The Sunflower State of Kansas is where fictional characters Dorothy and Toto are from. The name Kansas comes from the Kansa Native American tribe, which means "People of the South Wind." Kansas is located in the dead center of the United States, bordered by Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. The state has vast plains and abundant wildlife, pastures, and gently rolling hills. Roughly 2.937 million people call Kansas home, which means millions of different types of property records.

Property records impact the state, local government, real estate markets, homeowners, and private companies. They come from various sources and are essential during real estate sales and estate planning. Attorneys, realtors, title companies, appraisers, inspectors, insurance agents, and others use property records in their daily work.

Use this guide to learn all about Kansas property records, what they are, how they work, the various types, where they are recorded, filed, and maintained, and how to change them when something in your life changes.

Property records in Kansas are documents and forms that contain valuable information and details about real property or a plot/parcel of land and its owners. These records are public records accessible by anyone. Some, like deeds and building permits, perform functions, and others, like appraisals, are informational in nature.

Sources of Property Records in Kansas

Unfortunately, property records are not handled by one specific agency; they are spread among many different entities. For example, deeds are recorded, filed, and maintained by the register of deeds in each county. If you want to file a new deed in Sedgwick County, they have a great FAQ page to answer any questions. Local county treasurers handle property tax payments, and you can pay online. The Kansas Department of Revenue oversees all local county treasurers. Building permits are also handled at the county level. You can contact your local county building office to inquire. Johnson County has a website where you can apply for a building permit online.

The role of a register of deeds office in Kansas is to preserve land records for the county. It is basically a recording agency that receives files and records and maintains deeds, mortgages, oil and gas leases, affidavits, and plats. The office is also tasked with making property records accessible to the general public upon request.

How Property Records are Maintained in Kansas

Every county has its own system of maintaining property records. One consistent item is that when a new document is received, they will stamp it with the date, time, and a unique identifier so they can find it easily later. Once they record it, it becomes a public record.

Accessing Records at the Register of Deeds in Kansas

The register of deeds makes records accessible to the general public. They allow visitors to come in during regular business hours and ask for records. However, you may have to wait if they are busy. They will also charge a small fee per page for copies to take with you. The trick is knowing where to go. Here are a few county registers of deeds locations to get you started.

Register of Deeds Locations in Kansas

The State of Kansas has put together a map of all the counties and registers of deeds to make finding the one you need easy. You can download it or use Google Maps on the page to find the exact location.

There are many different types of property records. You may be aware of some types, but others might come as a surprise. Some perform functions like deeds and building permits, and others are purely informational. The most common types of property records you will find in Kansas include:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants often accompany deeds with specific instructions about how to use the property. Easements are rights of way allowing someone other than the property owner access. An example would be a town that created an access road that crossed private property. The town workers could use that road at any time without asking the owner. Any new owner of the property would have to respect that rule.

Covenants are rules about how the land can be used. If you buy a condo or move to a gated community, you must agree to certain covenants. An example might be prohibited paint colors on the outside of your home.

Plats and Surveys

Surveys and plats are both types of maps regarding real property. Surveys show the mapped coordinates and boundaries of a single property. Plats show the boundaries of all neighboring properties.

Below are the types of surveys recognized in Kansas:

Historical Property Records

Property records can become massive over time. Many states, like Kansas, offload many of their historical property records into archives to keep things neat and orderly and keep current records handy. The Kansas Historical Society is responsible for all archived and historical land records.

Building Permits and Regulations in Kansas

If you want to add to your house or demolish an existing building, you must get a building permit first. You can do so with the county building inspector's department. You must apply and wait for the license before doing the work.

With public property records, anyone can perform a property history search at any time without reason. Thankfully, in our modern times, you have many options available to you. Try these methods below to see what works for you.

Online Property Record Search

Start with a basic online property record search. Enter the full property address into the search bar of a search engine and see what comes up. You will probably have to dig deeper, but it's a good start.

In-Person Property Record Search

You can request records at any of the county's tax collectors, building inspectors, or registers of deeds offices without an appointment. However, you must visit during normal business hours. They may charge you a fee per page.

Using Property Record Indexes

Property indexes abound online. However, these sources are not always reliable or updated regularly. Be sure to verify any information you get from them. Even some county websites have a disclaimer that the information may not be current.

