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Nebraska public records: who holds what

In Nebraska, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds, birth and death certificates come from the DHHS Office of Vital Records and requests for other government records fall under the Nebraska Public Records Statutes. Below: who holds every other record, what copies cost and the official link for each office.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Who holds what in Nebraska
  2. Public records law in Nebraska
  3. Divorce records in Nebraska
  4. Probate records and wills in Nebraska
  5. How Nebraska organizes its records
  6. Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps
  7. Counties in Nebraska
  8. Warnings from official sources
  9. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  10. Official directories
  11. Sources

Who holds what in Nebraska

The office that keeps each record, and the fee the law or the office sets for a copy. Open a record type for the full rules, ordering steps and older records.

RecordWho holds itCopy fee
DeedsCounty Register of Deeds in the county where the land lies. Separate elected office in counties over 20,000 inhabitants; where no register of deeds is elected, the county clerk is ex officio register of deeds.1Plain copies are not set in 33-109; county examples: $0.50 per page (Buffalo County). Online images via vendor portals priced separately (e.g., Laredo $0.10/page print in Buffalo).2
Property recordsCounty assessor values all real and personal property (except railroads/public service entities, valued by the Property Tax Administrator) as of January 1 each year.3—
Court recordsUnified state judicial branch under the Supreme Court: one district court (general jurisdiction; felonies, most civil, divorce) and one county court (limited jurisdiction: small claims, probate, guardianship, adoption, misdemeanors/traffic, most juvenile) in each of the 93 counties; separate juvenile courts in Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy. Each county has a clerk of the district court (elected in counties of 7,000+; otherwise county clerk may be ex officio); county court offices are administered by clerk magistrates hired by the county judges of the district (judicial administrators in Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy).4County court: photocopies $0.25/page; executing certificate and affixing seal $1.00; authenticated (three-seal) certificate $3.00 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-126.05). District court copy fees not listed on the schedule (ask the clerk).5
Marriage recordsCounty clerk of the issuing county issues licenses and keeps the license record; DHHS Office of Vital Records holds statewide marriage records from 1909. Before 1909: the county or the Nebraska State Historical Society.6State (DHHS): $16 per certified marriage certificate. County clerk: Madison County $16 certified (from July 18, 2026; was $9) / $1 photocopy.7
Divorce recordsClerk of the district court in the county where granted holds the decree/case file; DHHS Office of Vital Records issues divorce certificates for divorces from 1909. Pre-1909: clerk of the district court.6$16 per DHHS divorce certificate.7
Birth certificatesDHHS Office of Vital Records (Lincoln), statewide from 1904 (birth certificates from 1912; delayed births). Counties do not issue birth certificates (e.g., Buffalo County directs all requests to DHHS).6$17 per certified birth certificate (mail: check/money order to "Vital Records"). No-fee certified birth certificate for voters without a Nebraska driver's license/state ID who need it to obtain a state ID for voting.7
Death certificatesDHHS Office of Vital Records, statewide from 1904.6$16 per certified death certificate.7
Probate and willsCounty court of the county (probate, guardianship, conservatorship); records searchable through JUSTICE.8Informal probate commenced and closed informally: $44 total costs ($45 testate including certificate of probate of will and seal).5

Public records law in Nebraska

Nebraska Public Records Statutes (Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712 through 84-712.09) Read the law9

This law covers records that agencies hold, such as a county office's correspondence or a property file. Recorded deeds, vital records and court files usually have their own rules, set out in each record section.

