How to Get Kansas Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Kansas, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records, are handled at the state level by Kansas KDHE Office of Vital Statistics. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the District Court Clerk or Judge.

What this page covers: Kansas vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Kansas KDHE Office of Vital Statistics. For marriage licenses, contact the District Court Clerk or Judge in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Office of Vital Statistics | KDHE, KS
Parent agency
Office of Vital Statistics | KDHE, KS
Records back to
Office of Vital Statistics | KDHE, KS
Online ordering
Gather information about the ordering of birth certificates in the State of Kansas
Marriage license issued by
To access a listing of all Kansas county district courts, visit the Kansas Judicial Branch website
Local intake
Where to Write for Vital Records - Kansas
Population
2,970,606
Households
1,163,700
Median Income
$71,540
Median Home Value
$183,800
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by , Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Kansas vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.kdhe.ks.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Kansas Vital Records, Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Kansas, who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Kansas vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

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What Changed in 2026, Kansas Vital Records

2026
Kansas vital records portal active
The official Kansas portal at www.kdhe.ks.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Kansas state records.
2026
Kansas access in 2026
For 2026, Kansas continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.kdhe.ks.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Kansas's state portal, see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

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The 4-Step Kansas Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1, Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Kansas, start with the Kansas health department.
2
Step 2, Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3, Choose ordering method
Kansas typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4, Genealogy fallback
Kansas records older than 75-125 years are usually public, try FamilySearch or NARA.

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Five Things People Get Wrong About Kansas Vital Records

MYTH"VitalChek is a government website."
FACTIt's a private company that many states authorize to process orders. Legitimate, yes, but the extra convenience fees are theirs, not the state's.
MYTH"Marriage licenses come from the state."
FACTIn most states, Kansas included for most purposes, you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Every birth was registered on time."
FACTHome births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this, ask the state archives.
MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite, most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.

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Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

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Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Kansas counties: Allen · Anderson · Atchison · Barton · Bourbon

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Vital Records Databases

19 official Kansas vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

ANDERSON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
Official Free
The Document Center is for storage of documents of many different file types. Documents stored in the Document Center can be separated by folders and subfolders.
🌐 franklincoks.org
Public - KS Courts
Official Free
Find today's releases at new Decisions Search · Some scammers pretend to be someone from the court to trick you into giving them money or personal information. Learn how you can spot the scam
🌐 kscourts.gov
Old Marriage and Probate Records | Franklin County, KS - Official Website
Official Free
The clerk will prepare an estimate of the cost of the records that you are wanting to obtain and provide you with that information, in writing or by e-mail. The cost for photocopies is $.25 per page. Certified copies of marriage licenses must be obtained through the Kansas Office of Vital ...
🌐 franklincoks.org
Old Marriage Records | Franklin County, KS - Official Website
Official Free
The clerk will prepare an estimate of the cost of the records that you are wanting to obtain and provide you with that information, in writing or by e-mail. The cost for photocopies is $.25 per page. Certified copies of marriage licenses must be obtained through the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics.
🌐 franklincoks.org
JOHNSON COUNTY COURT SERVICES
Official Free
The Domestic unit of Court Services provides services and resources for families going through the separation / divorce process or in post-divorce matters in the Johnson County District Court. These services include: Once you have paid your fee an appointment will be scheduled with you by ...
🌐 courts.jocogov.org
County Profile | Miami County, KS - Official Website
Official Free
Miami County's proximity to the metro area is just one of its assets. The five communities that comprise the county -- Fontana, Louisburg, Osawatomie, Paola and Spring Hill -- are at the heart of it's strength. The communities offer a range of business opportunities from large vacant tracts ...
🌐 miamicountyks.gov
Kansas vital records - Kansas Historical Society
Official Free
Records Between 1885 and 1911 Between about 1885 and 1911 births, deaths and marriages may have been recorded at the county or city clerk's office in register volumes. Not all of these registers have survived. At the Kansas Historical Society we have copies of some county and city vital statistics ...
🌐 kansashistory.gov
Family Law | DC18
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Kansas route through this office. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 dc18.org
Sedgwick County Death and Probate Records | Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society
Official Free
To request a copy, go to the Kansas Department of Vital Statistics website. There are rules about who can order death certificates; as of April 2018, you can order your great-grandfather’s certificate, but might not be able to get certificates for some degrees of cousins. ... There are two types of coroners records: a card index and the full record books. The card index covers 1870 to 1954. The fine folks at the Sedgwick County Courthouse have created an index, which they have shared with us.
🌐 mhgswichita.org
Domestic Relations | Third Judicial District, KS - Official Website
Official Free
The Domestic Department is responsible for all domestic cases filed by the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF), private attorneys, the District Court Trustee, Young Williams (child support program) and Pro Se (self-represented) litigants. We are responsible for handling all of the paperwork filed, issuing summons/subpoenas, setting hearings, and processing all documents for scanning. ... Please consult the Shawnee County Family Law Guidelines for all domestic-related matters.
🌐 shawneecourt.org
City of Halstead
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Kansas route through this office. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
🌐 halsteadks.com
Chase County
Official Free
Return to Chase County Marriage Index 1860 - 1938 · Background and KSGenWeb logo were designed and are copyrighted by Tom & Carolyn Ward for the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project. Permission is granted for use only on an official KSGenWeb page. The USGenWeb Logo was designed by Linda Cole.
🌐 ksgenweb.org
Wichita Death Certificates - 1887 - 1911
Official Free
The Wichita Genealogical Society in Wichita, Kansas, offers a wide range of educational activities including monthly programs, three Special Interest Groups, training classes, an annual conference, and access to the Advanced Learning Library of the Wichita Public Library.
🌐 wichitagensoc.org

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Kansas Counties

105 Kansas counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net, top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Johnson Sedgwick Shawnee Wyandotte Douglas Leavenworth Riley Butler Reno Allen Anderson Atchison Barton Bourbon

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Which Kansas counties publish vital records information online

3 of Kansas's 105 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above, click a county for its full records page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Kansas are issued by the Official Kansas Vital Records at www.kdhe.ks.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Kansas death certificates are issued by the Official Kansas Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.kdhe.ks.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Kansas marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Kansas Vital Records (www.kdhe.ks.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Kansas vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Kansas Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.kdhe.ks.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Kansas Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.kdhe.ks.gov.