Nebraska Court Records

The court structure judicial system in Nebraska is organized under the three levels: the appellate courts, the court of general jurisdiction, and the court of limited jurisdiction. Together, these courts handle more than 270,000 cases every fiscal year.

At the top of the hierarchy is the Nebraska Supreme Court, the state's highest judicial authority. It serves primarily as the court of last resort, hearing appeals that involve constitutional matters, legal precedents, and significant public interest. The court also oversees the administrative operations of the entire state judiciary and has the final say in matters involving attorney and judicial discipline.

Supporting the supreme court at the appellate level is the Nebraska Court of Appeals. This intermediate appellate court was created to relieve the workload of the supreme court and handles the majority of appeals from the trial courts. Decisions made by the court of appeals may be reviewed by the supreme court upon petition.

At the trial level, Nebraska has two primary court systems: district courts and county courts. District courts are courts of general jurisdiction. They handle serious criminal cases, including felonies, as well as major civil cases such as contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, and family law matters like divorce and custody. County courts, on the other hand, are courts of limited jurisdiction. They manage less serious criminal offenses, such as misdemeanors and traffic violations, small claims, probate, guardianships, conservatorships, and juvenile matters in most counties.

In addition to these courts, Nebraska has separate juvenile courts located in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy counties. These courts are specifically established to handle juvenile cases, including delinquency, abuse, neglect, and status offenses. In other counties, juvenile matters are addressed within the county courts.

Nebraska has a specialized workers' compensation court, which deals exclusively with disputes between employers and employees regarding work-related injuries. This court hears claims, approves settlements, and issues binding decisions on compensation matters.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Nebraska?

Court records are usually generated when a case is filed in any of the state's courts. As the legal process proceeds, additional documents and materials are created by other parties, including court personnel, attorneys, plaintiffs, defendants, and judges. The clerk's duties in Nebraska courts include receiving and organizing filings, updating case dockets, and maintaining records generated in the courthouse where the clerk's office is located.

Records typically maintained by each level of court in the Nebraska judicial system include the following:

• Nebraska Supreme Court
• Published Opinions and Final Rulings: Binding legal decisions in cases involving constitutional questions, significant legal issues, or appeals from the Court of Appeals.
• Case Dockets: Chronological entries showing filings, orders, and court actions in each case.
• Petitions for Further Review: Formal requests to review decisions from the Nebraska Court of Appeals.
• Orders of the Court: Administrative and procedural rulings issued by the court.
• Rules and Administrative Orders: Documents relating to statewide judicial policy and procedure changes.
• Attorney Discipline Records: Records of grievances, investigations, and disciplinary actions against attorneys (via the Counsel for Discipline).
• Judicial Discipline Records: Documents from the Judicial Qualifications Commission regarding judicial conduct.
• Nebraska Court of Appeals
• Appellate Case Dockets: Tracking of appellate case filings, briefs, motions, and hearing schedules.
• Court Opinions: Written decisions that interpret the law and resolve appellate issues. Some are published; others are unpublished but still part of the case record.
• Motions and Briefs: Legal documents filed by the parties on appeal, including arguments, supporting evidence, and procedural motions.
• Oral Argument Recordings: Audio recordings of oral arguments heard before the appellate panels.
• Nebraska District Courts
• Criminal Records
• Felony and serious misdemeanor case files
• Charging documents (indictments, complaints)
• Pretrial motions and suppression hearings
• Trial transcripts and sentencing orders
• Post-conviction and appeal records
• Civil Records
• Contract disputes, tort claims, personal injury, and real estate cases
• Pleadings, motions, discovery, and judgments
• Settlements and jury verdicts
• Family Court Records
• Divorce decrees
• Legal separation and annulment records
• Child custody and support orders
• Parenting plans and domestic violence protection orders
• Probate and Guardianship Records
• Wills and estate administration documents
• Guardianship and conservatorship case files
• Trusts and accountings
• Juvenile Matters (in coordination with Juvenile Courts)
• Abuse, neglect, and delinquency cases
• Appeals from Lower Courts
• Records of appeals from County or Juvenile Courts, including trial transcripts and judicial orders
• Nebraska County Courts
• Criminal and Traffic Records
• Misdemeanor criminal cases
• Infractions and traffic citations
• Arraignment records, plea agreements, and sentencing
• Civil Case Records
• Small claims disputes (under $3,900)
• Debt collection cases
• Landlord-tenant disputes and evictions
• Replevin (property recovery) actions
• Probate and Estate Cases
• Informal probate filings
• Summary administration records
• Conservatorship and guardianship documents
• Name Change and Other Administrative Matters
• Legal name change petitions
• Birthdate corrections, gender marker updates (in some cases)
• Nebraska Juvenile Courts
• Delinquency Case Files: Cases involving minors accused of breaking the law.
• Child in Need of Services (CHINS) or CHIPS Cases: Records concerning abuse, neglect, and dependency.
• Foster Care Proceedings: Including status reviews and permanency hearings.
• Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) Cases
• Adoption Records
• Juvenile Diversion and Probation Reports
• Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court
• Petitions and Complaints: Initial filings by injured workers.
• Medical and Vocational Evidence: Submitted to establish disability or workplace injury.
• Motions and Responses: Legal filings related to claims and defenses.
• Hearing Transcripts: Written or audio records of formal hearings before compensation judges.
• Orders and Final Decisions: Including benefit awards, dismissals, and procedural rulings.
• Settlement Records: Agreements approved by the court to resolve disputes without trial.

