Lancaster County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Lancaster County?

Public records in Lancaster County, Nebraska, are documents, data, and other recorded information created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available for public inspection under state law. Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, any record maintained by a public body — whether in paper, electronic, or other format — is presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

The following categories of records are currently available through Lancaster County offices and affiliated state agencies:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files maintained by the Lancaster County Court and District Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments held by the Lancaster County Register of Deeds and Assessor's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates preserved by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; members of the public may access Nebraska vital records through the state's Office of Vital Records
Business records — licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by the Lancaster County Clerk and the Nebraska Secretary of State
Tax records — property tax and assessment records held by the Lancaster County Treasurer and Assessor
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Lancaster County Election Commissioner
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of Lancaster County Commission sessions and board meetings, available through the County Clerk's office
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records maintained by the County's Finance Division
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — permits, zoning maps, and planning documents held by the Lancaster County Planning Department

Members of the public seeking general county records may access the Lancaster County public records portal for guidance on which office maintains each record type.

Is Lancaster County an Open Records County?

Lancaster County fully complies with Nebraska's Public Records Act, which establishes a broad right of public access to government-held information. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, all public records of every public body in Nebraska are open to inspection by any person at all reasonable times, and no person shall be denied this right except as expressly provided by law. A companion provision, § 84-712.01, requires custodians to furnish copies of records upon request and to respond within four business days.

Key provisions of the Nebraska Public Records Act as applied in Lancaster County include:

Any person — regardless of residency or stated purpose — may inspect public records during regular business hours
Custodians must acknowledge a records request within four business days and either provide the records, deny the request with a written explanation citing the applicable exemption, or notify the requester that additional time is needed
Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies but may not charge for the time spent inspecting records in person
Lancaster County does not currently maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance; the county operates entirely under the state statutory framework

Nebraska's open records law is sometimes referred to as the state's "sunshine law" and reflects the legislature's declared policy that government accountability depends on public access to official records.

How to Find Public Records in Lancaster County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Lancaster County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.

In-person inspection: Individuals may visit the relevant county office during public counter hours to inspect records at no charge. The Lancaster County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Assessor, Treasurer, and Sheriff each maintain separate public counters at the Lancaster County-City Building, 555 S. 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Online requests: Lancaster County provides a centralized online portal for submitting formal records requests. Members of the public may submit public records requests to Lancaster County offices — including the County Court, District Court, and the Sheriff's Office — through the county's official request system.

Court records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family case information may be searched through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's case information eServices portal, which provides online access to docket information for Lancaster County Court and District Court. Physical court records may also be inspected at the courthouse during business hours.

Vital records: Certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are obtained through the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records, not through Lancaster County directly.

Mail and fax requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the specific custodial office. Requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow the custodian to locate it, and should include the requester's contact information for response purposes.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Lancaster County?

Current fees for public records in Lancaster County vary by record type and the office maintaining the record. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01, custodians are authorized to charge a fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction, which includes the cost of materials and staff time required to produce copies.

Standard fees currently applicable in Lancaster County include:

Paper copies: Typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, though individual offices may set rates reflecting actual reproduction costs
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; certified copies of court records generally range from $1.00 to $5.00 per document depending on the court
Vital records: The Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records charges a standard fee per certified copy of birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates; current fee schedules are published on the DHHS website
Register of Deeds: Recording fees and copy fees for deeds, mortgages, and liens are set by state statute and the county fee schedule
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees reflect the actual cost of duplication

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. Some offices accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers are not broadly established by statute in Nebraska, though custodians retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances, such as for indigent requesters or requests serving a clear public interest.

Does Lancaster County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled under Nebraska law to inspect public records in person at no charge during regular business hours. The right to free inspection is established by the Nebraska Public Records Act and applies to all non-exempt records maintained by Lancaster County offices.

Free access to Lancaster County records is currently available through the following government resources:

In-person inspection at any Lancaster County office maintaining the requested records, including the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Assessor, Treasurer, and Sheriff's Office — all located at 555 S. 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508
Nebraska Judicial Branch eServices, which provides free online access to court case information for Lancaster County Court, District Court, and Juvenile Court through the Nebraska case information portal
Lancaster County's online records portal, which allows members of the public to access certain records and submit requests at no cost through the county's public records page
Nebraska DHHS Vital Records, which provides informational access online, though certified copies carry a statutory fee

Fees apply only when a requester seeks physical or electronic copies of records; the right to inspect originals in person remains free of charge.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lancaster County?

Any person may request public records in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The Nebraska Public Records Act does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. Under the current statutory framework established by § 84-712, the right to inspect and copy public records extends to all persons without distinction.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Residency: Requesters are not required to be Nebraska residents or Lancaster County residents
Identification: Custodians generally may not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or for records involving the requester's own personal information
Statement of purpose: Requesters are not required to state the reason for their request under Nebraska law; custodians may not condition access on disclosure of purpose
Non-residents: Non-residents of Nebraska retain the same rights of access as residents under the state's open records law
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves — such as their own criminal history, court filings, or vital records — follow the same general process but may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest, regardless of the requester's identity

What Records Are Confidential in Lancaster County?

Not all government records in Lancaster County are open to public inspection. Nebraska law establishes specific categories of exempt records, and custodians are required to withhold information falling within those categories. The primary exemptions are codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05, which enumerates the classes of records that public bodies are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — to disclose.

Records currently exempt from public disclosure in Lancaster County include:

Sealed court records — documents sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records of proceedings in Lancaster County Juvenile Court are confidential under Nebraska juvenile code provisions; the Nebraska Judicial Branch provides guidance on court records access including juvenile record restrictions
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released records
Medical records — health information protected under HIPAA and Nebraska law is exempt from disclosure
Adoption records — adoption files are sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Nebraska DHHS relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — employee records are exempt except for information relating to the name, position, compensation, and dates of employment of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — commercial or financial information submitted to a public body in confidence and not customarily released is exempt
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public facilities and infrastructure are withheld to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, custodians are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Nebraska courts apply a balancing analysis in disputed cases, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the specific harm that disclosure would cause.

Lancaster County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for maintaining and providing access to public records in Lancaster County are listed below with current contact information and public counter hours.

Lancaster County Clerk / Register of Deeds 555 S. 10th Street, Suite 102, Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 441-7481 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lancaster County Clerk

Lancaster County Assessor / Register of Deeds 555 S. 10th Street, Suite 102, Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 441-7463 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lancaster County Assessor

Lancaster County Treasurer 555 S. 10th Street, Suite 102, Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 441-7425 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lancaster County Treasurer

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office 575 S. 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 441-6500 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Lancaster County Sheriff

Lancaster County District Court 575 S. 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 441-7330 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lancaster County District Court

Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2871 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Nebraska Office of Vital Records