Nebraska Child Support Calculator (2026)
Nebraska calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (Neb. Ct. R. §§ 4-201 to 4-222 (Nebraska Child Support Guidelines, Table 1 at DC 6:1.7)). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined monthly net income of both parents (Table 1, Worksheet 1).
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate, interpolated from the official schedule — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official Nebraska calculator.
Your Case Details
Answer a few questions to see your estimated range.
Approximate gap between higher-earner and lower-earner.
Estimated Monthly Support
$840 — $1,560
State formulas vary significantly. This estimate uses national averages — your state's guidelines may produce a different number.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Nebraska uses the income-shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the official schedule sets a basic support obligation, and each parent owes their proportional share (Neb. Ct. R. §§ 4-201 to 4-222 (Nebraska Child Support Guidelines, Table 1 at DC 6:1.7)). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How Nebraska Calculates Child Support
Nebraska uses the Income Shares model under the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines (Neb. Ct. R. Ch. 4, Art. 2), promulgated by the Nebraska Supreme Court rather than the Legislature. Unlike most income-shares states, Nebraska bases the calculation on each parent's monthly NET income (gross income minus the § 4-205 deductions for taxes, FICA/self-employment tax, mandatory retirement, prior support orders, and limited health-insurance costs), which is combined and looked up on Table 1 (DC 6:1.7, 'Income Shares Formula') to find the basic support obligation, then split proportionally between the parents on Worksheet 1 (DC 6:1.1). Table 1 was last revised January 2025; the § 4-218 self-support reserve dollar figure was most recently updated effective January 1, 2026.
Statutory basis: Neb. Ct. R. §§ 4-201 to 4-222 (Nebraska Child Support Guidelines, Table 1 at DC 6:1.7). Exact figure: official Nebraska calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined monthly net income of both parents (Table 1, Worksheet 1)), from the official Nebraska schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,300 | $637 | $937 | $1,162 |
| $5,000 | $849 | $1,220 | $1,511 |
| $7,500 | $1,060 | $1,502 | $1,859 |
| $10,000 | $1,303 | $1,875 | $2,295 |
Worked Example
Two children. Father's net income is $3,000/month, Mother's net income is $2,000/month, for a combined net income of $5,000/month. On Table 1, $5,000 combined income for 2 children yields a basic support obligation of $1,220/month (Worksheet 1, Line 5). Father's share of the combined income is 60% ($3,000 / $5,000) and Mother's is 40%. As the non-custodial parent, Father's monthly share is $1,220 × 0.60 = $732/month (Worksheet 1, Line 7).
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Extraordinary medical costs for a parent or child
- Special needs of a physically or mentally disabled child
- A child's special education needs
- A child placed in foster care under state custody
- Substantial, documented long-distance transportation costs tied to parenting time
- Any other circumstance where applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate, if the court makes specific written findings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cap on Nebraska's child support Table 1?
Yes. Table 1 only goes up to $20,000 combined monthly net income. Above that, Neb. Ct. R. § 4-203 says the obligation can be higher but never lower than the $20,000-row amount, and offers a formula (roughly 10% of net income above $20,000 for 1-3 children, rising to 12-14% for 4-6 children) as a guide, not a binding presumption.
What counts as 'income' under Nebraska's guidelines?
Under § 4-204, income includes earnings from all sources for both parents — wages, self-employment/farm income, and even imputed earning capacity for voluntary underemployment — but excludes means-tested public assistance and the earned income tax credit. Under § 4-205, gross income is then reduced by standard federal/state tax deductions, FICA or self-employment tax, mandatory (or up to 4% voluntary) retirement contributions, prior child support orders, credit for other children the obligor supports, and up to 5% of gross income for the parent's own health insurance, to arrive at the monthly NET income used on Table 1.
How does joint or shared physical custody change the calculation?
Under § 4-212, if each parent's parenting time exceeds 142 overnights per year, there's a rebuttable presumption that support is calculated on Worksheet 3 (the joint physical custody worksheet), which can meaningfully lower the payment. Between 109 and 142 days, using Worksheet 3 is discretionary with the court. Separately, § 4-210 allows a support reduction of up to 80% for periods of 28 or more days within any 90-day period that substantially exceed ordinary alternating-weekend/holiday visitation.
Until what age does child support run in Nebraska, and is college included?
Nebraska's own court forms describe the standard termination event as the child turning 19. The Child Support Guidelines and the forms reviewed do not provide for automatic post-secondary/college support; any support beyond age 19 would need to rest on a separate agreement between the parents rather than the guidelines themselves.