A copy of the field notes of any county surveyor, or a plat made by him and certified under oath as correct, may be received as evidence to show the shape or dimensions of a tract of land, or any other fact whose ascertainment requires only the exercise of scientific skill or calculation.
§ 25-1278.Field notes or plat of county surveyor; when admissible.
Article 12: Evidence and Witnesses · Not amended since original codification · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceA certified copy of a county surveyor’s field notes, or a plat the surveyor certified under oath as correct, may be received as evidence of a tract of land’s shape or dimensions, or of any other fact that only scientific skill or calculation can establish.
Full Text of § 25-1278
Source
R.S.1867, Code § 407, p. 461; R.S.1913, § 7971; C.S.1922, § 8912; C.S.1929, § 20-1278; R.S.1943, § 25-1278.
Cross References
For other provisions for county surveyor's certificate, see section 23-1904.
Plain-English Summary
Some facts about land, its exact shape, its dimensions, the calculations behind a boundary line, call for expertise most witnesses do not have. Section 25-1278 lets a county surveyor’s own work stand in for that testimony. A copy of the surveyor’s field notes, or a plat the surveyor certified under oath as correct, may be received as evidence of the tract’s shape or dimensions.
The section reaches further than boundary disputes. It covers any fact whose ascertainment requires only the exercise of scientific skill or calculation, language broad enough to take in the kind of technical measurement work a surveyor routinely performs, without requiring a live witness to walk the court through the math each time. A related statute, section 23-1904, addresses the county surveyor’s certificate more generally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What two forms of surveyor evidence does this section cover?
A copy of the county surveyor’s field notes, and a plat the surveyor certified under oath as correct.
What kinds of facts can this evidence establish?
The shape or dimensions of a tract of land, and any other fact whose ascertainment requires only scientific skill or calculation.
Does the plat have to be certified under oath?
Yes, to qualify under this section the surveyor must certify the plat under oath as correct.
Do I still need the surveyor to testify in person?
No. The certified field notes or plat can be received as evidence in place of live testimony.
Is there another statute addressing the county surveyor’s certificate?
Yes, section 23-1904 contains other provisions on the county surveyor’s certificate.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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