What Do Parents Need to Know About Child Support in Nebraska?

Nebraska child support is built around statewide Child Support Guidelines that use both parents’ incomes, allowed deductions, and the parenting-time schedule to arrive at a presumptively correct monthly amount. Courts start with the Guideline worksheets, account for major child-related costs like health insurance and childcare, and generally deviate only when there is a clear, written reason that still protects the child’s best interests and meets the child’s needs. For most families, the “right” number is the number you can prove with clean documentation, not the number that feels fair in a stressful moment.

Two Nebraska-specific rules surprise parents more than anything else. First, child support often does not end at 18 because Nebraska’s age of majority is 19, which means many support orders last longer than parents expect. Nebraska law generally treats people under 19 as minors, so the default assumption is that support continues to 19 unless a legally recognized terminating event applies.  Second, modifications are math-driven and timing-driven. You cannot modify support just because expenses went up or things feel tight. The Guidelines create a rebuttable presumption of a “material change” only when a new Guideline calculation would vary by at least 10% and not less than $25 (up or down), and that change is tied to financial circumstances that have lasted at least three months and are expected to last at least six more. 

If you’re here because you want clarity, you’re not alone. The child support system is high-volume and highly consequential, and outcomes often come down to whether the order is precise and enforceable and whether the evidence supports the numbers used in the worksheet. This guide is meant to help you understand the rules, spot the common traps, and know when it makes sense to talk to a Nebraska family law attorney about your specific facts.

The Real-World Picture: Why Clear Orders and Good Records Matter

Payment issues are common nationwide, and the “support gap” is one reason people feel anxious about relying on informal agreements. In 2022, about 24.5% of custodial parents who were supposed to receive child support received none.  Nebraska’s system also moves substantial money through official channels. The Nebraska Child Support Payment Center reported $274.2 million disbursed in 2024, and billions processed since it began operations, which is exactly why accurate orders and clean payment histories matter when disputes arise. 

It is also true that national data shows differences in how often families have formal child support agreements or orders in place across demographic groups, which can affect enforceability and predictability. The practical takeaway is the same no matter who you are: the more your case depends on handshake terms, the more fragile it becomes when money gets tight, parenting time shifts, or conflict spikes. 

How Is Child Support Calculated in Nebraska?

Nebraska uses an income-shares model through its Guidelines and worksheets. The basic concept is straightforward: the court identifies each parent’s income, applies allowed deductions, and then allocates the combined support obligation between the parents based on each parent’s share of the total. 

In practice, most support disputes are not about the theory. They are about the inputs. Courts want reliable proof of income and recurring costs, because the worksheet is only as accurate as the documentation behind it.

What Counts as “Income” for Nebraska Child Support?

Income is defined broadly under the Guidelines, and it typically includes wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and other recurring earnings. The Guidelines also address situations where a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed by allowing the court, in appropriate circumstances, to consider earning capacity rather than only a current paycheck. 

This is where people get caught off guard. If a parent quits a job, reduces hours without a solid reason, or pivots into self-employment without credible records, the court may look past the “new number” and ask what the parent could earn with reasonable effort. If you are worried the other parent is manipulating income, the best strategy is usually not outrage. It is evidence.

What Deductions Determine “Net Income”?

Nebraska’s Guideline approach recognizes that support should be based on net income after certain deductions, not gross income. The specific deductions are governed by the Guidelines and worksheets and commonly include taxes and other standard payroll-related items. 

If you are trying to predict a range before running the worksheet, focus on what you can document consistently. Courts tend to trust patterns shown across pay stubs, W-2s/1099s, and tax returns more than one-off explanations.

How Does Custody and Parenting Time Affect Child Support in Nebraska?

Parenting time affects support because Nebraska uses different worksheets depending on whether the case is primary physical custody, joint physical custody, or split custody, and it permits certain parenting-time adjustments when the schedule meets the Guideline thresholds. 

