Article 22: Process, Court Records, and Ministerial Officers · Last amended 1999 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceLets county court judges in Nebraska’s larger counties, with a population of 100,000 or more, contract with a constable to serve and execute civil process on terms the State Court Administrator prescribes, and lets the requesting party name a specific constable where a county has more than one under contract.
Full Text of § 25-2229
Text size
(1) In counties having a population of one hundred thousand or more inhabitants, each judge of the county court may contract with one constable for purposes of serving or otherwise executing, according to law, and returning writs or other legal process. Such constables shall not be considered employees of the state or its political subdivisions. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the terms of such contract shall be prescribed by the State Court Administrator.
(2) In counties having more than one contracted constable, the party requesting the constable to serve or otherwise execute any legal process may designate by name the constable who shall serve or otherwise execute such legal process.
In Nebraska’s most populous counties, constables who serve county court process work under contract rather than as officers in the traditional sense. Section 25-2229 authorizes each county court judge, in a county with at least 100,000 residents, to contract with a constable for serving, executing, and returning writs and other legal process. That contract does not make the constable an employee of the state or any political subdivision, and the State Court Administrator, not the county itself, sets the contract’s terms.
Where a county has more than one contracted constable, the section gives the party requesting service some control: that party may name, by name, which of the available constables handles the writ or process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nebraska counties can contract with constables under this section?
Counties with a population of 100,000 or more.
Does a contracted constable count as a government employee?
No. The section states that such constables are not considered employees of the state or its political subdivisions.
Who sets the terms of a constable’s contract?
The State Court Administrator, not the individual county court.
Can I choose which constable serves my papers?
Yes, if the county has more than one contracted constable, the party requesting service may designate the constable by name.
Is a county court judge required to contract with a constable?
No. The section says a judge “may” contract with a constable — it is discretionary, not mandatory.
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:nebraska constable contract countiescounty court constable servicechoosing a constable nebraskaconstable not a state employeelarge county constable rules