Nebraska Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One

Nebraska is a closed-record state for death certificates. Certified copies go to applicants who show a proper purpose under DHHS rules, typically the decedent's spouse, parent, or child, plus legal representatives and others who show a tangible, legitimate interest, for $16 from Nebraska Vital Records. Death records become open to the public roughly 50 years after the death.

Are Death Records Public in Nebraska?

No, Nebraska is a closed-record state for recent death certificates. Unlike open-record states where anyone can buy a certified copy, Nebraska restricts certified death certificates to a defined list of eligible requesters.

A death record generally becomes a public record about 50 years after the death. Before that point, you must qualify under the state's eligibility rules and show a proper purpose to obtain a certified copy.

This closed approach is common for vital records and is meant to limit identity theft and protect family privacy. Nebraska Vital Records, part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), administers these rules under Chapter 71 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes.

For a national overview and to compare other states, see Death Records by State.

Who Can Request a Nebraska Death Record?

Before a record becomes public, certified Nebraska death certificates go to applicants who show a proper purpose under DHHS rules, as Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-612 directs. The DHHS application lists common qualifying relationships, such as requesting a death certificate for your spouse, your parent, or your child.

Beyond immediate family, a legal representative acting for the estate or an eligible person may apply. Others, such as insurers or attorneys, may qualify if they present evidence of a tangible, legitimate interest in the record.

Every applicant must provide a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID, such as a current driver's license. The request must also identify the decedent with enough detail (full name, date and place of death) for the office to locate the record.

Because access turns on relationship and purpose, genealogists and members of the public typically cannot buy a certified copy of a recent death until the 50-year window passes.

How to Get a Nebraska Death Certificate

Nebraska death certificates are issued by Nebraska Vital Records in Lincoln. The certified-copy fee is $16 per certificate, set under Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-612 and DHHS rules. The fee covers the search and is generally non-refundable even if no record is found.

You can apply three ways:

Online

Apply through the state vital records portal at nevitalrecords-dhhs.ne.gov, which accepts Visa and MasterCard. Online orders are routed through the state's authorized system.

By Mail

Send a completed application, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a $16 check or money order (no credit cards by mail) to: Nebraska Vital Records, P.O. Box 95065, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5065.

In Person

Visit the office at 1033 O Street, Suite 130, Lincoln, Nebraska. You can reach Vital Records at (402) 471-2871 or DHHS.VitalRecords@nebraska.gov.

Processing times vary by method and volume, so confirm current turnaround with the office before you order. Note there is no federal death-records database; the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms records are issued only by the state where the death occurred.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Nebraska?

The cause of death is printed on the certified Nebraska death certificate, so eligible requesters receive it as part of the record. It is not stripped out the way some states redact medical details.

However, certain fields are treated differently. Information designated by the department for health-data and statistical research is confidential and may be released only to the U.S. Public Health Service, government health agencies, or a researcher approved under DHHS rules.

This means the fact of death and the listed cause are available to a qualifying family member or legal representative, while bulk statistical and research data is locked down. For more on how states handle this nationally, see Are Cause of Death Records Public? and the related Are Autopsies Public Records? guide.

How Far Back Do Nebraska Death Records Go?

Statewide death registration in Nebraska began in 1904, so DHHS holds death records from that year forward. Records before statewide registration may exist only in county or local sources.

Once a death record is about 50 years old, it generally becomes a public record, making older certificates and indexes useful for genealogy and family-history research.

For deaths nationwide, the Social Security Administration's public Death Master File is another tool, though under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 the public file excludes deaths that occurred within the most recent three calendar years. Researchers tracing lineage often pair Nebraska's older public records with these national indexes. If you also need birth documentation, see Are Birth Certificates Public Records?.

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about public-records access in Nebraska, not legal advice. Eligibility rules, fees, and processing times change. Always confirm current requirements directly with Nebraska Vital Records before applying.

Sources

This article cites Nebraska DHHS Vital Records, the Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 71), the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, and the Social Security Administration, all listed below.