How Do Parenting Plans Apply to 18-Year-Olds When Nebraska’s Age of Majority Is 19?
If your child just turned 18, it is completely normal to feel like you should be “done” with custody schedules and child support. In almost every other state, you would be.
Nebraska is different.
Under Nebraska law, people under 19 are generally still minors. This means most parenting plans and child support orders remain legally binding through the entire 18-to-19 transition year.
That legal reality often collides with a practical one: 18-year-olds have adult-level independence. They are working, driving, dating, and preparing for college or trade school. Even though your court order is still “live,” strict enforcement often becomes difficult—and sometimes counterproductive.
The best approach? Treat 18 as a handoff year. Keep the court order as your safety net, but update your expectations to fit your teen’s real life.
This post explains what stays enforceable until 19, how FERPA and HIPAA change the rules even if custody stays the same, and why child support termination isn't always as "automatic" as parents think.
Nebraska’s Age of Majority Is 19, Not 18
The single biggest source of confusion for Nebraska parents is the "Age of Majority."
In plain terms, the age of majority is the milestone where the law treats someone as a fully independent adult. In Nebraska, that milestone is 19. (See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2101).
While there are exceptions—like marriage or formal court-ordered emancipation—you should never assume they apply to you without checking. For 99% of families, the default rule controls: Until they blow out the candles on their 19th birthday, they are minors in the eyes of family court.
Do Parenting Plans Still Apply When a Child Is 18?
Yes. In most Nebraska cases, your parenting plan remains the governing law until the child turns 19.
However, "legally binding" and "physically enforceable" are two different things. Nebraska courts understand that you cannot physically pick up an 18-year-old and force them into a car for a weekend visit.
What usually matters at 18?
Even if you aren't counting minutes, the parenting plan remains the tie-breaker for:
Residential requirements: Which school district the child is assigned to.
Holidays: Who determines where the child spends Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Expenses: How you split costs for senior year activities, graduation, or medical bills.
How courts view older teens
Nebraska’s Parenting Time Guidelines explicitly include schedules for ages 14–19, a strong signal that the system expects ongoing contact. But judges are practical. If an 18-year-old misses a Tuesday dinner visit because they are working a shift at Hy-Vee, a judge is unlikely to punish a parent for that.
The Smart-Friend Advice: Don't use the court order as a weapon to control an 18-year-old’s social life. Use it as a baseline to ensure both parents stay involved, then be flexible when work or school conflicts arise.
How Child Support Works for 18-Year-Olds
Nebraska child support generally continues until the child turns 19.
This is where parents get into trouble. Many parents assume support stops the month the child graduates high school or turns 18. They unilaterally stop paying, only to find themselves facing interest, arrears, and a contempt citation later.
Does support end at high school graduation?
No. Graduation is not a "termination event" under Nebraska law. Even if your child graduates in May but doesn't turn 19 until November, support is typically owed through November.
How to terminate support correctly
While the duty to pay ends at 19, the administrative machinery of the state doesn't always stop on a dime.
If you have one child: Payment should theoretically stop at 19.
If you have multiple children: You usually need to recalculate support for the remaining children. It does not just drop by 50% automatically.
To keep your record clean, you may need to file an Application for Termination of Child Support (Form DC 6:2) with the district court. This confirms the termination date and stops wage garnishments cleanly.
The “Gray Area”: Adult Rights vs. Family Court Orders
The most awkward part of the 18-to-19 year is that your teen gains federal privacy rights while you still have state-level custody obligations.
1. School Records (FERPA)
Under the federal FERPA law, education privacy rights transfer to the student at age 18 (or when they start college).
The Conflict: You might be paying child support and have "joint legal custody," but the high school may refuse to show you report cards without your 18-year-old's written consent.
2. Medical Records (HIPAA)
Similarly, at 18, HIPAA strictures tighten. Doctors may stop talking to you about your child's appointments or prescriptions.
The Fix: Before they turn 18, have your teen sign a HIPAA release and a Medical Power of Attorney so you can still assist in an emergency.
Common Real-World Scenarios
“My 18-year-old moved out. Can I stop paying support?”
Not automatically. Moving out does not equal "emancipation" in Nebraska. Unless a court has declared them emancipated or they have joined the military or married, the support obligation usually stands until 19.
“My teen refuses to see the other parent.”
Courts rarely force an 18-year-old to visit, but they will look at your behavior. Are you encouraging the relationship? Or are you fueling the refusal? Your job is to encourage the visit; you are not expected to physically force it.
“We disagree on college or living arrangements.”
If your teen wants to live in a dorm or get an apartment, your parenting plan might need a "reality check" modification. If you and your co-parent can agree on a new plan, you can avoid court. If not, the default order stands.
FAQ: Quick Answers for Nebraska Parents
Does custody end at 18 in Nebraska? No. Parenting plans typically remain in effect until age 19.
Can my 18-year-old choose which parent to live with? Legally, no—the court order controls until 19. Practically, however, courts give significant weight to the preferences of an 18-year-old.
Do I need a lawyer to stop child support at 19? Not always, but you do need to ensure the termination forms (DC 6:2) are filed if the state doesn't stop it automatically. If you have multiple children and need a recalculation, it is highly recommended to have an attorney run the numbers.