No continuance shall be granted for a longer period than seven days, unless upon cause shown to the court of the existence of extraordinary causes and then not unless the defendant applying therefor shall give an undertaking to the adverse party, with good and sufficient surety to be approved by the court, conditioned for the payment of any rents that have or may accrue, and any additional damages that may be sustained by such adverse party by reason of the continuance, if judgment be rendered against the defendant.
§ 25-21,225.Forcible entry and detainer; continuance for more than seven days; undertaking required.
Article 21: Special Proceedings and Actions · Last amended 1972 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceA court can postpone an eviction trial for up to seven days as a matter of course, but a longer delay requires the requesting defendant to show extraordinary cause and post a bond with sufficient surety covering rent and any added damages that may accrue if judgment is later entered against that defendant.
Full Text of § 25-21,225
Source
Laws 1929, c. 82, § 124, p. 311; C.S.1929, § 22-1208; R.S.1943, § 26-1,125; Laws 1972, LB 1032, § 75; R.S.1943, (1985), § 24-575.
Plain-English Summary
Section 25-21,225 keeps eviction continuances short unless there is a strong reason for more time. A court can grant up to seven days without any special showing. Beyond that, the statute requires the party asking for the delay to demonstrate extraordinary causes to the court.
Even then, more than seven days will not be granted unless the defendant also gives an undertaking to the landlord, backed by good and sufficient surety approved by the court. That undertaking has to cover any rent that has accrued or may accrue during the extra delay, plus any additional damages the landlord suffers because of it, payable if judgment ultimately goes against the defendant.
The effect is to let a defendant with a genuine need for more time get it, while making sure the landlord does not absorb the cost of that extra delay if the defendant loses the case in the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can an eviction trial be delayed without a special showing?
Up to seven days. A court can grant that much continuance as a matter of course.
Can a defendant get more than seven days?
Yes, but only by showing the court that extraordinary causes exist and by giving an undertaking with sufficient surety.
What does that undertaking have to cover?
Any rent that has accrued or may accrue, and any additional damages the landlord suffers, because of the continuance, payable if judgment is entered against the defendant.
Who approves the surety on the undertaking?
The court.
Does this bond requirement apply to the landlord asking for a delay too?
Section 25-21,225 addresses the undertaking in terms of the defendant applying for the extended continuance, tying the bond to protecting the landlord against added rent and damages.
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
Also known as: postponing an eviction trial nebraskaeviction continuance bond requirementdelaying an eviction hearing nebraskaextraordinary cause continuance evictiontenant asks to delay eviction trial