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Questions Answered by Vanessa Jean Gorden
3 Answers | Asked in Juvenile Law and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: How can a 17-year-old from Nebraska start the emancipation process due to family struggles?

I am a 17-year-old female seeking emancipation from my father due to internal family struggles and a toxic home environment. I have discussed my desire for emancipation with my family, but those attempts have been unsuccessful. Although I haven't established a financial plan yet, I am actively... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Aug 18, 2025

Hello. You can find more information about the emancipation process here: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/families-children/emancipation

Note that if your parents won't agree, you will need a lawyer. Since most teenagers do not have sufficient funds for a lawyer, you will want...
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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Contracts for Nebraska on
Q: Am I required to pay for my child's car insurance despite different vehicle arrangements?

I am wondering whether I'm obligated to pay half of my 17-year-old daughter's car insurance, which is on her mother's plan. The insurance covers a vehicle at my ex's house, but my daughter drives a different car at my place. There's no formal agreement on vehicle expenses,... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Jun 27, 2025

It depends on your parenting plan/financial plan. You've mentioned there is no formal court order or agreement on vehicle expenses, but often there can be a general provision that states the parties will share or pay equally all reasonable and necessary expenses if the parties' child... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Child Support, Military Law and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: Reinstating child support after military deployment extension

I am currently stationed in Alaska, but I'll be returning to the lower 48 states on June 1, 2025. My ex lives in Missouri, and our child support court order is established in Nebraska. The order paused child support while I was living in Alaska because my ex was covering travel expenses for... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on May 14, 2025

The answer here is going to depend on how the order was treated (if temporary orders or part of a permanent modification). Without looking at the orders/parenting plan/financial plan it is impossible to advise on whether a Motion to reinstate support or Notice of deployment ending would be... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: Can I reclaim child support if I have had full custody post-divorce for 4 months?

I have 50/50 joint legal and physical custody of my child with my former spouse, and I am ordered to pay child support due to income disparity. Since our divorce was finalized 4 months ago, our child has been living with me full-time, with no modifications to the custody arrangement. My ex-spouse... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on May 7, 2025

Absolutely not. Support is due and owing and nonmodifiable each month. The best course of action would be to file to modify and you should be able to stop the support accruing, but you won't be able to go back after her to recoup what you paid unfairly, unfortunately.

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2 Answers | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Nebraska on
Q: How to correct inaccuracies in child support for appeal in Nebraska?

I'm trying to appeal a custody hearing decision in Nebraska due to inaccuracies in the plaintiff's income reported and travel costs calculated in the child support worksheet. The monthly income on the worksheet is nearly double the actual amount, and travel costs only account for one... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Mar 8, 2025

The notice of intent to appeal is not magical - it just states that an appeal is on its way. However, it will be important that fees and costs be paid, etc. so the matter is not dismissed. Nebraska has a really good citizens' guide to appellate courts here:... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Real Estate Law for Nebraska on
Q: Rights to $100,000 pre-marital equity in new house division?

I owned a home in Nebraska before marriage, where we lived after getting married. We later moved to another home. I purchased the initial home for $200,000, and at the time of marriage, its assessed value was $250,000, with a remaining mortgage of $150,000. There was no prenuptial agreement, and... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Feb 15, 2025

Well, it depends. Did your spouse contribute to increasing the home value? Pay for renovations? Did marital money (any income earned by either spouse in marriage) get spent to increase value or pay on mortgage? What is the total monies in marital estate and money available to both sides? Are there... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: My kids are 37 and 31 yrs old. My question is, is it at all possible to have my child support terminated?
Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Jan 28, 2025

In Nebraska child support generally ends at 19 years old when the child becomes an adult under the law. In some cases parents may extend this by agreement such as for special needs children who will require care as adults. If you are paying on arrearages (past due), the answer is no- all support... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: What does it cost to get legal custody of a mentally challenged person in garden county Oshkosh Ne?
Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Jan 21, 2025

Your best bet to get this question answered would be to schedule a confidential consultation with an attorney who regularly handles guardianship in the location in question. How much a court case costs depends on a number of factors, including whether anyone is likely to contest the matter;... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: How can I transfer a family case from Florida to Nebraska and vacate judgement until details of case are heard in NE?

I am employed overseas and need assistance in a transfer of jurisdiction of case from Florida to Nebraska (where the children currently reside). At the time of getting served with a notification of a Motion or suite filed against me in Florida, I was in Texas with the children over Thanksgiving.... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Aug 29, 2024

The originating Court retains exclusive and continuing jurisdiction unless the case is moved, which requires a number of steps. The originating court (which I understand to be Florida from the facts stated here) would be the proper court to file in unless or until the matter is moved. To move the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: Child support office says I pay full amount of support for final month even if my daughter turns 19 on may16th
Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Apr 4, 2024

That is correct. Child support in Nebraska is due in full and owed on the 1st of each calendar month and it is paid by the month and not pro-rated. Just as children are minor dependents for tax purposes in the year they turn 19 whether they turn 19 in January or December, support is owed for the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: Do I have any legal right to my grand children if something happens to my son when he has brain surgery?

