Start My Answer
loading...

Kansas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit

Dena Standley | June 04, 2024

Dena Standley
Legal Expert, Paralegal
Dena Standley, BA

Dena Standley is a seasoned paralegal with more than 20 years of experience in legal research and writing, having received a certification as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal from Southern Technical College.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Kansas courts make it relatively easy to find and access your court records if you’re being sued by a debt collector. You can check the status of your Kansas court case at the courthouse or online. Use SoloSuit to respond to a debt collection lawsuit and increase your chances of winning by 7x.

A debt collection lawsuit can destabilize your life financially and psychologically—the uncertainty of whether you'll win your case or not can make you feel helpless. Accessing your case records can help ease the tension because you can plan accordingly and ensure the debt collection agency has filed accurate information, all while staying updated on the status of your case..

Kansas allows its citizens to access their records online or physically by visiting the courthouse where the collection agency filed the case. This article will help you understand how the Kansas judicial system works and how to access your case records.

Sued for debt in Kansas? Use SoloSettle to settle your debts for good.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

Court Structure in Kansas

Understanding the Kansas court system will save you time and resources and help you know which court has jurisdiction over your case. Since debt collection lawsuits are considered civil cases, this section will focus on Kansas’ civil court structure.

Use the information below to find out where, why, and how your case was filed. The Kansas court structure has four levels of courts. Kansas civil courts have three levels: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Courts. Each court performs various functions as follows:

  • Supreme Court: Located in Topeka, this is the court of last resort for the state. It hears cases from the Court of Appeals and, in some situations, directly from the district courts. In addition, it can transfer cases from the Court of Appeals or review cases already decided by the same court.
  • Court of Appeals: Known as an intermediate appellate court, this court hears cases from the district courts in criminal, civil, and writ application matters. However, they do not listen to cases appealed directly to the Supreme Court. So, if you disagree with the decision of the district courts and make an appeal, it’s very likely that the Court of Appeals will be the next court to hear your case.
  • District Courts: These courts have general jurisdiction over civil cases, including small claims not exceeding $4,000 and regular civil cases with no monetary limit. Most proceedings with jury participation occur here.

The graphic below further illustrates the Kansas court structure:

KS court structure

Your debt collection case will be heard in the District Court, likely under the small claims division, in your county. The small claims division offers the parties a rapid case progression at minimal costs, and you do not need an attorney to represent you. Any amount exceeding $4,000 will be handled by the District Court’s regular civil division with jurisdiction over that amount.

You’re probably thinking you need to hire an attorney to represent you in your debt collection case. Finding a lawyer can be stressful and expensive. Save yourself the anxiety and money by representing yourself with SoloSuit’s help.

Watch this video to learn how to answer a debt collection lawsuit without hiring an attorney:

How to find your case number in Kansas

Kansas enables you to access your records easily due to the case numbers they assign to every matter presented to the court. The court clerk derives the number from information such as the case type, the year the case was filed, and the county's initials.

You can find your case number by submitting your details in the Appellate Courts Search Portal or the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. The results will produce the case details with the case number.

You can also visit the courthouse where the case was filed and submit your details to the court clerk, who’ll look for the case number at a small fee. Find your county’s district court location here.

How to access your case records in Kansas

You can only access your case files at the courthouse where the case is filed or online. If you don’t know where your courthouse is located, check the lawsuit Summons and Complaint you received; the court name and address are usually indicated. Let’s discuss the two main ways you can access your case information a little further.

Access your Kansas court case records in-person

To find the exact court location, visit the Kansas District Court directory page and find the judicial district in which your county is located. The 105 counties in Kansas are shared among 31 judicial districts. For example, district 20 serves Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell, and Stafford counties.

Check each district until you find your county’s name. Next, click on the district, and you’ll be taken to a page with the courthouse names listed together with the contact information.

When you arrive at the courthouse, you’ll be required to submit a written request containing your details, and the court clerk will look for the case records. In some courts, all you have to do is ask the court clerk for help. Some courthouses also have public terminals where you can access your files. You may be charged a small fee to make copies.

Access your Kansas court case records online

Online access is the quickest way to find your case records in Kansas. Citizens can access their case information for free using the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. The only downside is that you must fill out this form to make copies. You have several options to choose from to find your case information:

  • Smart search
  • General options (county search)
  • Party search
  • Case search

Let’s consider an example.

Example: Doug had a debt of $900 with TrueAccord, and after ignoring their attempts to collect, he received a Summons and Complaint from them. Extremely worried, Doug went online to research what to do. SoloSuit’s video’s helped him understand his next step was to file a response. Dough used SoloSuit to draft and file his Answer, after which he also learned that he could follow up on the case by searching his case records online. He went to the Kansan Public Access portal and searched for his case information by entering the case number indicated in the lawsuit. With this information, Dough was able to stay updated on his case each step of the way.


Notably, the following counties use the Kansas Office of Administration website to provide case information at a fee of $1.50 per search:

  • Douglas
  • Sedgwick
  • Shawnee
  • Wyandotte

Shawnee county also gives its citizens a free portal to search their cases apart from the one that charges. You can access Johnson county court records using this link. If your case is in the appellate courts, use Kansas Appellate Courts' Case Inquiry System to search for your case information.

SoloSuit wants to help

SoloSuit wants to help you win your debt collection case using our documents acceptable in Kansas courts. They include Debt Validation Letter, an Answer, and a Motion to Compel Arbitration. These documents increase your chances of receiving a fair judgment or forcing the lawsuit out of court. You can also use SoloSettle which makes it easy to settle a debt.

Decide what to do next

What is the last document you received?

This calculator is for educational purposes only.

What is Solo?

Solo makes it easy to resolve debt with debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt. SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

SoloSettle can help you contact your debt collector or creditor and negotiate the debt to settle for less, all online. It simplifies and streamlines the process to settling your debt.

No matter where you find yourself in the debt collection process, Solo is here to help you resolve your debt.

Respond with SoloSuit

"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James

Get Started

We have answers.
Join our community of over 40,000 people.

You can ask your questions on the SoloSuit forum and the community will help you out. Whether you need help now or are just looking for support, we're here for you.

Ask a Question.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Debt collector guides

Are you being contacted by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt settlement

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created state guides on debt settlement. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Legal aid

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing with medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state’s statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Wage garnishment

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources



Contents