Dodge County, Nebraska Court Records
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Dodge County sits in eastern Nebraska along the Platte River, with Fremont as its county seat. Its courts generate a steady body of public records covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and estate administration. Under Nebraska Revised Statute 25-2209, these records include complaints, petitions, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, and the register of actions — maintained electronically in the state's trial case management system, or in older cases on microfilm and paper.
If you're trying to find Dodge County court case information, the Nebraska judicial branch's online tools, public access terminals at the courthouse, and the clerk's offices are your main options. NebraskaCourts.us can help you identify case records, court locations, and publicly accessible information for cases filed across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dodge County?
Dodge County has two state trial courts, both at the Dodge County Judicial Center in Fremont. The District Court handles major felonies and higher-value civil matters; the County Court covers misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, and probate.
Dodge District Court
Address: 428 N. Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2780
Fax: (402) 727-2773
Court Clerk: Judith Wegner
Email: judi.wegner@nebraska.gov
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
County Court of Dodge County (Judicial Center, 3rd Floor)
Address: 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025
| Division | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|
| Main Number | (402) 727-2755 | (402) 727-2762 |
| Civil / Small Claims | (402) 727-2756 | (402) 727-2762 |
| Criminal & Traffic | (402) 727-2758 | (402) 727-2762 |
| Probate, Adoption, Condemnation | (402) 727-2779 | (402) 727-2762 |
Court Clerk: Marissa Miller
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Online Case Search – JUSTICE System
The Nebraska Judicial Branch runs a statewide trial case management system called JUSTICE. Cases from all 93 Nebraska counties — including Dodge — are searchable through it. You'll find case summaries, party information, offense details for criminal cases, financial information, a full register of actions, and in most cases viewable electronic images of filed documents.
Two access options are available:
- One-Time Case Search: Use the JUSTICE One-Time Court Case Search at $17 per name-based search, returning up to 30 matching records. Searches with no results still require payment. Results stay accessible for three calendar days, and there's a 24-hour lag between when a case is entered and when it appears in results.
- Subscriber Account: Organizations or individuals who need frequent access can set up a subscriber account through Nebraska.gov for an annual fee of $100. General name searches are free; viewing individual case details costs $2 per record. Up to 10 usernames can be assigned to a single account.
If you'd rather not pay online, the JUSTICE public access terminal at the Dodge County courthouse lets you search by party name or case number at no charge. Free access is also available at law libraries, including the Nebraska State Library and university law libraries in Lincoln and Omaha.
To check upcoming hearings, use the Nebraska Court Calendar Search, which is searchable by date or last name.
Are Court Records Public in Dodge County?
Under Nebraska Supreme Court Rule 1-804, court records are presumptively public — both remotely through the authorized JUSTICE system and in person at courthouse terminals. You don't need to state a reason to request access.
That said, Supreme Court Rule 1-808 identifies several categories excluded from public access:
- Criminal history information maintained separately from court case records and not accessible through JUSTICE
- Adoption case records — fully sealed to protect the parties involved
- Juvenile records — restricted to preserve minors' privacy
- Sealed court records — any file sealed by court order
Nebraska Revised Statute 84-712.05 adds further categories of information that cannot be publicly disclosed. Specific data fields — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar identifiers — are also withheld regardless of case type.
For records that are public, anyone may search, view, and request copies. The Nebraska Judicial Branch Court Records page explains how to request sealed records, petition for record access, and obtain copies of court files.
Dodge County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases and appeals from the County Court go to the Dodge District Court. Misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and lower-level criminal matters are handled by the Dodge County Court. Both courts maintain criminal records through their respective clerks, and all are searchable through the JUSTICE system.
Requesting Criminal Court Records
For copies of criminal case documents from the District Court, contact Clerk of the District Court Judith Wegner at 428 N. Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025, or call (402) 727-2780. County Court criminal records requests go to the County Court clerk at the same address, through the Criminal & Traffic division at (402) 727-2758.
District Court Criminal Filing Fees
| Case Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Criminal (felony, filed by Grand Jury or State's Attorney) | $87.00 |
| Criminal appeal from County Court | $71.00 |
| Protection orders | No fee |
Dodge County Sheriff's Office
Arrest records, incident reports, and related law enforcement records are held separately from court records by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. Under Nebraska's public records statutes, the Sheriff's Office — with Sheriff Dale J. Schmidt as legal custodian — allows the public to request records in person, by phone, or electronically. Depending on the record type, immediate access through the office's digital repository may be possible.
Dodge County Sheriff's Office
Address: Courthouse, Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2702 | Fax: (402) 727-2714
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
If you need a comprehensive Nebraska criminal history record — rather than individual court case records — contact the Nebraska State Patrol, which runs the state's Limited Criminal History Search program. The fee is $30.00 per search, non-refundable regardless of outcome. A criminal history check from the State Patrol reflects conviction-level data, not just court filings, making it the appropriate resource for background check purposes.
Dodge County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Dodge County follows a two-tier structure. The Dodge District Court hears cases that exceed the County Court's jurisdictional limit; the County Court handles civil matters up to $70,000. If a County Court judgment exceeds its jurisdictional amount, the fee difference between the two courts is assessed as additional costs.
