The cost of a wedding just increased in Seward County and across Nebraska.
The Seward County Commissioners on July 28 approved the 2026-27 schedule of fees charged by the Seward County clerk, including a doubling of the fee to get a marriage license and an 89 percent jump for a certified copy of it.
A marriage license now costs $50 – up from $25 – and a certified copy of that license costs $17 – up from $9.
County Clerk Brandy Johnson said the marriage fee increases actually went into effect July 18, based on the Nebraska Legislature’s LB896, which was intended to make them comparable to those charged for copies of other documents handled by other offices.
As listed on the Nebraska Vital Records Office’s website, certified copies of birth, death, marriage and dissolution certificates are still available for $16 for all but birth certificates, which are $17.
Nebraska has also made an exception for people needing a certified copy of their birth certificates to register to vote. If they do not have a driver’s license or other means of identification that qualifies for voter registration, they can apply for a free copy of their birth certificate, as noted on the website.
The county had no say in the changes, Johnson said. All other county document fees remained the same.
The board met in closed session for about an hour to discuss litigation strategy, but tabled their agenda item following that to “provide guidance to legal regarding appeal of administrator’s granting of building permit #41-2026” without further discussion.
In other action, the commissioners:
• Approved PSP LLC c/o Shane Peed’s request to create a short form plat for P3SP Subdivision separating 5.97 acres from a little more than 239 acres near 224th and Fletcher Roads.
• Approved Chicoine Leasing, LLC’s request to vacate a 5.58-acre Lot 2 of Chicoine 1st Addition P3SP Subdivision and 6.89-acred Tract 6 of Chicoine Subdivision, both south of Holdrege Road, east of Matzke Highway and north of the interstate, with the intent that they would be combined into a 12.97-acre parcel.
• Heard Commissioner Darrell Zabrocki’s report on the Seward County Sheriff’s Office’s inventory.
• Authorized Commission Chair Misty Ahmic to sign a letter of engagement with GBE for the county’s 2025-26 audit applying the firm’s standard hourly fee with a total not to exceed $32,500.
• Authorized the renewal of the Region 5 systems for emergency protective custody services with the county.