Who can ask
All residents of Nebraska and all other persons interested in examining public records. Resident = person domiciled in Nebraska, including news media regardless of domicile (matters for fee calculation).10
Response time
Upon a written request, the custodian must respond as soon as practicable and no later than 4 business days after actual receipt (excluding the day received) with a cost estimate and either access/copies, a written denial, or a written explanation of delay giving the earliest practicable date; the requester then has 10 business days to respond to the estimate.10
Copy fees
Inspection is free. Copy fees may not exceed the actual added cost of making copies. For Nebraska residents (including news media regardless of domicile) no staff-time charge for the first 8 cumulative hours of searching, identifying, redacting or copying; a special service charge may apply beyond 8 hours. Nonresidents may be charged staff time including attorney review. Deposit may be required if estimate exceeds $50; fees may be waived or reduced in the public interest. AG enforcement policy does not question up to 10 cents/page for photocopies.10
If a request is refused
Denials must be in writing with a description of records withheld and specific statutory reasons (84-712.04). Requester may (1) petition the Attorney General (form on AG site), who must decide within 15 calendar days, including on whether fees are authorized; or (2) sue for a writ of mandamus in district court (84-712.03). Attorney's fees possible if requester substantially prevails. Violating officials are subject to removal/impeachment and a Class III misdemeanor.9
What is exempt
Records may be withheld only under express statutory exceptions; 84-712.05 lists categories a custodian may withhold unless disclosed in open court/proceedings (e.g., personal information in personnel/medical records, proprietary/commercial information, attorney work product, law-enforcement investigatory/intelligence records, and others). Other statutes make specific records confidential (e.g., vital records, juvenile records, sealed court records).11
Official guide
Nebraska Attorney General Open Government page with a full outline of the Public Records Statutes, petition form, and an archive of disposition letters.11

How to write a public records request

Divorce records in Nebraska

Who holds it
Clerk of the district court in the county where granted holds the decree/case file; DHHS Office of Vital Records issues divorce certificates for divorces from 1909. Pre-1909: clerk of the district court.6
Certified copy fee
$16 per DHHS divorce certificate.7
Who may order
DHHS certificate: the parties or their children; others contact DHHS. Court case file is public unless sealed (via JUSTICE or the clerk).7

How this works in other states: divorce records by state.

Probate records and wills in Nebraska

Who holds it
County court of the county (probate, guardianship, conservatorship); records searchable through JUSTICE.8
Will deposit
A living person may deposit a will with the county court for safekeeping (Neb. Rev. Stat. 30-2355); it stays confidential during the testator's lifetime. Fee: $2.00 (33-126.05).12
Fees
Informal probate commenced and closed informally: $44 total costs ($45 testate including certificate of probate of will and seal).5

How this works in other states: probate records and wills by state.

How Nebraska organizes its records

  • Counties under 20,000 inhabitants may have no separate register of deeds: the county clerk serves as ex officio register of deeds (records and 33-109 fees then sit with the county clerk).13
  • In counties without an elected clerk of the district court (under 7,000 inhabitants, by county board/district judge decision), the county clerk is ex officio clerk of the district court.14
  • Separate juvenile courts exist only in Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties; elsewhere the county court handles juvenile matters. Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy also have different property-tax delinquency dates (April 1/August 1).8
  • Several county fees changed July 18, 2026 (2026 legislation): marriage license $25 to $50, county certified marriage copy $9 to $16, documentary stamp tax $2.32 to $3.32 per $1,000 (through Dec 31, 2031). Older county pages may still show old amounts.15
  • Nebraska has no statutory expungement; convictions can be set aside and certain records sealed.16

Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps

Criminal history checks

State repository
Nebraska State Patrol, Criminal Identification Division (central repository).16
Fee
$45 per name-based Nebraska criminal history report (online, in person at any NSP Troop Area office, or by mail).16
Who may order
Anyone may request a name-based (public) report on any adult; juvenile arrests are not released. Complete history (including redacted items) only with the subject's notarized release. Fingerprint-based national checks only where required by law.16

Sex offender registry

Official registry
sor.nebraska.gov (Nebraska State Patrol Sex Offender Registry)17
Restrictions
Information may not be used to retaliate against registrants, families or employers.17

Inmate and jail lookups

State prisons
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services - "Find an Incarcerated Individual" search at dcs-inmatesearch.ne.gov/…18

