Dodge County Court Records

Per Nebraska Revised Statute § 25-2209, Dodge County court records refer to all court-related filings including complaint or petitions, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, verdicts, register of actions, the trial docket, the judge's docket notes, the general index, the judgment index, and other documents filed in a case maintained by the clerk of the district court on the court's electronic case management system, on microfilm, or in a paper volume.

According to Supreme Court Rules § 6-1523, Dodge County court records contain a variety of information, such as:

• Case identification number,
• Year of initial filing and
• Sequential number of the case
• Case caption,
• Case type,
• Case subtype,
• Name of judge,
• Names of the judgment debtor and judgment creditor are arranged alphabetically.

Like Nebraska court records, Dodge County court records are significant for various legal matters. They help in the provision of evidence, the establishment of timelines, and the verification of information concerning past legal proceedings. These records are helpful for property transactions, background checks, genealogical research, and legal disputes. They also serve as a historical record of the county's legal system.

Are Court Records Public in Dodge County?

Yes. According to the general access rule captured in the Supreme Court Rules § 1-804, court records are public in Dodge County. This rule provides for the availability of court records to the general public through remote access with the authorized service provider or public access terminals at the courthouses.

However, exceptions to this general access are captured in Section 1-808 of the Supreme Court Rules. As seen in this section, the following details are considered unavailable to the public:

• Criminal History Information.
• Adoption case records.
• Juvenile Records
• Sealed court records.

Dodge County Court Records Search

To search for Dodge County court records, individuals can query the following record custodians:

• Dodge County Clerk
• Dodge County Clerk of the District Court
• Dodge County Assessor
• Dodge County Register of Deeds
• Dodge County Sheriff's Office
• Nebraska Judicial Branch Case Information - EServices
• Nebraska State Patrol

Dodge County Courts

The court system in Dodge County consists of a District court and a County court. The District Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but only hears cases beyond the County court's scope. The County court has limited jurisdiction over some types of civil and criminal. The following are the courthouses within Dodge County where these cases are heard:

Dodge County District Court
428 North Broad Street,
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2780
Fax: (402) 727-2773

County Court of Dodge County
428 North Broad Street,
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2889
Fax: (402) 727-2862

Dodge County Criminal and Civil Records

The Dodge County Clerk of District Court primarily maintains Dodge County criminal and civil court records. Criminal court records in Dodge County encompass records about criminal cases, Dodge county arrests, charges, convictions, and conviction information, while civil court records include records of property disputes, contract disputes, divorce proceedings, and small claims cases. These records are available to the public within the limit outlined in the "Are Court Records Public in Dodge County?" section above. To access both criminal and civil court records, interested individuals may contact the custodian of the records in the county, which is the clerk of the District Court, using the details below:

Judith Wegner
428 N Broad
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2780
Email: judi.wegner@nebraska.gov

Also, the trial case management system known as the Judicial User System To Increase Court Effectiveness (JUSTICE) provides access to criminal and civil court records filed in all the states, including Dodge County. A 24-hour lag time exists between when a fresh case is entered into the system and when it appears on the search. To search for cases, users can input the name of a party involved, excluding witnesses. Additional search criteria can be used to refine the results. Using additional criteria is generally not recommended unless the initial name-based search yields more than 30 results. If more than 30 cases match the search, users can either refine the search with additional criteria or proceed with the first 30 results and complete the payment process. Once the search is complete, users have three calendar days to access the detailed information of the matched cases. This service is $15 per search. Searches with no results still require payment.

Dodge County Marriage Records

The marriage records available in Dodge County include marriage licenses and marriage certificates. Marriage licenses are accessible to the general public, as the names of applicants are published days after an application is filed with the Dodge County Clerk. Marriage license applicants may contact the clerk at:

435 N Park
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2767
Fax: (402) 727-2764

In contrast, access to marriage certificates is more restricted. Eligible individuals include the certificate bearers, their children, relatives, and legal custodians. To obtain a marriage certificate, eligible persons must send a request with the full names of the couple, the date of the marriage, the county where the license was issued, and identification documents to the Nebraska Vital Records at:

Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE
Phone: (402) 471-2871

Dodge County Divorce Records

Divorce is initiated in Dodge County when one spouse files a Complaint for Dissolution with the Dodge County district court clerk. It is finalized when the divorce decree is filed in the same office. The records generated during this process are called divorce records, and they include minutes, evidence, testimonies, and transcripts from divorce hearings, divorce decrees, and Certificate of Divorce. The minutes, evidence, testimonies, transcripts from divorce hearings, and divorce decrees are accessible to the general public, like every other court record filed with the Dodge County District Court Clerk. To access these records, interested persons may contact the clerk of the District Court at:

Clerk of the District Court
428 N Broad
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2780

In contrast, access to divorce certificates is more restricted. Eligible individuals include the certificate bearers, their children, relatives, and legal custodians. To obtain a divorce certificate, eligible persons must send a request with the full names of the couple, the date of the divorce, the county where the divorce was granted, and identification documents to the Nebraska Vital Records at:

Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065,
Lincoln, Nebraska

Phone: (402) 471-2871

Dodge County Birth Records

Birth records in Dodge County are available through the Dodge County Clerk's Office and the Nebraska Vital Records Department. Per Nebraska Vital Statistics Statutes 71-601 to 71-649, access to these records is restricted to individuals with a direct and legal interest, such as the person named on the record, their immediate family members, or their legal representatives. The Nebraska Vital Records charges a $17 fee per certified copy of birth records.

The requester must submit an application, a valid state-issued photo ID or a notarized application form, and the required fee to obtain a birth record. Requests can be sent by mail or made in person to Nebraska Vital Records or Dodge County Clerk's Office using the contacts given below:

Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065,
Lincoln, Nebraska

Phone: (402) 471-2871

Dodge County Clerk
435 N Park
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 727-2767
Fax: (402) 727-2764

Dodge County Death Records

In Dodge County, death records are available through the Dodge County Clerk's Office and the Nebraska Vital Records. Per Nebraska Vital Statistics Statutes 71-601 to 71-649, access to these records is restricted to individuals with a direct and legal interest, such as their immediate family members or legal representatives.

The requester must submit an application, a valid state-issued photo ID or a notarized application form, and the required fee to obtain a death record. Requests can be sent by mail or made in person to Nebraska Vital Records or Dodge County Clerk's Office.

Dodge County Probate Court Records

Dodge County does not have a specialized Probate Court, but the County Court retains the authority to hear all the probate cases heard within the county. These probate cases include the administration of estates, probate of wills, name changes, trust proceedings, guardianship and conservatorship, and other related legal matters. To access probate court records in Dodge County, requesters can contact the office of the Dodge County Court Clerk.

Dodge County Property Records

The Dodge County Register of Deeds is responsible for keeping property records in Dodge County. This official keeps permanent records of deeds, mortgages, leased land, UCC filings, subdivision plats, condominium plats, certified survey maps, lis pendens, annexations, resolutions, and miscellaneous files.

To access these records, requesters should contact the Registrar of Deed's Office located at:

Dodge County Register of Deeds
Courthouse
435 North Park Room 201
Fremont, NE 68025
(402) 727-2736
deeds@dodgecountyne.gov

Dodge County Court Records Online

Third-party online merchants provide an easier alternative to accessing public records than official sources. Websites such as Nebraskacourtrecords.us, offer a user-friendly portal for seeking court records. They frequently combine many record categories into a single database for convenience.

However, since they are operated independent of official websites, third-party websites may have erroneous or partial information and charge more for complete records than official sources. Also, they don't offer certified copies of court documents, which may only be obtained via official channels.