Few pillars of society are as important as the family, which is why it is critically important for families in Omaha and throughout the state of Nebraska to receive the legal support and information they need. Family support issues, from a legal perspective, concern the financial welfare of both spouses and their children. Alimony (spousal support) and child support are two areas of family law that ensure Nebraska families have the money needed to adequately provide for their families. In many cases, families may not have the legal knowledge needed to resolve these issues on their own, and as a result, they turn to a divorce and family law attorney for the Nebraska family support information they need.
Navigating Alimony Matters: How Family Lawyers Can Help
Courts use a number of factors to determine the amount of spousal support (alimony) a spouse is entitled to based upon their contributions over the course of a marriage. Alimony influences the way property is distributed, and as an equitable distribution state, judges need to ensure each spouse receives an equitable share of the marital property.
Some factors a Nebraska judge will use to make an initial alimony determination include:
- The length of the marriage
- The standard of living expected by both spouses
- The current earnings and potential earning of both spouses
- Each spouse’s ability to support themselves financially
- The resources and assets each spouse owns individually
- Debts and liabilities of each spouse
- And more
Family Lawyer Guide: Nebraska Child Support Calculations
Nebraska is one of many states using the income shares model for its child support guidelines. These guidelines provide the benchmark needed for a court to apply its child support formula to reach a fair assessment of each parent’s financial obligations to their children. Parents are free to agree to a fair and equitable arrangement without court intervention, but if an agreement is not reached, Nebraska courts will make a ruling based on factors such as the following:
- Parental income
- A child’s education expenses, recreational expenses, and additional costs of childcare
- The medical needs of a child
- Any other circumstances needed to make sure that support payments are adequate
How Family Law Firms Modify Spousal Support and Child Support Judgments
Should the financial conditions of an ex-spouse change after the initial child support or spousal support decree, families may need to request a modification of the previous judgment. Whether the modification is needed because a child needs more support or a former spouse’s income has greatly diminished, an Omaha divorce and family law attorney will give you the legal representation you need.
A family law court will require verification of the change in financial circumstances to determine whether a modification in support is needed, and our attorneys will help you make the strongest possible case that such a modification is necessary.
