misdemeanors, confinements in Kansas DOC facilities, arrests within the past 12 months where disposition has not been received, and active diversions. The KBI does not release juvenile offender records, expunged records, successfully completed diversions, or non-conviction arrests to the general public.
Sedgwick County Civil Court Records
The 18th Judicial District Court exercises jurisdiction over all civil matters in Sedgwick County, including contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, property damage claims, landlord-tenant actions, small claims, and foreclosures. The Family Law Division clerks handle approximately 8,500 domestic-related cases per year, while the civil docket also encompasses general equity cases, administrative appeals, and tax matters.
Accessing civil court records. Civil case information is searchable through CaseSearch by party name or case number. To obtain document copies, submit a written request to the Records Department at 525 North Main Street, Suite 616, Wichita, KS 67203 (email: sg.micro@kscourts.org). Provide the case number, party names, and a description of the specific documents needed, along with applicable fees.
Civil filing fees (statewide schedule; add $2.00 Sedgwick County surcharge):
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil — Limited Actions (≤ $25,000) | $101.00 |
| Civil — Unlimited | $195.00 |
| Small Claims (≤ $500) | $35.00 |
| Small Claims ($500.01–$4,000) | $55.00 |
| Dispositive Motion / Summary Judgment | $195.00 |
| Forcible Detainer (Eviction) | $60.50 |
Individuals who cannot afford filing fees may request a waiver by completing a Poverty Affidavit. The court’s forms page provides downloadable documents for small claims, evictions, motions, name changes, and other common civil filings. Many statewide-approved forms are also available through the Kansas Judicial Council.
Copy fees follow the same schedule outlined above: $0.25 per page for uncertified copies and $10.00 per certified document.
Sedgwick County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Sedgwick County — including divorce (dissolution of marriage), paternity, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal maintenance, and protection from abuse or stalking — are filed in the 18th Judicial District Court’s Family Law Division. The court also oversees adoptions, which are processed through the Probate Division.
Divorce filings and forms. The statewide docket fee for divorce and paternity cases is $195.00 (plus the $2.00 Sedgwick County surcharge). Self-represented litigants can access packets for divorce without children and divorce with children on the court’s website, which include petitions, affidavits, financial disclosure forms, parenting plans, and summons. The Kansas Judicial Council also publishes approved divorce forms.
Protection orders. Protection from abuse (PFA) and protection from stalking (PFS) cases are filed at the district court. These case types are excluded from online public access through CaseSearch.
Kids First program. Parents involved in custody or visitation disputes may be required to attend the Kids First parenting class. Contact the clerk’s office at (316) 660-5727 or email sg.kidsfirst@kscourts.org to schedule enrollment.
Requesting family court records. Submit a completed records request form to the Records Department (525 North Main Street, Suite 616, Wichita, KS 67203; email: sg.micro@kscourts.org). Note that domestic case files (all DM cases), protection from abuse and stalking cases, and adoption records are not accessible through CaseSearch and can only be viewed at the courthouse terminal or obtained through a written request, subject to KORA restrictions.
Marriage licenses. The Records Department processes marriage licenses for Sedgwick County. Applicants may apply for a marriage license online through the Kansas Courts website. After the ceremony, the completed license can be dropped off in person or mailed to the Records Department at Suite 616.
Marriage and divorce certificates. Certified copies of marriage certificates and divorce certificates are also available from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Office of Vital Statistics. The cost is $20.00 per certified copy. Requests can be submitted by mail (check or money order) to the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221, or by using the KDHE’s online application for marriage certificates or divorce certificates. An additional $15.00 expedited service fee applies for internet or telephone orders placed through VitalChek.
Birth and death records. The KDHE Office of Vital Statistics is the custodian of birth and death records in Kansas. Certified copies cost $20.00 each and can be requested in person at the Topeka office, by mail, through the IKAN mobile app ($5.00 processing fee applies), or by telephone/internet through VitalChek ($15.00 expedited fee). Eligibility for certified copies is restricted under KORA to the record subject, immediate family members, legal representatives, and other persons with a direct interest. Application forms for birth certificates and death certificates are available on the KDHE website.
Sedgwick County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the 18th Judicial District Court is responsible for filing and maintaining records on all probate actions in Sedgwick County, as well as receiving and disbursing money as ordered by the court. The probate clerks process approximately 2,700 cases per year. Probate case types include:
- Decedent estates (testate and intestate)
- Guardianships and conservatorships (minors and incapacitated adults)
- Adoptions
- Care and treatment of mentally ill persons or persons with alcohol dependency
- Trust matters
Confidentiality restrictions. Adoption records and care and treatment cases are confidential under Kansas law and are not available to the general public. Guardianship and conservatorship case files are also excluded from CaseSearch and can only be accessed at the courthouse or through written request, subject to applicable KORA provisions.
Searching probate records. Probate case data that is public may be accessible via CaseSearch, though many probate-related case types are excluded from the online portal. In-person searches on the public access computer at the courthouse remain the most comprehensive method for locating probate information. To obtain copies of specific documents, submit a records request form to the Records Department.
Probate forms. The court provides local forms including the Annual Accounting form and the Guardianship Report form. Additional state-approved forms for guardianships, conservatorships, and other protective proceedings are available through the Kansas judicial branch forms page.
Property records. While not part of the probate case file, property ownership records are frequently relevant during estate administration. The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds maintains deed records from 1930 to the present, indexed and available for public viewing online. The Register of Deeds office is located in the Ruffin Building, 100 North Broadway, Suite 105, Wichita, KS 67202. Property tax, appraisal, and sales data can also be searched through the county’s property tax and appraisal portal and the mobile land records search tool.