What Parents Need to Know About Child Support in Nebraska
Raising children is a shared responsibility, and when parents are no longer together, child support ensures that both contribute to their children’s well-being. But how is child support determined in Nebraska? And what happens if circumstances change? Understanding how child support is calculated—and when it can be modified—can help parents navigate this important financial obligation with clarity and confidence.
Child Support Calculation: Nebraska Guidelines Explained
The Supreme Court of Nebraska has established the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines, which determine how much support one parent should pay the other. The goal is to ensure that both parents contribute to their children’s financial needs in proportion to their respective incomes so that children maintain a similar standard of living in both households.
The calculation begins with each parent’s gross income from all sources, including wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and overtime. It also considers income that could be earned through reasonable effort, preventing a parent from voluntarily taking a lower-paying job to reduce their child support obligation. However, public assistance benefits are not included in this calculation.
Once gross income is determined, certain deductions are applied to calculate each parent’s monthly net income. These deductions typically include federal and state taxes, Social Security contributions or self-employment tax, retirement contributions up to four percent, child support previously ordered for other children, and the cost of health insurance for both the parent and the children.
How Custody Impacts Child Support in Nebraska
The amount of child support owed depends on the custody arrangement. If one parent has primary custody, the non-custodial parent usually pays child support. In cases where the parents share joint custody, the number of overnights each parent has will affect the calculation, with the higher-earning parent often owing some amount of support.
The court considers the combined net income of both parents to determine the total child support obligation. Each parent’s share is based on their respective income contributions. In addition to regular child support payments, parents may also be responsible for other child-related expenses such as out-of-pocket medical costs, extracurricular activities, and childcare.
If multiple children are involved, the calculation accounts for all minor children and adjusts as each child reaches adulthood. Under Nebraska law, child support continues until a child reaches the age of majority, becomes emancipated, becomes self-supporting, gets married, passes away, or until a court orders otherwise.
Can Parents Set Their Own Child Support Amount?
While the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines establish a standard calculation, parents can agree to deviate from the guidelines by agreeing to a higher or lower support amount—or even no support at all. However, a judge must approve any deviation and determine that it is in the best interest of the children before finalizing it.
When and How to Modify Child Support in Nebraska
Child support orders aren’t set in stone. A parent can request a modification if there is a material and substantial change in circumstances. A significant increase or decrease in income, a change in employment, or a change in custody or parenting time can all serve as grounds for modification.
If the new child support calculation results in at least a ten percent change, and the difference is more than twenty-five dollars per month, the court may approve a modification. However, the change in income must have lasted for at least three months and be expected to continue for at least six months before a modification is granted.
Get Help from a Nebraska Child Support Attorney
Whether you are looking to establish, enforce, or modify child support, the experienced attorneys at McGill Law are here to guide you through the process and ensure a fair outcome.
Taylor Matthias is a Supervising Attorney at McGill Law in Lincoln, Nebraska. With a practice focused on child custody, divorce, and child support, Taylor brings a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to every family she serves. She believes in creating legal solutions that protect stability and encourage healing, even in the most complex situations.
Speak with Taylor or another family law attorney at McGill Law to understand your child support rights and options in Nebraska.