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Washington County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Washington County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Nebraska may access a broad range of publicly available information through WashingtonNERecords.us as well as through official county and state government offices. Washington County, Nebraska maintains records across multiple departments, and the information available may include property documents, court filings, vital records, tax data, and meeting minutes, subject to applicable exemptions under state law.

Record categories that members of the public may be able to locate include:

  • Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
  • Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
  • Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
  • Tax assessment and delinquency records
  • Business licenses and permits
  • Voting and election records
  • County commission meeting minutes and agendas
  • Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
  • Land use and zoning documents

Online Access: The Washington County official website provides access to several county office portals. Property deed records are searchable through the Register of Deeds office page, which also links to Nebraska's statewide deed search tools. Court case calendars may be searched through the Nebraska Multi-Court Case Calendar. Property parcel data is accessible via the Nebraska County Assessors and Parcel Search portal maintained by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. No registration is required to search most of these tools.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Washington County Courthouse at 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008 to inspect records at the relevant department counter. The County Clerk's office, Register of Deeds, and County Assessor are all located within the courthouse. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requestors should identify the record type and approximate date range when presenting a request at the counter.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate department at Washington County Courthouse, 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008. Requests should include the requestor's name, return address, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01, public bodies are required to respond to records requests within four business days.

Phone/Email: The Washington County Courthouse main line is (402) 426-6800. Individual department contact information is available through the Washington County Nebraska government portal.

What Are Public Records in Washington County?

Public records in Washington County are defined under Nebraska's Public Records Statutes as all records and documents, regardless of physical form, that are created, maintained, or received by a public body in connection with the transaction of public business. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, all public records are open to inspection by any citizen of Nebraska during regular business hours.

The following record types are currently maintained by Washington County departments:

Record TypeMaintaining Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)Washington County District and County Courts
Property deeds, mortgages, liensRegister of Deeds
Property tax assessmentsCounty Assessor
Delinquent property tax recordsCounty Treasurer / Nebraska Department of Revenue
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce)Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records
Business licenses and permitsCounty Clerk
Voting and election recordsCounty Clerk / Election Commissioner
Meeting minutes and agendasCounty Clerk
Budget and financial documentsCounty Clerk / Board of Supervisors
Law enforcement recordsWashington County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning recordsCounty Planning and Zoning

Nebraska's Nebraska Judicial Branch court records page notes that "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 that court records are maintained at the court level where the case was filed. Historical Washington County District Court records, including naturalization records on microfilm, are preserved at the Nebraska State Historical Society Archives (RG206).

Is Washington County an Open Records County?

Washington County operates in full compliance with Nebraska's statewide open records framework. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712, all public records held by county offices are open to inspection by any person during regular business hours, and no statement of purpose is required to make a request. Nebraska does not have a separate Freedom of Information Act; the Public Records Statutes (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 through 84-712.09) serve as the governing framework for public access to government records throughout the state.

The Nebraska Public Records Statutes establish that "all public records shall be open for inspection and copying by any person at all reasonable times," subject only to specific statutory exemptions. County offices are required to provide access to non-exempt records promptly and may not impose conditions on inspection beyond those authorized by statute. Washington County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; state law governs all access requests uniformly.

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

The fee structure for public records in Washington County is governed by state statute and individual office schedules. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01, public bodies may charge fees for the actual cost of reproducing records but may not charge for the time spent inspecting records in person.

Current standard fees applicable to Washington County records include:

Fee TypeAmount
Standard paper copies$0.25 per page (standard rate)
Certified copies (vital records)$17.00 per certified copy (DHHS)
Deed recording copiesVaries by document length
Electronic record formatsActual cost of reproduction
Search feesNot permitted for inspection
  • Inspection fees: No fee is charged for in-person inspection of public records.
  • Copy fees: Charges apply per page for paper reproductions.
  • Certification fees: Certified copies of vital records are processed through the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records at the state level.
  • Payment methods: Cash, check, and money order are accepted at county offices; individual offices may accept credit or debit cards.
  • Fee waivers: Nebraska law does not mandate a blanket fee waiver provision, but individual offices may exercise discretion in certain circumstances.

Does Washington County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any person at Washington County government offices during regular business hours, as required by state law. No fee is charged to view records in person at the relevant department counter.

Several online resources also provide free access to Washington County records without requiring registration:

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no fee, obtaining paper or certified copies is subject to the reproduction fees described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Washington County?

Any person may request public records in Washington County. Under Nebraska's Public Records Statutes, residency in Nebraska is not a prerequisite for making a records request, and requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types. Non-residents of Nebraska retain the same access rights as residents with respect to non-exempt public records.

Requestors are not required to provide identification to inspect most public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types, such as vital records, where the requestor's relationship to the subject of the record affects eligibility. Individuals requesting their own records may be asked to provide proof of identity to ensure accurate retrieval and to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information.

Certain record categories impose additional eligibility requirements. Certified copies of birth and death certificates, for example, are restricted under Nebraska law to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a demonstrated legal interest, as administered through the Nebraska DHHS vital records program. Juvenile court records and sealed records are subject to separate access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Washington County?

Not all government records in Washington County are open to public inspection. Nebraska's Public Records Statutes enumerate specific categories of exempt records that public bodies are authorized or required to withhold. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted under state law:

  • 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 law.
  • Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld to protect investigative integrity.
  • Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
  • Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
  • Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
  • Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regulations.
  • Personnel records: Employee records are exempt except for name, position, compensation, and dates of employment.
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
  • Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.

Nebraska's exemption framework is codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05, which enumerates the categories of records that public bodies are not required to disclose. Public bodies applying an exemption must identify the specific statutory basis for withholding the record. Requestors who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek review through the Nebraska Attorney General's office or pursue relief in district court.

Washington County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Washington County Register of Deeds
1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008
(402) 426-6800
Washington County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Washington County Clerk
1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008
(402) 426-6800
Washington County Nebraska government portal

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Washington County Court
1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008
(402) 426-6900
Washington County Court – Nebraska Judicial Branch

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records (for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates)
301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2871
Nebraska Office of Vital Records

Nebraska DMV – Washington County (Blair)
1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008
(402) 426-6822
Washington County DMV office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

As the Nebraska Judicial Branch states, court records in Nebraska are maintained at the court where the case was filed, and members of the public may inspect non-exempt court records during regular business hours at the courthouse. Historical records, including Washington County District Court documents transferred to the state archives, are accessible through the Nebraska State Historical Society Archives.

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