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Finney County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Finney County?

Public records in Finney County are defined under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), 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 and that is related to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental function. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents held by Finney County offices.

The following record types are currently available through various Finney County agencies:

  • Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters) — maintained by the Finney County District Court
  • Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Finney County Register of Deeds
  • Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — maintained by the Finney County Clerk and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
  • Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious business names) — maintained by the Finney County Clerk
  • Tax records (property tax and assessment records) — maintained by the Finney County Appraiser and Treasurer
  • Voting and election records — maintained by the Finney County Election Office
  • Meeting minutes and agendas (county commission and boards) — maintained by the Finney County Clerk
  • Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Finney County Clerk and Finance Office
  • Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports, traffic accident reports, and criminal offense reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Finney County Sheriff's Office
  • Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Finney County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Finney County an Open Records County?

Finney County fully complies 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 declared to be the public policy of the State of Kansas that public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by law, and that any statute authorizing the closing of records shall be strictly construed. A second key provision of KORA requires that public agencies respond to records requests within three business days of receiving a written request, either by providing access, denying the request with a written explanation, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed.

Finney County agencies are bound by these state-level requirements and do not maintain separate county ordinances that restrict access beyond what KORA permits. The county also adheres to Kansas Sunshine Law provisions governing open meetings under the Kansas Open Meetings Act, K.S.A. § 75-4317 et seq., ensuring that governmental proceedings and related records remain accessible to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Finney County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Finney County public records through several channels, depending on the record type and the holding agency.

In-Person Requests:

  • Visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours and submit a verbal or written request at the public counter
  • Staff are required to provide access to non-exempt records promptly or within three business days

Written or Mail Requests:

  • Submit a written request by mail or email to the relevant office, clearly identifying the records sought, the preferred format, and contact information for the requester
  • No specific form is mandated under KORA, though individual offices may provide optional request forms

Online Access:

By Telephone:

  • Requesters may call the relevant office to confirm record availability, hours, and applicable fees before submitting a formal request

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

Current fees for public records in Finney County are governed by K.S.A. § 45-219, which authorizes public agencies to charge fees for providing copies of records, provided that such fees do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Standard fees currently applicable across Finney County offices include:

  • Paper copies: Typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, though fees may vary by office
  • Certified copies: Vital records and court documents generally carry a certification fee ranging from $10.00 to $20.00 per document, depending on the issuing office
  • Electronic records: Fees for electronic copies are assessed based on the actual cost of reproduction and transmission
  • Research or staff time: Agencies may charge for staff time spent locating, compiling, or reviewing records when the request requires more than two hours of effort
  • Postage and handling: Applicable when records are mailed to the requester

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit card payments. Under KORA, agencies may require prepayment of estimated fees before fulfilling a request. Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by state statute, but individual offices retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in cases involving indigent requesters or requests clearly serving the public interest.

Does Finney County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Finney County, as KORA requires that public agencies allow any person to inspect open records at no charge during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested. The following government resources currently provide free access to certain Finney County records:

  • In-person inspection at any Finney County office allows members of the public to review non-exempt records without charge
  • Finney County's official website at finneycounty.org provides free access to meeting agendas, minutes, budget documents, and other public agency materials
  • Kansas District Court Records Online offers free basic case lookup for court records statewide
  • Kansas sex offender registry, maintained by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, provides free public access to information about individuals convicted of qualifying offenses in Kansas
  • Kansas Department of Health and Environment offers online verification tools for certain vital records at no cost

Who Can Request Public Records in Finney County?

Any person may request public records in Finney County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under K.S.A. § 45-220, public agencies are not permitted to require a requester to disclose the reason for a records request as a condition of access, nor may agencies require requesters to identify themselves unless the record being sought is one that is available only to specific persons by law.

Key eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

  • Residency: Non-residents of Kansas and Finney County retain full rights to request and inspect public records
  • Identification: Requesters are generally not required to provide identification for access to open records; identification may be required only when the record type is restricted to specific individuals (e.g., a person requesting their own sealed record)
  • Purpose: Agencies may not condition access on the requester stating a purpose, except in limited circumstances defined by statute
  • Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, a notarized authorization
  • Requesting records about others: Certain records, including juvenile records, sealed court files, and protected personal information, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them

Organizations, businesses, journalists, and researchers are equally entitled to submit records requests under the same provisions applicable to individual members of the public.

What Records Are Confidential in Finney County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Kansas law. K.S.A. § 45-221 enumerates the specific exemptions that public agencies in Kansas, including those in Finney County, may invoke to withhold records from public inspection. The following record types are currently exempt or confidential:

  • Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
  • Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile offenders and proceedings are confidential under Kansas law
  • Ongoing criminal investigation records — records that would compromise an active law enforcement investigation are exempt from disclosure
  • Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure
  • Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
  • Child welfare and protective services records — records maintained by child protective agencies are confidential
  • Personnel records — employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as names, positions, and salaries of public employees
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under assurances of confidentiality
  • Security plans and critical infrastructure details — records whose disclosure could compromise public safety or security systems

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder, consistent with the severability provisions of KORA.

Finney County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Finney County Register of Deeds serves as the principal office for recording and maintaining property-related documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments. The Finney County Clerk's Office maintains business records, meeting minutes, election records, and vital records filings at the county level.

Finney County Register of Deeds 311 N. 9th Street, Garden City, KS 67846 (620) 272-3518 Finney County Register of Deeds Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Finney County Clerk's Office 311 N. 9th Street, Garden City, KS 67846 (620) 272-3524 Finney County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Finney County District Court 501 S. 9th Street, Garden City, KS 67846 (620) 271-6100 Finney County District Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Finney County Sheriff's Office 1 Sheriff's Plaza, Garden City, KS 67846 (620) 272-3636 Finney County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Finney County Appraiser's Office 311 N. 9th Street, Garden City, KS 67846 (620) 272-3514 Finney County Appraiser Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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