Statute of limitations in Nebraska

The periods in Nebraska

In Nebraska, the time limit to sue is 5 years for a written contract, 4 years for an oral contract and 4 years for damage to property. Each period runs from the date the claim arises, which statutes usually call the date the cause of action accrues; in the ordinary case that is the day of the breach or the damage.

A written contract: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205(1) reads “an action upon a specialty, or any agreement, contract, or promise in writing, … can only be brought within five years.”

An oral contract: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206 reads “An action upon a contract, not in writing, expressed or implied, or an action upon a liability created by statute, other than a forfeiture or penalty, can only be brought within four years.”

Damage to property: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207(2) reads “The following actions can only be brought within four years: … an action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property.”

Putting the agreement in writing adds 1 year: 5 years for a written contract against 4 years for an oral one, a ratio of 1.3 to 1.

Worked dates for a claim that arose on March 15, 2026: a written contract reaches its 5 years on March 15, 2031, an oral contract reaches its 4 years on March 15, 2030 and damage to property reaches its 4 years on March 15, 2030. Tolling rules (for example while a defendant is out of state, or for a minor) can extend a period, and some claims run from when the harm was discovered; the dates show the plain count only.

Among the 34 jurisdictions verified here, 22 allow longer than 5 years on a written contract and 7 allow less (median 6 years). For property damage, 21 of 33 give less than Nebraska's 4 years (median 3 years). Florida has the same three periods.

Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Iowa 10 / 5 / 5, Kansas 5 / 3 / 2, Missouri 10 / 5 / 5, South Dakota 6 / 6 / 6 and Wyoming 10 / 8 / 4. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.

The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $7,500 or less can be filed in Nebraska small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.

Sources: Nebraska Legislature, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205; Nebraska Legislature, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206; Nebraska Legislature, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207 · last checked October 21, 2026.

Before the deadline

A limitation period is a cut-off for filing, not a measure of whether a claim is good. The guide on how limitation periods work explains accrual, tolling and the difference between written and oral contracts, and the small claims filing guide covers the next step.