Are Nebraska Court Records Public?

Nebraska court records are generally public and therefore open to anyone interested in inspecting or copying them. Nebraska Public Records Statutes establish that all citizens have the right to examine public records maintained by government agencies, including the judicial branch, unless specifically exempted by law. In addition, the Nebraska Supreme Court Rules on Access to Court Records codified under Neb. Ct. R. § 1-801 et seq. govern how records may be accessed and which records are restricted. These rules provide the framework for both in-person and electronic access to judicial information.

Publicly accessible court records include civil and criminal case dockets, motions, judgments, verdicts, court orders, probate and estate filings, and traffic violations.

Note that Nebraska law exempts certain records from disclosure. These include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Mental health commitment records
• Confidential criminal justice information, including sealed or expunged convictions and records of deferred adjudication
• Medical, psychological, and victim impact statements, especially in criminal proceedings
• Cases under seal by court order, such as those involving trade secrets, sensitive personal financial information, or protective orders

Nebraska courts may seal records or limit access for reasons such as:

• To protect the privacy of minors or vulnerable individuals, particularly in juvenile or mental health cases.
• To comply with federal or state confidentiality laws
• To preserve the integrity of an ongoing investigation or trial, especially when public disclosure could bias a jury or jeopardize law enforcement efforts.
• To safeguard victims of crime, such as victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, whose identifying information might otherwise be revealed.
• To prevent harm to individuals or entities, such as in trade secret disputes, where open access to business records could cause economic damage.

How Do I Search Nebraska Court Records?

You may search Nebraska court records online in the following ways:

• JUSTICE One-Time Court Case Search: This service allows you to search for trial court cases statewide by party name, case number, and judgment date. There is a $15 fee per search, and the results will return up to 30 records. Note that this service provides case information but does not include document images.
• Nebraska.gov Subscriber Access: For frequent users, a subscription service is available through Nebraska.gov. This service has an annual fee of $100 and allows for multiple searches with additional charges applied per case detail viewed. Subscribers can access both trial and appellate court records, including document images

Note that published opinions of the appellate courts in Nebraska are available online via the Nebraska Appellate Courts Online Library.

