logo
DouglasRecords.org
Search Public Records

Douglas County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Douglas County?

Public records in Douglas County, Nebraska, are documents, data, and other recorded information created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available to the public under state law. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, any public record of a public body is open to inspection by any person during regular business hours, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

The following categories of records are currently maintained and accessible through various Douglas County offices:

  • Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Douglas County District Court and the Douglas County Court. Members of the public may search case records and access available Nebraska Judicial Branch forms through the Nebraska Judicial Branch.
  • Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments are recorded and maintained by the Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds. The Douglas County official records search portal provides online access to recorded land documents.
  • Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates occurring in Nebraska are preserved by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The Nebraska Office of Vital Records administers statewide access to these documents.
  • Business records — Trade name registrations, business licenses, and permits are filed with the Douglas County Clerk or the Nebraska Secretary of State.
  • Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Douglas County Treasurer and Assessor's offices.
  • Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are held by the Douglas County Election Commission.
  • Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Douglas County Board of Commissioners meetings, including agendas, minutes, and resolutions, are maintained by the County Clerk.
  • Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are public documents available through the Douglas County Finance Department.
  • Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Emergency communications records may be requested through the 911 records request form maintained by Douglas County 911 Communications.
  • Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use applications are maintained by the Douglas County Planning Department.

Is Douglas County an Open Records County?

Douglas County fully operates under Nebraska's open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, all public records of every public body in Nebraska are open to inspection and copying by any person at all times during regular office hours. This statute applies to county agencies, boards, commissions, and all other governmental subdivisions operating within Douglas County.

Key provisions of Nebraska's Public Records Act include:

  • Public bodies must make records available for inspection during regular business hours without requiring the requester to state a reason for the request.
  • Agencies must respond to written requests within four business days, either by providing access, denying the request with a written explanation citing the applicable exemption, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed.
  • Denial of access may be appealed to the district court, which may award attorney's fees and costs if the denial is found to be without reasonable basis.

Nebraska's open records law operates in conjunction with the state's open meetings law, commonly referred to as the "Sunshine Law," codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-1408 et seq., which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available. Douglas County does not maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance that supersedes or restricts state law; all county offices are bound by the same statutory obligations applicable statewide.

How to Find Public Records in Douglas County

Members of the public may access Douglas County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.

Online Access

  • Property and land records may be searched through the Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds online portal at any time.
  • Court records are accessible through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's online case search system.
  • Criminal history information, including Records of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP sheets), may be requested through the Nebraska State Patrol criminal history record request process.
  • Emergency communications records may be requested by submitting the Douglas County 911 Communications records request form online.

In-Person Requests

  • Members of the public may visit the relevant county office during public counter hours to inspect records or submit a written request.
  • Requesters should bring a valid government-issued photo identification when visiting in person, particularly for records that require identity verification.

Written or Mail Requests

  • Written requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate it.
  • Requests may be submitted by mail, email, or in person to the custodian of the record.

Requests for Specific Record Types

  • Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) must be requested through the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records, either online, by mail, or in person.
  • Court records and case filings may require submission of a formal request or use of the standardized forms available through the Nebraska Judicial Branch.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Douglas County?

Current fees for public records in Douglas County vary by record type and the office maintaining the document. Nebraska law permits public bodies to charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of reproducing records, as outlined under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01.

Standard fees currently in effect include:

  • Paper copies — Typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, though individual offices may set their own rates consistent with actual reproduction costs.
  • Certified copies — Fees for certified copies of recorded documents, such as deeds or vital records, are set by the recording office and generally range from $1.00 to $16.00 or more per document depending on the record type.
  • Vital records — The Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records charges a standard fee per certified copy of birth, death, marriage, or divorce records.
  • 911 communications records — For non-government requesters, the Douglas County 911 Communications office charges fees associated with retrieving, compiling, and recording the requested information prior to release.
  • Criminal history records — The Nebraska State Patrol charges a per-request fee for RAP sheet searches, payable at the time of submission.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Douglas County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Douglas County, consistent with Nebraska's statutory requirement that records be open for inspection at no charge during regular business hours. Members of the public are not required to pay a fee simply to view a record; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free access options are currently available:

  • In-person inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the relevant county office at no cost during regular business hours.
  • Online property records — The Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds provides free online access to property and land records through its official records search portal.
  • Court records — Basic case information is available at no charge through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's online case search system.
  • Nebraska State Patrol — Individuals may request their own criminal history record at no charge under certain circumstances, as outlined in the agency's current fee schedule.
  • Vital records search — Index information for vital records may be reviewed in person at the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records without charge, though certified copies carry a fee.

Who Can Request Public Records in Douglas County?

Under Nebraska's Public Records Act, any person may request access to public records maintained by Douglas County agencies. Requesters are not required to be Nebraska residents, and no statement of purpose is required for most record types.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

  • Residency — Non-residents of Nebraska and Douglas County retain the same right of access as residents under current law.
  • Identification — Most agencies do not require requesters to provide identification for general public records. However, certain record types — such as vital records, sealed court documents, or records containing personal identifying information — may require the requester to demonstrate a qualifying relationship or legal interest.
  • Purpose — Agencies may not condition access to public records on the requester's stated purpose, except where a specific statutory exemption requires a showing of eligibility (e.g., adoption records or juvenile records).
  • Requesting your own records — Individuals requesting records about themselves may be entitled to access records that are otherwise restricted to third parties, such as certain law enforcement or personnel records, upon providing appropriate identification.
  • Requesting records about others — Access to records containing personal information about third parties may be subject to redaction of exempt information, such as Social Security numbers or medical data, prior to release.

What Records Are Confidential in Douglas County?

Not all government records in Douglas County are subject to public disclosure. Nebraska law enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from the general right of inspection. The exemptions are codified primarily under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05, which identifies records that public bodies are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — from disclosing.

Confidential and exempt record categories currently include:

  • Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
  • Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Nebraska juvenile code provisions.
  • Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
  • Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents.
  • Medical records — Health information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
  • Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute and accessible only to qualifying parties.
  • Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under Nebraska child welfare statutes.
  • Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as job titles, salaries, and dates of employment.
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld.
  • Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities or infrastructure are exempt from disclosure.

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial agency is required to segregate and release the non-exempt portions while redacting only the protected content.

Douglas County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds serves as the principal office for recorded land documents, property assessments, and related public records in Douglas County.

Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds 1819 Farnam Street, Suite H-02, Omaha, NE 68183 (402) 444-7060 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds

Douglas County Clerk 1819 Farnam Street, Suite H-01, Omaha, NE 68183 (402) 444-7214 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Douglas County Clerk

Douglas County District Court 1701 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68183 (402) 444-7018 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Douglas County District Court

Douglas County Sheriff's Office 3601 N. 156th Street, Omaha, NE 68116 (402) 444-6600 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Douglas County Election Commission 12220 West Center Road, Suite 405, Omaha, NE 68144 (402) 444-8683 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Douglas County Election Commission

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Vital Records 1033 O Street, Suite 130, Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 471-2871 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Nebraska DHHS Vital Records

Lookup Public Records in Douglas County