Madison County Court Records Search
NebraskaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on NebraskaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Madison County, Nebraska, sits in the northeastern part of the state with its county seat in the city of Madison. Court records generated by the county’s District Court and County Court document the full range of civil, criminal, family, and probate proceedings that pass through the local judiciary. Whether you are researching a case for personal, legal, or genealogical purposes, understanding where records are held, how to request them, and what access rules apply will save significant time.
Nebraska residents and out-of-state requesters alike can search court case information using state-managed tools and local offices. NebraskaCourts.us serves as the official portal for the Nebraska Judicial Branch, where the public can find court locations, access the statewide case management system, download self-help forms, and review filing fee schedules. Records may also be examined at courthouse public access terminals, requested through the clerk’s office in person or by mail, or searched online through the JUSTICE case system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Madison County?
Madison County’s two trial courts — the District Court and the County Court — both operate out of the Madison County Courthouse. All courthouse offices share the main address and phone number, with each department reachable by extension.
Madison County Courthouse
1313 North Main Street
Madison, NE 68748
Phone: (402) 454-3311
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed on government holidays)
| Office | Official | Extension | P.O. Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the District Court | Monica Rotherham | Ext. 140 | 249 |
| County Court | Leah Buhrman | Ext. 143 | 290 |
| County Clerk | Anne Pruss | Ext. 136 | 290 |
| Register of Deeds | Diane Nykodym | Ext. 124 | 229 |
| Sheriff | Todd Volk | Ext. 700 | — |
Online Search via JUSTICE
The Nebraska Judicial Branch operates JUSTICE, the statewide trial court case management system, which indexes criminal, civil, traffic, juvenile, and probate cases filed in all 93 Nebraska counties, including Madison County. There are two primary access options:
- One-Time Search: A single name-based search costs $17 and returns up to 30 records. This option requires no account creation and is suitable for infrequent users.
- Subscriber Account: Frequent users can create an account through Nebraska.gov for an annual fee of $100. General case list searches are free; viewing individual case details costs $2 per case. Up to 10 users can be assigned to a single account.
Case records available through JUSTICE are considered public record. Most filed documents are viewable as electronic images directly from the case summary screen. Each case entry includes a case summary, party names, offense information (criminal cases), financial details, a register of actions, and any applicable judge notes. Note that newly filed cases typically take approximately 24 hours to appear in the system.
In-Person Access
Both the District Court and County Court offices maintain public access computer terminals at the courthouse. Staff will assist visitors in locating the relevant terminal, though they are not authorized to perform searches on behalf of requesters or provide legal advice.
Copies and Certification
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page
- Certification fee: $1.00 per document seal
- Mailed copies require prepayment and a self-addressed stamped envelope
Court Calendar
Scheduled hearings for Madison County courts can be reviewed through the Nebraska Court Calendar.
Online Court Payments
Fines and court costs can be paid electronically through Nebraska Court E-Payments.
Are Court Records Public in Madison County?
Nebraska follows a general presumption of public access to court records. Nebraska Supreme Court Rule § 1-803 states that every member of the public may access the same information from the same records, with limited, specifically defined exceptions. Electronic public access is governed by Rule § 1-805, which outlines what case information may be accessed remotely through authorized systems such as JUSTICE.
Certain categories of records are excluded from public access under Nebraska Supreme Court Rule § 1-808 and applicable state statutes. These restricted categories include:
- Records related to ongoing criminal investigations
- Adoption case records
- Juvenile records
- Sealed court records
Records in these categories are not available through JUSTICE, public access terminals, or over-the-counter requests. Sealed records require a court order for access, and juvenile records are handled under separate statutory protections. All other court records — including most criminal case files, civil pleadings, divorce decrees, probate filings, and traffic matters — are presumed public.
Under Nebraska Revised Statute § 25-2209, Madison County court records may be preserved in paper format, microfilm, or within the state’s electronic case management system. These records encompass initial complaints or petitions, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, verdicts, trial dockets, and indexed references such as general and judgment indexes.
Madison County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Madison County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the charge. The District Court, which sits in the Seventh Judicial District, holds original jurisdiction over all felony matters, while the County Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and infraction cases.
Madison County District Court — Criminal Division
Address: 1313 North Main Street, P.O. Box 249, Madison, NE 68748
Phone: (402) 454-3311, Ext. 140
Fax: (402) 454-6528
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The District Court processes felony complaints, indictments, sentencing documents, and conviction records. The Clerk of the District Court, Monica Rotherham, is the official custodian of these records. Public access terminals in the office allow visitors to search the JUSTICE system at no cost. Certified and plain copies may be obtained by submitting a written request and the applicable fees ($0.25 per page for photocopies; $1.00 per certification seal).
County Court — Criminal and Traffic Division
Address: 1313 North Main Street, P.O. Box 230, Madison, NE 68748
Phone: (402) 454-3311, Ext. 165
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The County Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic citations, and local ordinance violations. Filing fees for traffic and misdemeanor matters total $95.00 under the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s current filing fee schedule.
Arrest and Custody Records
Current inmate information is maintained by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s inmate roster is updated regularly and accessible through the department’s website.
Madison County Sheriff’s Department
1313 North Main Street, Madison, NE 68748
Sheriff Main Line: (402) 454-2110
Jail Line: (402) 454-1333
For criminal history background checks beyond what is available through JUSTICE, the Nebraska State Patrol offers a limited criminal history search service. The fee is $30.00 per person of interest, payable by cash, check, or money order, and is non-refundable regardless of outcome. Fingerprint-based national background checks require an additional fee of $45.25 and are processed separately.