How To Retrieve Court Records Offline

You may request standard or certified copies of Nebraska court records offline via the following steps:

• Visit the Appropriate Courthouse: Identify the county where the case was filed and go to the corresponding courthouse. Each courthouse has a clerk's office where you may request access to court records.
• Use Public Access Terminals: Many Nebraska courthouses provide public access terminals that allow you to search for case information. These terminals may help you locate the case number and other relevant details needed for your request.
• Request Copies from the Clerk's Office: Once you have identified the records you need, you may request copies from the clerk. You will need to provide specific information such as the case number, party names, and the documents you need.

Note that fees apply for obtaining standard or certified copies of Nebraska court records. Standard copies cost between $0.25 and $0.5 per page, while certification generally costs $1 per request. Additional fees may apply for color copies and faxing documents. Typically, standard requests are processed within four business days, while an extensive or complex request may take longer. If a request cannot be processed within four business days, the office of the clerk of the court will provide a written explanation and an estimated date of processing the request.

Can I Seal or Expunge a Nebraska Court Record?

Sealing a record in Nebraska removes information relating to an arrest and conviction from public record, while expungement removes a record of arrest from an individual's criminal records entirely, as though it never happened. A sealed record may still be accessed by the record owner, an individual authorized by the record owner, and criminal justice agencies such as law enforcement, courts, and prosecutors.

Expungement is rare in Nebraska, as it is only given when an individual has clear and convincing evidence that their arrest was due to law enforcement error. To obtain an expungement, a petition must be filed in the Nebraska district court where the petitioner was arrested. Per Nebraska law, the petition must include the county attorney as the respondent and be served on the county attorney.

Sealing is permitted for adult records in Nebraska in the following cases:

• If you have received a pardon
• For charges that resulted in acquittal or were dismissed (note that cases with charges that were dismissed or resulted in an acquittal after December 31, 2016, are sealed automatically)
• If you have been a victim of human trafficking.

To obtain an order to seal your adult records in Nebraska, follow these steps:

• Review and Complete the Required Form: Carefully read the instructions for the Motion to Seal an Adult Criminal Record (Form CC 6:12).
• Complete the Sealing Motion form: Download and fill out the Motion to Seal an Adult Criminal Record (CC 6:12). You may need to obtain a copy of your criminal record from the NSP (Nebraska State Patrol). Also, you may perform a one-time court case search of your state court records or go to the courthouse and use the public access terminal to get the information on your record to correctly complete the motion form.
• File the Motion in the Correct Court: Submit your completed motion to the court where the original case was heard. If you do not have an attorney, you may file the motion in person, by mail, or by fax.
• Notification of the Prosecuting Attorney: Once the motion is filed, the court will notify the county or city attorney of your request to seal the record.
• Attend the Court Hearing: If a hearing is scheduled, you will be notified. You must appear in court for the hearing. At the hearing, you will need to testify under oath about the circumstances of your case and why your record should be sealed.
• Judge's Decision: After your testimony, the judge will review your motion and the evidence presented, then decide whether to approve the sealing of your record.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Nebraska

The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska is the only federal court in the state. This court has locations in Omaha, Lincoln, and North Platte. It handles all federal matters arising in Nebraska, including cases involving federal law violations, civil rights claims, federal criminal prosecutions, and bankruptcy proceedings.

To access records from the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, you may use the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system. However, to use PACER, you must first create an account on the system. Once registered, you may search using a case number or party name. PACER charges $0.10 per page.

Alternatively, individuals may request court records in person by visiting any of the three courthouse locations where the case was filed. Courthouse locations have public access terminals through which records may be searched and printed. Also, requests may be made through the clerk's office, where you will be asked to provide identifying information such as the case number, party names, and approximate filing date. Depending on the record requested, the following fees apply:

• Certification per document: $12
• Copies of Records in Electronic Form (when those records are not stored in CM/ECF or available on PACER): $33
• Copy of documents printed from public access terminals: $0.10 per page
• Exemplification: $24.00
• Search of records: $34.00 per name.

How To Get Nebraska Court Records Online for Free?

Trial and appellate court case searches on the Nebraska Judicial Branch website attract a fee. However, some reliable third-party websites such as peoplerecords.us typically provide access to basic case record information for free.