Cowley County
Located in southern Kansas, Cowley County was established in 1867 and named after Matthew Cowley, a prominent military officer who died during the American Civil War. It is the 7th largest county in Kansas, covering about 1,126 square miles. The county has a population of 34,661 people, with Winfield as its county seat.
Cowley County has two trial courts, including the District and Municipal Courts. The Cowley County District Court and 19th Judicial District Court in Kansas have general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases in Cowley County. It resolved civil lawsuits like contract breaches, personal injuries, property disputes, and landlord-tenant issues. In addition to civil matters, the court also handles criminal trials, including felonies like burglary, assault, drug offenses, and serious misdemeanors.
The Court's Domestic Relations Division handles divorce cases, child custody/support disputes, and juvenile cases. Probate cases involving disputed wills, guardianships, and conservatorships are resolved at the Probate Division. Cowley County has several Municipal Courts located in Winfield, Arkansas City, and Udall. These courts handle cases involving violations of city ordinances, such as traffic infractions, minor criminal offenses, and code enforcement issues.
Cowley County public court records are legal documents created, filed, or received during court proceedings. These documents typically contain initial complaints, charges, defendants/plaintiffs' names, petitions, evidence, court transcripts, orders, and judgments. The Kansas Open Records Act allows members of the public to view, inspect, and request copies of court records. Interested persons can request the following court records in Cowley County:
- Criminal court records
- Probate court records
- Small claims court records
- Civil records
- Family law records
However, mental health and adoption records are not available to the public. Individuals interested in public court documents can submit completed request forms by mail or in person to the Clerk of District Court at:
Cowley County Courthouse
311 East 9th Avenue
Winfield, KS 67156
Phone: (620) 221-5470
Requesters can also find court records online via Kansas' District Court Public Access Portal. Users can access desired case files by choosing the county's trial court and then searching by case number or name.
