Douglas County, Nebraska Court Records

Douglas County is Nebraska's most populous county, home to Omaha and one of the busiest judicial centers in the state. Its court system processes thousands of criminal, civil, family, and probate cases every year across multiple courts and divisions. If you need to find Douglas County court records, you can search through official clerk offices, visit a courthouse in person, use public-access terminals, or tap into online tools maintained by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. NebraskaCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available case information for courts throughout the state.

Douglas County's court system consists of three main courts:

Court	Address	Phone	Fax
Douglas County District Court	1701 Farnam Street, 3rd Floor, Omaha, NE 68183	(402) 444-7018	(402) 444-1757
Douglas County Court	1701 Farnam Street, 2nd Floor, Omaha, NE 68183	(402) 444-5387	(402) 444-6890
Douglas County Separate Juvenile Court	1717 Harney Street, Room 4-210, Omaha, NE 68183	(402) 444-7121

All offices are generally open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Douglas County?

How you search depends on whether you prefer to go online, visit in person, or send a request by mail.

Online through the JUSTICE system

The Nebraska Judicial Branch maintains a statewide case management system called JUSTICE, which covers criminal, civil, traffic, juvenile, and probate cases filed across all 93 Nebraska counties.

Visit the JUSTICE One-Time Court Case Search page.
Enter the party's last name at minimum, along with any additional criteria — court type, case type, county, year, judge, or attorney.
Pay the $17 fee for a one-time search, which returns up to 30 records.
View case details including the case summary, parties, register of actions, financial information, and any available document images.

If you need to run frequent searches, a subscriber account is available for an annual fee of $100. Subscribers can run general case list searches at no additional charge; viewing individual case details costs $2 per case. Searches by judgment date or court case number are also $2 each. Document images are accessible at no extra charge. The Nebraska Judicial Branch covers subscriber options in more detail on its Case Information eServices page.

Case information is also available free of charge at any courthouse kiosk or law library, including the Nebraska State Library, UNL Schmid Law Library, and Creighton Klutznick Law Library.

In person

Visit the clerk's office at the court that handled the case. The Clerk of the District Court is on the 3rd floor of the Hall of Justice, 1701 Farnam Street, where public access terminals are available. The County Court clerk's office is on the 2nd floor of the same building.

By mail

Send a written request that includes the case number (if known), the names of the parties, and the specific documents you need, along with a check or money order for any applicable fees. Mail your request to the appropriate clerk's office at 1701 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68183. Call ahead to confirm record availability and fees before sending anything.

Are Court Records Public in Douglas County?

Nebraska law creates a strong presumption in favor of public access to court records. The Nebraska Public Records Law (Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712) gives everyone the right to examine and obtain copies of public records, and individuals may copy documents using their own equipment under Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712(1)(3).

The Nebraska Supreme Court has adopted Article 8 rules on public access to electronic court records, which govern how case information is made available both online and at courthouses. Under § 1-803, every member of the public may access the same information from the same records, except where specifically restricted.

That said, certain records are excluded from public access under § 1-808 and Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-712.05. Restricted or confidential records include:

Adoption case records (Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-113)
Records sealed by court order or statute
Criminal history information protected under the Security, Privacy, and Dissemination of Criminal History Information Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-3501)
Medical records and mental health evaluations
Law enforcement investigatory records
Personal identifying details such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and home addresses of private citizens in certain contexts
Student personal information
Records whose disclosure may endanger public safety

Anyone who obtains court records through the state's authorized online service provider and then shares them with third parties must periodically check whether those records have since been sealed. Disclosing sealed records can result in civil or criminal penalties.

Douglas County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Douglas County are split between two courts. The District Court has general jurisdiction over felony cases and shares concurrent jurisdiction over misdemeanors with the County Court. The County Court's Criminal/Traffic Division, on the 2nd floor of the Hall of Justice, handles misdemeanor cases, traffic infractions, municipal ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases.

Searching criminal court case records

Start with the JUSTICE One-Time Court Case Search ($17 per search) or a subscriber account ($2 per case detail view). If you prefer to search in person, public access terminals are available at the relevant clerk's office.

Obtaining criminal history reports

Douglas County criminal history information is available from three agencies, each covering a different scope:

Agency	Scope	Fee	Method
Omaha Police Department	Douglas County convictions only	$7	Mail or in person at 505 S. 15th Street, Omaha, NE 68102
Douglas County Sheriff's Office	Douglas County criminal history	$10	Mail or in person at 1616 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE 68102 (completed ASF-119 form required)
Nebraska State Patrol	Statewide Nebraska arrests and dispositions	$30	Online, by mail, or in person at any Troop Area office

For Omaha Police requests, include the subject's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number (if available), a $7 check payable to the City of Omaha, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Results typically come back within seven business days.

For Sheriff's Office requests, submit a completed Background Check Request Form (ASF-119) with a $10 fee payable to the Douglas County Sheriff.

Nebraska State Patrol name-based reports require the subject's name and date of birth. The $30 fee is payable by cashier's check, personal check, money order, or credit card for online requests. Mail the completed Criminal History Record Request form to the Criminal Identification Division, or bring it to a Troop Area office. Nationwide fingerprint-based checks are only available to entities on the State Patrol's authorized list and cost $45.25 for fingerprint processing.

Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-3523, certain arrest information is redacted from the public record: arrests where no charges were filed are removed after one year; arrests resolved through diversion are removed after two years; and arrests where charges were dismissed or resulted in acquittal are removed immediately.

