Searching Court Records
How do I search Lancaster County court records online?
Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch JUSTICE system. A one-time party-name search costs $17 and returns up to 30 cases. The fee applies even when no case comes back. For repeat use, a Nebraska.gov subscriber account is the better route, with free general lists and $2 detail views. Free public terminals sit at the courthouse and at Bennett Martin Public Library in downtown Lincoln. Full steps, search fields, and the portal link are on the Lancaster County court records page.
Are Lancaster County court records public?
Yes, most are. Nebraska treats court files as open by default. You can read criminal, civil, traffic, probate, and small claims cases through JUSTICE or in person. Some records stay sealed. Juvenile, adoption, mental health, and set-aside files do not show in the public view. Protected items like Social Security numbers get redacted. The full access framework and the statutes behind it sit on the public records page.
How much does a court record search cost?
The JUSTICE One-Time Search costs $17 for a party-name lookup. That fee covers up to 30 cases and applies even with no match. Subscribers pay less per use, with free general lists and $2 detail or document views. Reading a file in person at the clerk's office is free. You pay only for copies, certification, and any card service charge. See the fee detail on the court records page.
How fast do online court records update?
JUSTICE posts a 24-hour lag between case entry and search appearance. A brand new case may not show right away. Completed case detail is normally ready within about three days. So plan ahead for any time-sensitive lookup. If a recent case does not appear yet, wait a day and try again, or call the clerk to confirm it was filed. The court dockets page covers day-to-day case activity.
How do I get a certified copy of a court record?
Certified copies come from the clerk who holds the file. For district and juvenile cases, contact the Clerk of the District Court at 402-441-7328. For misdemeanor, traffic, probate, and small claims cases, call the Lancaster County Court at 402-441-7291. Bring a photo ID, the case number when you have it, and payment for copy and certification fees. You can visit in person or mail the request. The court dockets page also covers day-to-day case activity and calendars.
Courts, Offices, and Access
What is the difference between County Court and District Court?
The District Court is the general trial court. It handles felonies, divorce and family law, high-value civil cases, and most name changes. The County Court is the limited court. It handles misdemeanors, traffic, probate, small claims, eviction, and felony preliminary hearings. A felony starts in County Court for the preliminary hearing, then moves up to District Court. Both sit at 575 South 10th Street. The District Court page covers the trial-court side in full.
Which office keeps District Court records?
The Clerk of the District Court, Simon G. Rezac, keeps district and juvenile case files. The office is at 575 South 10th Street, 3rd Floor, Lincoln, NE 68508. The phone is 402-441-7328. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk also handles judgments and child support payment records. For staff, request methods, and what the office holds, see the Clerk of the District Court page.
Does the County Clerk keep court files?
No. The Lancaster County Clerk states it does not keep County Court or District Court records. The County Clerk, Matt Hansen, is the county-government record keeper at 555 South 10th Street, Room 108. That office handles marriage licenses, county board records, licenses, and fiscal records. Court case files go through the court clerks instead. For the County Clerk's role, services, and request rules, see the County Clerk page.
How do I file a public records request?
It depends on the record. Court case files come from the court clerks, not the County Clerk. Non-court county records go through the County Clerk by email, mail, or in-person written request. Inspection during office hours is free under the Nebraska Public Records Act. Copies and staff time may carry a fee. If a request is denied, the law gives you a review-and-mandamus path. The full process and statute links sit on the public records page.
What are the courthouse hours and address?
The main court building is the Justice and Law Enforcement Center at 575 South 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. District Court is on the third floor and the Separate Juvenile Court is on the fourth. Both court clerks keep hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The County-City Building next door at 555 South 10th Street holds the County Clerk and other county offices. See the court records page for in-person request steps.
Inmates, Warrants, and Arrests
How do I find someone in the Lancaster County jail?
