Saunders County Court Records Search
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Saunders County, Nebraska is a central-eastern Nebraska county with Wahoo as its county seat. The county's judicial system generates a wide range of official records across its District Court and County Court, covering everything from felony criminal prosecutions and major civil disputes to traffic infractions, probate proceedings, guardianships, and small claims. These records document the legal history of cases heard within the county and are maintained by court clerks who serve as the official keepers of that information.
Nebraska residents looking to research court records have several options. NebraskaCourts.us is a useful starting point for locating publicly available case information in the state. In Nebraska, court records can be accessed through the clerks of the relevant courts, public-access terminals at the courthouse, the state's JUSTICE online case search system, and in-person requests at court offices. The sections below explain which courts operate in Saunders County, what records each maintains, how to request them, and which categories are restricted under Nebraska law.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Saunders County?
Two trial courts serve Saunders County, and which one to contact depends on the type and scale of the case involved. Both courts are located at the same courthouse address in Wahoo.
Saunders County District Court
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Clerk of District Court | Patty McEvoy |
| patty.mcevoy@nejudicial.gov | |
| Address | 387 North Chestnut Street, Suite 6, Wahoo, NE 68066 |
| Phone | (402) 443-8113 |
| Fax | (402) 443-8170 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (open through lunch) |
County Court of Saunders County
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Clerk | Christine Thalken |
| Address | 387 North Chestnut Street, Suite 5, Wahoo, NE 68066 |
| Phone | (402) 443-8119 |
| Fax | (402) 443-8121 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (open through lunch) |
Online search options:
- JUSTICE One-Time Case Search: The Nebraska Judicial Branch's JUSTICE case search system provides free public access to criminal, civil, traffic, juvenile, and probate cases across all 93 Nebraska counties. Search by party name or case number and select Saunders County from the court list.
- Nebraska Judicial Branch eServices: Registered users can access the eServices case information portal for more detailed case searches, including appellate case information.
- Court calendar: The Nebraska Multi-Court Case Calendar allows searches for upcoming hearings by date or party name.
- In person: Visit the appropriate clerk's office at 387 N. Chestnut Street during business hours. Staff can conduct index searches by case number, party name, or filing date. Providing as much identifying information as possible will speed up retrieval.
- Online payments: Waivable traffic citations, criminal and traffic case payments, small claims, civil case payments, and juvenile case payments can all be processed through the Nebraska Judicial Branch Internet Payment System.
Are Court Records Public in Saunders County?
Nebraska's public records framework starts with a strong presumption of openness. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01, all Nebraska residents have the right to inspect and copy public records unless a specific statute expressly restricts access. Court records maintained by the Saunders County District Court and County Court clerks fall under this framework and are generally accessible to any requester.
You may examine records in person at the clerk's office at no charge. Fees may apply for duplication, certification, and delivery of copies.
Records that are generally accessible to the public include:
- Civil case dockets, complaints, judgments, and orders
- Criminal case filings, charges, and dispositions for adult defendants
- Traffic and misdemeanor case records
- Probate inventories and orders once admitted to record
- Protection order records (filing fees are waived under Nebraska statute)
Categories restricted from public disclosure include:
- Medical records and health information
- Personal identifying data of alleged victims of sex trafficking or sexual assault
- Trade secrets
- Attorney work product materials
- Vital event records (birth and death certificates)
- Security-related data
- Prescription drug information
- Juvenile case records, which receive confidential treatment under Nebraska law
Photocopies from county court records cost $0.25 per page under the Nebraska court filing fees and court costs schedule (effective July 1, 2026). Certification and authentication of documents carry additional fees. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, courts cannot charge for the time spent locating records, though actual duplication costs are recoverable.
Saunders County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Saunders County is split between the two courts based on the severity of the offense:
- Saunders County District Court handles all felony criminal cases. As Nebraska's trial court of general jurisdiction, it also functions as an appellate court for cases appealed from County Court.
- County Court of Saunders County handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, infractions, and preliminary hearings in felony matters. The County Court also has jurisdiction over juvenile criminal and delinquency cases.
Criminal case records — including indictments, complaints, motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment entries — are maintained by the clerk of whichever court heard the case. You can access these in person at the respective clerk's office, or search online through the JUSTICE case search system.
For local arrest records and criminal history checks in Saunders County, contact the Saunders County Sheriff's Office:
Saunders County Sheriff's Office
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Sheriff | Chris Lichtenberg |
| Address | 387 North Chestnut Street, Suite 3, Wahoo, NE 68066 |
| Phone | (402) 443-3718 |
| Fax | (402) 443-5118 |
The Sheriff's Office accepts criminal history request forms submitted in person or by mail, with a $10.00 fee. For statewide criminal history record checks, requests are processed through the Nebraska State Patrol Criminal History Record Requests division for a fee of $30.00 per search, payable by cashier's check or money order. Fingerprinting services at the Saunders County Sheriff's Office carry a $25.00 fee effective December 1, 2023.
