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Clear your Nebraska record DIY

You can clear your Nebraska record. Nebraska law lets you set aside certain misdemeanor convictions under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264 and limit the dissemination of certain arrest records under § 29-3523. The process uses a petition filed with the court that handled the case and may involve a court hearing.

Expeal Ranking

Nebraska's Expeal ranking is 7 out of 15, or a C-. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 0 0 0 0
Expeal 1 1 1 0
Tasks 2 2 2 0
Wait 3 3 3 0
Cost 3 3 3 0
Total 9 9 9 0

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Filing fee —
Filing fee varies by sentencing court (base County Court criminal docket $49.00 waiverable / $50.00 non-waiverable; District Court criminal $87.00 total). Whether a separate fee attaches to a post-judgment § 29-2264 motion is set by the clerk of the sentencing court. 		Nebraska Judicial Branch — Filing Fees and Court Costs (eff. 2025-07-01)
Certified copy fee $1.00 Reference
Record request fee $30.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in Nebraska.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Nebraska State Patrol.

    Cost: $30.00

  2. Step 2: Review your Record. Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 3: Request Certified Documents. Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Cost: $1.00

  2. Step 4: Verify the Final Documents. Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 5: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. There are no timing restrictions to note — you can submit as soon as your documents are in order.

  2. Step 6: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 7: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the court that handled the original case. Filing fees in Nebraska vary by sentencing court — the County Court criminal-case docket starts at $49.00 (waiverable) or $50.00 (non-waiverable), and the District Court criminal-case docket is $87.00 total. Whether a separate fee attaches to your set-aside motion is set by the clerk of the sentencing court, so confirm the exact amount with the clerk before filing.

  2. Step 8: Work with the Court. After the Nebraska court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Cleared

  1. Step 9: Receive the Court's Order. Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your petition. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered and whether the outcome is a set-aside of a conviction under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264 or a sealing/non-public-record designation under § 29-3523. If the court denies your petition, Nebraska law requires you to wait three years before refiling the same request. Keep a certified copy of the order for your own files.

  2. Step 10: Verify the Record is Cleared. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264, a set-aside order nullifies the conviction for most purposes; under § 29-3523, sealing limits how criminal-history record information about you can be disseminated and removes it from the public record. Confirm with the Nebraska State Patrol and the clerk of the sentencing court that their records reflect the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the set-aside process:

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the set-aside process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.