Nebraska Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

Nebraska sets a 4-year deadline for personal injury claims under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207, a 5-year limit for written contracts under 25-205, and a 4-year limit for oral contracts under 25-206. Most felonies must be charged within 3 years under 29-110, while murder and first-degree sexual assault carry no time limit.

Nebraska law sets strict deadlines for filing both civil lawsuits and criminal charges. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations. If you miss the filing window, you may lose your right to pursue a case entirely.

Understanding these time limits is critical whether you are a plaintiff considering a lawsuit, a defendant facing charges, or simply someone who wants to know their legal rights. This guide covers every major category of Nebraska statute of limitations, organized by civil and criminal case types.

Hurt in Nebraska? If you are still within the deadline above, you can estimate what your injury claim may be worth with our free Nebraska personal injury settlement calculator. It gives an instant range based on your medical costs and Nebraska's fault rule (general information, not legal advice).

Nebraska Civil Statute of Limitations

Nebraska's civil statutes of limitations control how long a person has to file a lawsuit after an injury, breach of contract, or other civil wrong. These deadlines typically range from one to ten years depending on the type of claim.

The clock usually starts on the date the injury or breach occurs. However, Nebraska recognizes a "discovery rule" for certain claims. Under the discovery rule, the filing period does not begin until the injured person knew or reasonably should have known about the harm.

If a plaintiff fails to file before the deadline, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case. Once dismissed on statute of limitations grounds, the claim is lost permanently.

Personal Injury (4 Years)

Nebraska gives injured persons four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline applies to car accidents, slip-and-fall injuries, and most other negligence claims. The four-year period is set by Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207.

The clock starts on the date the injury occurs, not the date the injured person realizes the full extent of the harm.

Assault and Battery (4 Years)

Nebraska used to place assault and battery in the one-year list in Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-208, but that section no longer names those torts. Its current text reaches only libel, slander, malpractice not otherwise limited by statute, and the recovery of an unconstitutional tax. The change came from Laws 2000, LB 921, and applies to causes of action accruing on or after July 13, 2000.

Because assault and battery is no longer separately enumerated, a civil assault or battery claim falls under the four-year residual period in Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207(3) for "an injury to the rights of the plaintiff, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated." Older Nebraska decisions applying a one-year limit were decided under the earlier version of 25-208 and do not govern a claim that accrued after that date.

Libel and Slander (1 Year)

Defamation claims, including both libel (written) and slander (spoken), also carry a one-year statute of limitations under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-208.

Fraud (4 Years)

A fraud claim must be brought within four years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207(4). If the fraud was not discovered within the four-year period, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving the fraud could not reasonably have been discovered sooner. Saved messages, receipts and transfer records help show when a scam came to light, and our guide to Nebraska scam and fraud laws lists the offices that take scam reports in the state.

Injury to Personal Property (4 Years)

Claims for damage to personal property, including actions for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, must be filed within four years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207(2).

Trespass (4 Years)

Actions for trespass upon real property carry a four-year filing deadline under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207(1).

Product Liability (4 Years)

Product liability claims have their own limitations statute. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-224(1), a product liability action must be commenced within four years after the date the death, injury, or damage occurs.

The outer statute of repose depends on where the product was made. For products manufactured in Nebraska, 25-224(2)(a)(i) sets a 10-year cutoff running from the date the product was first sold or leased for use or consumption. For products manufactured outside Nebraska, 25-224(2)(a)(ii) applies the statute of repose of the state or country where the product was manufactured, but in no event less than 10 years. If that state or country has no statute of repose, the statute says the only limit is the four-year period in subsection (1), so there is no absolute cutoff at all.

Medical Malpractice (2 Years with Discovery Rule)

Medical malpractice claims in Nebraska follow a special rule. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-222, patients have two years from the date of the alleged negligence to file suit. If the malpractice was not and could not reasonably have been discovered within those two years, the patient has one additional year from the date of discovery to file.

