A landlord kept your deposit, a contractor walked off the job, a dry cleaner ruined your coat. In Nebraska you can sue for up to $7,500 in the Small Claims Court (County Court), without hiring a lawyer. Check your case below, then follow six steps.
Answer a few questions. The result updates as you type.
Nebraska doesn't require a demand letter before you file, but asking for payment first is a good idea. A short, dated demand letter is the best proof. Use the generator below and keep a copy.
File in the county court of the county where the defendant or its agent lives or does business, or where the claim arose. Filing in the wrong county gets the case dismissed and you lose the fee.
Small Claims Complaint (in the Plaintiff's Small Claims Packet, CC 4:20). The court sets a pretrial or trial date after the defendant is served. Some counties offer mediation first.
The filing fee is small: the base fee in state law is $6.25, and with the added state court fees the total is roughly $30. Check the Judicial Branch fee schedule. Service by certified mail, sheriff or process server costs extra. If you can't afford it, ask for a fee waiver: Affidavit and Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees (DC 6:7.1).
Choose service by the sheriff (or a constable in Douglas and Lancaster counties), a process server, or certified mail using form CC 4:5. The case can't go to trial until the defendant is served. Service must be done before the court sets your hearing; a counterclaim must be served on you at least 2 days before trial.
Bring receipts, photos, texts, the contract and your demand letter, with three copies of each. The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can use garnishment or other collection steps through the county court.
Want every detail? The full filing guide walks you through all 7 stages, from finding the defendant's legal name to collecting your money, with a checklist.
Open the filing guideFill in the details, then download the letter as a PDF or Word file, or copy the text. Send it by certified mail or email so you can prove the date.
Miss this date and the court will dismiss your case, however strong it is. Fraud time starts when the fraud is discovered.
| Type of claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Broken written contract (lease, invoice, signed agreement) | 5 years |
| Broken verbal agreement | 4 years |
| Damaged property | 4 years |
| Personal injury | 4 years |
| Fraud | 4 years |
| Libel or slander | 1 year |
| Claims against a government agency | Before suing a Nebraska city, county or the state for damage or injury, you must first file a written claim with it, generally within 1 year for local governments and 2 years for the state. |
No. Lawyers can't take part in small claims court. A business is represented by an officer, partner or employee. If the defendant moves the case to the regular county court docket, both sides can have lawyers.
You can sue for up to $7,500, not counting interest and costs. The limit rose from $6,000 on July 1, 2025. No one can file more than 2 small claims a week or 10 a year. Otherwise, you can give up the amount above the limit, or file a regular civil case where the rules are stricter.
Either side can appeal to district court within 30 days after the judgment. The judge reviews the county court record; no new evidence is allowed. You pay a docket fee and post a $50 appeal bond. If you lost by default, you can instead ask the county court to set it aside within 30 days.
Ask the county court ahead of time if you need an interpreter.