A new online portal allows people in Kansas to file motions asking the court to remove their eviction records.
The Kansas Judicial Branch launched the portal on July 1. Find it online at srl.kscourts.gov/eviction-expungement.
The portal is for people who don’t have attorneys representing them. The process to file takes about 15 minutes, and it can be completed on any device, according to the website. The renter must then notify the prior landlord by mail with a return receipt.
In order to be eligible for expungement, three years must have passed without another eviction judgment.
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The plaintiff — the person or company that filed the original eviction action — can file an objection with the court, and if that happens, the court will hold a hearing to determine whether the expungement should be granted.
If the plaintiff doesn’t object, the court can presume that any money the defendant potentially owed the plaintiff has been satisfied and grant the motion without a hearing.
Previously, there was no legal recourse for people to remove evictions from public records. That can make it difficult for people to find housing, secure employment and more. The law creating the expungement process passed the Kansas House by a vote of 118-3 and the Kansas Senate 36-4, and Gov. Laura Kelly approved it on April 9.
The Kansas Judicial Council has eviction expungement forms and info online at this link. More information about evictions is available on the Douglas County District Court’s Self-Help website at this link.
The judicial branch also has a portal to file for protection from abuse and protection from stalking orders. That is online at kspop.gov. Search public court records at casesearch.kscourts.gov.
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Resources for renters and tenants
Tenant issues and rights:
• Read about the rights Kansas tenants have and issues that could come up before, during and after tenancy from Kansas Legal Services.
• Find more info and connect with Lawrence Tenants.
Evictions:
• Learn about the eviction process from the Kansas Judicial Branch at this link.
• Check out the self-help page on the Douglas County District Court’s website at dgcoks.gov/district-court/self-help for resources and helpful forms.
• Find the Kansas Judicial Branch’s eviction expungement portal online at this link.
City of Lawrence fair housing help:
• Find information about the city’s fair housing civil rights enforcement procedures and a form to initiate a complaint on the city’s website at lawrenceks.org/attorney/fairhousing, or call 785-832-3310.
Rental assistance:
• Apply for help from the Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative via the county’s website at this link.
• Apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP, at this link during colder months to help cover home energy costs.
• Find more resources to help with rent and utility payments on the Lawrence Public Library’s website.
News coverage:
• See the latest articles from The Lawrence Times on the following topics: homelessness and housing; renter rights; source of income discrimination; affordable housing; tenant right to counsel
This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.
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Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
