What 2026 Nebraska Family Law Bills Should Parents Know About?

Nebraska’s 109th Legislative Session is already producing family-law proposals that could affect real life in a hurry: pregnancy-related financial support, selling or refinancing a home with a support order in the background, name-change privacy and cost, and how courts frame “equal access” to parents under the Nebraska Parenting Act. The four bills driving the most conversation right now are LB1242 (support for an unborn child), LB1139 (support liens and clearing title), LB739 (shortening name-change publication), and LB908 (adding “credible research” about equal access into the best-interests factors). These measures are being handled through the Nebraska Legislature’s process, primarily in the Judiciary Committee, and at least LB1242 has a Judiciary Committee hearing set for February 18, 2026. 

None of these bills are “the law” just because they were introduced. Bills can be amended, delayed, combined with other proposals, or never enacted. But even in proposal form, they matter because they influence negotiations, shape what lawyers argue in pending cases, and signal where Nebraska family law may be headed next. The goal of this post is to translate each bill into the questions parents actually have: “What changes for me?” “When would it apply?” “How does this affect my leverage?” and “What should I be doing now to protect myself and my kids?”

Why these bills matter outside the Capitol

Most legislative changes hit families at stressful moments: a pregnancy where parents aren’t together, a custody case where one parent is asking for a particular schedule, a home sale that suddenly gets bogged down by lien questions, or a name change where privacy and timing are the whole point. These bills aim right at those pressure points. Even if none pass, they tell us what issues Nebraska lawmakers and stakeholders are prioritizing right now.

LB1242: Child Support for Unborn Children in Nebraska

LB1242 is the proposal that most clearly changes the timeline. As introduced, it would allow child support to be established and enforced for an unborn child, potentially starting as early as the month of conception at the mother’s request. 

What LB1242 would change compared to current practice

Under current Nebraska practice, pregnancy-related costs are more commonly handled as reimbursement issues after the child is born, often focused on medical and birth expenses in the parentage/support context. LB1242 is different because it contemplates ongoing support during pregnancy itself, not just a post-birth “true up.” That “month of conception” language is the key differentiator, and it’s the part that would most quickly affect negotiations and case strategy if the bill became law. 

What this could mean for mothers and alleged fathers

For pregnant mothers, LB1242 would create a clearer statutory path to seek financial support earlier, instead of waiting until after birth to address money issues. For alleged fathers, the immediate concern becomes process and proof: when and how paternity is established, what evidence is used before birth, and what happens if later genetic testing changes the picture. In real cases, those questions are where litigation usually lives.

Legislative status to watch

As of mid-February 2026, LB1242 has a Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for February 18, 2026, which is a meaningful indicator that it is active and being taken seriously, even though it is not law today. 

LB1139: Streamlining Child Support Liens and Real Estate Titles

LB1139 is the most “practical details” bill of the group, especially for anyone trying to sell or refinance real estate while a child support or spousal support order exists in the background. The introduced text amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-371, clarifying lien language and creating a clearer documentation path for showing support is current for purposes of releasing a lien tied to a real-estate transfer. 

The real-world takeaway: the 12-month payment history detail

One of the most useful parts of LB1139 is the “paper path” concept. In plain English, if you’re current on support, you want a predictable way to prove that to a title company so your closing doesn’t turn into a last-minute crisis. LB1139 builds that path by treating a DHHS Title IV-D payment history showing support is current (including a lookback concept that can include the prior 12 months) as prima facie evidence for lien-release purposes in certain contexts. 

That is the kind of detail that can save real clients real money: fewer delays, fewer emergency emails, and fewer “we can’t close until we fix this” surprises.

What LB1139 does not do

LB1139 is not a “get out of arrears free” bill. If someone is behind, liens and enforcement remain serious. The difference is that it clarifies how liens attach and how they can be shown as satisfied when they actually are satisfied.

LB739: Modernizing Name Change Publication Requirements

LB739 targets Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,271 and focuses on the public-notice publication requirement in name-change cases. Today, the statute distinguishes between adults and minors for publication length: adults typically publish for four consecutive weeks, while minors publish for two. 

LB739 would remove that age-based distinction by making the publication requirement two consecutive weeks for everyone. 

Why this matters: privacy, cost, and timing

This bill matters because publication is not just a formality. It costs money, adds delay, and creates real privacy concerns for many petitioners. Shortening the public-notice window can reduce exposure and expense while still keeping a notice requirement in place. Importantly, LB739 does not eliminate publication; it shortens it. 

LB908: The Role of “Credible Research” in Custody Cases

LB908 is a custody-framework bill. It amends the “best interests of the child” factors in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2923 (within the Nebraska Parenting Act framework) by adding that courts must consider credible research showing increased intellectual and social growth in children who have equal access to both parents. 

What LB908 is: an evidentiary change

This is the key point: LB908 is best understood as an evidentiary and analytical change, not a mandatory outcome. It does not read like a clean “automatic 50/50 presumption” rule. Instead, it gives lawyers and judges an explicit statutory hook to talk about research when the facts support shared parenting as safe and appropriate. 

What LB908 is not: a safety override

Nebraska’s best-interests analysis already requires attention to child welfare, stability, and credible evidence of abuse. LB908 does not erase those concerns. It adds another factor to weigh, and the existing factors still matter—especially where safety is in question. 

FAQ: Quick answers Nebraska parents are searching for

Is LB1242 already law in Nebraska?

No. LB1242 is proposed legislation, and it is not enforceable unless and until it passes the legislative process and takes effect. As of mid-February 2026, it has a Judiciary Committee hearing set for February 18, 2026. 

Can Nebraska order monthly child support during pregnancy right now?

No. Nebraska commonly addresses pregnancy and birth costs through other legal mechanisms, often after the child is born, but LB1242 is aimed at creating a more direct “support during pregnancy” framework that could begin as early as the month of conception. 

Does LB1139 change the law on liens for support orders?

Yes. LB1139 amends Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-371 and clarifies lien operation and proof mechanisms connected to child support and spousal support orders. 

Will LB1139 make it easier to sell or refinance a home if I’m current on support?

Yes. LB1139 is designed to make it easier to prove support is current for title purposes by using documentation such as a DHHS Title IV-D payment history as prima facie evidence in certain situations, which can reduce closing delays when payments truly are current. 

Does LB739 eliminate name-change publication?

No. LB739 keeps publication but shortens it to two consecutive weeks and removes the age-based distinction found in current § 25-21,271. 

Does LB908 mean I automatically get 50/50 custody?

No. LB908 amends § 43-2923 by adding a research factor to the best-interests analysis, but it does not convert Nebraska custody law into an automatic equal-time presumption, and courts must still weigh all best-interest factors, including safety and welfare concerns. 

A practical “what should I do now?” lens

If any of these topics overlap with your life, the best move is to stay proactive rather than reactive. If you are pregnant and support is disputed, keep communication and documentation clean. If you pay or receive support and you’re planning a refinance or home sale, keep your payment history organized and avoid letting small issues turn into title problems later. If you’re considering a name change and privacy is a concern, talk to a lawyer early about timing and the court process. If you’re in a custody case, focus on what Nebraska courts already care about: stability, child welfare, safe parenting, and a plan that actually works in the real world—not just on paper.