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§ 25-2807.Appeals.

Article 28: Small Claims Court · Last amended 1997 · Last verified July 22, 2026

In one sentenceA Small Claims Court judgment can be appealed to the district court under the same procedures that govern county court appeals generally, unless the controversy is subject to arbitration, and unlike the trial itself, attorneys may represent the parties on that appeal.

Full Text of § 25-2807

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Unless the controversy is subject to the Uniform Arbitration Act, any party may appeal to the district court as provided in sections 25-2728 to 25-2738. Parties may be represented by attorneys on appeal.

Source

Laws 1972, LB 1032, § 27; Laws 1975, LB 283, § 3; Laws 1980, LB 892, § 3; Laws 1981, LB 42, § 12; R.S.1943, (1985), § 24-527; Laws 1997, LB 151, § 11.

Cross References

Uniform Arbitration Act, see section 25-2601.

Plain-English Summary

A Small Claims Court decision is not the end of the road. Any party may appeal to the district court, following the same procedures set out in sections 25-2728 to 25-2738 for appeals from county court generally, unless the controversy is subject to the Uniform Arbitration Act.

The appeal stage looks different from the trial in one important respect: parties may be represented by attorneys on appeal, even though section 25-2803 bars attorney representation at the Small Claims Court trial itself. That makes this section the appeal-stage counterpart to the default-judgment carve-out in section 25-2804 — both open the door to a lawyer once the case moves past the informal small claims hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I appeal a Small Claims Court decision in Nebraska?

Yes, unless the controversy is subject to the Uniform Arbitration Act.

Which court hears an appeal from Small Claims Court?

The district court, following the same procedures that govern appeals from county court under sections 25-2728 to 25-2738.

Can I hire an attorney for my Small Claims Court appeal even though I could not at trial?

Yes. This section allows attorney representation on appeal, even though attorneys generally cannot appear at the Small Claims Court trial itself.

Is there any case where a Small Claims judgment cannot be appealed?

Yes, if the controversy is subject to the Uniform Arbitration Act, this section’s appeal route does not apply.

What appeal procedure applies to a Small Claims Court case?

The same procedures in sections 25-2728 to 25-2738 that apply to appeals from county court generally.

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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