An action for the forcible entry and detainer, or forcible detainer only, of real property, can only be brought within one year after the cause of such action shall have accrued.
§ 25-203.Actions for forcible entry and detainer of real property.
Article 2: Limitation of Actions · Not amended since original codification · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section gives a one-year deadline, running from when the cause of action accrues, for actions involving forcible entry and detainer, or forcible detainer alone, of real property.
Full Text of § 25-203
Source
R.S.1867, Code § 8, p. 395; R.S.1913, § 7565; C.S.1922, § 8508; C.S.1929, § 20-203; R.S.1943, § 25-203.
Plain-English Summary
Forcible entry and detainer claims — the old common-law label for what modern practice usually handles through eviction proceedings — move on a much shorter clock than most real property disputes. Section 25-203 gives one year from accrual, a sharp contrast with the ten-year period section 25-202 sets for actions to recover title or possession of real estate more generally.
The section covers two related but distinct claims: forcible entry and detainer together, where someone wrongfully enters and then holds property, and forcible detainer alone, where possession turns wrongful even though the original entry was lawful. Either way, the one-year period starts running when the cause of action accrues — when the wrongful holding of the property begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a forcible entry and detainer claim?
It’s a claim arising from someone wrongfully taking and holding possession of real property, or wrongfully continuing to hold possession after a lawful entry — the historical basis for what today often proceeds as an eviction case.
How long do I have to bring a forcible entry and detainer action in Nebraska?
One year after the cause of action accrues.
Is the deadline different if the entry was lawful but the tenant later refuses to leave?
No. Section 25-203 covers forcible detainer alone, not just forcible entry combined with detainer, and applies the same one-year period to either version of the claim.
Why is this deadline so much shorter than the ten-year period for other real property claims?
The section addresses possession disputes that call for quick resolution, unlike broader title and foreclosure disputes under section 25-202, which involve a longer ten-year period.
When does the one-year clock start running?
It starts when the cause of action accrues — generally when the wrongful entry or wrongful holding of the property begins.
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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