Service may be made by publication (1) when such service is elsewhere provided for by statute or (2) when ordered by the court.
§ 25-518.01.Service by publication.
Article 5: Commencement of Actions and Service of Process · Last amended 1983 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section allows service by publication only in two situations: when another statute specifically authorizes it for the type of case involved, or when a court orders it after a proper showing.
Full Text of § 25-518.01
Source
Laws 1983, LB 447, § 34.
Plain-English Summary
Service by publication is not a default option — it is available only in specific circumstances, and section 25-518.01 states them plainly. Publication is permitted when it is elsewhere provided for by statute, or when a court orders it. The section itself does not create an independent right to publish notice; it works as a gateway that points to other statutes (like the substitute-service provision in section 25-517.02) or to a specific court order as the actual source of authority.
Once publication is authorized one of those two ways, the mechanics of how the publication has to be done, and how it is proven, come from the sections that follow — 25-519 and 25-520.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is service by publication allowed in Nebraska?
When another statute specifically provides for it, or when the court orders it.
Does this section itself authorize publication for any type of case?
No. It functions as a gateway, pointing to other statutes or to a court order as the actual source of authority for publishing notice in a specific case.
How do I get a court order allowing service by publication?
That typically follows a showing like the one required under section 25-517.02, demonstrating that other methods of service cannot reach the defendant with reasonable diligence.
Where do I find the requirements for how publication has to be done?
Section 25-519 sets the mechanics — how many times, in what kind of newspaper, and what the notice must contain.
How is service by publication proven complete?
Section 25-520 addresses when publication service is deemed complete and how it is proved by affidavit.
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: when is publication service allowed nebraskaservice by publication authoritycourt order for publication servicestatute authorizing publication noticepublication service gateway rule