Custody and parenting plans are meant to give children stability, but life can change after a divorce, paternity case, or prior custody order. In Nebraska, a parent asking to modify custody generally must prove a material change in circumstances and show that the requested change is in the child’s best interests. This article explains what that standard means, how Nebraska courts look at issues like co-parenting conflict, school attendance, medical care, alcohol concerns, and joint custody problems, and why documented patterns often matter more than isolated disagreements. It also discusses the unpublished Nebraska Court of Appeals memorandum opinion in Dibbern v. Dibbern as a practical example of how a fact-specific modification dispute can be analyzed.

Divorce can make it feel necessary to prove, over and over again, that your ex was the problem. But in Nebraska, divorce is generally not about proving fault. This post explains why building an emotional case against your ex can increase conflict, distract from the legal issues that matter, and make the process harder than it needs to be. It also explains when a spouse’s conduct may still matter, especially in cases involving children, safety, finances, or credibility, and how to focus your energy on protecting your future instead of relitigating the past.

Nebraska’s one-party consent rule may allow a person to record a conversation they are part of, but that does not mean the recording is automatically lawful in every situation, admissible in court, or helpful in a custody case. This article explains the difference between Nebraska recording law, evidence rules, and the best-interests analysis used in custody and parenting-time cases

Divorce in Nebraska is emotional, but the courtroom is not designed to provide vindication. This article explains why it is often smarter to treat divorce as a financial and family restructuring process rather than a battle to “win.” Learn how Nebraska’s no-fault divorce law, equitable property division, custody standards, mediation, and cost-benefit decision-making can help you protect your future without wasting resources on fights that do not move your life forward.

In Nebraska, a district court judge has the final say on child custody — but the Parenting Act gives parents real room to help shape a plan that fits their children. A Nebraska family lawyer explains what "best interests of the child" really means, the difference between legal and physical custody, when mediation works (and when it doesn't), and how to build a parenting plan a Nebraska court will approve.

Can you move out of Nebraska with your child after divorce? Sometimes, but not without a careful look at Nebraska custody law. This post explains how Nebraska courts handle relocation requests, what counts as a legitimate reason to move, how best interests are analyzed, and why details like housing, school plans, parenting time, and the child’s ties to Nebraska matter so much.

Can a Nebraska court refuse to terminate parental rights even after serious misconduct? Yes, and the answer is more nuanced than many parents expect. In this Nebraska family law update, we break down Dunham v. Dunham and explain why the Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a petition to terminate parental rights despite serious facts in the record. The article walks through what Nebraska law actually requires, how best interests differs from statutory grounds, how incarceration fits into the analysis, and why termination is treated as an extraordinary remedy rather than a default solution in every difficult custody case.

The Fairfax tragedy is heartbreaking, but it also raises legal questions Nebraska families ask every day when divorce, custody, safety concerns, and planning for children all collide. This post explains what Nebraska courts can and cannot do when conflict escalates, including temporary orders, protection orders, custody restrictions, mediation, and why estate planning matters more than many people realize during a family crisis.

Child custody cases in Nebraska are rarely as simple as people hope. Even though judges all apply the same “best interests of the child” standard, different judges can weigh stability, credibility, conflict, communication, and practical day-to-day parenting realities in very different ways. This article explains how Nebraska custody law actually works, why judicial discretion matters, and what parents should understand about parenting plans, joint custody, school decisions, mediation, and the evidence that often shapes the final result.

A Nebraska family law look at whether divorced parents can buy a duplex together, how parenting plans still matter, and the legal and practical issues to think through before trying a close-proximity co-parenting setup.

When Nebraska parents share joint legal custody, disagreements about school, medical care, counseling, and extracurricular activities can turn into ongoing deadlocks. This post explains when those conflicts may justify modifying a parenting plan, what Nebraska courts actually look at, and how a recent Nebraska Court of Appeals decision shows judges can create practical tie-breaking rules without automatically ending joint custody.  

What does Grey’s Anatomy get wrong about divorce in Nebraska? Quite a bit. This post breaks down how Nebraska divorce really works, including the 60-day waiting period, no-fault rules, custody, parenting plans, and alimony, in plain English for real people facing real decisions

What you post online can affect your custody case more than you think. This Nebraska-focused guide explains how social media may be used in family court, what mistakes to avoid, and how parents can protect both their case and their child.

Can politics lead to divorce in Nebraska? Yes. This article explains how Nebraska’s no-fault divorce laws apply when political conflict affects your marriage, your children, and your finances.

Holiday travel can get complicated fast when you share custody. Nebraska’s Parenting Plans have specific rules about out-of-state trips, holiday schedules, and what kind of communication you actually owe the other parent. The biggest mistake I see is confusing notice with permission—most Nebraska plans require you to notify the other parent of travel, not ask for approval, as long as the trip happens during your time. This guide breaks down the notice vs. consent distinction, offers a copy-and-paste travel notice you can use right now, and explains when holiday travel can become a legal issue under the Nebraska Parenting Act.

Co-parenting communication doesn’t have to feel like walking into a text-message minefield. If you’re dealing with a high-conflict dynamic, the BIFF method—Brief, Informative, Friendly, and Firm—can help you stay calm, keep conversations focused on your child, and build a communication record that aligns with the Nebraska Parenting Act. It’s a simple, practical tool I teach to clients across Nebraska because it lowers stress and strengthens your position in any custody or modification case. Read the full guide to learn how BIFF works, why judges care about it, and how to use it in real-life conversations

Are Nebraska courts still biased toward mothers in custody cases? The short answer is no. Nebraska law requires courts to be gender-neutral, focusing only on the best interests of the child. That means fathers have the same rights as mothers when it comes to custody, parenting time, and decision-making authority. In this post, we explain how the law works, what factors judges actually consider, and how dads can protect their role in their child’s life.

n Nebraska family court, trying to “keep the peace” can backfire. People-pleasing parents often minimize serious issues, which can leave their children without the protection they need and undermine their own credibility in court. This post explains why people pleasing is a legal liability in custody and divorce cases, how it impacts children, and what parents can do instead—telling the truth, documenting evidence, setting boundaries, and working with an experienced family law attorney to keep the focus where it belongs: the child’s best interests.

What actually hurts kids during divorce isn’t the divorce itself—it’s the conflict that surrounds it. This post explores what children really experience during a split, why emotional safety matters more than age, and how co-parenting with calm and consistency can protect their wellbeing. I