State Resources
Nebraska
Nebraska runs one statewide court system covering both trial court tiers and charges a small fee for remote access. The records law has a four-business-day clock, which is among the shortest in the country.
At a glance
| Record | Held by | Cost | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and entity search | Secretary of State | Free to search | Yes |
| UCC filings | Secretary of State — UCC | Fee for official searches | Yes |
| Property and land records | County register of deeds and county assessor | Free online in most counties | By county |
| Court records | Judicial Branch — statewide case search | Fee for remote access; free at courthouse terminals | Paid |
| Criminal records | Nebraska State Patrol, Criminal Identification Division | Fee | Yes |
| Vital records | DHHS, Vital Records | Certified copies carry a fee | Yes |
| Unclaimed property | State Treasurer | Free | Yes |
| Voter and resident records | Secretary of State | Free | Yes |
Worth knowing about Nebraska
One court system, both tiers, all 93 counties
Nebraska consolidated its trial courts onto a single case management system, and public access runs through the state portal for a modest fee.
That’s a much better position than the county-by-county states. One search covers district courts (felonies, larger civil, divorce) and county courts across all 93 counties.
Note that Nebraska’s county court is a real trial court, not a clerk’s office. It handles misdemeanors, small claims, probate, juvenile and evictions — and it’s in the same system as the district court, so you aren’t missing the lower tier the way you would in Ohio or Nevada.
Free alternatives are courthouse terminals and the clerk. Appellate opinions are published free.
Four business days, and the first four hours are free
Nebraska gives you one of the shortest response clocks anywhere: four business days to fulfill the request, deny it in writing with the statutory basis, or provide a written estimate of when it will be ready and what it will cost.
On fees, the statute is unusually specific: the first four hours of staff time must be provided at no charge. A deposit can only be required beyond that. An estimate that bills you from the first minute is wrong, and saying so usually fixes it.
There’s no records-specific ombudsman, but the Attorney General issues opinions on disputes and the state Public Counsel — Nebraska’s ombudsman — handles complaints about agency conduct. Both are free.
No residency requirement and no purpose requirement.
Record by record
Business and entity search
Open corporation search →- Held by
- Secretary of State
- Cost
- Free to search
Free entity search returning status, formation date, registered agent and the registered office.
Nebraska requires a biennial report rather than an annual one, so address information can be two years stale even on an entity in good standing.
UCC filings
Open UCC →- Held by
- Secretary of State — UCC
- Cost
- Fee for official searches
UCC financing statements filed centrally. A UCC-1 names the debtor, the secured party and the collateral.
Nebraska is a major agricultural filing state — cattle, irrigation equipment, grain and land improvements described in detail. On a farm-connected asset search this is the best free inventory available.
Property and land records
- Held by
- County register of deeds and county assessor
- Cost
- Free online in most counties
No statewide property search. The register of deeds holds documents; the assessor holds ownership and value across 93 counties.
Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy hold most of the population and publish good free access.
Court records
Open Nebraska Judicial Branch →- Held by
- Judicial Branch — statewide case search
- Cost
- Fee for remote access; free at courthouse terminals
Statewide case search across district and county courts in all 93 counties, through the state portal for a fee. Free at courthouse terminals.
Both trial court tiers are in the same system, so a single search is genuinely statewide.
Criminal records
Open State Patrol →- Held by
- Nebraska State Patrol, Criminal Identification Division
- Cost
- Fee
The State Patrol provides criminal history record checks. A name-based check is available and the public version returns conviction data.
Nebraska publishes a free sex offender registry.
Vital records
Open vital records →- Held by
- DHHS, Vital Records
- Cost
- Certified copies carry a fee
Births, deaths, marriages and divorces from the state office. Nebraska restricts certified copies to people with a direct interest.
Unclaimed property
Open unclaimed property →- Held by
- State Treasurer
- Cost
- Free
Free name search. The holder named on a reported item is a confirmed bank, insurer or employer relationship with a last known address.
Voter and resident records
Open voter check →- Held by
- Secretary of State
- Cost
- Free
Individual registration lookup confirming status and county.
Public records requests in Nebraska
- Statute
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 et seq. (Public Records)
- Response deadline
- Four business days
- Appeal to
- Attorney General, or district court
- Appeal window
- No fixed deadline
Four business days — among the shortest response deadlines in the country. See above.
The Attorney General issues opinions on records disputes, and the state Public Counsel handles complaints about agency conduct generally. Both are free to use.
The first four hours of staff time must be provided at no charge, and a deposit can only be required beyond that. No residency requirement and no purpose requirement.
What Nebraska will not give you
- A free statewide court search. Remote access carries a fee. Courthouse terminals are free.
- Driver and vehicle records. Closed under the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
- Juvenile records. Not public.
- Sealed records. Removed from the public index.
Course
The Ultimate FOIA and Public Records Course
Every state page here tells you what the law says. The course shows you how to write the request, what to do when it comes back gutted, and how to appeal without a lawyer — the part that decides whether you actually get the records.
See the FOIA courseRelated
- Kansas — free statewide CaseSearch to the south
- Iowa — free statewide courts to the east
- South Dakota — limited access to the north
- UCC filings name the lender
- A FOIA request letter that works
Fees and procedures verified August 2026. Clerks change their counter rules more often than the statutes change — call before you drive.