How do I access court records?

Clerk of the District Court / Clerk of the County Court (county level - each of Nebraska's 93 counties / 12 judicial districts) / Nebraska Supreme Court (state level)

Step by Step

How to do it

Identify what type of record you need: District Court (felonies, civil over $75,000, jury trials, domestic relations), County Court (misdemeanors, civil up to $75,000, small claims up to $3,900, traffic, probate, juvenile), or Nebraska Court of Appeals / Nebraska Supreme Court
Note: Nebraska has 12 judicial districts; each county has both District Court and County Court; most counties have a combined Clerk of the District Court and County Court
Search online:
NEBRASKA COURTS CASE LOOKUP: nebraska.gov/justice or through Nebraska Supreme Court website; Nebraska is implementing an integrated case management system
NCCJ (Nebraska Clerk of Courts): Some court records searchable online through county-specific portals
INDIVIDUAL COUNTY COURT WEBSITES: Each county's court may have varying online access
For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of the District Court or Clerk of the County Court in the county where the case was filed
In-person access: visit the county courthouse; bring photo ID and case details

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
Case number or full legal name of parties

Fee

Online case search: free for basic information on available courts; certified copies: typically $1 per page; contact specific county clerk for current schedule

Processing Time

Immediate online searches where available; same day or by mail for certified copies

Online Option

Limited statewide; Nebraska courts online at nebraska.gov/justice; individual county court portals

Where to Go

Clerk of the District Court or Clerk of the County Court in the county where the case was filed

County-specific variations apply

Nebraska's 93 counties each have District Court and County Court systems. Douglas County (Omaha), Lancaster County (Lincoln), Sarpy County (Papillion), and Buffalo County (Kearney) have the largest court systems with more staff and better online resources. Rural counties may have limited online access requiring in-person or mailed requests. Note: in Nebraska, the same clerk often serves both the District Court and County Court.

Nebraska Notes

Important state-specific details

Nebraska Supreme Court and Nebraska Court of Appeals opinions: supremecourt.nebraska.gov or Nebraska Judicial Branch website.
Criminal history background checks: Nebraska State Patrol, Criminal Identification Division (CID) - nebraska.gov/apps/cops/sor; background check fees apply.
Nebraska Sex Offender Registry: Nebraska State Patrol SOR - nebraska.gov/apps/cops/sor - searchable online.
Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules apply.
Nebraska Public Records Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712 et seq.): public bodies must respond promptly; court records subject to applicable rules.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Nebraska Judicial Branch - supremecourt.nebraska.gov | (402) 471-3730; Nebraska State Patrol (criminal history) - nebraskasp.nebraska.gov | (402) 471-8737