Nebraska Birth Records

Nebraska began mandatory birth registration in 1904. While registration began in 1904, fully detailed official birth certificates were not issued until 1912. Earlier births, pre-1904, are found only in the county or archival registers.

Nebraska birth records are the official registrations of live births occurring within the state. In Nebraska, they may be issued as certified or informational copies.

• Certified Copies: Also called authorized copies of birth records, these are the official, original copies of a registrant's birth certificate. It carries the signature of the issuing officer and the official seal of the issuing office to guarantee its authenticity. Certified copies of birth certificates in Nebraska are typically issued as:
• Long-Form Birth Certificate: The long-form birth certificate is the complete, full-sized, and detailed version of an individual's birth certificate. It contains the registrant's full name, date of birth, gender, place and time of birth, parents' full names, parents' birthplaces, and birth dates, and the registrar's signature. The long-form birth certificate is usually printed on security paper and carries the official state seal, making the document valid for all legal transactions.
• Short-Form Birth Certificate: The short-form birth certificate is an abbreviated version of a birth certificate. It is less detailed and includes basic information, such as the registrant's full name, date and place of birth, gender, and some basic parental information. Usually, it omits detailed information such as a parent's birthplace. A short-form birth certificate is ideal when basic proof of identity is required. It is generally not valid for most official use.
• Informational Copies: Informational copies of birth records, also called genealogical copies, carry the same information as the long-form birth certificate. However, it is printed on plain paper and lacks the official seal of the state. Therefore, the document is not valid for legal use. Instead, informational copies are ideal for personal and genealogical research.

How To Order a Nebraska Birth Certificate?

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records is the record custodian for births occurring from 1904 to the present in the state. Interested persons may order the document from the office by mail, in person, or online.

Online requests for birth certificates require completing the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate online form. Upload a copy of an acceptable proof of identification and pay the fees with a Visa or MasterCard.

Persons ordering the document by mail or at the State Office of Vital Records may complete the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate form. Include a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of relationship with the registrant, a self-addressed stamped envelope for mail requesters, and the fees. It costs $17 to order a certified copy of a Nebraska birth certificate. Submit the record request in person at:

Persons ordering the document by mail may send the request to:

You may access copies of pre-1904 birth certificates at the county clerk of court office where the birth was reported or through the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Are Birth Records Public in Nebraska?

Nebraska birth records are not public records. Under Nebraska law, birth records are vital records. Consequently, they are not open to the public for viewing or copying. Per state law, only persons who can demonstrate a direct, familial, or legal relationship to the record may obtain certified copies. Therefore, the general public cannot purchase another person's birth certificate unless that certificate becomes public after a predetermined number of years have elapsed.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in Nebraska?

Under Nebraska law, only qualified persons may order certified copies of birth certificates. These individuals include:

• The individual named on the birth record
• The parent listed on the birth certificate
• Immediate family members of the registrant, including spouses, children, siblings, and grandparents
• Legal guardians or adoptive parents
• Legal representatives
• Persons with a court order
• Government agencies

How Long Does it Take to Get A Nebraska Birth Certificate?

The standard processing time for birth certificates ordered by mail from the Nebraska Vital Records Office is a minimum of 15 days, while online applications are typically processed within 7 days. There is expedited processing for mail requests only, with the expected processing time at 2 days. In-person requests for birth certificates are typically processed within a minimum of 30 minutes, depending on the ease of locating the record.

Where Can I Find Nebraska Birth Records Free?

Generally, access to certified copies of birth certificates is restricted to eligible individuals, who must pay a fee to obtain the document. However, there are alternative resources where persons eligible to receive certified copies may access informational birth records at no cost.

The National Vital Records Archives, although not a repository for birth records, provides a "Where to Write" tool that offers the contact details for state vital records offices. You may use this as a starting point to confirm custodial offices before accessing birth records.

FamilySearch.org is a genealogy website that offers extensive free resources for Nebraska births. Its repository includes post-1904 county birth registers with digital images of the birth record and pre-1904 birth-related documents, such as church baptismal records and county substitutes.

Ancestry.com, also a genealogy website, provides free access to index collections for Nebraska births. Its birth ledger has records of Nebraska births per county from 1904 to 1911, recording births under the father's name. The platform also offers statewide index entries for certified birth certificates from 1912 through 1994.

PublicRecords.us aggregates modern birth certificates from multiple governmental resources to provide a comprehensive database of Nebraska birth records. The database primarily covers post-1904 birth records with ongoing updates for current birth years. You may access a spouse's name, birth date, and county of birth information for free on the platform. Detailed birth records that may include parental information require a minimal subscription fee.

When Would I Need My Nebraska Birth Records?

A Nebraska birth certificate serves as primary proof of identity, age, and citizenship. Therefore, the document is required in numerous legal, governmental, and personal situations, including:

• Applying for a U.S. passport
• Obtaining a driver's license or a state-issued ID
• Applying for or replacing a Social Security card
• Enrolling in public schools and universities
• Determining employment eligibility
• Applying for a marriage license
• Changing your legal name
• Establishing parental rights during custody
• Claiming Social Security benefits
• Establishing eligibility for Medicaid
• Claiming estates or life insurance benefits
• Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in Nebraska?

You may replace your birth certificate in Nebraska if the document becomes illegible, torn, faded, stolen, destroyed, or lost. The process of replacing your birth certificate is the same as ordering a certified copy of the document.

To replace your birth certificate, download and complete the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate form. Include a copy of an acceptable government-issued ID and a self-addressed stamped envelope if ordering the document by mail. For persons replacing birth certificates on behalf of the registrant, include proof of your eligibility to obtain the document, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate. You may order the replacement birth certificate through the State Office of Vital Records by mail, in person, or online. It costs $17 to replace your birth certificates in Nebraska.

When Can the Public Access Nebraska Birth Certificates?

Birth certificates are classified as confidential vital records under Nebraska law and are not open to the public. Generally, the state restricts public access to birth certificates for 50 years from the birth date. During this period, only qualified persons may access certified copies of the birth certificate. After a 50-year lapse, the birth record becomes a public record open to anyone through informational copies

How To Correct an Error on a Nebraska Birth Certificate?

You may correct the following errors on your Nebraska birth certificate

• Clerical errors, including misspelled names, typographical errors, wrong birth time or place
• Name changes
• Adoption-related changes
• Add or remove parents' names

You may amend your birth certificate by completing the Application for Amendment form. Detail the incorrect items and specify the correct information. Include documentary proof to support the correct data, such as a marriage certificate or a state-issued ID. If you are correcting a name or adding or removing parental information, a court order is required. Mail the amendment request to the State Vital Records Office.

Per Nebraska law, any amendment filed one year or more after the event may include:

• A notarized affidavit identifying the certificate, the error, and the correct data
• Two or more pieces of independent documentary evidence substantiating the requested change, each of which must have been created at least 5 years before the amendment request or within 7 years after the event

Does Nebraska Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

Nebraska does not currently provide non-binary birth certificates or recognize the gender-neutral birth marker "X". Executive Order 23-16, signed by Governor Jim Pillen, defines gender in the state as the binary "Male" or "Female" assigned at birth. The order explicitly rejects the inclusion of a third gender classification. Therefore, residents cannot apply to the State Office of Vital Records to get their birth assigned gender markers amended on their birth certificate to reflect the non-binary birth marker "X".