In Nebraska, parents have a duty to support their children financially. If you and your child’s other parent get a divorce or separate, child support payments will be ordered by the courts to ensure that your child continues to be cared for.
Child support laws can be complicated, and you may have countless questions about your situation. Our attorneys at Reagan, Melton & Delaney, L.L.P. have created this comprehensive guide to prepare you for your child support case.
Child Support Overview
Child support is intended to cover a broad range of expenses, including daycare, medical expenses, food, housing, clothing, and school tuition. In most arrangements, the one paying is the non-custodial parent because it is assumed that the custodial parent spends a greater percentage of time with the child, therefore, paying for more of their needs.
How Much is Child Support in Nebraska?
When a relationship ends between parents, you need to get an official child support order. A calculation for these payments will be determined by each parent’s net income and a mathematical formula under Nebraska’s guidelines. Some parents try to get away with not paying child support by refusing to work or cutting their hours, but this rarely works out. That is because courts can impute income, meaning they come up with an amount based on that parent’s employment history, education, and training.
Below is a brief explanation of how child support is calculated:
Step 1: First, you’ll need the total monthly income of both parents from all sources.
Step 2: Then, you’ll subtract deductions from each of your total monthly income to determine the net income. Examples of deductions include taxes, FICA, health insurance, retirement, and previously ordered child support.
Step 3: Once you combine the monthly net income, you can use Table 1 (Income Shares Formula) to see the estimated amount of support payments.
Step 4: Multiply the child support amount by the percentage contribution of each parent according to their income.
Keep in mind that this amount is not concrete, and the courts could increase or decrease the amount depending on the circumstances. For example, if you split both physical custody 50/50, you’ll have to use another worksheet to calculate your payments.
Adjusting Child Support Payments in Nebraska
In general, the court presumes the number given by their guidelines. Sometimes, the results are unfair and can be adjusted under the following circumstances:
When either parent or child has extraordinary medical costs
When the child is disabled or has special needs
If the total net income exceeds $15,000 per month
If the child has been placed in foster care
Whenever applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate
Modifying Child Support Orders in Nebraska
Once child support has been ordered, it is possible to change it if there has been a life event that substantially affected your financial situation, and your original child support obligations are no longer sustainable.
You can seek a modification if your financial circumstances have changed, and those changes have lasted 3 months and are likely to continue for 6 months. Some of the most common reasons for modifying support is when one parent loses a job, if there’s a shift in parenting time, or when one parent gains health benefits.
Contact the Child Support Attorneys at Reagan, Melton & Delaney, L.L.P.
If you require caring, compassionate legal guidance, our team will be there to help you. It can be confusing to navigate child support guidelines, and you want to ensure that your children are getting the financial support they need. We will work with you through every detail and skillfully guide you through the process.
If you have questions about Nebraska’s child support guidelines, do not hesitate to reach out to our team at Reagan, Melton & Delaney, L.L.P.. Schedule your consultation today at (402) 226-1899.
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