Guide to Nebraska Marriage Records

Nebraska marriage records are official documents that prove a couple is legally married. These records contain information such as the full names of both spouses, their ages, the date and location of the wedding, and the names of the witnesses and the officiant.

Understanding marriage record types can be confusing because people often use different terms interchangeably. However, the different types of records serve different purposes.

A marriage license is the legal permission obtained before marriage, while a certificate is the proof issued after the wedding. A marriage can refer to the marriage license, the completed marriage certificate, or other official records created from the marriage, such as index entries and historical books held in county vaults.

Nebraskans search marriage records for different reasons, with the purpose determining the kind of copy needed. If a legal or administrative use is the purpose behind a search, a requester must obtain a certified copy of the record.

If a marriage record is needed for Social Security, immigration paperwork, insurance enrollment, or joint tax filing, a certified copy with a raised seal, not a photocopy, is required. Genealogists also obtain marriage records because these records name parents, list birthplaces, and identify a couple by county and date.

Types of Marriage Records in Nebraska

Marriage records in Nebraska include the following:

Marriage Certificates

This is the document you apply for before you can legally marry in Nebraska. It is obtained from the county clerk's office and typically contains details like the parties' names, ages, and residences; the names and residences of at least two witnesses; and the time and place of the marriage.

A certified copy of this document is required for official purposes. This may include changing a name, proving a marital relationship, settling an estate, or dealing with benefits or property.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issues certified marriage certificates for marriages recorded with the state, while county clerks can issue certified copies of records held in their offices.

Marriage Licenses

A Nebraska marriage license is obtained before the wedding, giving the couple permission to have their marriage solemnized under state law. It is not the same as a marriage certificate, which records the marriage after the ceremony.

Marriage licenses are issued by county clerks in Nebraska. These documents are valid for one year.

Marriage Abstract

A Nebraska marriage abstract is a summary of the marriage certificate, focusing only on the basic facts of the marriage. It is issued by the Nebraska DHHS but cannot be used for legal and administrative purposes.

Are Marriage Records Public in Nebraska?

County-maintained marriage records are generally public in Nebraska. The offices of county clerks maintain registers of the licenses they issue, and basic details in those registers, such as the names of the licensees and the dates the licenses were issued, are publicly available.

However, certified copies of marriage certificates are not public. According to state regulation, requesters may obtain a marriage certificate for themselves or their parents. However, other requesters must state their relationship to the subject of the record and the purpose of the request. After, the DHHS decides whether the requester qualifies.

Note that while a record may be publicly available, not all pieces of information collected in the marriage application become available in a public search. Certain information may be withheld because of privacy laws, confidentiality rules, or a court order. Health and statistical information collected through vital-record forms, for example, is confidential under Nebraska law.

The Nebraska DHHS also states that once a record is 50 years old, it may be released publicly for genealogical searches.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A Nebraska marriage record typically contains the following:

• Full names and ages of both parties
• Birthplaces and current residences
• Dates of birth
• Parents' names (including mothers' maiden names) and their birthplaces
• The date and exact location of the ceremony
• Names of the witnesses and the officiant

However, to prevent identity theft, Nebraska restricts the public disclosure of certain sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers. Also, confidential medical or personal details obtained during the application process are private.

How to Find Marriage Records in Nebraska

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

Start with the information you already know. You need the full names of both spouses, including names used around the time of the marriage. An approximate marriage date is also helpful. Also, identify the county where the license was issued. If the exact date of the marriage is unknown, determining the likely year or range of years can help narrow the search.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

For marriages from 1909 onward, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records is the main statewide source. The county clerk who issued the marriage license may also retain the county record and issue certified copies.

For marriages before 1909, DHHS recommends contacting the county where the license was filed or History Nebraska. History Nebraska also holds marriage records dating back to territorial times for some counties.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

For a current certified record, Nebraska DHHS accepts requests online, by mail, and in person. Historical searches can also begin with genealogy databases before ordering a certified record.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

A copy of your government-issued photo ID is required for a marriage record application. This can include a driver's license, state ID, or passport. If you are not the record holder, proof of your relationship to the subjects of the record is also needed.

