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Statute of Limitations on Debt in Nebraska

In Nebraska, a lawsuit on a written contract or promise must be filed within 5 years, on an oral contract within 4 years, and on a note payable at a definite time within 6 years.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Nebraska at a glance

Written contracts
5 years
Oral contracts
4 years
Promissory notes
6 years
Six years after the due date under the UCC for a note payable at a definite time.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Nebraska

What is the statute of limitations for a written contract in Nebraska?

Written contracts in Nebraska: 5 years.

What is the statute of limitations for an oral contract in Nebraska?

Oral contracts in Nebraska: 4 years.

What is the statute of limitations on a promissory note in Nebraska?

Promissory notes in Nebraska: 6 years. Six years after the due date under the UCC for a note payable at a definite time.

Where do the Nebraska statutes of limitations on debt come from?

The rules above come from Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-205, Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-206 and Neb. UCC 3-118. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

The clock usually starts when the debt is breached, which for a loan or account is often the date of the missed payment or the last payment made. In some states a new payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart or extend the period, so the starting date matters as much as the length.

A statute of limitations is generally a defense the person being sued has to raise. If a lawsuit on an old debt is filed and nobody responds, the court can enter a judgment even if the period had expired. Judgments have their own, separate enforcement periods.

Which state's deadline applies is not always obvious. Contracts may contain a choice of law clause, and some states have borrowing statutes that apply a shorter period from another state. Federal rules also bar debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue on time-barred consumer debt. For a specific dispute, check the statute and consider talking to an attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.