How to Calculate Child Support Payments in Nebraska

How to Use the Nebraska Child Support Calculator

To calculate the amount of support under Nebraska's child support guidelines, you can use the official Nebraska Child Support Calculator. You'll need to sign up for a free account (which will be good for only a limited time).

You can also use the actual child support worksheets to calculate support. These are the same worksheets that you'll submit to the court in your divorce or other child support proceeding (more on that below). Links to download the worksheets are included in the full Nebraska Child Support Guidelines.

Whether you're using the online calculator or the worksheets, you'll need to have some basic information ahead of time, including:

• both parents' income, tax returns, and retirement contributions
• the cost of health insurance for the child, and
• the number of overnights that the children will spend with each parent under your physical custody (parenting time) arrangements.

Note that there are separate worksheets for different types of parenting time: when one parent has the children most of the time Worksheet 1), when both parents have the kids about the same amount of time (joint physical custody, Worksheet 3), and when each parent has custody of at least one of their children (split custody, Worksheet2). If you're still negotiating custody, you might try different calculations under the possible scenarios to see how they would affect child support.

The guidelines detail all of the court rules for calculating support, including what counts as income and what may be deducted from the total to arrive at net income. (Neb. Sup. Ct. Rules, rules 4-204, 4-205 (2024).)

Are Other Child Support Calculators Accurate?

Watch out for other websites with so-called child support calculators for Nebraska. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that these calculators are accurate and up-to-date. Nebraska updates its child support guidelines regularly, and you usually can't tell whether any of these other websites have kept up with the latest changes or include all of the adjustments allowed under the state's guidelines.

It's best to stick with the official state calculator or worksheets to get the most accurate estimate of the amount of child support you may pay or receive. Be aware, however, that the judge may order a different amount in your case (more on that below). Of course, the accuracy of the child support calculation will also depend on the accuracy of the information you provide.

When Child Support May Be Different Than the Guideline Calculation

Nebraska presumes that the amount calculated under the guidelines is appropriate, but you may argue that a different amount would be better in your situation. Whether you and the child's other parent have agreed on a support amount that departs from the guideline or a judge decides for you, the judge will have to find good reasons for the deviation, after considering the child's best interests.

The guidelines allow deviations from the standard calculation in specific circumstances, including when:

• either parent or the child has extraordinary medical costs
• the child has special needs because of a disability, or
• using the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate in the particular case.

Also, the guidelines have special rules for computing child support when the parents' total net income is more than $20,000 a month.

(Neb. Sup. Ct. Rules, rule 4-203 (2024).)

How to Apply for Child Support in Nebraska

Typically, you'll apply for child support as part of the process of filing for divorce in Nebraska. You'll need to include your completed child support worksheets along with the other divorce papers.

If you aren't married to your child's other parent, you may get help with establishing a support order by applying for child support services with Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). If needed, the DHHS may also help with establishing the child's legal paternity and locating absent parents.

How to Pay and Collect Child Support in Nebraska

Typically, the parent who has the children less than half the time (the noncustodial parent) pays child support. And that parent will usually pay support through income withholding, which means the support payments are taken out of the parent's paychecks and forwarded to the custodial parent. When income withholding isn't appropriate (such as when the noncustodial parent is self-employed or between jobs), Nebraska offers various ways to make support payments.

If you're having trouble collecting support payments, the Nebraska DHHS can also help enforce child support. Depending on how much the other parent owes, the agency has several ways of enforcing child support, including reporting the debt to credit bureaus, intercepting income tax refunds, intercepting workers' compensation or unemployment benefits, seizing money from bank accounts, and suspending the parent's driver's or other licenses.

How to Change the Amount of Child Support

Either parent may request a modification in the amount of child support in Nebraska. Generally, you'll need to demonstrate that there has been a change in circumstances. But the guidelines presume that there's been such a change when:

• the amount in your existing order is at least 10% (but no less than $25) more or less than the amount calculated under your current financial circumstances, and
• the change is due to financial circumstances that have lasted at least three months and can be expected to continue for another six months.

You may request a review of your child support order from the Nebraska DHHS to see if you're entitled to a modification. The review process could take up to six months. You also have the option of filing a request directly with the court. But without DHHS assistance, you should consider speaking with a family lawyer who can help you navigate the legal process.