A 10-year statute of repose applies, meaning no medical malpractice claim can be filed more than 10 years after the date of the alleged negligence, regardless of when discovery occurs.

Other Professional Malpractice (2 Years)

Claims against attorneys, accountants, and other professionals for negligence in rendering professional services run on the same statute that governs medical malpractice, Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-222: two years from the act or omission, one additional year from discovery when the claim could not reasonably have been discovered sooner, and a 10-year outer repose.

Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-208 sets a separate two-year period for malpractice "which is not otherwise specifically limited by statute," so it reaches only claims that no more specific limitations statute already covers.

Written Contracts (5 Years)

A breach of written contract action must be filed within five years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-205. This section also governs foreign judgments, which carry the same five-year deadline.

Oral Contracts (4 Years)

Breach of an oral contract must be brought within four years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-206. If a contract is partly written and partly oral, the four-year period from this section applies rather than the five-year period for written contracts.

Sale of Goods (UCC, 4 Years)

Breach of warranty claims involving the sale of goods must be brought within four years of tender of delivery under Nebraska UCC 2-725. The parties may agree to reduce this period, but it cannot be shortened to less than one year.

Debt Collection (4-5 Years)

Debts based on a written contract are subject to a five-year statute of limitations under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-205. Debts based on an oral agreement or an open account carry a four-year deadline under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-206 and 25-212.

A voluntary payment on a past-due debt restarts the statute of limitations in Nebraska.

Wrongful Death (2 Years)

Wrongful death actions must be filed within two years of the date of death under Neb. Rev. Stat. 30-810. The lawsuit must be brought by the personal representative of the deceased for the benefit of the surviving spouse and next of kin.

If the defendant fraudulently concealed the cause of death, the court may prevent the defendant from using the statute of limitations as a defense.

Workers' Compensation (2 Years)

Workers' compensation claims in Nebraska must be filed within two years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-137. The two-year period runs from the date of the workplace accident or from the date of the last benefit payment, whichever is later.

Claims Against the State (2 Years)

All claims against the State of Nebraska must be filed within two years after the claim arises under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-218. This does not apply to property tax claims.

Real Property Recovery (10 Years)

Actions to recover title or possession of real estate, including adverse possession claims, must be brought within 10 years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-202. This is the longest civil statute of limitations in Nebraska.

Civil Statutes of Limitations Summary Table

Nebraska Criminal Statute of Limitations

Nebraska's criminal statutes of limitations set deadlines for when prosecutors must file charges. The primary statute governing these deadlines is Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-110.

The clock starts when the crime is committed. If a grand jury returns an indictment, the filing date of that indictment controls.

Crimes With No Statute of Limitations

Nebraska places no time limit on prosecuting the following offenses:

• Murder (any degree)
• Sexual assault in the first degree (28-319)
• Sexual assault in the second degree (28-320)
• Sexual assault of a child in the first degree (28-319.01)
• Sexual assault of a child in the second or third degree (28-320.01)
• Sexual assault in the third degree (28-320) when the victim is under 16 at the time of the offense
• Incest (28-703)
• Labor trafficking of a minor or sex trafficking of a minor (28-831(1))
• Child sexual abuse material offenses (28-1805)
• Treason
• Arson
• Forgery

Section 29-110(11) lists "murder" without qualifying it by degree, so second-degree murder carries no time limit either. It does not fall into the three-year felony catchall.

For these crimes, prosecutors can bring charges at any time, no matter how many years have passed.

Crimes Against Children (7 Years or Until Age 16)

When the victim is under 16 years old, the following crimes must be prosecuted within seven years of the offense or within seven years of the victim's 16th birthday, whichever deadline comes later:

• Kidnapping
• False imprisonment
• Child abuse
• Pandering
• Debauching a minor

This extended window gives child victims additional time to come forward after reaching adulthood.

