Franklin County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Franklin County in 2026

FranklinKSRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Franklin County, Kansas. Members of the public seeking court filings, property documents, vital records, or other official records may locate relevant information through a combination of county offices, state-level portals, and online databases. The availability and completeness of records varies by record type, custodial office, and the date the record was created.

Record categories available through Franklin County government offices and affiliated state agencies include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Property tax and assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Online Access: Members of the public may search Franklin County District Court records through the Kansas Case Search portal, which allows searches by case number or party name. As Kansas courts transition to a centralized case management system, additional records are becoming available through the Kansas District Court Records portal. Property and tax records are accessible through the Franklin County Appraiser's and Treasurer's offices via the county's official website at franklincoks.org.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Franklin County Clerk's Office to inspect or request copies of public records. The office is located at 315 S. Main Street, Ottawa, KS 66067. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should identify the record type, approximate date range, and any known identifying information such as a party name or parcel number.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Franklin County Clerk's Office at 315 S. Main Street, Ottawa, KS 66067. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under K.S.A. § 45-218, the custodian must respond within three business days.

Phone/Email: The Franklin County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (785) 229-3410. Email inquiries may be directed through the contact form available on the Franklin County official website.

What Are Public Records in Franklin County?

Public records in Franklin County are defined under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), codified at K.S.A. § 45-215 et seq., as any recorded information, regardless of form or format, that is made, maintained, or kept by or on behalf of a public agency. The following record types are maintained by Franklin County offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Franklin County District Court Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Franklin County Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Kansas Department of Health and Environment / County Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	Franklin County Appraiser / Treasurer
Business licenses and permits	Franklin County Clerk
Voting and election records	Franklin County Election Office
Meeting minutes and agendas	Franklin County Clerk
Budget and financial documents	Franklin County Clerk / Commission
Law enforcement records	Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Franklin County Planning and Zoning

The Franklin County Register of Deeds maintains land records and instruments affecting real property. Tax records, including property assessments and payment histories, are accessible through the Kansas Department of Revenue and the county's own appraiser portal.

Is Franklin County an Open Records County?

Franklin County operates in full compliance with the Kansas Open Records Act, which establishes a presumption of openness for all public agency records. Under K.S.A. § 45-216, "it is the intent of the legislature 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 disclosure."

The Kansas Attorney General's office provides guidance to public agencies and requestors on the application of KORA. As stated in the Attorney General's open government summary, "the burden of proof is on the public agency to establish that a record or part of a record is not required to be open." Franklin County agencies are required to designate a records custodian and to respond to requests within three business days of receipt. The county does not impose residency requirements on requestors, and no statement of purpose is required to access non-exempt records.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Franklin County is governed by K.S.A. § 45-219, which authorizes public agencies to charge fees for providing copies of records, provided those fees do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Standard fees applicable to Franklin County records requests are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Black-and-white copies (per page)	$0.25 per page
Certification of records	$1.00 per document
Electronic format (CD/USB)	Actual cost of media
Search/staff time (if applicable)	Actual cost after first hour
Inspection of records	No charge

Inspection of public records at the custodial office is provided at no charge.
Copy fees apply when the requestor requires physical or electronic reproductions.
Certification fees apply when an official seal or attestation is required.
Accepted payment methods at the Franklin County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order payable to Franklin County.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodian.

Fees for court records obtained through the Franklin County District Court may differ from those charged by the County Clerk and are set by the Kansas Supreme Court's schedule of fees.

Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the custodial office during regular business hours, as required under state law. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may review records in person at no cost, but reproduction of those records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

The following resources provide free access to Franklin County records online:

Kansas Case Search — Members of the public may search Franklin County District Court case records at no charge through the Kansas District Court case lookup tool.
Franklin County Appraiser's Office — Property assessment and ownership records are available at no charge through the county's online property search portal at franklincoks.org.
Kansas District Court Records Portal — As the state transitions to a centralized system, additional court records are being made available through the eCourt District Court Records portal at no charge.
Kansas Department of Revenue — Certain tax-related public records are accessible through the Kansas revenue information portal.

Records that are subject to mandatory free access include those that an individual requests about themselves, in certain circumstances defined by state and federal law.

Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?

Any person may request public records from Franklin County agencies under the Kansas Open Records Act. The Act does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types, and public agencies may not condition access on the disclosure of the requestor's intended use.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Kansas retain full rights to request public records.
Identification: Agencies may request identification when the record type is restricted to specific individuals (e.g., sealed records or records containing protected personal information), but identification is not required for access to general public records.
Purpose: Not required for standard public records. Certain sensitive record categories may require the requestor to demonstrate a legitimate interest.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be entitled to access records that are otherwise restricted to third parties, subject to verification of identity.
Requesting records about others: Access to records containing personal identifying information, medical data, or other protected categories is subject to the exemptions outlined in KORA.

Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all entitled to submit records requests on equal terms under state law.

What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?

Not all records maintained by Franklin County agencies are subject to public disclosure. The Kansas Open Records Act enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Kansas law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active investigation are exempt from disclosure.
Social Security numbers and financial account data — Personal identifying information is redacted from publicly released records.
Medical and health records — Protected under both KORA exemptions and federal HIPAA regulations.
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records — Confidential under Kansas Department for Children and Families regulations.
Personnel records — Employee records are exempt except for name, position, salary, and dates of employment.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Exempt when submitted to a public agency under a confidentiality agreement.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Exempt to protect public safety.

Under K.S.A. § 45-221, the Kansas Open Records Act enumerates more than 50 specific categories of records that agencies may withhold from public disclosure. When a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodian is required to segregate and release the non-exempt portions.

Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Franklin County Register of Deeds
315 S. Main Street, Room 103
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785) 229-3420
Franklin County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Franklin County Clerk's Office
315 S. Main Street
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785) 229-3410
Franklin County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Franklin County District Court Clerk
301 S. Main Street
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785) 242-6000
Franklin County District Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Franklin County Sheriff's Office
109 E. 2nd Street
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785) 242-3945
Franklin County Sheriff

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Administrative); Dispatch available 24 hours.

Franklin County Appraiser's Office
315 S. Main Street
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785) 229-3450
Franklin County Appraiser