§ 25-1301.Judgment, rendition of judgment, entry of judgment, decree, or final order, defined; records; clerk; duties.
Article 13: Judgments · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section defines a judgment as the final determination of the parties’ rights, distinguishes rendition from entry, and requires the clerk to date-stamp every judgment, decree, and final order and to keep the judgment records.
Full Text of § 25-1301
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(1) A judgment is the final determination of the rights of the parties in an action.
(2) Rendition of a judgment is the act of the court, or a judge thereof, in signing a single written document stating all of the relief granted or denied in an action.
(3) The entry of a judgment, decree, or final order occurs when the clerk of the court places the file stamp and date upon the judgment, decree, or final order. For purposes of determining the time for appeal, the date stamped on the judgment, decree, or final order shall be the date of entry.
(4) The clerk shall prepare and maintain the records of judgments, decrees, and final orders that are required by statute and rule of the Supreme Court. Whenever any judgment is paid and discharged or when a satisfaction of judgment is filed, the clerk shall enter such fact upon the judgment index.
For rate of interest on judgment, see section 45-103.
Plain-English Summary
Article 13 opens with the vocabulary the rest of the article depends on, and § 25-1301 supplies it. A judgment is the final determination of the rights of the parties in an action — the court’s last word on who wins and what they get. Rendition of a judgment is a separate, earlier act: the judge signs a single written document stating all the relief granted or denied. Signing is not the same as filing, and the statute treats the two as distinct steps.
Entry comes next, and it belongs to the clerk, not the judge. The entry of a judgment, decree, or final order happens when the clerk stamps the file date on it. That date matters beyond bookkeeping — for purposes of appeal, the date stamped on the document is the date of entry, which is what starts the clock for a notice of appeal or a post-trial motion under sections such as § 25-1315.02.
The clerk’s duties do not end with stamping the date. The clerk keeps the records of judgments, decrees, and final orders required by statute and Supreme Court rule, and once a judgment is paid and discharged, or a satisfaction of judgment is filed, the clerk enters that fact on the judgment index. Anyone checking whether a judgment still stands, or still carries a lien, looks to that index.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between rendition and entry of a judgment in Nebraska?
Rendition is the judge’s act of signing a single written document stating the relief granted or denied. Entry is the clerk’s later act of stamping the file date on that document. They can happen on different days, and the entry date, not the rendition date, controls for appeal purposes.
Why does the entry date matter more than the signing date?
Because § 25-1301 fixes the date stamped on the judgment, decree, or final order as the date of entry for purposes of determining the time for appeal. A deadline tied to entry of judgment runs from the clerk’s stamp, not from when the judge signed the document.
What counts as a “final order” under this section?
Section 25-1301 groups judgments, decrees, and final orders together for entry purposes, but does not itself define “final order” beyond that grouping. What makes an order final for appeal turns on whether it determines the action and prevents a judgment, a question addressed elsewhere in Nebraska law.
Who is responsible for tracking whether a judgment has been paid?
The clerk of the court. Once a judgment is paid and discharged, or a satisfaction of judgment is filed, the clerk enters that fact on the judgment index, which is the public record showing whether a judgment remains outstanding.
Does a judge’s signature alone make a judgment effective?
Signature accomplishes rendition, but the judgment is not entered until the clerk stamps the file date on it. Both steps happen, but they are legally distinct, and later sections in this article — such as § 25-1301.01’s notice requirement — key off entry.
Where can I find the interest rate that applies to a Nebraska judgment?
Section 25-1301 cross-references § 45-103 for the rate of interest on a judgment, rather than stating a rate itself.
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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