Voter records

Access
Statewide voter file available from the Secretary of State for $500 (annual affidavit; monthly updates) for elections, political activities, voter registration, law enforcement or jury selection only; not for commercial use or internet posting. Contents: name, residential/mailing address, phone, status, voter ID, birth year, registration date, precinct, polling place, party, districts, voter history. Individual voters can check their own registration via VoterView.19
Local office
County clerk is the election official in most counties; election commissioners in Buffalo, Douglas, Hall, Lancaster, Platte and Sarpy counties (per SOS directory, Nov. 4, 2026).20

Business names (DBA)

Assumed names (DBA)
Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Secretary of State (not the county): application $110 in office / $100 online; renewal $110; amendment $30.21
Entity search
Free Corporation and Business Search; certificates of good standing and document copies orderable by credit card. SOS copies $1/page; certificates with seal $10.22

Liens and UCC filings

UCC filings
Secretary of State is the central UCC and EFS (farm products Effective Financing Statement) filing office; filings, searches and images via business.nebraska.gov.23
Tax liens
State and federal tax liens on real estate recorded with the county register of deeds; terminations recorded free.24

GIS and parcel maps

State GIS portal
NebraskaMAP (nebraskamap.gov) - Nebraska Open Data hub from the Office of the CIO Geographic Information Office, including statewide parcel layers (2024, 2025 downloads).25

Historical and genealogy records

State archives
History Nebraska (Nebraska State Historical Society) - James E. Potter Research Room, 1500 R Street, Lincoln: books, maps, newspapers, manuscripts, photographs and government records; reference by email.26
Vital records for genealogy
DHHS releases vital records for family history only if 50+ years old; genealogy requests take up to 12 weeks.6

Counties in Nebraska

3 counties with a full guide

Each guide lists the office for every record type, the official online searches, copy fees, phones and hours.

All 93 counties

Names in bold open our guide. Names with an arrow go to the county's own website, where the US Census Bureau lists one and it opened when we checked.27

Warnings from official sources

  • "Recorded Deed Notice" mailer offering deed copies for $86 (Buffalo County Register of Deeds)1

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Nebraska office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Official directories

Lists that name the office in every county.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 30 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Register of DeedsBuffalo County, Nebraska
  2. Register of Deeds - Schedule of Recording FeesBuffalo County, Nebraska
  3. Nebraska Property Assessment FAQsNebraska Department of Revenue
  4. Case Information - eServicesNebraska Judicial Branch
  5. Filing Fees and Court CostsNebraska Judicial Branch
  6. Vital Records - Family History (Genealogy)Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records
  7. Vital RecordsNebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records
  8. County CourtNebraska Judicial Branch
  9. Open Government - Public Records / Public Records PetitionNebraska Attorney General
  10. Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712 Public records; free examination; copies; feesNebraska Legislature
  11. Public Records (full outline of Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712 to 84-712.09)Nebraska Attorney General
  12. Deposit of WillNebraska Judicial Branch
  13. Register of DeedsDodge County, Nebraska
  14. District CourtNebraska Judicial Branch
  15. Marriage LicensesMadison County, Nebraska
  16. Criminal History Record RequestsNebraska State Patrol
  17. Sex Offender RegistryNebraska State Patrol
  18. Nebraska Department of Correctional Services home pageNebraska Department of Correctional Services
  19. Voter File RequestsNebraska Secretary of State
  20. Election Officials Contact InformationNebraska Secretary of State
  21. Forms and Fee InformationNebraska Secretary of State
  22. Corporate & BusinessNebraska Secretary of State
  23. UCC/EFS Search and Filing CenterNebraska Secretary of State
  24. Register of DeedsAdams County, Nebraska
  25. NebraskaMAP - Nebraska Open DataNebraska Office of the CIO, Geographic Information Office
  26. Research, Reference, & GenealogyHistory Nebraska (Nebraska State Historical Society)
  27. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  28. County Assessors and Parcel SearchNebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment Division
  29. District Court ContactsNebraska Judicial Branch
  30. County Court ContactsNebraska Judicial Branch