Article 28: Small Claims Court · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceWith narrow exceptions for post-judgment motions and appeals, Nebraska bars attorneys from representing anyone in Small Claims Court, requires each type of party to appear through a specific representative, limits claims to the actual party to the transaction, and caps how many claims one party can file.
Full Text of § 25-2803
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(1) Parties in the Small Claims Court may be individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, unions, associations, or any other kind of organization or entity.
(2) No party shall be represented by an attorney in the Small Claims Court except as provided in sections 25-2804 and 25-2805.
(3) An individual shall represent himself or herself in the Small Claims Court. A partnership shall be represented by a partner or one of its employees. A limited liability company shall be represented by a member, a manager, or one of its employees. A union shall be represented by a union member or union employee. A corporation shall be represented by one of its employees. An association shall be represented by one of its members or by an employee of the association. Any other kind of organization or entity shall be represented by one of its members or employees.
(4) Only a party, natural or otherwise, who has been a party to the transaction with the defendant for which the claim is brought may file and prosecute a claim in the Small Claims Court.
(5) No party may file an assigned claim in the Small Claims Court.
(6) No party shall file more than two claims within any calendar week nor more than ten claims in any calendar year in the Small Claims Court.
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a personal representative of a decedent's estate, a guardian, or a conservator may be a party in the Small Claims Court.
Small Claims Court is open to a wide range of parties — individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, unions, associations, and other kinds of organizations or entities, plus a personal representative of a decedent’s estate, a guardian, or a conservator acting on someone else’s behalf.
The defining feature of the court is that no party may be represented by an attorney, except as sections 25-2804 and 25-2805 allow — namely, for a motion for new trial or to set aside a default judgment, and on appeal. Instead, each kind of party appears through a representative suited to its structure: an individual represents himself or herself; a partnership appears through a partner or one of its employees; a limited liability company through a member, manager, or employee; a union through a union member or employee; a corporation through one of its employees; an association through one of its members or an employee; and any other kind of organization or entity through one of its members or employees.
Only someone who was a party to the transaction with the defendant may file and prosecute a claim — no party may file a claim that was assigned from someone else. And there is a frequency limit: no party may file more than two claims within any calendar week, or more than ten claims in any calendar year, in Small Claims Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire a lawyer to represent me in Nebraska Small Claims Court?
No, not for the trial itself. The only exceptions are filing a motion for a new trial or to set aside a default judgment, and representation on appeal.
If a corporation is sued in Small Claims Court, who can appear for it?
One of the corporation’s employees.
Can I buy someone else’s debt and sue on it in Small Claims Court?
No. Only a party who was part of the underlying transaction with the defendant may file and prosecute the claim, and no assigned claim may be filed.
Is there a limit on how many small claims cases I can file in a year?
Yes. No more than two claims within any calendar week, and no more than ten claims in any calendar year.
Can a guardian or personal representative file a small claims case on someone else’s behalf?
Yes. This section specifically allows a personal representative of a decedent’s estate, a guardian, or a conservator to be a party.
Are there any situations where an attorney can appear in a Small Claims Court case?
Yes, for a motion for a new trial or to set aside, vacate, or modify a default judgment under section 25-2804, and for an appeal under section 25-2807.
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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