How to Get Nebraska Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Nebraska — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Nebraska DHHS Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk.

What this page covers: Nebraska vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Nebraska DHHS Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Home Page - Vital Records
Parent agency
Vital Records and Statistics
Records back to
Nebraska: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Online ordering
Home Page - Vital Records
Marriage license issued by
Lancaster County (Lincoln, NE) County Clerk Marriage License Requirements
Local intake
Nebraska: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Population
2,005,465
Households
803,100
Median Income
$71,722
Median Home Value
$205,600
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Nebraska vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at dhhs.ne.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Nebraska Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Nebraska — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Nebraska vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Nebraska Vital Records

2026
Nebraska vital records portal active
The official Nebraska portal at dhhs.ne.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Nebraska state records.
2026
Nebraska access in 2026
For 2026, Nebraska continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check dhhs.ne.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Nebraska's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Nebraska Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Nebraska, start with the Nebraska health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Nebraska typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Nebraska records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Nebraska Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Nebraska birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Nebraska) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Nebraska marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Nebraska death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Nebraska counties: Adams · Antelope · Arthur · Banner · Blaine

Vital Records Databases

10 official Nebraska vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
Official Free
Nebraska DHHS is in close communication and active coordination with federal, state, and local partners to ensure our fellow American citizens returning from the M/V Hondius cruise ship are safely transported to the Nebraska Quarantine Unit to receive the appropriate care and support they need.
🌐 dhhs.ne.gov
Apply for Marriage License - County Clerk
Official Free
The fee for a marriage license is $25.00, payable by cash or credit card (additional portal fee applies for credit card use). You may prepay $9.00 for a certified copy, needed for name changes on driver’s licenses and Social Security records.
🌐 clerk.douglascounty-ne.gov
Lancaster County Clerk - Marriage License Search
Official Free
This website is provided as a public service by the Lancaster County Clerk's Office ("County Clerk") to provide access to public information regarding information for marriage licenses issued by Lancaster County, Nebraska.
🌐 app.lincoln.ne.gov
Marriage Licenses | Sarpy County, NE
Official Free
To get a marriage license print and fill out the Marriage Worksheet. Bring the completed worksheet, your current valid government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, state ID, or passport), and a credit or debit card to pay the $34 application fee (cash is not accepted).
🌐 sarpy.gov
Buffalo County, Nebraska, Cemeteries
Official Free
Gibbon Riverside Cemetery The Buffalo County Historical Society sponsored readings of the tombstones in about 1985. You may find this surname index helpful for burials before that time. Surname index: A - B C - D E - G H - J K - L M - N O - R S T - Z · In addition, here are links to the individual cemeteries.
🌐 negenweb.net
Vital Records - Nebraska: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress
Official Free
Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below.
🌐 guides.loc.gov
Request Obituary - Columbus Metropolitan Library
Official Free
Order up to six free obituaries per month.
🌐 columbuslibrary.org

Nebraska Counties

93 Nebraska counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Douglas Lancaster Sarpy Hall Buffalo Scotts Bluff Dodge Madison Lincoln Adams Antelope Arthur Banner Blaine

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Nebraska are issued by the Official Nebraska Vital Records at dhhs.ne.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Nebraska death certificates are issued by the Official Nebraska Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at dhhs.ne.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Nebraska marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Nebraska Vital Records (dhhs.ne.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Nebraska vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Nebraska Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at dhhs.ne.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Nebraska Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at dhhs.ne.gov.