Sedgwick County Register of Deeds launches new records system; commissioners and users raise concerns about search fees

The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds on Feb. 3 launched a new land records management system provided by Fiddler Technologies, Register of Deeds Tonya Buckingham told the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 12. The new system introduces subscription search platforms, advanced fraud-prevention tools and an archival platform the office said will preserve records and strengthen security.

The change matters because the county previously offered a free, in-house e-recording and search system that some longtime users relied on for routine title and ownership checks. Commissioner Howe and other commissioners pressed county staff on how the new fee structure and subscription options will affect residents and professional users.

Buckingham said the office selected Fiddler after a competitive RFP and close coordination with County IT. "We launched our new records management system with Fiddler Technologies," she said, citing improved search capabilities, "advanced fraud prevention and robust security measures to protect our public records" and a Bastion platform that "ensures data preservation." Chief deputy Kinley Ziering explained how the consumer-facing options will work and encouraged residents to sign up for free property fraud alerts that notify people when documents are recorded in their name.

Commissioner Howe said the previous county-built system had allowed free public searches and was valuable to users who routinely check property ownership. He summarized the change this way: moving from a free, in-house system to a vendor subscription model imposes new costs on some users. "If I log into this, unless I do a query and I get nothing back that's valuable, I'm still charged that 1 query is gonna be $8.75," he said. Kinley Ziering confirmed the per-search fee: "Yes. It is $8.75 a search." She added that residents who need occasional help can call the Register of Deeds office and have staff run a lookup and provide a copy, which would avoid repeated per-search charges for those users.

Buckingham and Kinley told commissioners the county aimed to set competitive rates and noted efforts to work with title companies and Realtors. Kinley said the office compared fees across counties and selected what it described as among the lowest state fees for subscription access. Commissioner Bubaugh said title companies have been receptive and that county staff have been engaging stakeholders to smooth the transition.

The office also described related services: a free property-fraud alert residents may opt into, a veterans program that files DD-214 records and provides five free certified copies, and a passport-acceptance facility at the East Kellogg Tag Office. Buckingham said in-person assistance remains available at both Register of Deeds locations for residents who need help navigating the new platforms.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the system at the Feb. 12 meeting. County staff said they will continue outreach to professional users and the public to explain subscription options and office-assisted searches.

Tonya Buckingham, Register of Deeds, and Kinley Ziering, Chief Deputy Register of Deeds, spoke to the commission during the presentation. Commissioner Howe and Commissioner Bubaugh participated in the discussion and asked questions.

For now, the office recommends residents sign up for the free property-fraud alert and contact the Register of Deeds for assistance with specific document requests.

Less critical details: the office said Fiddler's Bastion platform has been used elsewhere to speed recovery after ransomware incidents; staff emphasized indexing back to historical records and continuing personalized in-person service.