42-361.01. Legal separation; findings.

In a legal separation proceeding:

(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.

Source:Laws 2012, LB899, ยง 2.