District Court Civil Filing Fees
| Case Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| General civil action | $144.00 |
| Civil appeal from County Court | $144.00 |
| Dissolution of marriage | $200.00 |
| Domestic relations (paternity, support, custody) | $209.00 |
| Modification of dissolution/child support decree | $65.00 |
| Transcript of judgment from another court | $127.00 |
County Court Civil Filing Fees
| Amount in Controversy | Total Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| $1,500 or less | $62.00 |
| $1,500.01 to $7,500 | $72.00 |
| $7,500.01 or more | $82.00 |
Small Claims
Small claims cases are filed in the Dodge County Court. The maximum judgment is $7,500, and attorneys are not permitted to represent parties at small claims hearings — though you may hire one to help you prepare. The total filing fee is $58.00.
Key steps in the small claims process:
- File a Claim Form (CC 4:1) with the County Court clerk at 428 North Broad Street, Fremont — in person or by mail — along with the filing fee.
- Identify the defendant's proper legal name and current address before filing.
- Choose a service method: certified mail (approximately $11) or sheriff/process server service (fees vary).
- Attend mediation if the court offers it — no additional cost.
- Present evidence and testimony at trial; the judge decides at the hearing or takes the matter under advisement.
- A defendant may transfer the case to the regular county court civil docket by paying the fee difference and requesting the transfer at least two days before the hearing.
A party is limited to two small claims filings per calendar week and no more than ten per calendar year. All filing forms — including the Plaintiff's and Defendant's Small Claims Packets — are available through the Nebraska Judicial Branch self-help resources.
Property Records
Real property records in Dodge County are maintained by the Register of Deeds, not the court system. Register of Deeds Carol Givens keeps permanent records of deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, subdivision plats, condominium plats, and miscellaneous filings. Online searches are available through registerofdeeds.com. The office is at 435 North Park, Room 201, Fremont, NE 68025; Phone: (402) 727-2735; email deeds@dodgecountyne.gov; hours Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dodge County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Dodge County are heard in the Dodge District Court. These include dissolution of marriage (divorce), child custody, child support, paternity, parenting time, domestic violence protection orders, and modifications of existing decrees. Protection order filings carry no filing fee under Nebraska law.
Divorce Records
A divorce begins when a spouse files a Complaint for Dissolution with the District Court Clerk; the final divorce decree is filed in that same office. Public records from the proceeding — minutes, filings, exhibits, testimonies, hearing transcripts, and the decree itself — are accessible through the JUSTICE system or by contacting the Dodge County Clerk of District Court at 428 N. Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025; (402) 727-2780.
Divorce Certificates
Certified divorce certificates are different from divorce decrees and are issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, not the court. Access is restricted to the parties, their children, relatives, and legal representatives. To request a divorce certificate, submit the full names of both parties, the date of divorce, the county where it was granted, a valid photo ID, and the required fee to:
Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2871
Marriage Records
Marriage license applications are filed with the Dodge County Clerk, located at 435 N Park, Fremont, NE 68025; Phone: (402) 727-2767; Fax: (402) 727-2764; hours Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applicant names are published publicly after the application is filed. Certified marriage certificates, however, are restricted to the certificate holders, their children, relatives, and legal custodians, and are obtained through Nebraska Vital Records using the mailing address above.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records in Dodge County fall under Nebraska Vital Statistics Statutes 71-601 to 71-649 and are restricted to individuals with a direct legal interest — the named individual, immediate family members, or legal representatives. Certified copies of birth certificates cost $17.00 per copy from Nebraska Vital Records. Requests require a completed application, a valid state-issued photo ID (or a notarized application form), and the applicable fee. You can submit by mail to Nebraska Vital Records or in person at the Dodge County Clerk's Office.
Dodge County Probate Court Records
Nebraska has no standalone probate court — probate jurisdiction belongs to the County Court in each county. The Dodge County Court handles all probate-related proceedings: estate administration, probate of wills, trust proceedings, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, name changes, and inheritance tax determinations. Reach the Probate, Adoption, and Condemnation division at (402) 727-2779.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records are in the JUSTICE system and are searchable through the same one-time or subscriber access methods described above. In-person searches at the courthouse JUSTICE terminal are free. To request documents, contact County Court Clerk Marissa Miller at 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025. Photocopies cost $0.25 per page.
Probate Filing Fees
Nebraska distinguishes between informal and formal probate, with fees scaled accordingly:
- Informal probate (commenced and closed informally): $44.00 total filing fee
- Formal probate: Fees based on the gross estate value, ranging from $44.00 for estates under $1,000 to $1,670.00 for estates over $5,000,000
- Guardianship or conservatorship petition: $44.00 per petition
- Registration of a trust: $44.00
- Deposit of will for safekeeping: $2.00
- Inheritance tax determination only: $44.00
A selection of formal probate fees by estate value:
| Estate Value | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 – $1,000 | $44.00 |
| $10,000 – $25,000 | $108.00 |
| $50,000 – $75,000 | $152.00 |
| $100,000 – $125,000 | $262.00 |
| $500,000 – $750,000 | $680.00 |
| Over $5,000,000 | $1,670.00 |
All Nebraska court forms for probate proceedings — including petitions, inventories, and reports — are available through the Nebraska Judicial Branch Master Forms List. The complete and current filing fee schedule is published by the Nebraska Judicial Branch and reflects fees effective July 1, 2026.