Leavenworth County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Leavenworth County?

Public records in Leavenworth County are defined as any recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, which is made or received under law or in connection with the transaction of official business by any government agency, as specified in the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). Pursuant to K.S.A. § 45-216, these records are maintained by public agencies and are generally available for public inspection.

Leavenworth County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

• Court records - civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Leavenworth County District Court
• Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Register of Deeds Office
• Vital records - birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates (maintained at state level by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment)
• Business records - licenses, permits, and fictitious business names
• Tax records - property tax information and assessment records maintained by the County Treasurer and Appraiser
• Voting and election records - voter registration and election results maintained by the County Clerk
• Meeting minutes and agendas - records of County Commission and various boards and committees
• Budget and financial documents - county expenditures, revenues, and financial reports
• Law enforcement records - arrest logs and incident reports (with statutory limitations)
• Land use and zoning records - planning documents, permits, and zoning decisions

Each record type is maintained by a specific county department or office. The Leavenworth County Register of Deeds maintains property records, while court records are under the jurisdiction of the Clerk of the District Court. Vital records, though related to county residents, are primarily maintained at the state level by the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics.

Is Leavenworth County an Open Records County?

Leavenworth County fully complies with the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), which establishes the public's right to access government records. Under K.S.A. § 45-218, all public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by the Act, and suitable facilities shall be made available by each public agency for this purpose.

The Kansas Open Records Act specifically states that "it is declared to be the public policy of the state that public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by this act, and this act shall be liberally construed and applied to promote such policy." This foundational principle guides Leavenworth County's approach to records access.

The City of Leavenworth has established specific procedures for handling public records requests in accordance with state law. County offices maintain official policies that outline the process for requesting and obtaining public records, including designated record custodians for each department.

Leavenworth County also adheres to the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions. This commitment to transparency extends to making meeting minutes, agendas, and other public documents readily available.

The County Commission has adopted formal policies regarding public records access that align with state requirements while establishing county-specific procedures for efficiently processing requests.

How to Find Public Records in Leavenworth County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Leavenworth County may follow these procedures to access the information they need:

1. Identify the appropriate department that maintains the desired records:

   • For court records, contact the Leavenworth County District Court
   • For property records, contact the Register of Deeds Office
   • For vital records, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
   • For county commission records, contact the County Clerk

2. Submit a formal records request:

   • In person at the appropriate office
   • By mail to the designated records custodian
   • By email (for departments that accept electronic requests)
   • Through the county's online records portal (for participating departments)

3. Complete the official records request form, which typically requires:

   • Requestor's name and contact information
   • Specific description of the records sought
   • Preferred format for receiving records (paper copies, electronic files, inspection only)

4. Pay any applicable fees (discussed in detail in the following section)

5. Allow time for processing:

   • Under K.S.A. § 45-218(d), agencies must act upon requests "as soon as possible"
   • Agencies must provide an explanation if records cannot be produced within three business days
   • Complex requests may require additional time for review and processing

For court records, the Leavenworth County District Court Clerk serves as the official custodian and can assist with locating case files, judgments, and other court documents. Property records can be searched through the Register of Deeds online portal, which provides access to land records, mortgages, and related documents.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Office of Vital Statistics handles requests for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occurred in Kansas, including Leavenworth County.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Leavenworth County?

Leavenworth County charges fees for public records in accordance with K.S.A. § 45-219, which permits agencies to charge reasonable fees for providing access to or copies of public records. Current standard fees include:

• Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus certification fee
• Electronic records: $0.25 per page for scanned documents or actual cost of reproduction
• Staff time: $30.00 per hour for research and retrieval services exceeding the first 15 minutes

The Register of Deeds Office charges specific fees for property records:

• $30.00 per hour for research conducted by staff
• $1.00 per page for copies of recorded documents
• Additional fees for certified copies

The District Court maintains its own fee schedule for court records:

• $0.25 per page for copies of court documents
• $5.00 for certified copies of court documents
• Additional fees for complete case files based on page count

Vital records obtained through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have standardized fees:

• $15.00 for a certified copy of a birth certificate
• $15.00 for a certified copy of a death certificate
• $15.00 for a certified copy of a marriage or divorce certificate

Accepted payment methods include:

• Cash (in-person requests only)
• Check or money order (made payable to the specific department)
• Credit/debit cards (in most departments, subject to processing fees)
• Online payments for certain record types

Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances when the request is determined to be in the public interest, primarily benefiting the general public rather than the requestor. Such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis by the records custodian.

