Nebraska Child Support
Estimate for Nebraska
Nebraska uses the Income Shares model.
Official schedule: Nebraska Child Support Guidelines, Table 1 — Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (Neb. Ct. R. § 4-218) (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $1,724 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $958 |
| Estimated monthly support | $958 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How Nebraska calculates support
Nebraska uses the Income Shares model on both parents' monthly NET income (gross minus federal/state taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement, union dues, and prior court-ordered support). The Supreme Court's Table 1 (Neb. Ct. R. § 4-218) sets the basic obligation by combined net income and number of children; health insurance and work-related childcare are added and split proportionally. A basic subsistence limitation protects the obligor, and combined net income above $15,000–$20,000/month allows deviation (10% of excess for 1–3 children).
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in Nebraska
- Establish parentage if needed, then open a case through the county court or the Child Support Program (Title IV-D agency).
- Both parents provide financial documents (typically two years of tax returns, pay stubs, and financial statements) so each parent's net income can be computed on Worksheet 1.
- Use Worksheet 1 (Basic Net Income and Support Calculation), or Worksheet 2 (split custody) / Worksheet 3 (joint physical custody, generally when each parent has 110+ overnights/year). Look up combined net income in Table 1.
- The guideline amount is a rebuttable presumption. A court may deviate with written findings (e.g., extraordinary medical needs, special needs, or very high income).
- The order is entered, typically with income withholding.
- To modify: file a motion showing a material change; the guidelines apply up to $20,000 combined monthly net income, with 10% of excess allocated above that for 1–3 children.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A net income $4,000/month; Parent B net income $2,000/month. One child. Combined net = $6,000/month.
Walk-through: Under Neb. Ct. R. § 4-204/Table 1, combined net income of $6,000 with one child gives a basic obligation of about $900 (from the Income Shares Formula table). Parent A (67%) owes about $600; Parent B (33%) owes about $300. Health insurance and work-related childcare are added and split by income percentage.
Takeaway: Nebraska divides the Table 1 basic obligation by each parent's share of combined NET income; the higher earner pays the larger portion.
Scenario: Each parent has the child more than 142 overnights per year (about 39% of the year).
Walk-through: There is a rebuttable presumption that Worksheet 3 (Joint Physical Custody) applies, which accounts for time-sharing and each parent's income. Between 109 and 142 overnights the court has discretion on which worksheet to use.
Takeaway: More equal overnights shift the case to the joint-custody worksheet, reducing the cash transfer between parents.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/ · https://nebraskachildsupportcalculator.com/ · https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/rule_amendments/4-218ChildSupportTable1Amds.pdf · https://legalclarity.org/how-is-child-support-calculated-in-nebraska