The DHHS has an application form, while counties also have their own request forms. The cost of obtaining certified copies is $16 from the state and $16 from the county. Payments to the state by mail must be made by check or money order, as credit card payments are not allowed.

Processing times for applications vary, depending on how you apply. For instance, a walk-in request at the DHHS office is typically processed in 30 minutes.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Nebraska

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, individuals can request their own marriage certificate or apply to obtain their parents' marriage certificate. In the latter case, proof of the relationship between the requester and the parent should be provided. Other requests may be valid under Nebraska's proper-purpose rules; however, requesters are advised to contact the DHHS for the required documentation.

To process the application, the requester must submit a government-issued identification. If the application is sent by mail, information on both spouses' names at the time of birth, the date of marriage, the state that issued the marriage certificate, and the purpose of obtaining the records must be provided. Also, the relationship to the spouses named on the record must be indicated on the application.

The fee to obtain a marriage license is $16. The Nebraska DHHS accepts applications via mail, online, and in person. Mail applications should be sent to:

The current walk-in location is located at 301 Centennial Mall South, First Floor, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Processing time varies depending on the service option chosen. For regular walk-in service, the minimum processing time is about half an hour, while mail orders take at least 15 days. An expedited application sent by mail may take 1-2 days. Genealogical requests may take up to 12 weeks.

Once issued, a certified marriage record may be used as official proof of marriage in benefit claims, property matters, estate proceedings, and legal name changes.

How to Get a Marriage License in Nebraska

Two individuals seeking to marry in Nebraska must apply for and obtain a marriage license from a county clerk before performing their ceremony.

While application rules are set by county offices and vary by location, both applicants must appear in person at the county clerk's office to complete the application process. To verify identity, counties typically require a government-issued photo ID, such as a current driver's license, a state-issued ID card, or a passport.

The minimum marriage age in Nebraska is 17. Since the state generally considers individuals under 19 to be minors, marriage-license applicants aged 17 or 18 must obtain written consent from their parent or legal guardian. People who are 19 or older do not need this consent.

According to Nebraska law, there is no residency requirement for applicants. However, a Nebraska marriage license is valid for use only in the Cornhusker State.

The statutory fee for a marriage license in Nebraska is $50. However, most counties recommend prepaying an additional $16 for the first certified copy, bringing the total upfront cost to $66.

There are no waiting periods after the marriage license application is submitted. Licenses are typically issued on the same day of application. Hence, licensees can get married immediately. Once a marriage license is obtained, it is valid for one year.

There is a separate rule that must be followed by an individual seeking to obtain a marriage license after a divorce in Nebraska. State regulation stipulates that for remarriage to someone besides the former spouse, a Nebraska dissolution decree does not become final for remarriage purposes until six months after entry of the decree, unless one of the statutory exceptions applies.

A Nebraska marriage can only be performed by an individual authorized under state law. Such persons may be a current or retired judge, a current or retired clerk magistrate, or a qualifying religious officiant. Nebraska law also mandates that at least two witnesses must be present at a marriage ceremony. Also, marriage information must be returned to the issuing county clerk by the marriage officiant within 15 days.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

While basic Nebraska marriage verification indices are public data, the detailed certificates are restricted to:

• The Spouses: Either individual named on the marriage record.
• Immediate Family Members: Parents, children, or siblings who can verify their ancestral relationship.
• Authorized Representatives: Attorneys, legal guardians, or anyone carrying a notarized letter of consent or power of attorney.
• Government Agencies: Local, state, or federal entities conducting official record verifications or court business.

Third-party requesters (such as an employer or private investigator) without a direct blood or legal relationship cannot obtain a certified copy without a court order or explicit, notarized written permission from the record holder. Furthermore, anyone can freely request historic data or ancestral copies, as long as the record is more than 50 years old.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Nebraska does not have a centralized free state website containing modern marriage records. The Vital Records Office charges for certificate searches and certified copies.

However, searching for older marriage records online via certain platforms is free. For instance, History Nebraska maintains county marriage materials, including records dating back to Nebraska's territorial period, for some counties. The research collections held by History Nebraska are generally available on microfilm.

