Landlord & tenant · Nebraska
the short answer
Your landlord has 14 days to return the deposit. If you win, the attorney's fee award is not up to the judge — Nebraska makes it mandatory, which is what makes a small deposit claim worth bringing. A willful, bad-faith landlord owes extra: one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
deadline
14 days
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
Across the country. 6 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as Nebraska. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →
penalty
The property and money due, court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Willful failure that is not in good faith adds liquidated damages of one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
which court
Small Claims Court
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
small claims limit
$7,500
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
also
Nebraska's attorney-fee award to a winning tenant is mandatory, not discretionary — which is what makes a small deposit claim worth bringing at all.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
Everything above is the law as it reaches everyone in Nebraska. What it means for you turns on facts only you have. Tell us what happened and we'll ask the same questions a lawyer would — about 90 seconds, free, and anonymous.
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