I have been with my grandchildren since birth, their moms live in Az, one mom is strung out on drugs with no contact with her daughter, and the other mother contacts her daughter and gets her stuff. but neither one of these mothers have not physically visited their daughter for 4 yrs now. I just... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Mar 14, 2024

Your son should consider a Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers during his recovery AND a will that names a person of his choice as testamentary guardian for the children. If the worst happens and he passes during or after surgery, the person named as guardian would at least have a chance at... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: How can I access my parents' recent divorce documents online in Nebraska?

Is there a way for me to access my parents' recent divorce documents online? I am not aware of any restrictions on the case.

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Jun 3, 2025

You may pay $15 and agree to terms and conditions to use the public search system to find court filings here:

https://www.nebraska.gov/justicecc/ccname.cgi#:~:text=The%20JUSTICE%20court%20case%20search,it%20appears%20on%20the%20search

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: How does father of a child, who didn’t sign the birth certificate, establish paternity even though it’s been 5 years?

The mother has been elusive and blocked the fathers every attempt to pay child support, see the child, and the father lives In California while the mother is in Nebraska

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Nov 18, 2024

There is a method for filing as next friend of the child to establish paternity outside of the 4 year statute of limitations.

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: Nebraska.Owned home got married sold home purchased new home with all the money I made on sale.New home has only my name

I am getting divorce do I have to split. I bought home during marriage but all the house was paid for with my home sale.

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Sep 30, 2023

You may be able to “trace” your premarital property into the new home you purchased to have the court separate it from the marital estate before dividing what is marital. You will need an experienced divorce lawyer to help you through that process. Best wishes!

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: If a child has lived in the same state for 3 years and out of state parent wants primary, how likely is that to happen?

Our son has lived with me in one state for 3 years and my ex lives out of state. He is now asking for primary custody and wants to move son out of state. Son is doing incredible well here and always lived with me. What are the chances a judge would change to allow exp primary? These is no reason... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Sep 20, 2023

The person seeking to modify custody and remove a child from a custodial parent in Nebraska typically has a difficult road. They have to prove that (1) there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the initial custody order was entered, such as unfitness by the custodial... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: So my 18 year old son just went off to college.my parents have guardianship over him I don't know how long they have

Guardianship for the bank sent me over the reliant card with a child support on it I'm not sure what to do so is he now and my custody

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Sep 20, 2023

You will want to use the Nebraska.gov/Justice system to pull the public records of guardianship to see if it is still in place or has been terminated (this will cost a nominal fee). Your best bet is to visit with an attorney familiar with custody and guardianship to advise you on next steps. If... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Nebraska on
Q: terminate child support, joined the millitary.

How do I fill out the affidavit to obtain termination of child support. He joined the military, and his mother has agreed to terminate the support. I only have 4 boxes to check, he died, he got married, he's 19, and the child has been emancipated by court order form ______. None of these fit... View More

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Sep 20, 2023

You can try writing in the correct reasoning and having both parents sign off and have signatures notarized. However, depending on how much your child support is each month, your best bet is likely to just hire a lawyer to draft a Stipulated Termination so the lawyer can reference your specific... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: Hello, I finally got to the court date and now they say the complaint was not signed. Everything canceled what do I do.

I have no attorney, I done all they asked. I had a court date now I don't. Because they say the complaint wasn't signed. Not sure what they are talking about. Is there anything I can do to get the proceedings back on track to get this divorce over with. Thank you for your help

Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on May 9, 2023

Hello. There is a lot of more specific information required for an attorney to help make sure you followed everything required. I'm assuming that you are talking about an original divorce action where you are the Plaintiff based on your characterization of this question as divorce. Your best... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Nebraska on
Q: My wife has taken our children out of state (from NE to AZ). Is there anything I can legally do to stop her?
Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Apr 17, 2023

Yes. If you file for dissolution and an ex parte motion for temporary custody, your spouse is very likely to be ordered to return the children to Nebraska as all 50 states have enacted some version of the UCCJEA. If you do nothing and six months passes, then the new state would likely be considered... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Nebraska on
Q: how do i answer a complaint to modify custody
Vanessa Jean Gorden
Vanessa Jean Gorden
answered on Mar 20, 2023

That depends. You may not believe anything needs to change and you can file a General Denial type Answer to require the moving party to prove their allegations. Or you may also want to allege a different set of material and substantial circumstances that have changed and request a different... View More

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