Online genealogy indexes like FamilySearch can also help users search older marriages by name. Those indexes are particularly helpful when the county of marriage is not known. Note that online indexes only provide a reference to a record and do not offer access to certified copies.

If important details like county or exact dates are unknown, you can start searching the names of both spouses along with a reasonable or approximate year range. Historical indexes, newspapers, and obituaries can also be useful resources for researchers.

A paid certified copy of a Nebraska marriage record is required when an agency, court, employer, or other government entity requires formal proof of a marriage rather than basic historical information.

Common Law Marriage in Nebraska

Common-law marriages are not recognized by the State of Nebraska. Hence, cohabiting, having the same last name, and filing joint taxes in Nebraska will not result in the state recognizing a marriage, regardless of how many years two persons have lived together.

The only exception to this is if a couple has already legally established a common-law marriage in a state that allows it and has moved to Nebraska afterward. In this scenario, Nebraska respects the union's legal validity under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Since no paperwork is filed to establish a common-law union in Nebraska, no public marriage record will be created in the state's registry unless a court order later declares the marriage valid.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

Marriage records sometimes contain errors, which can create logistical issues when using them to apply for benefits. These errors may involve a misspelled name, incorrect date or place, or an incorrectly entered detail by the clerk or marriage officiant.

If an error is noticed before the officiant files the paperwork, you can fix it directly through the issuing county clerk. However, if the record has been permanently recorded under state law, an application must be submitted to the Nebraska DHHS.

A correction to a marriage record must be executed under oath and signed before a notary public. However, the documentation required depends on how old the record is:

• Under One Year: Requires at least one piece of objective documentary evidence (like a certified birth certificate or passport) showing the correct information.
• Over One Year: Requires two or more items of historical documentary evidence established at least five years prior to or within seven years of the marriage date.
• Date/Location Corrections: Can only be updated with a written, signed authorization from the officiant who performed the ceremony.

Nebraska charges a $16 fee for a correction request and $16 for each certified copy of the amended marriage record requested. Supporting documentation must be submitted with the Application for Amendment of Marriage Certificate and fee to:

Amending a record with DHHS typically takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the verification process.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

One common use of Nebraska marriage certificates is its use as legal proof of a name change after marriage. Note that a marriage record does not automatically update your account with official agencies with your new name after marriage.

For instance, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will request a certified copy of a marriage certificate when you submit a name-change request with the agency after marriage. This process is necessary to obtain a corrected Social Security card with a new name. However, the SSA requires additional proof of identity or other documentation.

Similarly, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) also requires certified marriage documentation as proof of a name change. Per state DMV regulations, your driver's license, permit, or state ID must be updated within 60 days of a name change. The application must be completed through a driver's licensing office and not as a standard online name-change transaction.

Changing your name involves updating your personal identity documents using the marriage certificate as proof. However, the marriage record itself does not change but permanently reflects both parties' names on the wedding day. On the other hand, amending a marriage record means correcting an error that occurred during the recording process.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Older Nebraska marriage records include maternal maiden names and parents' birth states, which can be valuable for genealogical research. Note that while modern marriage records are restricted, records older than 50 years are generally accessible to researchers.

Records of marriages held before January 1909 are preserved on microfilm and in physical ledgers held by individual county offices or the Nebraska State Historical Society archives in Lincoln. You may search these archives using the spouses' names, approximate years, or suspected county boundaries.

Furthermore, FamilySearch and Ancestry are good resources for finding Nebraska marriage records. FamilySearch maintains a searchable marriage index covering recorded events from 1855 to 1995. Ancestry is also a helpful resource for Nebraska marriage records, as its collections include Nebraska marriages from 1909-2022, selected county records from 1855-1908, and a compiled marriage index covering 1856-1898. Note that access to some ancestry records may require a subscription.

When searching, be prepared for spelling variations, initials, maiden names, and transcription errors in entries. Also, older county records may be incomplete or have been transferred to a statewide collection.

Frequently Asked Questions