Douglas County Civil Court Records

The Douglas County Court's Civil and Small Claims Division handles most civil disputes — contract cases, landlord-tenant matters, personal injury claims, consumer disputes, and professional liability actions. The County Court has jurisdiction over civil cases up to $70,000. Disputes exceeding that amount go to the District Court under Neb. Rev. Stat. 24-302.

The Civil and Small Claims Division is located at:

Douglas County Civic Center
1819 Farnam Street
Omaha, NE 68183
Phone: (402) 444-5424
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Small claims

Small claims court handles disputes of $7,500 or less. Proceedings are informal — no juries, no attorneys. The total filing fee is $32, as set by the Nebraska Judicial Branch fee schedule.

County Court civil filing fees

The standard County Court civil docket fee for cases up to $70,000 totals $52. District Court civil filing fees total $89. Additional fees of $5 each apply in County Court for post-judgment actions such as executions and garnishments.

Searching civil records

Civil case records are available through:

The JUSTICE online case search system (same fee structure as described above)
Public access terminals at the courthouse
Written or in-person requests to the clerk's office at the relevant court

Photocopies of court documents cost $0.25 per page in County Court. For District Court document copies, contact the Clerk of the District Court at (402) 444-7018 to confirm current fees and availability before visiting or mailing a request.

Douglas County Family Court Records

Family law cases in Douglas County are heard by the District Court, which has jurisdiction over all domestic relations matters under Neb. Rev. Stat. 42-364 and the District 4 Domestic Relations Court Rules. The Separate Juvenile Court handles matters involving minors, including abuse, neglect, and juvenile delinquency.

Dissolution of marriage (divorce)

The District Court filing fee for a dissolution of marriage is $164 (effective July 1, 2025), which includes a $50 mediation fee and a $25 child abuse prevention fee. Modifying a custody, visitation, support, or alimony decree costs $65. The Clerk of the District Court's website links to self-help forms hosted by the Nebraska Judicial Branch for dissolution without children, dissolution with children, establishing paternity and custody, and modification of custody or parenting plans.

Protection orders

Protection orders can be filed at the Clerk of the District Court's office at no charge. Nebraska law recognizes three types: domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault protection orders. Download forms from the Clerk's protection order page and file them in person or by fax at (402) 996-8493 — email submissions are not accepted. For questions, call (402) 444-6176.

Searching family court records

Family court records can be searched through the JUSTICE system, through public terminals at the District Court clerk's office, or by contacting the clerk by mail or in person. Historical records from 1855 to 2000 may be available through the Nebraska Library & Archives. Certain family court records are confidential, including adoption files, records containing a minor's contact information, domestic violence victim identities, and psychological or mental health evaluations.

Marriage and divorce certificates

Marriage licenses in Douglas County are issued by the Douglas County Clerk, not the District Court. The license fee is $25, payable by cash or credit card, with an optional $9 prepaid certified copy. Applicants need a valid photo ID, Social Security numbers, and parental information. Applicants under 19 require notarized parental consent; licenses cannot be issued to anyone under 17.

Certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates are also available from the Nebraska Vital Records Office for $16 each. Submit requests online or by mail using the applicable marriage certificate application or divorce certificate application, along with payment and a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID. Mail requests go to Vital Records, P.O. Box 95065, Lincoln, NE 68509-5065.

Birth and death records

The Douglas County Health Department's Vital Statistics Office issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for events that occurred in the county. Birth certificates cost $17 each; death certificates cost $16 each. You can request records in person, by phone, or by mail. Mail orders require the completed birth certificate application or death certificate application, payment by check or money order payable to DCHD, a photocopy of government-issued photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

Douglas County Health Department Vital Statistics
1819 Farnam Street, Room H-01
Omaha, NE 68183
Phone: (402) 444-7204
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

These same certificates are also obtainable from the Nebraska Vital Records Office at the same fee amounts.

Douglas County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Douglas County are handled by the County Court's Probate Division, which has jurisdiction under Neb. Rev. Stat. 24-517. The division oversees estate administration, appointment of personal representatives, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, trust proceedings, and inheritance tax determinations.

Probate Division location

Douglas County Court Probate Division
Hall of Justice
1701 Farnam Street, 3rd Floor
Omaha, NE 68183
Phone: (402) 444-7152
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Probate filing fees

Filing fees vary by case type and estate value. Key fees from the Nebraska Judicial Branch filing fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025) include:

Proceeding	Total Fee
Informal probate (commenced and closed informally)	$44 ($45 if testate — includes $1 seal fee)
Additional petition within informal probate	$24
Formal probate	Sliding scale based on estate value (from $44 for estates up to $1,000 to $1,670 for estates over $5,000,000)
Guardianship petition	$44
Conservatorship petition	$44
Combined guardianship and conservatorship petition	$44
Inheritance tax determination (standalone)	$44
Adoption (per child)	$37
Trust registration	$44

Searching probate records

Probate case records can be searched online through the JUSTICE system using the same methods described earlier in this guide. For in-person inquiries, visit the Probate Division at the address above. Written requests should include the decedent's name, case number (if known), and the specific documents you need, along with applicable fees. Photocopies in County Court cost $0.25 per page.

Historical probate records from earlier decades may be available through the Nebraska Library & Archives research services.

Guardianships and conservatorships

The Probate Division handles the appointment and oversight of guardians and conservators. Filing fees for guardianship and conservatorship petitions are $44 each, or $44 for a consolidated petition. Successor guardian or conservator petitions cost $24. All filings, reports, and related documents can be submitted at the Probate Division's 3rd-floor office or mailed to the Hall of Justice address.