Use the current inmate lookup for the Adult Detention Facility, or call the Lancaster County Department of Corrections at 402-441-1900. The jail sits at 3801 West O Street, Lincoln. The lookup shows people held right now. It does not list juvenile offenders or DHS and ICE administrative detainees. The data may lag and is informational only, not the official record. For search steps, booking, and bond detail, see the inmate records page.
How do I check for an active warrant in Lancaster County?
Check the current warrant list online, then call the Lancaster County Court at 402-441-7291 if a name is listed. The list shows name, date of birth, agency, and charge. Bench warrants marked FTA mean failure to appear, and FTP means failure to pay court costs. Be careful of scams. The official warrant page warns that law enforcement will not ask for prepaid-card money. Full steps and how to resolve a warrant are on the warrant records page.
How do I find recently released inmates?
There is no separate official Lancaster County release list. If a person no longer shows in the current inmate lookup, do not assume release. It may mean a transfer, a spelling issue, a data delay, or a non-public custody class. To confirm, call the jail at 402-441-1900, check court records, or use VINELink Nebraska for custody notifications. The released inmates page explains how to verify a release and what triggers one.
How crowded is the Lancaster County jail?
The Adult Detention Facility runs a high volume. Recent monthly reports show an average daily population in the 600s and 700s, with thousands of bookings across a single fiscal year. Inmates may be pretrial, sentenced, or held for other agencies. The mix shifts month to month. Population snapshots and booking counts, along with the gaps in the public data, are on the jail population page.
Marriage, Divorce, Probate, and Traffic
Where do I get a marriage license in Lancaster County?
Both applicants go to the County Clerk in person at 555 South 10th Street, Room 108. Bring a valid photo ID and the required information. The license fee is $25. The County Clerk has kept Lancaster County marriage records since mid-June 1976. A certified copy costs $9 each and can be requested online, by mail, or in person. Mail requests need a form, an ID copy, and payment. See the marriage and divorce records page for the full steps.
How do I find divorce records?
Divorce cases are District Court matters in Lancaster County. To find one, search JUSTICE under a party name or call the Clerk of the District Court at 402-441-7328. The case file may include the complaint, the decree, parenting plans, and support orders. Some family details get redacted. For a certified decree, request a copy from the clerk. The marriage and divorce records page covers the search and copy process.
How do I find probate or estate records?
Probate cases run through the Lancaster County Court at 575 South 10th Street, phone 402-441-7291. The file may hold the will, the application, letters, the inventory, creditor notices, accountings, and the final report. You can search probate cases in JUSTICE under a party name with the PR case prefix. For older paper files, call the clerk. The probate records page walks through what a probate file shows and how to pull it.
How do I look up a traffic ticket?
Traffic cases are mainly Lancaster County Court matters. Search JUSTICE by your name or call the traffic quick line at 402-441-8959. The court record shows the citation, the charge and statute, the court date, your plea, the fine and costs, and any warrant or payment status. Note that a court traffic record is not the same as your DMV driver record, which tracks license status and points. The traffic court records page explains the difference.
Can I get a criminal record sealed or set aside in Nebraska?
Nebraska mostly uses set-aside relief rather than full expungement for adults. A granted set-aside changes some legal consequences, such as employment use, but it does not erase every entry from court and law-enforcement systems. Eligibility is fact-specific. Common reasons for denial include an ineligible offense, an open case, unpaid restitution, or a public-safety concern. Juvenile sealing follows its own track. The statutes and the petition basics are on the arrest records page.
Are juvenile records public?
No. Juvenile records are restricted and do not show in the public JUSTICE view. A juvenile adjudication is not a criminal conviction under state law. Lancaster County is one of only three Nebraska counties with a Separate Juvenile Court. A party, an attorney of record, or someone with a court order may be able to inspect a sealed file. Otherwise the file stays out of public reach. For the access rules behind this, see the public records page.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the Clerk of the District Court or the County Clerk. For broader access rules, see public records. To browse by topic, start with court records, then move to arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate records.