Madison County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Madison County are divided based on the amount in controversy. The District Court handles civil cases where the amount at issue exceeds $51,000, including equity cases and complex litigation. The County Court handles civil matters with a jurisdictional limit of $70,000 for general civil claims, and also processes small claims.
District Court Civil Filing Fees
The total filing fee for a standard civil case in District Court is $144.00, which includes the county docket fee, state docket fee, judges’ retirement contribution, legal services fee, automation fee, case management systems fee, and several smaller surcharges.
County Court Civil Filing Fees
| Amount in Controversy | Total Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| $1,500.00 or less | $62.00 |
| $1,500.01 to $7,500.00 | $72.00 |
| $7,500.01 or more | $82.00 |
Small Claims Court
The Madison County Court handles small claims disputes. Nebraska raised its small claims jurisdictional limit to $7,500 effective July 1, 2025. The total filing fee for a small claims case is $58.00. Claimants must file their paperwork with the County Court and are responsible for serving notice on the opposing party. The self-help resources available through the Nebraska Judicial Branch include forms and procedural guidance for those representing themselves.
Free legal consultations are available at the courthouse on the third Friday of every month from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Additionally, the Nebraska Find-A-Lawyer directory can help connect parties with licensed attorneys for civil matters that fall outside the scope of self-help resources.
Civil case records — including complaints, motions, judgments, and case registers of action — are searchable through the JUSTICE system online or via the courthouse public access terminal at no per-search cost in person.
Madison County Family Court Records
Domestic relations cases in Madison County are filed in the District Court, which holds original jurisdiction over all divorce (dissolution of marriage) proceedings, paternity determinations, child custody arrangements, child support matters, and requests for modification of existing decrees.
Dissolution of Marriage
A spouse seeking divorce files a Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage with the Clerk of the District Court. The total filing fee for a dissolution case is $200.00, which includes a mandatory $50.00 mediation fee and a $25.00 child abuse prevention fee in addition to the standard docket and administrative fees. Modification proceedings (changing an existing decree for custody, support, or visitation) carry an additional fee of $65.00 for the required legal services and mediation fees.
Domestic Relations and Paternity
Domestic relations complaints for paternity, parental support, custody, or parenting time carry a total filing fee of $209.00. County attorneys or authorized attorneys filing on behalf of the state in Title IV-D cases (child support enforcement) are exempt from the legal services and mediation components of this fee.
Protection Orders
Petitions for protection orders in Nebraska are filed at no cost to the petitioner under state statute. No docket fee or filing fee is charged for these filings unless the court later finds that the petition contained false statements made in bad faith.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Madison County Clerk. Applicants’ names for marriage licenses become public record shortly after filing.
Madison County Clerk — Marriage Licenses
1313 North Main Street, P.O. Box 290, Madison, NE 68748
Phone: (402) 454-3311, Ext. 136
Certified copies of marriage certificates and divorce certificates are restricted to the parties directly involved, their immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives. Certified copies are obtained through Nebraska Vital Records:
Nebraska Vital Records (Mail Requests)
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records office charges $17.00 for a birth certificate (or a $17.00 search fee if no record is found), $16.00 for a death certificate, $16.00 for a marriage record, and $16.00 for a divorce record. A valid photo ID and identifying details about the record being requested are required.
Divorce filings themselves — complaints, decrees, and case minutes — are public records accessible through JUSTICE or at the District Court clerk’s office.
Madison County Probate Court Records
Although Madison County does not have a standalone probate court, all probate and estate matters are heard by the County Court. The County Court judge presides over the full range of probate proceedings, including informal and formal estate administration, will contests, name changes, trust registrations, and petition for intestacy and heirs.
Madison County Court — Probate Division
1313 North Main Street, P.O. Box 527, Madison, NE 68748
Phone: (402) 454-3311, Ext. 138
Probate Filing Fees
Nebraska courts use a scaled fee structure for formal probate proceedings, based on the gross value of the estate being administered. The Nebraska Judicial Branch filing fee schedule reflects current rates effective July 1, 2026:
| Estate Value (Gross) | Total Fee (Including Costs) |
|---|---|
| $0 – $1,000 | $44.00 |
| $1,001 – $5,000 | $75.00 |
| $5,001 – $10,000 | $97.00 |
| $10,001 – $25,000 | $108.00 |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $130.00 |
| $50,001 – $75,000 | $152.00 |
| $75,001 – $100,000 | $196.00 |
| $100,001 – $125,000 | $262.00 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $900.00+ |
Informal probate proceedings have a flat initiation and closure fee of $44.00. Depositing a will for safekeeping costs $2.00. Filing an objection to probate of a will or a petition to set aside an informal filing carries a combined fee of $103.00.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Guardianship and conservatorship petitions are also handled by the County Court. A single guardianship petition carries a total fee of $44.00. A consolidated petition seeking both guardianship and conservatorship simultaneously also totals $44.00. The Nebraska Judicial Branch provides detailed informational guidance on guardianship and conservatorship proceedings for families navigating these processes.
Probate records — including filed petitions, inventories, final decrees, and registers of action — are part of the County Court’s public record, searchable through the JUSTICE system or in person at the County Court office. Certified copies carry the standard certification fee of $1.00 per seal, with photocopies at $0.25 per page.
Property Records
While not strictly court records, the Madison County Register of Deeds maintains property-related instruments — including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens — that are frequently relevant during estate administration and probate proceedings. These records can also be searched online through Nebraska Deeds Online, which provides free access to general document information including instrument type, date, grantor, and grantee.
Register of Deeds Contact
Diane Nykodym
1313 North Main Street, P.O. Box 229, Madison, NE 68748
Phone: (402) 454-3311, Ext. 124