Register of Deeds: Open Records, Overpayment Policy & FAQs
Current Policy
Effective October 1, 2007, we have adopted the following document fee overpayment policy. See Resolution No. 090607, which was adopted on September 6, 2007.
Open Records
Exception
All records in the Office of the Register of Deeds are open records except for the Kansas Real Estate Validation Questionnaire. The questionnaire is open to those protesting their taxes and to Kansas Certified General Real Property Appraisers.
K.S.A. 45-230 Provides
"No person shall knowingly sell, give or receive, for the purpose of selling or offering for sale, any property or service to persons listed therein, any lists of names and addresses contained therein, or derived from public records."
Current Policy
Effective October 1, 2007, we have adopted the following document fee overpayment policy. See Resolution No. 090607, which was adopted on September 6, 2007.
Open Records
Exception
All records in the Office of the Register of Deeds are open records except for the Kansas Real Estate Validation Questionnaire. The questionnaire is open to those protesting their taxes and to Kansas Certified General Real Property Appraisers.
K.S.A. 45-230 Provides
"No person shall knowingly sell, give or receive, for the purpose of selling or offering for sale, any property or service to persons listed therein, any lists of names and addresses contained therein, or derived from public records."
Register of Deeds FAQ
Can I make out my own deed?
Yes, but the Register of Deeds and staff always recommend that you retain an attorney or title company. The Register of Deeds office is a recording agency and cannot prepare deeds or answer questions that pertain to legal matters.
Will you have a survey of my property?
Only if it has been surveyed.
Can I get my lot dimensions from your office?
No, Our office only maintains the legal description of your property, such as lot and block numbers within a subdivision. We do not have exact dimensions for these parcels. However, we do keep plat maps for subdivisions, which may show property dimensions. Please note that some of these maps date back to the 1800s and may not reflect current conditions. For accurate property boundaries, we recommend consulting a licensed surveyor.
Can I perform my own document search?
Yes, Public terminals are available in the office for searching records. There is no charge to use these search tools; however, standard fees apply for any printed documents. Staff can provide guidance on how to perform a search, but please note that assistance may be limited, as staff cannot conduct research on your behalf.
Do you still have all the paper books available to the public?
Yes, All historical record books have been scanned and are now available in digital format. The original books remain securely stored in our office for preservation purposes. Public access to the physical books is by request only.
Is everything handled in the Register of Deeds office a matter of Public Record?
Yes and No, Everything recorded in the Register of Deeds Office is regulated by the Kansas Open Records Act. A Sales Validation Questionnaire that accompanies a deed IS NOT recorded and not a matter of public record as well as DD214's (Military Discharge) they are not public record.
Does the document need to be an original, or can I record a copy?
Yes, In most cases, documents submitted for recording must be originals. The only exceptions are certified copies issued by certain courts and certified death certificates from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Does the Register of Deeds Office perform searches of the records for Liens or Ownership verifications?
No, our office does not determine if a property title is free of encumbrances. Professional title examiners or abstractors conduct these searches by reviewing records in our office, as well as records from District Court, probate court, and federal courts.