Cass County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Cass County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Cass County, Nebraska, may access a range of publicly available information through official county offices, state agencies, and online portals. CassNERecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may relate to records maintained by Cass County government bodies. The types of information that may be found through official channels include court filings, property records, vital records, criminal history data, and county commission documents, though availability and completeness vary by record type and the office that maintains them.

Records in Cass County can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Cass County Clerk's office maintains county board records and certain land-related documents accessible through the county's official website.
Property parcel data and assessment records are searchable through the Nebraska County Assessors and Parcel Search portal maintained by the Nebraska Department of Revenue.
Court case calendars, including juvenile case calendars for county courts, are available through the Nebraska Multi-Court Case Calendar search tool.
Criminal history Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) sheets are available through the Nebraska State Patrol criminal history records portal; online submission requires identity verification.
Incarceration status for individuals held in Nebraska state facilities may be searched through the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services inmate search.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Cass County Clerk's Office at 346 Main Street, Plattsmouth, Nebraska 68048, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff at the public counter assist with record identification and retrieval. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to describe the record sought with sufficient specificity.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Cass County Clerk at 346 Main Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048. Requests should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01, public bodies are required to respond to written requests within four business days.

Phone/Email:

Cass County Clerk: (402) 296-9300
Cass County District Court Clerk: (402) 296-9370

What Are Public Records in Cass County?

Public records in Cass County are defined under Nebraska's Public Records Statutes, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, as all records and documents, regardless of physical form, that are maintained by a public body and are not specifically exempted by law. The following record types are currently maintained by Cass County offices and state agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Cass County District Court
Probate and family court records	Cass County Court
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens	Cass County Register of Deeds
Property assessments and parcel data	Cass County Assessor
Birth and death records	Nebraska DHHS / County Clerk
Marriage and divorce records	County Clerk / Nebraska DHHS
Business licenses and permits	Cass County Clerk
Property tax records	Cass County Treasurer
Voting and election records	Cass County Election Commissioner
County commission minutes and agendas	Cass County Clerk
Budget and financial documents	Cass County Clerk
Arrest logs and incident reports	Cass County Sheriff
Land use and zoning records	Cass County Planning and Zoning

The Cass County Clerk serves as the central repository for board records, land instruments, and certain vital records filed at the county level. As stated on the official county website, "The County Clerk is responsible for keeping the records of the Cass County Board of Commissioners."

Is Cass County an Open Records County?

Cass County operates in full compliance with Nebraska's open records laws, which establish a presumption of public access to government documents. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, all public records of every public body in Nebraska are open to inspection by any person at all reasonable times, except as otherwise provided by state law. Nebraska does not have a separate Freedom of Information Act; the Public Records Statutes serve as the governing framework for access to government records statewide.

The Nebraska Public Records Statutes require that public bodies make records available for inspection and copying during regular business hours. The law places the burden on the public body to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure, rather than requiring the requestor to justify access. The Nebraska Attorney General's office has issued guidance affirming that "the public policy of this state is that public records shall be open to inspection by any person."

Cass County does not maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance beyond the requirements established by state statute. All county offices, including the Clerk, Assessor, Treasurer, and Sheriff, are subject to the same statutory obligations.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Cass County is governed by state statute and individual office schedules. Standard fees applicable to most record requests are as follows:

Inspection of records: No charge for in-person inspection of non-exempt records
Paper copies: $0.25 per page (standard 8.5" x 11")
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; certified copies of vital records issued by the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records are subject to a separate fee schedule set by the Department of Health and Human Services
Electronic copies: Fees may be assessed for the actual cost of reproduction in electronic format
Search fees: Public bodies may charge for the actual cost of staff time required to search for and retrieve records, where permitted under state law
Criminal history RAP sheets: The Nebraska State Patrol charges a fee per request for criminal history record searches

Accepted payment methods at the Cass County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01, fees charged for copies may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by Nebraska statute for general public records requests, though individual offices retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances.

Does Cass County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Cass County. Under Nebraska's Public Records Statutes, members of the public have the right to inspect non-exempt records at no charge during regular business hours at the office that maintains the record. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the reproduction fees described above.

The following resources provide free access to certain Cass County records:

Nebraska Multi-Court Case Calendar: The court case calendar search provides free online access to scheduled court proceedings in Cass County Court and District Court.
Nebraska County Assessors and Parcel Search: Property assessment and parcel data for Cass County are available at no cost through the Nebraska Department of Revenue parcel search portal.
Nebraska Inmate Search: The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services inmate locator is available to the public at no charge.
In-person inspection: Any member of the public may inspect non-exempt records held by the Cass County Clerk, District Court Clerk, or other county offices without charge during business hours.

Municipal entities within Cass County also provide access to public records. The Village of Eagle public records request page outlines the process for requesting records from that municipality at no initial cost for inspection.

Who Can Request Public Records in Cass County?

Any person may request public records in Cass County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Nebraska's Public Records Statutes do not restrict access to residents of the state, nor do they require a requestor to provide identification or explain the reason for the request as a condition of access to non-exempt records. This broad access right applies to individuals, organizations, businesses, and members of the press equally.

Certain record types carry additional requirements. Requests for certified copies of vital records—such as birth and death certificates—require the requestor to demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the subject of the record, as established by the Nebraska DHHS vital records access policies. Criminal history RAP sheets requested through the Nebraska State Patrol are available to the public for any individual, though the requestor must submit identifying information about the subject of the search. Individuals requesting their own criminal history records follow the same process as third-party requests.

Access to court records is governed by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. As noted in the Nebraska Judicial Branch court records guidance, "The Constitution of the State of Nebraska distributes the judicial power of the state among the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, and county courts," and records of those proceedings are subject to the access rules established by the Supreme Court of Nebraska.

What Records Are Confidential in Cass County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Cass County offices are exempt from public disclosure under Nebraska law. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05 enumerates the specific exemptions applicable to public records statewide. The following record types are currently withheld from public access in whole or in part:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Nebraska law, with limited exceptions for certain serious offenses.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled for active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly disclosed records.
Medical and health records: Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Nebraska health privacy statutes are not subject to public disclosure.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Nebraska law.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services relating to child protective investigations are confidential.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with the exception of certain information such as names, positions, and compensation of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting is protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Records that could compromise public safety or security infrastructure are withheld.

The Cass County District Court notes that its clerks "are responsible for the record keeping of criminal and civil cases," and access to specific case files may be subject to court orders restricting disclosure beyond the statutory exemptions.

Cass County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Cass County Clerk (County Clerk and Recorder)
346 Main Street
Plattsmouth, NE 68048
(402) 296-9300
Cass County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Cass County District Court Clerk
346 Main Street
Plattsmouth, NE 68048
(402) 296-9370
Cass County District Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Cass County Court
346 Main Street
Plattsmouth, NE 68048
(402) 296-9370
Cass County Court – Nebraska Judicial Branch

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Vital Records
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2871
Nebraska DHHS Vital Records

Nebraska State Patrol – Criminal History Records Unit
1600 Highway 2
Lincoln, NE 68502
(402) 471-4545
Nebraska State Patrol Criminal History Record Requests