Nebraska Child Support Guidelines
By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last reviewed January 30, 2023
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The main idea behind child support is that all parents have a duty to financially support their children in proportion to their respective incomes. Nebraska child support is meant to cover basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical services. The court may rule additional coverage for other needs as well.
Joint, or shared, custody is the most common ruling for child care between parents who are no longer together. The amount of time each parent spends taking care of the child is factored in to calculating how much child support needs to be paid, and by which parent. These calculations are determined by the state's child support guidelines.
Read on for an overview of Nebraska's child support guidelines.
Child Support Guidelines in Nebraska
In Nebraska, the child support guidelines are presumed to be in the best interest of the child. Therefore, the court will order child support in accordance with the guidelines unless there is enough evidence to rebut this presumption. The court can deviate from the guidelines in the following circumstances:
- When either the parent or the child has extraordinary medical costs
- If the child is disabled and has special needs
- If the total net income exceeds $10,000 per month
- For juveniles placed in foster care
- Whenever applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate
The chart below provides a brief overview of Nebraska's child support guidelines.
Code Section |
Nebraska Child Support Guidelines (Nebraska Chapter 4 Article 2) |
|---|---|
How Is Child Support Calculated? |
The amount of a child support award is calculated by using the Nebraska child support guidelines, which factors in the parents' income, a child's needs, a standard of living adjustment, and child support credits. |
How Is Income Determined? |
Income is determined through a worksheet, which takes into account monthly wages, deductions, health premiums, and other considerations. |
When Are Deviations from the Guidelines Permitted? |
All orders for child support obligations shall be established in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines unless the court finds that one or both parties have produced sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that the guidelines should be applied. All stipulated agreements for child support must be reviewed against the guidelines and if a deviation exists and is approved by the court, specific findings giving the reason for the deviation must be made. (Nebraska § 4-203) |
When Does a Parent's Obligation End? |
Parental obligation to pay child support ends when any of the following conditions are met:
|
What About Joint or Split Custody Arrangements?
If there is a split custody order (where each parent has physical custody of one or more of the children) or a joint physical custody order in place then the family law court will use worksheets to calculate how much child support is appropriate. Worksheet 2 shows how to do this calculation for split custody situations, and Worksheet 3 is applicable to joint physical custody arrangements.
Additional Resources
- Guide to Getting Child Support
- Enforcement and Collection of Back Child Support
- What Does Child Support Cover?
Need More Help? Speak With a Family Law Attorney Near You
When dealing with child support issues, frustration and anxiety are likely going to be part of the mix. State laws can change, and it's important to be sure that you're up to date with the current codes. For help with case-specific information regarding Nebraska's child support guidelines, you may want to contact a local family law lawyer.
Next Steps: Search for a Local Attorney
Contact a qualified attorney.
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