In a legal separation proceeding:

Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 42-361.01

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Oath: shall include affirmation in all cases in which an affirmation may be substituted for an oath. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • State: when applied to different states of the United States shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories organized by Congress. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(1) If both of the parties state under oath or affirmation that they shall thereafter live separate and apart, or one of the parties so states and the other does not deny it, the court, after hearing, shall make a finding whether the legal separation should be granted and if so may enter a decree of legal separation;

(2) If one of the parties has denied under oath or affirmation that they will thereafter live separate and apart, the court shall, after hearing, consider all relevant factors, including the circumstances that gave rise to the filing of the complaint and the prospect of reconciliation, and shall make a finding whether the legal separation should be granted and if so may enter a decree of legal separation; or

(3) Sixty days or more after perfection of service of process, the court may enter a decree of legal separation without a hearing if:

(a) Both parties waive the requirement of the hearing and the court has sufficient basis to make a finding that it has subject matter jurisdiction over the legal separation proceeding and personal jurisdiction over both parties; and

(b) Both parties have certified in writing that they shall thereafter live separate and apart, both parties have certified that they have made every reasonable effort to effect reconciliation, all documents required by the court and by statute have been filed, and the parties have entered into a written agreement, signed by both parties under oath, resolving all issues presented by the pleadings in their legal separation proceeding.