| Clerk of the District Court | Douglas County District Court — Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E 11th St, Lawrence, KS 66044 |
| Phone | (785) 832-5256 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Douglas County's trial court is the 7th Judicial District Court, and its Clerk of the District Court sits at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center in Lawrence. One clerk's office keeps all case types for the county: felonies, misdemeanors, civil suits, family cases, and probate.
The county's district court page links to the statewide "Kansas Court Records Requests" process on kscourts.gov and to a Court Records Request Form user's guide, rather than to a Douglas County-specific request form. Public access computers in the lobby of the Clerk's office at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center let visitors search case records without going through Kansas CaseSearch, though CaseSearch also covers Douglas County district court cases as part of the statewide system.
Lawrence and Baldwin City each operate their own municipal courts for city-ordinance violations and police-issued traffic tickets, which are separate from the district court and its records.
Search Douglas County court records online
Clerk of the District Court
Douglas County District Court — Clerk of the District Court
- Cost
- Free case search on CaseSearch; fees apply for copies requested from the clerk
- Coverage
- All 7th Judicial District case types filed in Douglas County, including criminal, civil, family, and probate matters
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The Clerk's Office page links to the statewide Kansas Court Records Requests process and a Court Records Request Form user's guide, and describes public access computers available at the courthouse.
What is available online
Douglas County District Court case information is included in Kansas CaseSearch (casesearch.kscourts.gov) as part of the statewide eCourt rollout, and public-access computers are also available in the lobby of the Clerk's Office at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center for on-site searches. Document availability online depends on when a case was filed relative to the county's move onto the Kansas eCourt system.
Which clerk has your record
In Kansas, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Kansas page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| District Courts | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil suits of any amount, including small claims | Clerk of the District Court for the judicial district |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued by city police; Minor misdemeanors charged under city code | Municipal court clerk for that city |
Request records in person or by mail
Douglas County clerk offices
Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E 11th St, Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM.
Use the statewide Kansas Court Records Requests process linked from the Clerk's Office page, or visit the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center at 111 E 11th St, Lawrence, in person. The office also publishes a Court Records Request Form user's guide describing what to include: the case number if known, the documents needed, and whether certified copies are required. Call (785) 832-5256 to confirm current fees.
Case status and basic docket information can also be checked first through Kansas CaseSearch or the courthouse's public access computers.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Kansas |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
K.S.A. 28-170 leaves the fee for certifying or copying a district court paper to be "prescribed by the district court," so there is no single statewide amount; each judicial district sets and posts its own copy and certification fees. Confirm the current fee with the clerk before mailing payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Kansas court records are open to the public by default, but several categories are not available online or in the courthouse index:
The Kansas guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search a Douglas County, Kansas court case online?
Search Kansas CaseSearch (casesearch.kscourts.gov) for Douglas County district court cases, or use the public access computers in the lobby of the Clerk's Office at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center in Lawrence.
How do I request court records in Douglas County, Kansas?
Use the statewide Kansas Court Records Requests process linked from the Clerk of the District Court's page, following the Court Records Request Form user's guide for what to include.
Are Lawrence traffic tickets part of the district court's records?
No. Tickets written by Lawrence police for city ordinance violations go to Lawrence Municipal Court, separate from the Douglas County District Court and Kansas CaseSearch.
Who keeps probate and family records in Douglas County?
The Douglas County District Court's Clerk of the District Court, the single office maintaining all district court case types, including probate and family matters, for the county.
Sources
- Douglas County District Court — Clerk of the District Court — https://www.dgcoks.gov/district-court/clerk-of-the-district-court
- Douglas County District Court — Court Records — https://www.dgcoks.gov/district-court/clerk-of-the-district-court/court-records
- Kansas CaseSearch — https://casesearch.kscourts.gov/
- Kansas Judicial Branch — About Kansas Courts — https://www.kscourts.gov/
- Search District Court Records — Kansas Courts eCourt — https://kscourts.gov/eCourt/District-Court-Records
- KBI Criminal History Record Search — Conducting a Record Check — https://www.kansas.gov/criminalhistory/conducting_record_check
- K.S.A. 21-6614 — Expungement of certain convictions, arrest records and diversion agreements — https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_066_0014.html
- K.S.A. 45-221 — Kansas Open Records Act, records exempt from disclosure — https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch45/045_002_0021.html
- K.S.A. 28-170 — District court clerk fees — https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch28/028_001_0070.html
- KBI Fact Sheet — Expungement of Criminal History Records — https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/info/docs/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Expungement%2002.2025.pdf
- United States District Court for the District of Kansas — https://www.ksd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Kansas counties.