Nebraska Divorce Checklist
divorce.law/resources/divorce-checklist/nebraska/
Prepared: 5/20/2026
Data updated: 3/1/2026
Estimated Timeline
60-90 days for uncontested divorces (minimum 60-day mandatory waiting period under § 42-363 after service of process, plus 30 days for decree to become final), 6-18 months for contested divorces depending on the complexity of property division, custody disputes, and court scheduling in your county
Documents to Gather
- Certified Marriage Certificate
- Birth Certificates for Minor Children(if applicable)
- Valid Nebraska Photo ID
- Social Security Cards
- Proof of Nebraska Residency (12+ months)
- Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement(if applicable)
- Domestic Abuse Protection Order (if applicable)(if applicable)
- Prior Court Orders(if applicable)
Financial Documents
- Last 3 years of federal and state tax returns (with all W-2s, 1099s, and schedules)
- Last 3 months of pay stubs from all employers
- Bank statements for all accounts — last 12 months
- Retirement account statements — last 12 months
- Investment and brokerage account statements — last 12 months
- Real property deeds, mortgage statements, and appraisals
- Vehicle titles, registration, and loan statements
- Credit card statements — last 12 months
- Business ownership records and valuations(if applicable)
- Life insurance and health insurance policies
- Student loan and personal loan documentation
- Monthly household expense documentation
Key Steps
1. Before Filing
- Verify Nebraska Residency Requirements
- Gather Personal and Marriage Documentation
- Compile Financial Records and Documents
- Assess Safety Concerns and Obtain Protection if Needed
- Determine Whether You Have a Simple or Contested Divorce
2. Filing Process
- Complete the Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage
- Complete All Required Supplemental Forms
- File the Complaint and Pay the Filing Fee
- Prepare a Parenting Plan if Children Are Involved
3. After Filing
- Serve Your Spouse with the Complaint and Summons
- Wait for Your Spouse's Response
- Complete Mandatory Parenting Education Course (Cases with Children)
- Participate in Mediation if Parenting Issues Are Disputed
- Exchange Financial Disclosures and Complete Discovery
- Negotiate a Settlement or Prepare for Trial
- Attend the Final Hearing and Obtain the Decree
Key Deadlines
Quick Reference
To file for divorce in Nebraska, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for a minimum of one year under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-349. File a Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage — Form DC 6:4(1) without children or Form DC 6:5.1 with children — at the district court clerk's office in the county where either spouse resides. The filing fee is $163.00; fee waivers are available through Form DC 6:7. Nebraska is a no-fault state requiring only proof of irretrievable breakdown under § 42-361. After filing, serve your spouse within 6 months. Your spouse has 30 days to file an Answer. The mandatory 60-day waiting period under § 42-363 begins on the date of service — not the filing date. If minor children are involved, both parents must complete an approved parenting education course under § 43-2928, develop a parenting plan, and participate in mediation if they cannot agree within 4 months under § 43-2937. Both parties must provide full financial disclosures for equitable property division under § 42-365. The decree becomes final 30 days after the judge signs it. Uncontested divorces take 60 to 90 days; contested cases take 6 to 18 months.