Dodge County Court Records Search
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Dodge County is located in eastern Nebraska along the Platte River, with Fremont serving as the county seat. The courts operating within the county generate an ongoing body of public records covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law proceedings, and estate administration. These records — defined under Nebraska Revised Statute § 25-2209 to include complaints, petitions, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, register of actions, and related documents — are maintained electronically in the state’s trial case management system and, in older cases, on microfilm or in paper volumes.
Residents searching for Dodge County court case information can use the Nebraska judicial branch’s online tools, public access terminals at the courthouse, or contact the clerk’s offices directly. NebraskaCourts.us may help users 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 located at the Dodge County Judicial Center in Fremont. The District Court handles major felonies and higher-value civil matters, while the County Court covers misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, and probate proceedings.
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 operates a statewide trial case management system called JUSTICE. Cases from all 93 Nebraska counties — including Dodge County — are searchable through this system, which returns case summaries, party information, offense details (for criminal cases), financial information, and a full register of actions. Most filed documents are available as viewable electronic images.
Two access options are available:
- One-Time Case Search: Available through 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 remain accessible for three calendar days. A 24-hour lag time exists between when a case is entered and when it appears in search results.
- Subscriber Account: Organizations or individuals who need frequent access can create 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.
For users who prefer not to pay online, the JUSTICE public access terminal at the Dodge County courthouse allows free in-person searches by party name or case number. Free access is also available at law libraries including the Nebraska State Library and university law libraries in Lincoln and Omaha.
Court hearing calendars can also be checked using the Nebraska Court Calendar Search tool, which allows searches by date or last name.
Are Court Records Public in Dodge County?
Under Nebraska Supreme Court Rule § 1-804, court records are presumptively public in Dodge County and across Nebraska. This rule provides access both remotely — through the authorized JUSTICE system — and in person at courthouse public access terminals.
Exceptions to this general rule are established in Supreme Court Rule § 1-808, which identifies the following categories as 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 provides additional categories of information that cannot be disclosed in public records. Specific fields within case records are also restricted regardless of the case type, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar identifying data.
For records that fall within the public domain, any person may search, view, and request copies without stating a reason. The Nebraska Judicial Branch Court Records page explains procedures for requesting sealed records, petitioning for record access, and obtaining copies of court files.
Dodge County Criminal Court Records
The Dodge District Court handles felony criminal cases and appeals from the County Court. Misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and lower-level criminal matters are heard in the Dodge County Court. Both court’s criminal records are maintained by their respective clerks and are searchable through the JUSTICE system.
Requesting Criminal Court Records
To obtain copies of criminal case documents from the District Court, contact the Clerk of the District Court, Judith Wegner, at 428 N. Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025, or by phone at (402) 727-2780. County Court criminal records requests should be directed to the County Court clerk at the same address, via 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 maintained 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. Contact the Sheriff at:
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
For a comprehensive Nebraska criminal history record — as opposed to individual court case records — requests must be directed to the Nebraska State Patrol, which administers the state’s Limited Criminal History Search program. The fee for this service is $30.00 per search, non-refundable regardless of outcome. A criminal history check from the State Patrol reflects conviction-level data, not merely court filings, and is 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 beyond the County Court’s jurisdictional limit, while the County Court has jurisdiction over civil matters up to $70,000. If a County Court judgment exceeds its jurisdictional amount, the filing 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 in small claims proceedings is $7,500. Attorneys are not permitted to represent parties in small claims hearings, but may be hired to assist with preparation. Total filing fees for small claims cases are $58.00.
Key procedural points for small claims:
- File a Claim Form (CC 4:1) with the County Court clerk at 428 North Broad Street, Fremont — in person or by mail, accompanied by the filing fee.
- Identify the defendant’s proper legal name and current address before filing.
- Choose service method: certified mail (approximately $11) or sheriff/process server service (fees vary).
- Attend mediation if offered by the court — 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 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. The 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 located 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. This includes 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
Divorce proceedings are initiated when a spouse files a Complaint for Dissolution with the District Court Clerk. The final divorce decree is also filed in the same office. Public records generated during the proceeding include minutes, filings, exhibits, testimonies, hearing transcripts, and the decree itself — all 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 separate from divorce decrees and are issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services rather than 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; (402) 727-2767; Fax: (402) 727-2764; hours Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applicant names are published publicly following the application filing. Certified marriage certificates, however, are restricted to the certificate holders, their children, relatives, and legal custodians. These are obtained through Nebraska Vital Records using the same mailing address listed above.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records in Dodge County are governed by 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, valid state-issued photo ID or a notarized application form, and the applicable fee. Submissions may be made by mail to Nebraska Vital Records or in person at the Dodge County Clerk’s Office.
Dodge County Probate Court Records
Nebraska does not have a standalone probate court — probate jurisdiction belongs to the County Court in each county. The Dodge County Court handles all probate-related proceedings, including estate administration, probate of wills, trust proceedings, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, name changes, and inheritance tax determinations. The Probate, Adoption, and Condemnation division can be reached at (402) 727-2779.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records are included in the JUSTICE system and are searchable using the same one-time or subscriber access methods described above. In-person access at the courthouse JUSTICE terminal is free. Documents can be requested from the 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 proceedings, with fees scaled accordingly.
- Informal probate (commenced and closed informally): $44.00 total filing fee
- Formal probate: Fees are 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 applicable 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.