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Nebraska County
Cass County, Nebraska
Plattsmouth's Missouri River heritage and Omaha southern exurb growth - from Plattsmouth's position at the confluence of the Platte and Missouri rivers (Plattsmouth - one of Nebraska's oldest communities, established at the strategic confluence of the two great rivers - served as an early river crossing, railroad hub, and manufacturing center whose Victorian downtown reflects the prosperity of Nebraska's early statehood era) to Cass County's rapid growth as an Omaha southern suburb (Louisville, Weeping Water, and other communities along US-75 have absorbed significant residential development from Omaha area workers seeking affordable acreage living).
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Office: Cass County Emergency Management – 8400 Highway 1, Weeping Water, NE 68463 | (402) 267-6765
Services: Maintains warning systems, trains severe storm spotters, coordinates hazardous materials response, and operates an Emergency Operations Center with standby electrical power.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-34 and US-75 serve Plattsmouth, the county seat, at the confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers
Transit: Part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area; primarily auto-dependent for local travel.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Cass County Planning & Zoning – 145 N 4th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, (402) 296-9359 | Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM (closed 12–1 PM)
Services: Administers building permits, inspections, floodplain development permits, road access permits, and zoning changes.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Cass County Veterans Service Officer – Plattsmouth, NE
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Plattsmouth Public Library – Plattsmouth, NE
Services: Genuinely founded as a Carnegie Corporation library in 1916; offers extensive book circulation, video and computer technology, and hands-on family reading programs.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Cass County’s seat, Plattsmouth, sits genuinely at the historic confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers, a site the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery passed on July 21, 1804, noting the Platte’s notably faster current; the confluence is preserved today at the Schilling Wildlife Management Area, marked with National Park Service Lewis and Clark trail signage; founded in 1854 as a trading post known as “the Barracks,” Plattsmouth grew into a major river and rail town, becoming headquarters of the Burlington and Missouri Railroad in 1869 (the first locomotive delivered to town, the “American Eagle,” genuinely arrived by boat); today the Plattsmouth Main Street Historic District preserves 45 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1891 Romanesque-style Cass County Courthouse designed by architect William Gray, with its 135-foot central clock tower; the Cass County Historical Society Museum, a preserved 1868 log cabin, and a Burlington Northern caboose add further layers of river-and-rail heritage
Notes: Cass County’s Plattsmouth genuinely preserves one of the densest concentrations of 19th-century architecture and Lewis and Clark trail history found anywhere in this project, at the strategic meeting point of two major rivers.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Cass County GIS/Property Lookup – accessible via casscountyne.gov
Parcel Search: Cass County Assessor – Plattsmouth, NE
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Cass County Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Plattsmouth Animal Shelter (City of Plattsmouth) – Plattsmouth, NE | (402) 298-8235
Services: Operated by the City of Plattsmouth Police Department; all dogs and cats within city limits must be licensed with proof of current rabies vaccination; lost pets should be reported to the shelter or Plattsmouth Police, (402) 296-3311, within 3 days before the animal becomes city property.
Related: Happy Paws Plattsmouth – a volunteer-powered, foster-based 501(c)(3) rescue serving Cass, Sarpy, and Douglas Counties since 2009, with no brick-and-mortar location.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy – dee.nebraska.gov
Notes: Contact your specific municipality directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Cass County’s Plattsmouth sits at the genuine confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers, a site documented by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, and preserves 45 National Register-listed buildings in its historic downtown. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, library, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Cass County
Cass County is southeast Nebraska’s Missouri River confluence and Omaha southern exurb county – Plattsmouth’s historic position at the Platte-Missouri confluence and rapid suburban growth from Omaha define a community navigating heritage and development.
Plattsmouth (the county seat, population ~6,500) preserves its Victorian river town character while Louisville and other communities grow from Omaha residential expansion.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Cass County Assessor at 346 Main Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, phone 402-296-9310. NE property assessed at actual value.
Courts & Legal
Cass County District Court at 346 Main Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, phone 402-296-9370, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
346 Main St., Plattsmouth, NE 68048
(402) 296-9300
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Cass County Court, Probate Division (probate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Cass County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Cass County Court, Probate Division 346 Main Street, Room 201, Plattsmouth, NE 68048 (402) 296-9334 Cass County is in eastern Nebraska near the Missouri River, seated in Plattsmouth.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Nebraska adopted the Uniform Probate Code, codified as the Nebraska Probate Code (Neb. Rev. Stat. Chapter 30). In Nebraska, the COUNTY COURT has exclusive original jurisdiction over probate matters.
Small Estate Affidavit (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 for personal property; § 30-24,129 for real property) – as of a July 2024 statutory amendment, available when personal property does not exceed $100,000 and real property does not exceed $100,000 (both thresholds raised from $50,000). At least 30 days must have passed since death, and no application or petition for a personal representative may be pending. For personal property, the affiant presents a notarized affidavit directly to the institution holding the property along with a certified death certificate. For real property, the affidavit is filed with the register of deeds in the county where the property is located.
Informal Probate – the most common path for uncontested estates, handled by the county court registrar with minimal judicial involvement.
Formal Probate – required when there’s no will, when a will’s validity is contested, or when there’s disagreement over the personal representative or how assets should be distributed. Handled by a county judge.
Step 2: filing for formal or informal probate
File an application (informal) or petition (formal) with the County Court in the county where the decedent resided.
The court appoints the personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative publishes notice to creditors and gives direct notice to known creditors, who have a limited window from the date of first publication to file claims.
The personal representative inventories the estate’s assets and completes the required Probate Inventory Worksheet.
The personal representative completes and files any required Nebraska inheritance tax paperwork before the estate can be closed.
After debts, taxes, and expenses are paid, the personal representative distributes the remaining assets and closes the estate.
What it costs
Nebraska does not set statutory percentage-based fees; personal representative and attorney fees are generally based on reasonable compensation for time and services.
UNIQUE TO NEBRASKA: Nebraska is one of only six states with an inheritance tax, collected at the COUNTY level. Transfers to a surviving spouse are exempt; close relatives get reduced rates; more distant relatives and unrelated beneficiaries are taxed at higher rates.
No separate state estate tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
346 Main St., Plattsmouth, NE 68048
(402) 296-9310
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
346 Main St., Plattsmouth, NE 68048
(402) 296-9300
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
NE DHHS — Cass
(402) 296-3337
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Cass County Public Health services coordinated through regional Nebraska public health district.
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