Sedgwick County Court Records
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Sedgwick County is home to Wichita and more than half a million residents, and its courts operate within the 18th Judicial District of Kansas. Tens of thousands of cases move through the system each year, covering criminal, civil, domestic, probate, traffic, and juvenile dockets. All district court records — marriage licenses, divorce decrees, civil judgments, criminal case files, probate filings, support orders, and more — are kept by the Records Department of the 18th Judicial District Court, which handles all public records requests for those materials.
Several resources can help you track down court records in Kansas. The clerk's office at the Sedgwick County Courthouse offers in-person access through public computer terminals, and the Kansas judicial branch runs a statewide online search tool called CaseSearch, which replaced the former District Court Public Access Portal in late 2025. The Wichita Municipal Court maintains its own separate online docket search for municipal-level offenses. If you need broader orientation, KansasCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information and find clerk offices, forms, and filing resources across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sedgwick County?
You have three main options for finding court case information in Sedgwick County: searching online, visiting the courthouse in person, or submitting a written request by mail or email.
Online searches. The Kansas judicial branch's CaseSearch tool lets registered users search district court records by party name or case number. Registration is free, but users who want expanded access under Supreme Court Rule 25 will need to verify their identity through ID.me. CaseSearch shows case data and certain documents, but it doesn't cover every case type. 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 on a public access terminal. For municipal-level matters — traffic tickets, city ordinance violations — the Wichita Municipal Court online search lets you look up cases by name, case number, or citation number without registering.
In-person access. The Records Department is 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. To request records tied to a specific case, you'll need to contact the court that processed it. For district court records, fill out the records request form — include party names and case details — and submit it 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 set 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 the 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 the 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., gives anyone the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by Kansas courts — unless those records are exempt under a statute, Supreme Court rule, or court order. Sedgwick County's KORA information page explains county-level procedures for requesting public records.
Records that are generally available to the public include civil case files, criminal conviction records, court transcripts, marriage records, divorce records, wills, probate filings, and spousal and child support records. You can view many of these on courthouse terminals, and certain case types and documents are also accessible through CaseSearch online under the parameters of Supreme Court Rule 22.
The following records are closed or exempt under KORA:
- 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
If only part of a record is exempt, the court will separate or redact the restricted information and release the rest. Any denial — in whole or in part — must cite the specific legal authority for that decision, as KORA requires. Keep in mind that the court clerk won't conduct searches requiring legal determinations (such as confirming whether a judgment is still active) or create records that don't already exist.
Sedgwick County Criminal Court Records
All criminal cases in Sedgwick County — felony prosecutions, misdemeanors bound over from municipal courts, and related criminal proceedings — are heard by the 18th Judicial District Court. City-level offenses like traffic violations and ordinance infractions go through the Wichita Municipal Court instead.
Searching criminal case records. Criminal case data for cases that aren't sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted is searchable through CaseSearch. For municipal-level offenses, use the Wichita Municipal Court portal. To get copies of criminal case documents, submit a written request to the Records Department — include the defendant's name, case number, and a description of what you need.
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 with booking information on people currently held at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility (141 West Elm Street, Wichita, KS 67203). For arrest reports or other law enforcement records, contact 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 entire state. Anyone can 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. Submit through the KBI's online record check system.
- Fingerprint-based check (mail) — $45.00 per individual. Send 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 a disposition hasn't yet 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 handles all civil matters in Sedgwick County — contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, property damage claims, landlord-tenant actions, small claims, foreclosures, and more. The Family Law Division clerks process roughly 8,500 domestic-related cases per year, and the civil docket also includes general equity cases, administrative appeals, and tax matters.
Accessing civil court records. Search civil case information through CaseSearch by party name or case number. To get 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). Include the case number, party names, a description of the specific documents you need, and the applicable fees.
Civil filing fees (statewide schedule; add the $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 |
If you can't afford the filing fees, you can ask the court to waive them by completing a Poverty Affidavit. The court's forms page has 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 listed above: $0.25 per page for uncertified copies and $10.00 per certified document.
Sedgwick County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Sedgwick County — 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. Adoptions are also handled here, 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). If you're representing yourself, the court's website has downloadable packets for divorce without children and divorce with children, 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 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. Fill out the records request form and submit it 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 — you can only view them at a courthouse terminal or obtain them through a written request, subject to KORA restrictions.
Marriage licenses. The Records Department processes marriage licenses for Sedgwick County. You can apply for a marriage license online through the Kansas Courts website. After the ceremony, drop off the completed license in person or mail it to the Records Department at Suite 616.
Marriage and divorce certificates. Certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates are also available from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Office of Vital Statistics. Each certified copy costs $20.00. Submit requests by mail (check or money order) to the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221, or use 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 also holds Kansas birth and death records. 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 or internet through VitalChek ($15.00 expedited fee). Access to certified copies is generally limited under KORA to the record subject, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a direct interest. Download application forms for birth certificates and death certificates from the KDHE website.
Sedgwick County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the 18th Judicial District Court files and maintains records for all probate actions in Sedgwick County, and also receives and disburses money as ordered by the court. The probate clerks handle roughly 2,700 cases per year. 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 a written request, subject to applicable KORA provisions.
Searching probate records. Probate case data that is public may be accessible through CaseSearch, though many probate-related case types are excluded from the online portal. For the most complete search, visiting the public access computer at the courthouse is usually your best option. To get 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. Property ownership records often come up 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 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.