NENebraska
Nebraska Lien Law Deadlines for Suppliers and Subcontractors
Nebraska gives suppliers and subcontractors 120 days after their final furnishing to record a lien with the county register of deeds, and 2 years after recording to enforce it. There is no mandatory preliminary notice, but owner-occupied homes have extra notice rules.
Public date calculations cover Florida and Kansas. Nebraska dates require qualified review.
Risk context
Nebraska is High Risk for Suppliers
Nebraska's 120-day window is generous, but owner-occupied homes of four units or fewer change the math: the lien against that owner is capped at the unpaid prime-contract balance when the owner receives your notice, and a copy of the recorded lien must be sent to the owner within 10 days. An owner's written demand can also cut the 2-year enforcement window to 30 days.
Deadline schedule
Nebraska Mechanics Lien Deadlines (Updated 2026)
Scroll sideways to see all deadline details.
| Deadline Type | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lien Filing Deadline | 120 days after last furnishing | Must be filed with the county recorder/clerk. In Nebraska, record it with the register of deeds for the county within 120 days after your final furnishing (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 52-137). |
| Preliminary Notice | None required | Nebraska has no mandatory preliminary notice. On a protected party's home, meaning an owner-occupied residence of four units or fewer, the lien against that owner is capped at the unpaid prime-contract balance when the owner receives your optional notice of right to assert a lien, so sending it early preserves more of your claim (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-135, 52-136). |
| Copy to Owner | Within 10 days after recording | On a protected party's home, send the contracting owner a copy of the recorded lien within 10 days (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 52-135(3)). |
| Enforcement Deadline | 2 years after filing | Lawsuit to foreclose on the lien must be filed by this date. If the owner makes a written demand, you have 30 days to sue or file an affidavit that payment is not yet due (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 52-140). |
| Statutes | Governing statutes | Neb. Rev. Stat. §52-125; §52-134; §52-137; §52-140; also §§ 52-135 and 52-136. |
Supplier pitfalls
Common Supplier Mistakes in Nebraska
Failing to track the 120-day filing window
Nebraska's 120 days run from your final furnishing. With no preliminary notice to prompt you, the recording deadline is the first hard date on most jobs, so track the last delivery date on every account.
Sending the owner notice late on a home
On an owner-occupied residence of four units or fewer, your lien against the owner is capped at what the owner still owes the prime contractor when your notice arrives. The later it arrives, the less may be left.
Missing the 2-year enforcement deadline
A Nebraska lien is enforceable for 2 years after recording, but an owner's written demand can force you to sue, or file an affidavit that payment is not yet due, within 30 days.
Deadline calculator
Not Sure Which Nebraska Deadline Applies?
Use this Nebraska guide and collect your project facts for qualified review.
Review Nebraska project factsThe public calculator provides dates only for reviewed Florida and Kansas scenarios; it does not calculate a Nebraska date.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Nebraska lien law deadlines?
Record the lien with the county register of deeds within 120 days after your final furnishing and enforce it within 2 years after recording. On a protected owner-occupied home, also send the owner a copy within 10 days of recording.
Does Nebraska require a preliminary notice?
No. On a protected party's home, meaning an owner-occupied residence of four units or fewer, you may give an optional notice of right to assert a lien, and the lien against that owner is capped at the unpaid prime-contract balance when the owner receives it (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-135, 52-136).
How long do I have to enforce a Nebraska lien?
2 years after recording (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 52-140(1)). If the owner makes a written demand, you have 30 days to sue or file an affidavit that payment is not yet due. See how long a mechanics lien lasts for how expiration works.
Are these the 2024 Nebraska lien law deadlines?
Yes. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-137 and 52-140 have not been amended since 1981, and §§ 52-135 and 52-136 were last amended in 2003, so these deadlines applied in 2024 and remain current as of our September 2026 review.
Important note