Stella, Nebraska Public Records

The Richardson County County Court, also located at 1700 Stone Street, Falls City, NE 68355, phone (402) 245-2874, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases under $60,000, small claims up to $3,900, protective orders, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Stella does not have its own municipal court. Nebraska court records can be searched online through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's online case search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/, though not all historical records are digitized. The county court clerk's office maintains physical records dating back to the county's founding. Fees for court services include $15 for certified copies of court documents, $1 per page for uncertified copies, and various filing fees depending on case type: small claims filing is $53, county court civil filing ranges from $49-$158 depending on amount, and district court civil filing is $155. Criminal cases do not require filing fees. The county court accepts cash, checks, and money orders for payment.

Property tax records and assessments can be searched online through the Richardson County Assessor's website at https://www.richardsoncounty.ne.gov, where users can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address to view current and historical assessments, tax amounts, and property details. The Richardson County Register of Deeds, located at 1700 Stone Street, Falls City, NE 68355, phone (402) 245-2921, records and maintains all land transactions including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real property. The Register of Deeds office maintains an index of recorded documents dating back to Richardson County's organization in 1855. Document recording fees are established by Nebraska statute at $14 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. While the index may be searchable online, actual document images typically require an in-person visit or written request with copying fees of $1 per page. Richardson County does not currently offer a comprehensive online GIS parcel viewer with full document imaging, though basic mapping and assessment data are available through the assessor's website. Property searches can be conducted by owner name, property address, or parcel identification number.

The largest employers in Richardson County include Falls City Public Schools, Community Medical Center in Falls City, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing in Lincoln County (employing some Richardson County residents who commute), and various agricultural businesses. The median household income in Richardson County is approximately $52,000 according to recent census data, with Stella's small population reflecting similar rural economic patterns. The village has experienced population decline over recent decades, consistent with broader rural Nebraska trends, as younger residents move to larger urban centers and agricultural consolidation reduces the number of active farms. Stella maintains several small businesses including agricultural equipment services and home-based enterprises. The village's location along former railroad corridors and proximity to Highway 105 provides basic transportation access. Richardson County's economy overall remains dependent on agricultural production and processing, with limited manufacturing or professional services sectors. Recent economic development efforts in Richardson County have focused on retaining existing agricultural businesses and attracting value-added agricultural processing.

The Village of Stella does not maintain its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Stella are provided by the Richardson County Sheriff's Office, located at 1700 Stone Street, Falls City, NE 68355, phone (402) 245-2479. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over unincorporated areas and provides contract services to small municipalities throughout Richardson County. Residents can request incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement records by contacting the Sheriff's Office during business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Nebraska State Patrol also has jurisdiction on state highways passing through the area and can be reached at (402) 471-4545. Arrest and jail records for Richardson County are maintained at the Richardson County Law Enforcement Center in Falls City. Current inmates can be searched through the Richardson County Sheriff's Office by calling (402) 245-2479, though there is no online inmate roster currently available. Booking information typically includes inmate name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and housing location. Under Nebraska Revised Statute §84-712, public records requests must be made in writing or in person. The statute provides that citizens have the right to examine public records during normal business hours, and agencies must respond to requests within four business days. There are no fees for inspection, though copying fees may apply at $0.25 per page for standard documents. Some records, including ongoing investigation files and certain personnel records, may be exempt from disclosure under §84-712.05.

Applications can be submitted by mail, in person at 1033 O Street in Lincoln, or online through VitalChek at https://www.nebraska.gov/vital-records/ with additional processing fees. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests and faster for online orders. Nebraska law restricts birth certificate access to the person named, parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper identification. Birth records less than 50 years old and death records less than 50 years old require proof of eligibility. Marriage licenses are issued by the Richardson County Clerk, located at 1700 Stone Street, Falls City, NE 68355, phone (402) 245-2911. The marriage license fee is $15, and there is no waiting period in Nebraska. Couples must apply in person with valid photo identification. Marriage records are maintained by the county clerk and are public records. Divorce records are maintained by the Richardson County District Court as part of court case files. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the district court clerk for $15 per certified copy. Historical vital records dating back to the late 1800s are maintained by the state vital records office, with county records serving as backup for older records.

Fictitious business name (DBA) registration is handled through the Richardson County Clerk's office at 1700 Stone Street, Falls City, NE 68355, phone (402) 245-2911, with fees typically around $15-$30 for registration. Nebraska requires most business entities (corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships) to register with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The Nebraska Business Services Division maintains a free searchable database at https://www.nebraska.gov/sos/corp/ where users can search for corporation names, LLC names, registered agents, business addresses, entity status (active, dissolved, withdrawn), and officers or managers. Formation of an LLC costs $100 plus $10 for certificate of organization; corporations pay $60 plus $5 for certificate. Biennial reports are required for LLCs ($10 fee) and corporations ($25 fee). UCC financing statements (liens on business personal property) are filed with and searchable through the Nebraska Secretary of State's UCC database at https://www.nebraska.gov/sos/corp/ucc_search.cgi. Commercial property assessments for business-owned real estate are maintained by the Richardson County Assessor and are searchable using the same property records system as residential properties. Sales tax permits and employer withholding accounts are registered through the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

Stella voters are served by the Richardson County Election Commissioner/County Clerk, located at 1700 Stone Street, Suite 201, Falls City, NE 68355, phone (402) 245-2911. The office handles all aspects of voter registration, election administration, and ballot processing for Stella and all Richardson County precincts. Nebraska residents can register to vote online at https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ through the Nebraska Secretary of State's website, or by submitting a paper voter registration application to the county clerk. The registration deadline is 6:00 PM on the third Friday before any election (18 days before election day for mailed applications, or 6:00 PM the second Friday before election for online and in-person registration). Voters must provide a Nebraska driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Nebraska requires voter ID at the polls; acceptable forms include Nebraska driver's license, Nebraska state ID, passport, military ID, or tribal ID. Stella is an incorporated village and conducts municipal elections for village board trustees and other local offices. Village elections are typically held in conjunction with the statewide primary election in May of odd-numbered years, with the next municipal election scheduled for May 2025. Stella elects village board members to four-year staggered terms. Residents can find their assigned polling place by using the Nebraska Voter Portal at https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView or by contacting the Richardson County Clerk. Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-1502) makes voter registration lists public records available for election-related purposes. Campaign finance reports for local candidates are filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission and can be searched at http://www.nadc.nebraska.gov/. Election results are posted by precinct and are public records maintained by the county clerk. In the November 2024 general election, Richardson County reported approximately 64% voter turnout with roughly 5,100 ballots cast from approximately 8,000 registered voters, consistent with rural Nebraska participation rates. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several significant races for Stella voters: Nebraska's statewide elected offices including Governor (Pete Ricketts' successor will be up for re-election), all constitutional offices, the Nebraska Legislature (nonpartisan unicameral) District 1 seat representing Richardson County, Richardson County offices including County Commissioner districts, County Clerk, Sheriff, Assessor, Attorney, and Treasurer. Nebraska does not have U.S. Senate races in 2026 (next in 2026 for one seat). Nebraska offers early voting at the county clerk's office beginning 30 days before any election, and mail-in ballots are available by request through the county clerk without requiring an excuse. Applications for mail ballots must be received by the second Friday before the election.