The most common “intent” question is the one you already know: if custody is 50/50, does child support go away? In Nebraska, the honest answer is usually no. Even with equal parenting time, if one parent earns significantly more, the higher earner often pays support to reduce the child’s financial whiplash between homes.

The “Summer Abatement” Rule: Can Long Parenting-Time Blocks Reduce Support?

Nebraska has a specific rule for extended parenting time. If a parent has the child for 28 days or more in any 90-day period, support payments may be reduced by up to 80% during that period, but it typically must be spelled out clearly in the court’s order to be enforceable. 

This is a classic example of why drafting matters. Parents sometimes assume the schedule automatically triggers a reduction. It rarely does unless the decree actually says when the reduction applies and how it is calculated.

What Is the Minimum Child Support in Nebraska?

Nebraska’s Guidelines generally recommend a minimum support amount of $50 per month or 10% of the obligor’s net income, whichever is greater, with limited exceptions for circumstances such as disability or incarceration that may justify a lower amount. 

This rule exists for a practical reason. Courts want support orders that are realistic enough to be complied with, while still recognizing that a child’s needs do not disappear when a parent’s income is low.

When Does Child Support End in Nebraska?

Child support commonly runs until age 19 in Nebraska because Nebraska’s age of majority is 19.  If you are planning around the end date, do not rely on assumptions like “it ends when the child graduates” or “it ends at 18.” Look at your decree, confirm the child’s birthdate is correct in the court record, and address termination properly if the order requires a specific process.

When Can You Modify Child Support in Nebraska?

Nebraska allows modification when there is a material change in circumstances, and the Guidelines create a rebuttable presumption of a material change when a new Guideline calculation would vary by 10% or more, but not less than $25, due to financial circumstances that have lasted three months and can reasonably be expected to last an additional six months. 

This is the rule that should shape your expectations. If the change is small, temporary, or poorly documented, the case may cost more than it saves. If the change is substantial, durable, and provable, a modification request can be the right move.

Will the Court Reduce Support If I Lost My Job?

Not automatically. Nebraska’s self-help guidance emphasizes that if you want support lowered, you generally need to prove the decrease in earnings was not your fault and was not an attempt to reduce support.  A legitimate layoff, a medical limitation, or a documented downturn can support a modification when the Guideline threshold and timing requirements are met. But if the job loss is tied to misconduct or a voluntary choice, the court may treat the situation differently and focus on earning capacity.

FAQ: Nebraska Child Support Questions People Actually Search

Does child support automatically end at 18 in Nebraska?

No. Nebraska’s age of majority is 19, so support commonly continues until the child turns 19 unless another legally recognized terminating event applies. 

If we have 50/50 custody, can child support be zero?

Sometimes, but it is not automatic. Nebraska’s worksheets and Guideline approach still consider both incomes, and if one parent earns materially more, support is often ordered even in joint physical custody. 

What is the “10% and $25” rule for child support modification?

It is the Guideline threshold that creates a rebuttable presumption of a material change when a new calculation varies by at least 10% and not less than $25, tied to financial circumstances lasting at least three months and expected to last at least six more. 

Can extended summer parenting time reduce child support in Nebraska?

Potentially. If parenting time includes 28 days or more in any 90-day period, support may be reduced by up to 80% for that period, but it typically must be explicitly written into the court order to be enforceable. 

What is the minimum child support amount in Nebraska?

The Guidelines generally recommend $50 per month or 10% of the obligor’s net income, whichever is greater, with limited exceptions. 

Do Nebraska child support orders cover medical expenses?

Yes, in part. The Guidelines include children’s health care expenses up to $250 per child per year in the Guideline amount, and orders typically allocate additional uninsured expenses above that baseline. 

Can the court treat someone as underemployed and use a higher income than they claim?

In appropriate cases, yes. The Guidelines allow courts to address voluntary unemployment or underemployment and consider earning capacity when supported by the facts.