It shall be the duty of every sheriff, on the receipt of any writ or other legal process, except subpoenas, to note thereon the time of receiving the same. The sheriff shall also state in his or her return on the same the time and manner of executing it.
§ 25-2235.Sheriff; process; return; contents.
Article 22: Process, Court Records, and Ministerial Officers · Last amended 1992 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRequires a Nebraska sheriff to note the time process was received, except for subpoenas, and to state in the return itself the time and manner in which the process was carried out.
Full Text of § 25-2235
Source
Laws 1929, c. 82, art. XV, § 174, p. 324; C.S.1929, § 22-1504; R.S.1943, § 26-1,175; R.S.1943, (1979), § 26-1,175; R.S.1943, (1985), § 24-598; Laws 1992, LB 1059, § 19.
Plain-English Summary
Section 25-2235 fills in what a proper return has to contain. On receiving any writ or legal process other than a subpoena, the sheriff notes the time of receipt. When the sheriff later files the return, it must state the time and manner of executing the process — not just that it was done, but when and how.
That record matters later: § 25-2207 makes the entry of service part of the case record, evidence a court can rely on if the manner of service is ever questioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a sheriff note when receiving a writ?
The time of receipt, except for subpoenas.
Why are subpoenas excluded from the time-of-receipt requirement?
The section specifically exempts subpoenas from that notation requirement.
What information must the sheriff’s return include?
The time and manner of executing the process.
Does this apply to all process a sheriff receives?
It applies broadly, with subpoenas carved out of the receipt-time notation requirement.
How does this section relate to the return deadline set elsewhere?
Section 25-2234 sets the deadline and place for the return; this section sets what the return has to say once filed.
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: sheriff return contents nebraskatime of receipt on a writtime and manner of execution returnsheriff subpoena receipt exception