Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Access To Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kansas judicial branch expands online self-help portal and opens 21 physical centers
Summary
Marissa Bayless told the Committee on Judiciary that the branch's virtual self-help center (self-help.kscourts.gov) launched in 2025 and complements 21 new physical self-help centers opened in 20 counties; the branch is also piloting partnerships with public libraries to broaden access.
TOPEKA — Marissa Bayless, special counsel to the chief justice, briefed the Committee on Judiciary on the judicial branch's virtual self-help center and recent expansion of physical sites.
"So 1 initiative that chief justice Rosen spoke about yesterday... was our virtual online self help center," Bayless said, identifying the site as self-help.kscourts.gov. She said the portal, launched in 2025, provides forms, tools, a self-help center directory, hearing search and filing portals designed to help people who are unrepresented feel more prepared for court.
Bayless described common uses of the site, citing pages frequently visited for hearing searches, court records requests, child support, protection orders and marriage-license filings. She said the hearing search is connected to the branch's case-management system so publicly available hearing information updates continuously.
Beyond the website, Bayless said the branch opened 21 new self-help centers in 20 counties in 2025 and is piloting partnerships with public libraries, noting the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library recently opened a legal self-help center. She described typical physical sites as repurposed law-library space offering computers, printers and — in some locations — Westlaw or LexisNexis access for legal research. Bayless said the branch works with district court clerks and Kansas Legal Services to staff centers and coordinate pro bono "legal aid days."
Committee members asked operational questions during the session, including whether protection-order filings incur fees when done online and about library subscription arrangements for legal research databases; Bayless said she would follow up on fee specifics and said some Westlaw access can be provided through library contracts or other partnerships.
Bayless said the portal is not intended as a substitute for legal representation but as a complement to physical self-help centers and attorney services. She offered printed cards and materials for legislators to share with constituents who have questions about court processes.
Next step: Bayless offered to return follow-up details on fee structures and grant funding that supported library partnerships.
