Douglas County
Douglas County was established in 1855 and named after Stephen Douglas, a U.S. Senator from Illinois. It is located in northeastern Kansas and spans approximately 475 square miles. The county seat and largest city is Lawrence. As of 2022, the county had a population of about 119,094 residents, making it the state's fifth most populous county. Douglas County's court system is composed of the District Court and Municipal Courts.
Douglas County District Court handles all civil and criminal cases, with specialized divisions based on case types. The Civil Division handles civil disputes, such as lawsuits for damages to personal rights and property. The Criminal Division manages criminal cases, including felonies and misdemeanors. The Family Division oversees domestic relations cases, including divorce, child custody, and child support. The Juvenile Division deals with cases involving minors, including delinquency and child welfare matters. The Probate Division handles estates, wills, guardianship matters, and care for the mentally ill. Douglas County Municipal Courts, including Baldwin City, Eudora, and Lawrence, have limited jurisdiction over cases involving city ordinance violations, such as traffic and criminal offenses.
Douglas County court records consist of various legal documents, such as case filings, transcripts, and judgments generated during legal proceedings within the county. These records serve as evidence in appeals and precedents for future judgments. Common court records in Douglas County include:
- Criminal Records
- Family Records
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Records
Douglas County Clerk of Court is responsible for filing, recording, and making court documents publicly available under the Kansas Open Records Act. Interested individuals can access these records through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. However, restricted records, such as juvenile and adoption cases, require special permission. For physical copies of court records, the Douglas County Court Clerk's office can be contacted at:
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-5256
