Search Free Kansas Marriage Records & Licenses on Anyone

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Free Kansas Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in Kansas, free of charge.

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You can find Kansas marriage records for free and see if someone has ever been married or obtained a license.

Online tools and local resources make valuable information readily available to all interested citizens at no cost.

The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) and the federal Freedom of Information Act allow individuals to request and inspect important documents from official agencies.

This resource will provide streamlined guidance on a successful search and will outline the most effective lookup tools and marriage document custodians in Kansas.

Are Kansas Marriage Certificates Open to the Public?

Yes, it’s possible for citizens to uncover information about marriages in Kansas. While official certificates are available only to individuals entitled to them, the court system allows for searches that provide interested parties with details about someone else’s matrimony history.

According to the Division of Public Health of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, certificates from marriages starting in 1913 can be obtained with their help.¹

To be entitled to request a copy of a certificate, individuals must be named on it or be immediate family of that person. Legal representatives and people who show a real connection to the spouses (such as someone who jointly owns property with them, for example) are also able to place a request.

For marriages that happened before 1913, the best source is the Kansas Historical Society.²

Citizens can also obtain information about marriage records with the help of local courts at the county judicial level. Through this avenue, it’s possible to look up information and find who is (or has been) married throughout the state. However, they don’t provide copies of the certificates (only access to their online directory).

Over 15,000 individuals were married in Kansas in 2019, most of them for the first time. The average age was 31.8 years for women and 33.9 years for men, indicating a trend that people are getting married at a later date. The state also had over 6,000 divorces in the same year, mostly for marriages that were fewer than five years long.

How To Find Kansas Marriage Records, Documents & Licenses for Free

The Kansas Office of Vital Records allows entitled citizens to request copies of marriage records in person, by phone, mail, or online.⁴

To make a request in person, individuals should visit the office and allow the team time to process the request. Certified copies of certificates cost $20, and those who go in person can get them on the spot with little wait time. This is the address to go to:

Office of Vital Statistics
1000 SW Jackson – Ste. 120
Topeka, Kansas 66612

Phone: 785-296-1400
Email: [email protected]

Mail requests can be made using the address above. It costs the same, and those making a request can expect a response in 7 to 10 business days. Payments should be made by check or money order, and requesters must send a self-addressed, paid-for envelope with the request.

Phone requests can be made using the number 877-305-8315. On top of the $20 for the certificate, citizens can expect to pay $13.95 for an expedited fee. They should receive a response in 3 to 5 business days.

Online requests for Kansas marriage records can be placed via a few different methods:

• Users can email the department using the information provided above;
• Searchers can download the department’s app by searching the word “ikan” on any app store (that will lead to the Ikan – State of Kansas app);
• Interested parties can also use VitalChek, an endorsed third-party site.

While getting a certified copy of a marriage certificate can be a bit difficult, finding out information about marriages in general isn’t. The county courts allow people to search for marriage records and know if someone has ever applied for a license and when the ceremony occurred.

The state of Kansas doesn’t currently have a centralized search system. Therefore, interested searchers would need to look up information via the methods above or at the local courts. Let’s take a look at the three largest counties in Kansas and find out how to uncover information there.

Checking Counties for Marriage Records in Kansas

In the state of Kansas, the district courts keep records of marriages that happened in each county. Those records are public, and citizens can search them for information at any time. Those searches won’t lead to obtaining certified copies of certificates but will certainly lead to details about licenses and ceremonies that were held in the past.

Also, when the searcher has questions or needs more support finding the records they need, working with the Clerk Office can be less stressful and more efficient. Those local offices often have less traffic and a team that’’ willing to put in the effort to help a citizen who’s looking for information.

In Johnson County, for example, which is the biggest county in Kansas, users can benefit from the free online search tool they make available to the public. The Johnson County District Court Document Search allows individuals to search specifically for marriage licenses by using the name of one of the spouses.

The results will show who that individual married, as well as when the license was obtained and when the ceremony took place.

If searching in person is preferred, this is the contact information of the court’s Records Department:⁷

Johnson County District Court
150 West Santa Fe – Suite 1100
Olathe, KS 66061

Phone: 913-715-3480
Fax: 913-715-3481
Email: [email protected]

How To Contact Sedgwick & Shawnee Counties for Marriage Records

Each county in Kansas can be contacted via their local courts for information about marriage records in their area. Sedgwick and Shawnee Counties are two of the biggest ones in the state and, consequently, hold plenty of information that can be useful.

Their resources can be helpful, especially when doing a marriage background check. Citizens should never hesitate to contact local custodians.

In Sedgwick County, citizens can contact the 18th Judicial District Court for information about marriage records.⁸ There’s no online search tool available for now, but those who visit the department can search the court computers for records and find the information they’re looking for. This is the location citizens can visit:

18th Judicial District Court
Main Courthouse
525 North Main Street
Wichita, KS 67203

Phone: 316-660-5900
Fax: 316-941-5358
Email: [email protected]

Shawnee County’s 3rd Judicial District has microfilmed marriage records from 1856 to 2015 at their Records Department. Those records can be accessed by placing a request directly with the court. They charge $0.50 per page printed out from the microfilms, and this is the contact information to place an order:

Clerk’s Office
Shawnee County Courthouse
200 SE 7th Street – Room 209
Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-251-6700
Fax: 785-251-4908

How To Search the Kansas Marriage Index for Free

Ancient marriage records can be found with the help of the Kansas Historical Society. They have a marriage index compiled from information obtained from different sources. It provides cities with information about marriages recorded before 1913, helping citizens gain information about their genealogy or family tree.

