Reaction of copper(II) nitrate with pivaloylhydroxamic acid yielded the title compound, [Cu(pivHA)(2)] (where pivHA(-) is pivaloyl hydroxamate, C5H10NO2). The centrosymmetric mononuclear complex consists of a Cu II ion, which is located on a center of inversion, with two coordinated pivaloyl hydroxamate monoanions. The Cu II ion has a square-planar coordination environment consisting of four O atoms - two carbonyl O atoms and two hydroxamate O atoms from two hydroxamate pivHA(-) ligands. The pivHA(-) anions are coordinated to copper(II) in a trans-mode, forming two five-membered O, O'-chelate rings.