Identity Theft and Related Crimes (5 Years)

Criminal impersonation, identity theft, and identity fraud carry a five-year statute of limitations under Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-110. The same five-year deadline applies to:

• Violations of the Nebraska Securities Act
• Public assistance fraud

Other Felonies (3 Years)

All other felonies not listed above must be prosecuted within three years of the date the crime was committed. This three-year window covers crimes such as burglary, robbery, theft, and drug offenses.

Misdemeanors (18 Months or 1 Year)

Most misdemeanors must be prosecuted within 18 months. Offenses that carry a maximum punishment of a fine under $100 or jail time under three months have a shorter one-year deadline.

Criminal Statutes of Limitations Summary Table

Tolling Rules: When the Clock Pauses

Nebraska law recognizes several situations where the statute of limitations is paused, or "tolled." During tolling, the filing deadline stops counting down and resumes only after the tolling condition ends.

Minors

Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-213, if a person is under the age of 20 when their cause of action arises, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until they reach the age of 21. Note that Nebraska's age of majority is 19, but the tolling provision extends to age 21 for statute of limitations purposes.

Mental Disability

The statute of limitations is also tolled for persons with a mental disorder that prevents them from understanding their legal rights or taking legal action. The tolling continues until the disability is removed.

Defendant Flees the State

For criminal cases, Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-110 provides that the time limitations do not apply to any person fleeing from justice. The clock stops while the accused is outside the state avoiding prosecution.

Discovery Rule

For medical malpractice and certain professional negligence claims, the statute does not begin to run until the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered the injury. This is codified in Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-222.

How Nebraska Compares to Neighboring States

Nebraska's four-year personal injury deadline is longer than most of its neighbors. Iowa, Kansas, and Colorado each allow two years (Iowa Code 614.1(2), Kan. Stat. 60-513(a)(4), and C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)). South Dakota allows three years under SDCL 15-2-14(3). Wyoming matches Nebraska at four years for an ordinary injury claim under Wyo. Stat. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C), although Wyoming keeps a one-year limit for assault, battery, libel, slander, malicious prosecution, and false imprisonment. Missouri provides five years for personal injury, making it one of the more generous states in the region.

For written contracts, Nebraska's five-year deadline falls in the middle of the range. Iowa allows 10 years, while Kansas allows five years.

Related Nebraska Legal Topics

• Nebraska Car Accident Laws
• Nebraska Slip and Fall Laws
• Nebraska Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession

More Nebraska Laws

• Nebraska Car Accident Laws
• Nebraska Dog Bite Laws
• Nebraska Expungement Laws
• Nebraska Slip and Fall Laws
• Nebraska Workers Compensation Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss the statute of limitations deadline in Nebraska?

If you file a civil lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired, the defendant can file a motion to dismiss your case. Courts will almost always grant this motion, and your claim will be permanently barred. You will lose the right to seek compensation or other legal relief for that particular claim.

Does the statute of limitations start over if a debtor makes a partial payment in Nebraska?

Yes. Under Nebraska law, a voluntary payment on a past-due debt restarts the statute of limitations. This means the full filing period begins again from the date of the most recent payment. Be cautious about making any payment on an old debt, as it can revive a claim that was otherwise about to expire.

Is there a statute of limitations on murder in Nebraska?

No. Nebraska has no statute of limitations for murder, and Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-110(11) does not limit that to first-degree murder, so a second-degree murder charge can also be brought at any time. Several other serious crimes, including treason, arson, forgery, incest, trafficking of a minor, and sexual assault in the first or second degree, also have no time limit.

Can the statute of limitations be extended for a minor in Nebraska?

Yes. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-213, if a person is under the age of 20 when their cause of action arises, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until they turn 21. This gives minors additional time to file civil claims after they reach adulthood.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Nebraska?

Nebraska allows two years from the date of the alleged negligence to file a medical malpractice claim under Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-222. If the malpractice could not reasonably have been discovered within those two years, the patient has one additional year from the date of discovery. However, a 10-year statute of repose applies as an absolute outer deadline.