The Kansas marriage records found through those indexes would likely have the names of the bride(s) and groom(s), as well as the date and place where the marriage happened. It wasn’t required to record the names of the spouses’ parents or witnesses in those historical certificates, so searchers shouldn’t expect to find that information there.

The Kansas Marriage Index, for example, includes records from 1884 to 1861 and allows for searches with the names of the spouses. There’s also a list of indexes by county that help people find relevant information about their ancestors.

People should know that other sources may also be helpful in searching for marriage records. The Kansas Historical Society mentions church records, newspapers, and cemetery books, among other sources. It’s possible to search the Kansas Newspaper Database to find which papers are microfilmed and can be checked for marriage announcements.

If anyone opts to visit the Kansas Historical Society in person, this is their contact information:

Kansas Historical Society
6425 SW 6th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66615

Phone: 785-272-8681

Kansas’ Stance on Common Law Marriages

Kansas recognizes common-law marriages as long as both parties are over 18 years of age (and, therefore, able to get into this relationship).¹⁰ Three basic rules are taken into consideration when evaluating whether a relationship can be considered a common-law marriage or not:

• First, both parties must be able to marry (be of age, not be related, etc.);
• Second, they must show intent to be married – that could be, for example, referring to each other and husband and wife;
• Third, both parties must make it public that they are married – meaning cohabitating, having joint accounts, etc.

If someone is in a common-law marriage in Kansas and wishes to separate, they must go through a divorce process. Although the marriage won’t show on marital records, it’s a lawful, valid relationship, and it must be ended accordingly.

Also, Kansas citizens are allowed to marry at the age of 16 (or 17), as long as their parents or legal guardian signs an authorization. Individuals 15 and under need the court to approve the marriage to be able to move forward.

Domestic partnerships and civil unions are marriage alternatives in Kansas for couples who wish to live together without getting married and making such a big commitment. It allows individuals to establish boundaries, protect their assets, and avoid a nasty breakup – since the agreement should cover all those things.

There are a few ways to properly get into one of those relationships. Some cities, like Lawrence, in Douglas County, register domestic partnerships in a process similar to marriage. This is handled locally by the relevant City Clerk’s Office, which would be the Lawrence City Clerk in this example.

The couple must get a license and properly register their relationship.

However, it’s also possible to retain an attorney who will write a contract that contemplates the needs of a specific couple, making sure that the terms of their union (or partnership) meet their needs and expectations (like someone would do with a prenup, for instance).

Those considering going into a cohabitation relationship should consider discussing its details with a lawyer.

How To Access Information About Kansas Couples Who Are in a Common Law Marriage

Common-law marriages won’t show in searches like other Kansas marriage records would because they’re often not registered anywhere that could be checked or assessed by an interested party.

On one hand, those who are in such a relationship must try and keep proof of their marital status in case someone happens. They need to be able to prove they’re in a common-law marriage to file for benefits or or receive inheritance, for example.

However, at the same time, it can be quite difficult for someone outside of that relationship to obtain proof of it. If someone is concerned and believes an individual may be entangled in a common-law marriage, they must find other ways to do their due diligence.

Considering that part of the requirements for a common-law marriage is that the relationship is public, it may be possible to perform a third-party search and uncover information.

How To Request a Marriage License in Kansas

The state of Kansas encourages citizens to apply for a marriage license online.

The Kansas Judicial Branch has an online platform that allows citizens to apply for a marriage license conveniently.¹¹ For citizens who have questions about what to do or what’s allowed when getting married in Kansas, there are plenty of answers online that can be checked out.

If anyone needs personalized attention, it’s also possible to contact this office by phone at 785-296-5059 or by email at [email protected].

It’s also possible, in most cases, to apply for a license in person at each county’s courthouse. Citizens who prefer to contact them directly should go to the Clerk’s Office and ask for their help.

Johnson, Sedgwick, and Shawnee Counties don’t seem to accept applications in person and refer citizens to the online tool to apply instead.^{12, 13} However, if the system is offline or those interested in getting married have questions and need support, this is how you can contact these aforementioned courts directly:

Johnson County District Court
150 West Santa Fe
Olathe, KS 66061

Phone: 913-715-3300

Sedgwick County District Court
525 North Main Street
Wichita, KS 67203

Phone: 316-660-5900

Shawnee County District Court
200 SE 7th Street
Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-251-6700

A marriage license costs $85.50, and fees are non-refundable. Those applying must be ready to provide personal information so that the license can be granted. This is what someone can expect to have to provide:

• Full name of the spouses-to-be;
• Complete address information for each;
• Date and place of birth;
• All parents’ full names and birthplaces.

Kansas marriage records are available to the public, but those searching for information must always be respectful and mind an individual’s privacy, avoiding unnecessary exposure.