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Small claims forms · Nebraska

Nebraska small claims court forms, filled in for you

Answer a few questions once. Vera fills in the Nebraska court's own forms from your answers, walks you through anything left, and gives you one packet to file, with how to file it.

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To sue (you're the plaintiff)

  • Plaintiff's Claim and Notice to Defendant (Small Claims Court) (CC 4:1)

    The court's own form (nebraskajudicial.gov)

    What to know
    • This is the Nebraska Supreme Court's required form CC 4:1 (Neb. Ct. R. ch. 6, art. 14, app. 1, Eff. 07/2025). You file it with the clerk of the county court, in person or by mail (the court's Filing a Small Claims Case page). Page 2, the Notice to Defendant, is completed and signed by the clerk, who sets the trial date; page 3 is information for the defendant (the form).
    • Small claims are claims of $7,500 or less, exclusive of interest and costs. File in the county where the defendant or the defendant's agent resides or does business, or where the cause of action arose (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2802(3), (4)). "If you file in the wrong court, your case will be dismissed and you will lose the filing fees and prepaid costs" (the court's page). Vera chose the county only when your court's name gives it: check it.
    • Vera filled your name as Plaintiff and the other side's as Defendant. From your answers in Court forms it filled both street addresses, cities, states and ZIP codes, both telephone numbers, your email address and the defendant's if you gave it. Others filing with you, or other defendants, go on the same line (the court's page). The form has one Defendant box: if you told Vera about a second defendant, Vera did not add them; add their name and address as the court's page says, or ask the clerk. Leave the Case No. blank: it is assigned by the court (the form).
    • From your answers Vera also filled the sum you are owed, the date after "because on", and what happened on the three lines below; if it did not fit, the rest is on a sheet attached at the end. Check each one. The form has no separate blank for interest or for the kind of claim (the form). Still yours: the value of any property you ask to have returned, where it happened (the line after "at"), how many small claims you have filed this week and this calendar year, and how the notice is to be served: sheriff, constable, process server or certified mail restricted delivery. Vera marks none of these boxes. Then date and sign it (the form). No one may file more than two claims in a calendar week or ten in a calendar year, and an assigned claim may not be filed (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2803(5), (6)).
    • By signing, you declare, in the form's printed words, "that the defendant(s) is (are) not a 'person in the military service of the United States'" (the form). The form has no box to say otherwise; if that is not true, or you do not know, ask the clerk before you sign.
    • The filing fee for small claims is $58.00 (the court's Filing Fees and Court Costs page, effective 07-01-2026). Service costs are extra and paid in advance by you; if you win, they are added to the judgment (CC 4:1, page 3).
    • "The plaintiff decides how the notice will be served and is responsible for service" (CC 4:1, page 3). For certified mail you may use the Small Claims Certified Mail Return (CC 4:5); for the sheriff or a process server you make the arrangements with them (the court's page). The notice must be served "not less than five days before the time set for hearing" (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2804(3)).
    • "No party shall be represented by an attorney in the Small Claims Court" (except after a transfer to the regular docket). An individual represents himself or herself; a corporation "shall be represented by one of its employees", a partnership by a partner or employee, a limited liability company by a member, manager or employee (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2803(2), (3)). You may still ask a lawyer for advice (CC 4:1, page 3).
    • If your claim is for the return of a residential security deposit: the landlord must deliver or mail the balance and a written itemization within 14 days after the tenancy ends; if not, you may recover what is due, court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, and if the failure is "willful and not in good faith", also "one month's periodic rent or two times the amount of the security deposit, whichever is less" (Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1416(2), (3)). The claim goes on this same form.

If you were sued (you're the defendant)

  • Counterclaim or Setoff of Defendant (Small Claims Court) (CC 4:2)

    Only if you claim the plaintiff owes you money or property.

    The court's own form (supremecourt.nebraska.gov)

    What to know
    • There is no written answer in small claims: the Notice to Defendant says you "must appear" at the time and place the clerk set, and "If you do not appear, a judgment will be entered against you, together with costs of this action" (CC 4:1, page 2; Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2804(3)). This form is only for a claim of your own.
    • "In a counterclaim, the defendant says that the plaintiff is at fault rather than the defendant. In a setoff, the defendant says he or she may owe something, but that the plaintiff also owes something" (CC 4:1, page 3).
    • File it with the court and deliver a copy to the plaintiff at least two days before the trial (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2804(4); the form). If it is over $7,500, the whole case is transferred to the regular county court docket, and a transfer fee must be paid (CC 4:1, page 3).
    • Vera filled the county when your court's name gives it, the case number if your case has one, the plaintiff's name, your name as Defendant and your printed name. From your answers in Court forms it filled your street address, city, state and ZIP code, telephone and email, and, when you said you sue back, the sum and why ("because:"). Check each one. Still yours: the value of any property you ask to have returned (the form). The form says Nebraska Supreme Court Rule 2-208 requires people representing themselves to give an email address; if you cannot receive email, mark the box on page 2 and give the reason (the form).
    • Sign and date page 1, and complete the Affidavit of Service on page 2: how you delivered the copy, the trial date and time and the date delivered, and sign it (the form). The Order for Transfer and the sheriff's Return are for the court and the sheriff. Vera never signs or dates a form.
    • You may instead transfer the case to the regular county court docket by notice at least two days before the hearing, paying the difference in fees; after a transfer, both sides may have a lawyer (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2805; the court's Filing a Small Claims Case page). "No party shall be represented by an attorney in the Small Claims Court" (except after a transfer to the regular docket). An individual represents himself or herself; a corporation "shall be represented by one of its employees", a partnership by a partner or employee, a limited liability company by a member, manager or employee (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-2803(2), (3)). You may still ask a lawyer for advice (CC 4:1, page 3).

Checked against the court's own forms and rules. Courts change forms; check with the clerk before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.