Does Leavenworth County Have Free Public Records?

Leavenworth County provides free inspection of public records in accordance with K.S.A. § 45-218, which states that "all public records shall be open for inspection by any person." While copying fees apply, members of the public may examine records at no cost during regular business hours at the appropriate county office.

The following free public records resources are available:

• In-person inspection of non-confidential records at county offices during regular business hours
• Online access to County Commission meeting agendas and minutes
• Basic property information through the County Appraiser's online database
• Court case information through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal (basic case information only)
• Voter registration verification through the County Clerk's office
• Public notices and announcements on the county website

The Leavenworth County Register of Deeds provides public access terminals for searching property records at no cost, though printing fees apply. Similarly, the District Court offers public access terminals for reviewing court records without charge, with fees applying only when copies are requested.

The County Clerk maintains public access to county commission records, ordinances, and resolutions that may be inspected without charge during regular business hours.

Who Can Request Public Records in Leavenworth County?

Under the Kansas Open Records Act, specifically K.S.A. § 45-217(d), "any person" may request access to public records in Leavenworth County. This broad definition includes:

• Kansas residents
• Non-residents of Kansas
• Business entities
• Media organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Government agencies

Requestors are not required to:

• Provide identification for most record types (though ID is required for certain restricted records)
• State the purpose of their request
• Explain how they intend to use the records
• Be a resident of Leavenworth County or Kansas

However, certain record types have specific eligibility restrictions:

• Vital records (birth, death certificates) - Only the person named in the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a direct interest may obtain copies, per K.S.A. § 65-2422d
• Adoption records - Access is restricted to parties involved in the adoption or by court order
• Juvenile court records - Generally confidential with limited access by statute
• Medical records - Protected under HIPAA and state privacy laws

When requesting your own records versus records about others, different standards may apply:

• Personal records typically require identity verification
• Records about others may be subject to privacy protections and redactions
• Professional licenses and business records generally remain accessible to all requestors

Law enforcement records have specific access provisions under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(10), with certain investigative records being exempt from disclosure or subject to redaction.

What Records Are Confidential in Leavenworth County?

Leavenworth County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with K.S.A. § 45-221, which provides numerous exemptions to the Kansas Open Records Act. These exemptions include:

• Personnel records of public employees, except for names, positions, salaries, and employment dates
• Medical, psychiatric, and psychological records of identifiable individuals
• Juvenile offender records, sealed or expunged pursuant to K.S.A. § 38-2312
• Records protected by attorney-client privilege or work product doctrine
• Records containing personal information about enrolled students
• Records of emergency or security procedures for public buildings or facilities
• Criminal investigation records that would interfere with investigations or prosecutions
• Records containing personal information about victims of certain crimes
• Records containing information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy
• Records containing trade secrets or confidential commercial information
• Records pertaining to bidding specifications until the bid is awarded
• Sealed court records and expunged criminal history information
• Records related to child welfare cases and child in need of care proceedings
• Records containing individually identifiable health information protected under HIPAA
• Records containing Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personal identifiers
• Records related to ongoing litigation until the matter has been resolved
• Records that would reveal the precise location of archaeological or historic sites
• Records of utility customers, including usage data and personal information

The county applies a balancing test when considering records that may contain both public and private information, weighing the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests. In such cases, records may be provided with confidential information redacted.

Agencies may exercise discretion in releasing certain exempt records when disclosure would serve the public interest, as permitted by K.S.A. § 45-221(d).

Leavenworth County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Leavenworth County Register of Deeds
300 Walnut Street, Suite 103
Leavenworth, KS 66048
(913) 684-0424
Leavenworth County Register of Deeds

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Leavenworth County District Court Clerk
601 S. 3rd Street, Suite 3051
Leavenworth, KS 66048
(913) 684-0700
Leavenworth County District Court

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and court-observed holidays

Leavenworth County Clerk
300 Walnut Street, Suite 106
Leavenworth, KS 66048
(913) 684-0421
Leavenworth County Clerk

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics
Curtis State Office Building
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-1400
Kansas Office of Vital Statistics

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and state holidays

Lookup Public Records in Leavenworth County

Leavenworth County District Court Records

Leavenworth County Property Records Search

City of Leavenworth Open Public Records

Kansas Vital Records Information