Nebraska Public Records

Nebraska is a Midwestern state in the United States that is primarily known for its fertile farmlands and college football. Although the state was not officially recognized until the middle of the 19^th century, the history of the area dates back much further, offering a rich and interesting history to those who search its past for the people that have lived and died in the state.  Launching a Nebraska public records search to find those folks involves knowing where the records are held and what is required to request official copies of documents for tracing family trees, researching area history or personal use. Fortunately, the state makes public records searches as easy as possible, by grouping the majority of the records under a single government office, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

To launch a public records search in Nebraska, keep these tips in mind:

Nebraska Public Records: Proper Purpose

Like many other states across the country, Nebraska has laws in regards to who can launch a public records search in the state. Official copies of Nebraska birth records, death certificates, marriage and divorce records are restricted to those who can show proper purpose for the documents. Proper purpose is defined by the state as the following purposes; personal, legal, consensual, medical, law enforcement, genealogical, historical, government or media use.

Those who request a Nebraska public records search for any of these reasons must show proper identification and outline the proper purpose for using the documents. It is up to the individual to prove that proper purpose exists before the document is released.

While official copies are only provided in the state based on proper purpose, public records in Nebraska are available for public viewing by any interested party. Copies made for this purpose will be stamped “NOT A LEGAL DOCUMENT – FOR REVIEW ONLY,” and will not be allowed to leave the office in which the records are held. These documents can be used for a variety of research purposes, although personal information like medical history will not be included in the records. This policy does allow those interested in tracing family trees or researching Nebraska residents for academic purposes the chance to find the information they seek.

Nebraska Public Records Locations

The majority of the public records in Nebraska are found at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. This agency is the central repository of all Nebraska birth records, death certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees. The office offers a wide range of service options for those interested in conducting a public records search in Nebraska. The agency offers the fastest response time to walk-in visitors, who can get requested documents within 30 minutes. Those that submit requests by mail will usually have their records within two weeks, although expedited service is also available.

In addition, the Nebraska State Historical Society holds a wealth of Nebraska public records dating back to the early years of the state. This organization has information about city directories, newspaper archives and prison records, as well as an extensive collection of photographs. Interested archivists can also find family papers, business records and individual records from the state.

Nebraska Public Records Online

One of the easiest ways to conduct an online Nebraska public records search today is through the state website. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services offers several different tools for this purpose, including submission of Internet applications for Nebraska birth records directly to the state office. This process takes about one week to complete.

The state also partners with VitalChek to provide instant online service for searching and retrieving all types of Nebraska public records. The service is fast and easy, but there is an additional charge for using the service, on top of the fee for official document copies.