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Divorce Residency Essentials to Get Divorce in Nebraska

To qualify for a divorce in Nebraska:

• One of the spouses must have been a resident of Nebraska for at least one year; or
• The marriage was performed in Nebraska and one of the spouses has lived in Nebraska for the entire marriage.

The dissolution of marriage may be filed for in a county where either spouse resides. There is a 60-day waiting period after service of the petition for dissolution of marriage on the respondent before the case can be decided in court. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Sections 342 and 349].

Reasons for Divorce in Nebraska

There are mainly two reasons of divorce in Nebraska those are fault and general.In order to file for divorce in Nebraska, the proper grounds must be established. Both spouses are involved in establishing these grounds, and both must substantiate and agree upon these, unless the divorcing spouse is trying to prove otherwise to the court.

No-fault reasons fordivorce in Nebraskainclude:

• Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Section 361].

General reasons fordivorce in Nebraskainclude:

• Spouse lacked mental capacity to consent (including temporary incapacity resulting from drug or alcohol use). [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Section 362].

Custody of the Children in Nebraska

Joint or sole custody of children is determined according to the best interests of the child and based on a consideration of the following factors:

• The general health, welfare, and social behavior of the child;
• The preference of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and capacity;
• The child’s re­lationship with each parent prior to the filing for dissolution of marriage; and
• Any credible evidence of child or spousal abuse.

No preference is to be given because of parent’s sex. Joint custody may be awarded if both parents agree. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Section 364].

Property Distribution in Nebraska

Nebraska is an “equitable distribution” jurisdiction. The spouses retain their separate property acquired prior to the marriage. All of the spouse’s marital property, including any gifts and inheritances acquired during the marriage, may be divided, based on a consideration of the following factors:

• The contribution of each spouse including the care and education of the children, to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of each spouse as homemaker;
• The economic circumstances of each spouse at the time the division of property is to become effective;
• The length of the marriage;
• Any custodial provisions for the children; and
• Any interruption of career or education of the spouse. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Section 365].

Nebraska Spousal Support Guidelines

Either spouse may be ordered to pay reasonable spousal support, without regard to marital fault, based on a consideration of the following factors:

• The circumstances of both spouses;
• The duration of the marriage;
• The contribution of each spouse to the marriage, including services rendered in homemaking, childcare, education, and career-building of the other spouse;
• Any interruption of personal careers or education; and
• The ability of the supported spouse to engage in gainful employment without interfering with the interests of any minor children in his or her custody.

Reasonable security for the payments may be required. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Section 365].

Nebraska Child Support Guidelines

The amount of child support is determined based on a consideration of the earning capac­ity of each parent. There are official Supreme Court child support guidelines and worksheets which should be available from the clerk of the court. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Section 364].

Divorce Mediation

A dissolution of marriage will not be granted until every reasonable effort for a reconciliation has been made. If it appears to the court that there is some reasonable possibility of reconciliation, dissolution of marriage actions may be transferred to a conciliation court or the spouses may be referred to a qualified marriage counselor, family service agency, or other agency which provides conciliation services. Official conciliation counselors are available in counties of over 250,000 persons. [Revised Statutes of Nebraska; Chapter 42, Sections 360 and 808].