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Lancaster County, Nebraska Court Records

Lancaster County court records are files that contain information about civil, criminal, and juvenile cases that move through the county's legal system. The Lancaster County District Court Clerk's Office is the primary custodian for these records, which include petitions, appeals, orders, warrants, pleas, and motions.

Court records contain certain documents that serve different official purposes, such as genealogy research, legal research, name changes, proof of ownership, etc. Other public records can be found among court records, as they are often interconnected. In many cases, one record leads to the creation of the other. For instance, arrest records often lead to or result from the creation of a criminal case record.

Are Lancaster County Court Records Public?

Yes. Lancaster County court records are public unless restricted by statute, court rule, or court order. Per Nebraska Revised Statute § 84-712.01, the general public has the right to request, view, and copy court records. Provisions under this statute also authorize court record custodians to assess reasonable fees for copies.

Non-public court records are typically only available to case parties and their attorneys. Third parties seeking to access nonpublic court records must first obtain court authorization. Other factors that may limit access to a court record are if it falls under any of the following categories:

  • Juvenile records
  • Confidential records
  • Sealed records
  • Adoption records
  • Attorney-client privileged information
  • Information about ongoing investigation
  • Medical records
  • Mental commitment records
  • Social security numbers, credit card numbers, driver's license numbers, and other sensitive personal identification information that could aid identity theft

What Information is Available in Lancaster County Court Records?

Public information that may be found on Lancaster County court records includes

  • Case number
  • Case type
  • Filing date
  • Case status
  • Names of parties (Plaintiff/petitioner, Defendant/respondent)
  • Attorneys of record
  • Charges or causes of action
  • Court orders, motions and pleadings
  • Judgments
  • Fines and court costs

Lancaster County Court Records Search

Residents and nonresidents of Lancaster County can obtain copies of the county's court records through any of the following methods:

Online Access

Lancaster County court case records are available online via JUSTICE-the statewide court case management system. Case information on this portal includes a case summary, case party names, a register of actions, charges/claims, and court costs. This platform charges a $17.00 fee for one-time searches, $100.00 for a subscriber account, and zero fees for general searches where users view a list of cases. Allowed search criteria include party name, county, court type, case type, judge, and attorney.

Record seekers can also complete an online request form. Records requested through this method are delivered by email or mail. Certified copies cost $1.00, while plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Note that additional postage fees may apply for copies obtained by mail.

In-Person Access

In-person access to Lancaster County court case records is processed at the courthouse kiosk or law library. The District Court Clerk's Office handles record requests for all courts in the county for a fee, starting at $0.25 per page. This office is located at

575 South 10th Street

3rd Floor

Lincoln, NE 68508

Mail and Phone Requests

Record seekers may contact the court clerk's office by phone (402) 441-7328 or fax (402) 441-6190 for inquiries about records, as well as mail-in request guidelines. Interested persons may send mail to the clerk's office at

Clerk of the District Court

575 South 10th Street

Lincoln, NE 68508

Fees for Court Records in Lancaster County

Under Nebraska's public records law, court clerks, as well as other custodial agencies for public records, are authorized to charge search/copy fees. Such costs must be within a reasonable amount tailored to cover any processing, storage, or duplication costs. Copy fees for Lancaster County court records are as follows:

  • $0.25 per plain copy page obtained in-person
  • $1.00 per certification
  • $17.00 to $100 on JUSTICE

Lancaster County Courthouse Locations

The Lancaster County court system comprises the district, county, and juvenile courts, all located at the Justice and Law Enforcement Center in Lincoln. See below for their address and phone numbers.

Lancaster County District Court

Justice and Law Enforcement Center

575 South 10th Street

3rd Floor

Lincoln, NE 68508

Phone: (402) 441-7328

Fax: (402) 441-6190

County Court of Lancaster County

Justice and Law Enforcement Center

575 South 10th Street, 2nd Floor

Lincoln, NE 68508

Phone: (402) 441-7271 (Civil/Small Claims)

Fax: (402) 441-6055 (Civil/Small Claims)

Phone: (402) 441-8959 (Criminal/Traffic)

Fax: (402) 441-6056 (Criminal/Traffic)

Phone: (402) 441-7443 (Probate)

Fax: (402) 441-6055 (Probate)

Lancaster County Juvenile Court

Justice and Law Enforcement Center - Juvenile Court

575 South 10th Street

Room 413

Lincoln, NE 68508

Phone: (402) 441-6928

Fax: (402) 441-6930

Criminal Records Access in Lancaster County

In Lancaster County, all criminal cases are filed with the Criminal and Traffic Court Division of the Lancaster County Court. Case records generated during criminal proceedings are the responsibility of the district court clerk, who generates, updates, and preserves them. In-person criminal case record requests are also conducted at this office for a fee. This office also accepts mail-in and email requests. To access criminal records remotely, a researcher may submit their request by email or by searching online via the JUSTICE portal.

Criminal history record requests are different from criminal court case record searches and are handled by the Criminal Identification Division of the Nebraska State Patrol. This process retrieves all existing information about an individual's criminal past, provided it has not been sealed or expunged. Checks can either be name-based or fingerprint-based. Name-based requests require the record subject's full name and date of birth, cost $30.00, and can be conducted by anyone. Whereas fingerprint-based searches require a fingerprint card, cost more than name-based checks, and can only be conducted by authorized individuals for official purposes.

Lancaster County Probate Records

The Probate, Adoption, and Condemnation Division of the Lancaster County Court handles probate matters in the county. Probate records are court records created in relation to the settlement of a person's estate. Common cases classified under probate include wills, conservatorships, trusts, and guardianships. Probate records are often relevant for genealogy research. The Lancaster Clerk of the District Court is in charge of these records and is responsible for fulfilling public requests.

Lancaster County Family Court Records

Lancaster County does not have a dedicated family court. Family cases and domestic relations cases are handled by the Lancaster County District Court. Common examples of family cases are paternity, adoption, divorce, child custody/support, and spousal support. When a family matter is filed in the court, it often requires the creation and filing of various supporting documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, name change documents, divorce decrees, mediation agreements, adoption papers, and protective orders.

Family case records in Lancaster County are public under the state's public records policy and, as such, can be accessed by anyone. However, this rule is not absolute, as confidential information is often disclosed in family proceedings. Affected records/portions are usually withheld/redacted. Public family case records are available through the District Clerk's Office or online via JUSTICE. An inquirer must possess the case number or a case party's full name. Certified copies are also available, but only to case parties and their attorneys.

Federal Court Records in Lancaster County

The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska handles federal court cases arising in Lancaster County. Federal cases are matters handled under federal law, such as civil rights cases, federal contract and commercial disputes, bank robberies, interstate crimes, tax offenses, and firearm crimes. Federal court records are maintained online via PACER, which also doubles as a public access platform.

The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) platform serves all federal courts in the U.S. and can be accessed by anyone, but an account is required. PACER charges $0.10 per page, although the cost for any single document is capped at $3.00. Audio recordings cost $2.40 each.

Lancaster County Court