Lancaster, Nebraska: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $7,500 (Small Claims Court statewide (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802; $7,500 beginning July 1, 2025) only). E-filing: Not verified. Court: Lancaster County Court.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$7,500 (Small Claims Court statewide (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802; $7,500 beginning July 1, 2025) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Nebraska	5 years.
State deposit return deadline	14 calendar days after the date of termination of the tenancy. 365 calendar days after mailing if undeliverable, or while returned balance remains outstanding. if mailing returned undeliverable or balance remains outstanding one year, treat as abandoned property to State Treasurer under Unclaimed Property Act.
Penalty formula	tenant may recover property and money due, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees; if landlord's failure is willful and not in good faith, tenant may also recover liquidated damages equal to one month's periodic rent or two times the amount of the security deposit, whichever is less. Bad faith required: Yes.
Deposit statute	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416

Where to file

Lancaster County Court

Courthouse city: Lincoln

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Nebraska for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Lancaster

County median gross rent: $1,045 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$851
1 bedroom	$876
2 bedrooms	$1,069
3 bedrooms	$1,374
4 bedrooms	$1,544

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,069; two months is $2,138. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,069.

State legal maximum deposit in Nebraska: Not more than one month's periodic rent ($1,069 at the example rent), plus a pet deposit not in excess of one-fourth of one month's periodic rent ($267.25 at the example rent) when appropriate. Cap does not apply to housing agencies under the Nebraska Housing Agency Act.

Total households in Lancaster: 132,162.

Renter households: 54,395 (41.2% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 4.1%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Lancaster, $1,069 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $7,500 (Small Claims Court statewide (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802; $7,500 beginning July 1, 2025) only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Bennet
Davey
Denton
Firth
Hallam
Hickman
Lincoln
Malcolm
Panama
Raymond
Roca
Sprague
Waverly

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 575 S. 10th Street Lincoln, NE 68508

Phone: 402-441-7291

Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21

Court contact source

Statewide help

Legal Aid of Nebraska
Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income renters; statewide AccessLine handles applications for housing and other civil matters.
Phone: (877) 250-2016

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Nebraska security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Nebraska: 5 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Nebraska law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Nebraska letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Nebraska small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free Nebraska template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 14 calendar days after the date of termination of the tenancy.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lancaster?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Nebraska: 5 years.

Where do I file?

Lancaster County Court. Courthouse city: Lincoln. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.