How to Find Debtor Assets in Nebraska After Winning a Judgment

You can't garnish wages if you don't know the debtor's employer. You can't freeze a bank account if you don't know which bank they use. And you can't file a lien if you don't know whether they own property. Asset discovery is the first real obstacle most Nebraska judgment creditors face — and the one that stops many of them cold.

Nebraska gives you both public-record tools and a court-ordered examination to find what a debtor owns. Here's how to use them.

Public Records You Can Search Right Now

Before filing anything with the court, check these sources:

Nebraska Secretary of State Business Search: If the debtor owns a business, this database shows corporate filings, trade name registrations, and registered agent details, which can help you investigate business assets.

County Register of Deeds: Every county maintains deed records showing real property ownership, existing mortgages, and encumbrances. If the debtor owns a house or land in any Nebraska county, it shows up here. You can search in person at the county office or through online portals where available.

Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles: Vehicle title records confirm whether the debtor owns cars, trucks, or recreational vehicles. The title also shows existing liens — a vehicle with a large loan balance may not be worth pursuing.

County Court Records: Search for other judgments or cases involving the debtor. Multiple judgments from different creditors tell you the debtor has a pattern of non-payment, and existing garnishments might be consuming their disposable income.

None of these searches require court permission. They're public records that anyone can access.

The Court-Ordered Debtor Examination

When public records aren't enough — or when the debtor has no visible assets on paper — Nebraska's Proceeding in Aid of Execution under § 25-1564 puts them under oath in court.

You file Form CC 3:26 (Motion and Affidavit for Order in Aid of Execution) with the County Court Clerk. The judge issues an order requiring the debtor to appear and testify about their income, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and personal property. The debtor must be served personally by a sheriff — mail service isn't sufficient.

At the hearing, you ask direct questions: Where do you work? Which bank holds your checking account? Do you own a car? Do you receive rental income? The debtor answers under oath. If you want them to bring documents — pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns — file a Praecipe for Subpoena (Form CC 4:6) alongside the examination order.

If a debtor who was personally served fails to appear, you may move for an Order to Show Cause. If the debtor then fails to appear at that hearing after personal service, the judge may issue a civil bench warrant.

What About Debtors Hiding Assets?

Some debtors close bank accounts, change jobs, or transfer property to avoid collection. Nebraska law has limits on what you can do, but it also has tools:

Recheck asset leads: Debtor information can change. Revisit the public records and current court procedures as you identify new leads before choosing the next enforcement tool.

If you suspect a debtor transferred property to avoid collection, rely on public records and court process; do not try to obtain financial information through unauthorized methods.

What you cannot do: You can't access someone's electronic accounts without authorization, use pretexting to get financial information, or hire investigators who use illegal methods. Stick to public records and court process.

Matching Assets to Enforcement Tools

Once you identify assets, each type has a specific enforcement mechanism:

• Known employer → Wage garnishment (Form CC 3:6)
• Known bank account → Bank account garnishment (Form CC 3:6, naming the bank)
• Tangible personal property → Writ of Execution (Form CC 3:9) for sheriff seizure
• Real estate → Judgment lien via District Court transcript (§§ 25-1303 / 24-516)
• Motor vehicle → Writ of Execution or lien notation on the certificate of title

The Nebraska Judgment Collection Guide includes a complete asset discovery workflow, debtor examination question checklist, and a decision matrix that routes you from what you've found to the right enforcement filing.

See more Nebraska guides →