Nebraska Dissolution With Children — Custody, Parenting Plan, and Child Support (2026)

Nebraska's approach to children in dissolution is governed by the Nebraska Parenting Act — one of the more prescriptive state-level frameworks in the country.

Nebraska Parenting Act — Governs All Child Matters

The Nebraska Parenting Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2921 et seq.) establishes standards for all Parenting Plans and parenting decisions in dissolution cases. Courts apply these standards; self-represented litigants must ensure their Parenting Plans comply.

Key principles:

• Both parents should have meaningful involvement in the child's life
• The best interests of the child govern all decisions
• Parenting Plans must be comprehensive and specific

Mandatory Parenting Education — Cannot Finalize Without It

When minor children are involved, both parents must complete an approved parenting education program before the dissolution can be finalized. This is a hard requirement — not optional.

What is it? Typically a 3–6 hour program (in-person or online) designed to help parents understand the impact of dissolution on children and how to co-parent effectively. Often called "Parenting Through Divorce," "Parenting Through Separation," or a county-specific name.

Certificate: Each parent receives a completion certificate. Both certificates must be filed with the District Court. The dissolution cannot be finalized until both are filed.

Finding an approved program: Ask your District Court clerk or check nebraskalegalhelp.org for your county's approved list.

Nebraska Custody Framework

Legal Custody

• Joint legal custody: Both parents share major decisions — education, healthcare, religion — preferred when parents can cooperate
• Sole legal custody: One parent has authority — ordered when the other parent is unfit, abusive, or cooperation is genuinely impossible

Physical Custody

• Primary physical custody: Child primarily lives with one parent; other has regular parenting time
• Joint physical custody: Substantial time with each parent — may affect child support calculation

Parenting Plan — Nebraska Parenting Act Requirements

The Parenting Plan must comply with the Nebraska Parenting Act and address:

1. Each parent's residential address
2. Legal custody designation
3. Regular parenting time schedule (school year and summer)
4. Holiday and school break schedule (Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, summer)
5. Birthday and special occasion schedule
6. Transportation and exchange logistics
7. Communication between parents (method, frequency, response times)
8. Communication between child and each parent
9. Healthcare decision-making (emergency and non-emergency)
10. Educational enrollment and school activity decisions
11. Extracurricular activity decisions
12. Procedure for making schedule changes
13. Relocation: advance notice required; procedure for modification
14. Dispute resolution: mediation before court filing (Nebraska Parenting Act preferred method)

Nebraska Child Support Guidelines — Income Shares Model

Nebraska uses the income shares model — both parents' incomes contribute to the support obligation.

Process:

1. Determine both parents' adjusted gross monthly income
2. Use the Nebraska Child Support Schedule (income look-up table by combined income and number of children)
3. Allocate proportionally based on each parent's share of combined income
4. Add adjustments for health insurance premium (child's share), work-related childcare, parenting time credit (if applicable)

Duration: Nebraska child support continues until the child turns 19 — one of the longer durations in the US.

Income Withholding Order: Nebraska courts routinely enter IWOs directing the employer to deduct support.

Forms and worksheet: supremecourt.ne.gov

Last reviewed: March 2026 | Nebraska Parenting Act governs all child matters | Mandatory parenting education — REQUIRED before finalization | Parenting Plan must comply with NE Parenting Act | Income shares child support | Support ends at 19 | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2921 | supremecourt.ne.gov | nebraskalegalhelp.org

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.