How to Search Property Records by Address

It's always best to search using the property address. Type the full address (including city, state, and zip) into a search bar and review the results.

How to Search Property Records by Name

Sometimes, you can search using the property owner's name. You may get lucky, but this is not always the most efficient way to search, and you may get odd results.

Property ownership is a wonderful thing, but it comes with some responsibilities, like paying your annual taxes, insurance, and monthly mortgage payments. You must also maintain your home if you want its value to stay high. When you purchase a home, your deed, mortgage, and lien will appear in property records along with your name and address.

Another crucial piece of information about a property is its legal description. The property description contains map coordinates and other details, making it easy for anyone to locate the parcel of land.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys measure the land to determine the exact boundaries of a specific property. They are used in new construction homes, when installing underground utilities, and during boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Boundary disputes are pretty standard. They occur when one party believes that another is encroaching on their land. These sometimes end up in court, with the judge deciding where the property boundaries lie. The courts hire professional surveyors to measure the land and determine the truth.

Liens are encumbrances that can negatively affect property. They appear in property records, and too many can lower the property's value and ruin the owner's financial reputation. There are two main types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are just that, voluntary. You choose to allow a lender to put a lien on the property in return for lending you money. The lien will remain on the property until the loan is paid off. If you fail to honor the terms of the loan, the bank can foreclose and take the home.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are beyond your control. They are imposed when you fail to pay a debt you owe. These most often result in foreclosure and loss of the home.

The Process of Property Liens in Kansas

The process of filing a lien in Kansas differs according to the type of lien. So, here is the basic procedure for establishing a Mechanic's lien on a property:

Property records stand out in real estate transactions. Before the sale, many of the participants use property records to gather information so the buyer can make an informed decision. Many new records are created during the transaction, such as appraisals, new deeds, inspections, insurance binders, and more. After the sale, some of these records will become the current ones and replace older ones.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

Buying a property can be challenging. The best thing you can do is arm yourself with as much information as possible. Property records are a great way to learn about property values and taxes, insurance, building permits, liens, and foreclosures.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

When selling property, you must disclose any material defects you are aware of. Buyers need to know if the roof is in poor shape or if one of the internal systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) is failing. You can find out some stuff through property records.

Title Searches and Insurance

If you borrow money to buy a house, your lender will require that you purchase title insurance. This insurance protects you and them from any legal claims on the property after the sale. Your title company will perform a property title search to look for any title defects that could affect the sale.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Kansas

Foreclosures are listed publicly. They do not reflect well on the owners and will lower the value of the home and make it harder to sell. Regular buyers won't want to mess with buying a foreclosure house.

Pre-Foreclosures in Kansas

A house in pre-foreclosure is not fully through the foreclosure process and hasn't been auctioned off yet. It is an optimal time for an investor to offer the owners money to buy the house and help them get out of debt. Then, the investors can sell it for a profit. Pre-foreclosure homes show up in public property records.

When was the House Built?

To find out when a Kansas house was built, contact the register of deeds in the county where the property is located and ask for the first-ever building permit. That will give you the date it was first built.

Property values show up in many different property records. They indicate the value at the time the document was created. Property values can change quickly due to inflation, the local real estate market, and other economic factors. Usually, when people talk about property values, they are referring to the fair market value (FMV) which is the yardstick used to compare similar homes in the area.

Assessments and Appraisals

Different people use assessments and appraisals to determine the value of a property. Tax officials use assessments to determine the value of a piece of property for tax purposes. These figures do not always match fair market value.

Appraisers use appraisals to determine the value. They compare similar homes in the local area and adjust for differences. They then create an appraisal report a lender or court can use for the property. These figures usually do match fair market value.

Property records are public, so you cannot keep your property ownership completely private. Things like liens, foreclosures, mortgages, and deeds appear all over property records. The general public can access property records in person with the register of deeds or online using the many online repositories.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public to preserve the chain of title, which is the list of everyone who has ever owned the property. They are also public to prevent any government office from gaining too much power over the people within its jurisdiction.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

Because property records are public, you cannot remove all your information. You can, however, minimize your exposure. Contact the agencies and offices that hold your records and ask them to remove anything beyond your name and address to prevent your email, phone number, or other details from showing up online.

Maintaining property records is just as important as filing them. The government office that holds them will not be automatically notified of any changes in your life so you will have to contact them directly to make the changes.