Saunders County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Saunders County are handled by both the District Court and the County Court, with jurisdiction determined by the dollar amount of the claim:
- County Court handles civil cases up to $70,000 in controversy. This includes contract disputes, landlord-tenant matters, small claims, and civil enforcement actions.
- District Court takes primary jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $70,000, equity cases, and matters beyond the County Court's jurisdictional ceiling. The District Court also handles all domestic relations cases including divorce and dissolution of marriage.
Small claims are filed in County Court and are capped at $7,500. The filing fee for a small claims case totals $58.00 based on the Nebraska court costs schedule, combining the docket fee, judges retirement fee, automation fee, and other statutory assessments. Small claims allow individuals to represent themselves without an attorney in straightforward monetary disputes.
Standard county court civil filing fees total between $62.00 and $82.00 depending on the amount in controversy, broken down across multiple mandatory statutory assessments including the docket fee, judges retirement fee, legal services fee, automation fee, and state docket fee.
District Court civil filing fees total $144.00 for general civil cases, plus a $50.00 mediation fee and $25.00 child abuse prevention fee for dissolution of marriage matters — bringing the total for dissolution filings to $200.00.
Civil case records are publicly searchable online through JUSTICE or available for in-person inspection at the clerk's office for the relevant court. Copies cost $0.25 per page from County Court; District Court photocopying rates follow the same schedule.
The Saunders County Clerk of District Court's office also serves as the passport acceptance agent for the county. Passport applications are handled by appointment only — call (402) 443-8113 to schedule.
Saunders County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Saunders County are distributed across both courts depending on the nature of the proceeding:
District Court handles:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce) and annulment
- Equitable distribution of marital property and spousal support
- Paternity determinations and parental support orders
- Child custody, parenting time, and visitation
- Domestic relations modifications of existing decrees
- Appeals of County Court family matters
County Court handles:
- Adoptions
- Juvenile matters involving minors
- Mental health commitments
Divorce and dissolution records are filed and maintained by the District Court Clerk at Suite 6 of the Saunders County Courthouse. To request copies, provide the full names of both parties, the approximate filing date, and the case number if available. Pay applicable fees for duplication and certification at the time of the request.
Marriage licenses in Saunders County are issued and maintained by the Saunders County Clerk:
Saunders County Clerk's Office
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 433 North Chestnut Street, Suite 300, P.O. Box 61, Wahoo, NE 68066 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Certified copies of marriage licenses issued in Saunders County cost $9.00 each from the County Clerk. Access is restricted to individuals named in the record and others with a valid legal claim to the document, such as parents or adult children. Submit requests in person or by mail; include the names of both parties (including maiden name) and the year or approximate date of the marriage, along with payment by check or money order.
Marriage certificates can also be obtained from the Nebraska Office of Vital Records for $16.00 per copy. Certified copies of divorce certificates also cost $16.00 through the Nebraska Office of Vital Records.
Birth certificates are $17.00 per copy from Nebraska Vital Records and are available only to registrants, parents, and others with a legally qualifying interest. Death certificates are $16.00 per copy. Both require a completed application, a copy of valid photo identification, and payment by money order or check made out to Vital Records. Mail requests to:
Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5065
Saunders County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Saunders County rests with the County Court of Saunders County, which handles the administration of wills, intestate estates, guardianships, conservatorships, inheritance tax determinations, and trust registrations. The District Court may hear probate-related matters that fall outside the County Court's jurisdiction, such as disputes over wills or claims transferred from the County Court.
Types of matters handled in probate:
- Informal and formal probate of testate and intestate estates
- Appointment and supervision of personal representatives, executors, and administrators
- Guardianship and conservatorship petitions for minors and incapacitated adults
- Trust registrations and trust administration proceedings
- Inheritance tax determinations
- Deposit of wills for safekeeping ($2.00 fee)
- Mental health commitment proceedings
Filing fees for probate matters vary significantly based on the type and complexity of the proceeding. Under the Nebraska judicial filing fees schedule effective July 1, 2026:
| Proceeding Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Informal probate (commenced and closed informally) | $44.00 |
| Guardianship petition | $44.00 |
| Conservatorship petition | $44.00 |
| Formal probate (fee based on estate value) | $44.00–$1,670.00+ |
| Inheritance tax determination only | $44.00 |
| Deposit of will for safekeeping | $2.00 |
Formal probate fees scale with the value of the estate. For example, estates valued between $25,000 and $50,000 carry a total fee of $130.00, while estates exceeding $5,000,000 incur $1,670.00.
To access existing probate records, contact the County Court Clerk at (402) 443-8119 or visit Suite 5 of the Saunders County Courthouse in Wahoo. Probate cases can also be searched through the JUSTICE online case search portal using the decedent's name or case number. For older or archived records not yet accessible online, an in-person visit or written request to the court clerk is required.