In Nebraska—from the logistics giants of Omaha and the tech-driven corridors of Lincoln to the agricultural and medical hubs in Grand Island and Kearney—business is built on a “Good Life” handshake. But as of January 1, 2026, the rules for getting paid have fundamentally shifted. With Nebraska’s minimum wage officially hitting $15.00 per hour, the “protected” income floor for debtors has expanded, making traditional garnishment harder than ever for the inexperienced. You don’t just need a collector; you need a Nebraska-compliant strategist who knows how to recover revenue while navigating the strict 120-day construction lien window and the most protective Head of Household laws in the Midwest.
Nexa provides 100% reputation-safe, equipped with all 50-state collections license, offering free credit reporting, free litigation/bankruptcy scrubs, and zero onboarding fees. Secure – SOC 2 Type II & HIPAA compliant.
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The Nebraska Legal Landscape
Nebraska offers a solid 5-year window for written contracts, but its wage protection laws are among the most complex in the country, requiring precise income-scrubbing before legal action.
| Debt Category | Statute of Limitations | Nebraska Statute (Neb. Rev. Stat.) |
| Written Contracts | 5 Years | § 25-205 |
| Oral / Open Accounts | 4 Years | § 25-206 |
| Medical Debt | 5 Years (Written) | 365-Day Reporting Wait |
| Wage Garnishment | 15% – 25% Cap | § 25-1558 |
| Judgments | 5 Years (Renewable) | § 25-1515 |
Critical Nebraska Rules for 2026:
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The $450/Week “Safe Zone”: With the $15.00/hr minimum wage in 2026, Nebraska law protects the first $450 of weekly disposable income (30x the min wage) from garnishment. Nexa uses advanced income verification to ensure you only spend legal fees on accounts with collectable assets.
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The “Head of Family” Cap: Nebraska is unique; if a debtor is the “Head of a Family,” garnishment is capped at just 15%, compared to the 25% standard. We identify these status shifts early to set realistic recovery expectations.
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The 120-Day Construction Cliff: Under the Nebraska Construction Lien Act, you have exactly 120 days from the last day of work to record a lien. Nexa’s “Step 1” high-speed demand service is designed to trigger payment before this critical deadline expires.
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Medical Reporting Restrictions: Following the 2025 legal shifts, medical debt under $500 is no longer reported to credit bureaus. Nexa utilizes judicial judgments and bank levies to recover these balances where credit threats no longer work.
Cost-Effectiveness: The Nexa Advantage
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Fixed-Fee Recovery ($15/account): Ideal for early-stage receivables. Debtors pay 100% directly to you. No commissions.
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Contingency Service (20%–40%): Performance-based recovery. No Recovery, No Fee.
Industries We Serve in Nebraska
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Manufacturing & Logistics: B2B recovery for the Omaha and Lincoln industrial sectors. We handle high-value freight brokerage and warehousing disputes in the “Crossroads of America.”
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Healthcare & Medical: 100% HIPAA-compliant. We manage patient balances across the UNMC and regional health networks, focusing on mediation that protects your clinic’s local reputation.
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Colleges & Universities: From UNL to Creighton, we specialize in tuition fee recovery and bursar accounts, balancing firm tactics with the need to preserve student relationships.
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K-12 Private & Charter Schools: Managing unpaid enrollment fees and textbook costs with a diplomatic approach tailored for Nebraska’s tight-knit communities.
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Accountants & CPA Firms: Recovery of professional service fees. We understand the Nebraska tax cycle and ensure you get paid without damaging the client trust you’ve built.
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Banks & Credit Unions: Expert handling of delinquent consumer loans and deficiency balances using Nebraska’s 5-year judgment renewal window.
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Construction & Trades: Revenue recovery for HVAC, electrical, and general contractors. We are experts in Title 52 (Construction Liens) and meeting that 120-day recording deadline.
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B2B Commercial, Restoration & Waste Management: High-speed recovery for service providers who need cash flow restored to manage the high operational costs of the Great Plains.
Recent Nebraska Recovery Results
Case 1: Omaha-Area Orthopedic Group (Medical)
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The Problem: $115,000 in aging patient balances. The practice was hesitant to collect due to new 2026 credit reporting bans.
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The Result: Nexa implemented a 2026-compliant “Notice of Mediation” strategy, recovering $78,000 in 65 days without needing to report to credit bureaus.
Case 2: Lincoln Logistics Provider (B2B)
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The Problem: A $52,000 unpaid freight invoice from a vendor who stopped responding during a corporate merger.
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The Result: By identifying the successor entity and utilizing Nebraska’s written contract statute, Nexa secured a full $52,000 recovery plus interest in just 28 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How long do I have to sue for an unpaid bill in Nebraska?
For written contracts and promissory notes, you have 5 years. For oral agreements or open accounts (like many medical bills), you have 4 years.
2. Does Nebraska’s $15 minimum wage stop me from garnishing?
It doesn’t stop it, but it raises the bar. In 2026, we can only garnish income that exceeds $450/week. Nexa performs a “Garnishment Math” check on every account to ensure profitability.
3. What is the 120-day rule for contractors?
In Nebraska, you must record a construction lien within 120 days of your last day of labor or materials. If you miss this, you lose your secured status. Nexa’s early-intervention service helps you get paid before you have to file.
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