Butler County Court Clerk Office
The court-record clerk for Butler County is the Clerk of the District Court. The Kansas Judicial Branch district profile identifies Renea Albert as Clerk of the District Court for Butler County. This is the clerk office tied to district court case records, not the county administrative clerk and not the Register of Deeds. The office supports access to felony, civil, domestic, probate, juvenile, small claims, limited action, traffic, and other district court files handled in the 13th Judicial District.
For public court files, the clerk's office uses a mix of online search, appointment-based public file review, written requests, copy services, and division phone lines. The 13th Judicial District says open court files may be accessed by appointment, and callers should provide a case number when making that appointment. Written information requests may use the district court form, and the clerk's office has three business days to respond.
Butler County Clerk of the District Court
Clerk: Renea Albert
201 W. Pine, Suite 101
El Dorado, KS 67042
316-322-4370
Fax: 316-321-9486
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.
The Butler County Register of Deeds page is a separate county record source for recorded instruments, not district court case files.
That separation is important because a court judgment, estate order, or lien may point to a recorded instrument, while the district court case file remains with the Clerk of the District Court.
Butler County Court Clerk Duties
The Butler County Clerk of the District Court keeps the official court file for district court cases and routes people to the right division. The office supports file review, copy requests, fee collection, marriage license support, probate file access, and public access computer use. It is also the contact point when CaseSearch does not show enough detail or when a certified document is needed.
- Criminal division: 316-322-4375 or 316-322-4374.
- Traffic division: 316-322-4372 or 316-322-4377.
- Civil division: 316-322-4332.
- Chapter 61 and small claims: 316-322-4373.
- Domestic and child support: 316-322-4280.
- Probate and marriage licenses: 316-322-4371.
- Juvenile and minor matters: 316-322-4369.
The administrative Butler County Clerk is a different office at the county courthouse on West Central Avenue. That office, led by Tatum Stafford, handles county commission minutes, tax rolls, election records, candidate filings, voter registration, oaths, county budget support, historical land and vital statistic records, and other county administrative records. It is not the court-record clerk for district court case files.
Request Butler County Clerk Copies
Certified copies are used when a court document must carry official proof from the clerk, such as a judgment, divorce decree, probate order, letters, or another signed court order. A public portal printout may help with research, but it is not the same as a certified document issued by the Butler County Clerk of the District Court.
- Search Kansas CaseSearch or old papers for the case number, party names, and case type.
- Call the clerk division tied to the case type if the file or document is not clear.
- Submit a written request or district court form with the case number, names, document requested, copy type, and contact details.
- Pay the copy, certification, authentication, research, or hearing-copy fee that applies.
- Pick up the copy, arrange mailing, or ask whether the document can be sent by email or fax.
The clerk's public access process is appointment-based for open file review. Court files open to the public may be reviewed by calling 316-322-4370, and the court asks the caller to provide the case number. The courthouse also has a designated file review room and a public access computer away from court offices.
Before asking staff for a certified copy, it helps to check Kansas CaseSearch for the public case entry. A case number, filing date, party name, and case type can reduce research time. If the case involves juvenile, adoption, care and treatment, sealed, or expunged material, the clerk may be unable to release the document even when a related docket entry exists.
Butler County Clerk Request Fields
Written requests should identify the record with enough detail for staff to find the file and calculate any fee. The Butler County open records request form inventory in the research file lists the core fields below. Court-record requests should also include the case number when known, because the district court asks for that number when scheduling file review.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requester name | Likely yes | Identifies the person asking for the record. |
| Address or contact information | Likely yes | Used for response, mailing, or fee notice. |
| Phone or email | Likely yes | Helps staff clarify the request. |
| Description of record requested | Yes | Should include case number, party names, document type, and date range when available. |
| Amount remitted | Conditional | Used when a fee is paid in advance. |
| Date | Yes or staff field | Marks request or fulfillment timing. |
The Butler County Official Records Search is the online Landmark Web system for Register of Deeds records, not a court case portal.
Use that recorded-instrument search for deeds, mortgages, liens, and land records, while district court case records remain with the court clerk and CaseSearch.
Butler County Clerk Fees
The Butler County District Court fee points found in the research apply to court-record copies, certification, authentication, research, and hearing-copy requests. The county administrative open-records fee schedule is separate and can apply to county department records outside the district court file.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Authentication packet | Minimum $3 per packet |
| Plain copy | Minimum $0.50 per page |
| Fax copy | Minimum $1 per page |
| Email copy under one hour | No charge listed |
| Certification | Minimum $1 per certified document |
| Research time | Minimum $12 per hour |
| Recorded hearing copy | $50 per hearing, up to one day |
For county administrative records, the official request form lists $0.25 per page for photocopies, no charge for easily retrieved electronic records by email, and hourly costs for computer-generated reports. Register of Deeds photocopies are listed separately at $1 per copy under Resolution 88-815, except deeds of individual property owners are free.
The Register of Deeds fee schedule is useful when a court matter has a real estate recording side.
Those recording fees do not replace the Clerk of the District Court copy fees, but they may matter when a judgment, probate case, lien, or title issue leads to recorded documents.
Butler County Clerk Forms
The court clerk may accept written requests for district court information, while county administrative offices use Butler County open-records forms for non-court county records. The district court page says a written information request may use the district court form, and the clerk has three business days to respond.
- District court written request information - used for court-file and copy requests through the clerk.
- Butler County forms page - lists county forms, certified copy applications, and open-records request forms.
- Butler County open records request form - used for county records when a department-level form is needed.
The Register of Deeds recording instructions cover document formatting and recording requirements for land records.
Those recording rules matter after some court cases, such as probate or civil judgment matters, because the court order may need a separate recorded instrument to affect land records.
Butler County Clerk Access Channels
Butler County court-record access should follow the channel that matches the record. Public district court case information starts with CaseSearch. Open court files not available online can be reviewed by appointment at the judicial center. Copy and research requests can be made in writing. Mail, hand delivery, and the courthouse drop box can be used for documents or payments that must go to the clerk or Court Services Officer Department.
The drop box is inside the north entrance, and court staff retrieve items from it Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. Visitors entering the judicial center use the north entrance, check in, receive a name badge, and go through security screening. Those steps should be planned into any in-person record visit.
Mail and hand-delivery requests should be addressed to the court office that keeps the file. For district court case files, use the Clerk of the District Court at 201 W. Pine, Suite 101, El Dorado, KS 67042. For county administrative records, use the County Clerk at 205 W. Central Ave., 2nd Floor. For recorded land instruments, use the Register of Deeds search or office rather than the court clerk.
The Butler County Sheriff civil process page is a separate service channel for papers that need sheriff service.
Civil process fees and service steps belong with the sheriff, while the filed case record and certified court copies remain with the Clerk of the District Court.
Note: The County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Sheriff, and Clerk of the District Court each keep different records, so start with the office tied to the document type.