Kay County Background Check Search
Kay County is on the Oklahoma-Kansas border with Newkirk as the county seat. Background check records here are kept by the Court Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff at the Kay County Courthouse. The county also has a Blackwell Division for court matters in the eastern part of the county. Records date back to 1893, making Kay County one of the older record-keeping counties in the state. This page covers where to search for background check records in Kay County and what to expect from each office.
Kay County Overview
Kay County Court Clerk Records
Court Clerk Marilee Thornton maintains records at the Kay County Courthouse. The mailing address is PO Box 428, Newkirk, OK 74647. Phone is 580-362-3350. The office keeps court records dating back to 1893 along with marriage and divorce records. Kay County also has a Blackwell Division at 223 East Blackwell Avenue, Blackwell, OK 74631, with a phone number of 580-363-2080. This second location serves the eastern part of the county.
The Court Clerk handles criminal, civil, family, and probate cases for the District Court. Copy fees are standard at $1 per page for the first page and $0.50 for each extra page. Certified copies carry an added fee. The Oklahoma Open Records Act in Title 51 makes most court records available to the public. You can inspect files at no cost during business hours. Mail requests are accepted too. Under the Act, you do not need to state a reason to view records. The main exceptions are sealed, expunged, juvenile, and adoption cases.
Here is the Kay County Clerk land records portal on OKCountyRecords.
Kay County indexed data and images are available from January 1973 with new records added in real time.
| Office | Kay County Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Mailing | PO Box 428, Newkirk, OK 74647 |
| Phone | (580) 362-3350 |
| Blackwell Division | 223 E. Blackwell Ave., Blackwell, OK 74631 (580) 363-2080 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Search Kay County Background Check Online
The best free tool for a Kay County background check is OSCN. Select Kay County from the dropdown. Enter a name in Last, First format or search by case number. OSCN is free with no account needed. Results show party names, charges, case status, and docket entries. Records go back to the mid-1990s. Kay County records are extensively available on OSCN, and some documents can be viewed and printed online.
On Demand Court Records also covers Kay County. Basic search is free. A $5 monthly plan adds date of birth filters and warrant lookups. Both OSCN and ODCR use the same court data but display it differently. Checking both gives a more complete result for your Kay County background check.
In-person searches work well at either the Newkirk courthouse or the Blackwell Division. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can look up cases by name or number. You can view files and order copies on the spot. For records older than what OSCN has, the courthouse keeps physical files going back to 1893.
Note: Kay County has two court locations, so check which division handled the case you need before visiting.
Kay County Land Records
County Clerk Tammy Reese keeps land records at the Kay County Courthouse, PO Box 450, Newkirk, OK 74647. Phone is 580-362-2537. Fax is 580-362-3300. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Property records are part of a thorough Kay County background check because they show ownership, liens, judgments, and deeds.
Free online search is available through OKCountyRecords.com. Indexed data and images go back to January 1973 with new records added in real time. The site offers grantor/grantee index, deed records, lien records, and judgment records. Fictitious name records are also available. E-recording is accepted through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN. Other useful county contacts include the Assessor at 580-362-2566 and the Treasurer at 580-362-2523.
Kay County Sheriff Records
The Kay County Sheriff maintains arrest records and can be reached at 580-362-2517. The Sheriff's Office keeps warrants, jail records, and incident reports. You can request records in person with a valid ID. The office also maintains the Sex Offender Registry for the county.
The District Attorney for Kay County is Brian T. Hermanson, reachable at 580-362-2571. For a statewide criminal history check, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation runs name-based searches for $15. Under Title 74 Section 150.9, OSBI criminal history results that are not public court records must be kept confidential. OSBI records cover all Oklahoma counties and can go back decades.
Access Rules for Kay County Records
Court records in Kay County are public under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Anyone can request them. Criminal records show charges, pleas, and sentencing. Civil records show filings, motions, and judgments. You can inspect files at either the Newkirk or Blackwell courthouse during business hours.
Juvenile cases are sealed by law. Adoption records are private. Expunged records are removed from all public databases and will not show on OSCN or OSBI results. Cases sealed by a judge are also restricted. The Kay County Court Clerk can confirm whether a record has been sealed or expunged. Under Title 22 Section 18, a person with an expunged record can legally deny the case ever existed. Other useful contacts include the County Treasurer, Christy Kennedy, at 580-362-2523, the County Assessor, Susan Keen, at 580-362-2565, and the Elections office at 580-362-2130. The DOC Offender Lookup is free and shows current and past inmates in the state prison system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Kay County. Cases are filed in the county where they took place.