Upon the final disposition of a case and after the time for making an appeal has expired, the trial judge may, upon application for motion of the parties or upon the court's own motion, direct the court reporting personnel or the clerk having custody thereof to return to the offering party any physical exhibits and to make a receipt therefore to be filed as a pleading in the case.
§ 6-1429.Return of exhibits.
Article 14: Uniform County Court Rules of Practice and Procedure · Last amended January 1, 2022 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceAfter a case is finally decided and the time to appeal has run out, the trial judge may order the court reporter or clerk to return physical exhibits to the party who offered them, with a receipt filed in the case.
Full Text of § 6-1429
Amendment History
§ 6-1429 amended June 9, 2021, effective January 1, 2022.
Plain-English Summary
Section 6-1429 gives the trial judge a direct tool for closing out exhibits once a case is truly finished — final disposition plus an expired appeal window. On motion of a party, or on the court’s own initiative, the judge can direct the court reporting personnel or the clerk holding the exhibits to return them to whichever party originally offered them.
The rule builds in a paper trail: whoever returns the exhibits makes out a receipt, and that receipt gets filed as a pleading in the case. That way, the case file itself shows what happened to the physical evidence, rather than leaving it to memory or informal practice.
This section works alongside § 6-1428’s claim-or-lose timeline. Where § 6-1428 puts the burden on the owning party to come get exhibits within 60 days of a final judgment, § 6-1429 gives the judge an independent path to order the return, whether or not a party has asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a judge order exhibits returned under this rule?
After the case has reached final disposition and the time for appeal has expired.
Does a party have to ask for the exhibits to be returned?
No. The judge can act on a party’s motion or on the court’s own motion.
Who carries out the return of exhibits?
The court reporting personnel or the clerk having custody of the exhibits, as directed by the judge.
Does the court keep a record that exhibits were returned?
Yes. A receipt is made and filed as a pleading in the case, documenting the return.
How does this rule differ from § 6-1428?
Section 6-1428 sets a general deadline for parties to claim exhibits after final judgment, with disposal following unmet notice; § 6-1429 is the judge’s own separate authority to order exhibits returned once the appeal period has run.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Nebraska. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: judge order return of exhibitsexhibits returned after appeal deadlinereceipt for returned exhibits nebraskacourt reporter return exhibits