Adams County was established by an act of the Nebraska Legislature in February, 1867, but it was not until December, 1871 that the county was organized by an election held in the new village of Juniata. At that election the first county officials were elected and official county record keeping began.
Adams County courthouse is located in the 500 Block of West 4th Street, Hastings, Ne. Courthouse hours are Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Closed all holidays.
When writing for information, ALWAYS INCLUDE A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE (SASE).
Adams County Historical Society PO Box 102 Hastings NE 68902 phone (402) 463-5838 email achs@inebraska.com has copies, either original or microfilm, of many county records. Most county offices request that you contact the historical society before writing to the county official.
COUNTY CLERK
Mailing address PO Box 2067 Hastings NE 68902 Phone (402) 461-7107
Records include Marriage License and returns, 1872 to present; Military Discharges World War I to present; County Supervisors minutes 1871 to present; Voter registration 1966 to present; Election abstracts 1930s to present; Corporation records 1880s to present.
Adams County School Superintendent records are located in this office.
Will check marriage license index free if names and approximate date and a SASE are provided. Marriage license copy fee is $2, or $5 for a certified copy. Adams County Historical Society has a detailed index to marriages, both brides and grooms.
COUNTY COURT
Mailing address PO Box 95, Hastings NE 68902 Phone (402) 461-7143
Records include probates, guardianships and adoptions, 1872 to present. Civil and criminal records are destroyed after 15 years.
Staff will NOT search civil or criminal records. Adoptions are sealed by state law. Staff will check probate and guardianship index and advise if a file is available. All files are microfilmed. Copy fee, if a file is found, is 25 cents per page. Original probate and guardianship files are housed at Adams County Historical Society.
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT
Mailing address PO Box 9, Hastings NE 68902 Phone (402) 461-7264
Records include civil and criminal district court records, divorce, and child support. Staff will check indexes if a SASE is provided. Copies 25 cents per page.
Naturalization Records and index are housed at Adams County Historical Society.
REGISTER OF DEEDS
Mailing Address PO Box 203 Hastings, NE 68902 Phone (402) 461-7148
Location ................500 North Denver Avenue, Hastings NE
Records include Deeds, Mortgages, and Miscellaneous, 1871 to present, and Plat Books 1919 to present. If requesting information, you must supply full name and time period. Staff will check the Grantor-Grantee Index as time permits. Cost of copies is 70 cents per page.
Adams County Historical Society has copies of all plat books.
COUNTY TREASURER
Mailing address 500 W 4th St Hastings NE 68901 Phone (402) 461-7121
Records include tax lists, 1870s to present, and auto registration. Tax lists are in storage and not accessible to the public. Adams County Historical Society has microfilm copies of some tax lists.
SUPERINTENDANT OF SCHOOLS
The records of this office are now located at the County Clerk's office in the courthouse.
Records include school census taken annually 1876 to present and annual teachers reports 1920s to present. School census is filed chronologically by school district number. Adams County had a total of 81 school districts. School census search can be made ONLY if residence location or school district number are supplied. Staff can perform only limited research. Cost of copies is 25 cents per page.
Adams County Historical Society has microfilm of school census, 1876 to 1926, and an index to the 1876 census. They also have original records of several school districts.