Custody

A parenting plan is a plan that lays out guidelines for parenting your child that takes into account certain “parenting functions” that are defined by Nebraska law.¹ Parenting functions refers to making decisions and performing actions for the care and development of your child, including but not limited to:

1. maintaining a safe, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with your child;
2. attending to the ongoing developmental needs of your child, including things like both physical care and emotional stability;
3. providing for your child’s adequate education;  
4. helping your child maintain a relationship with the other parent and family members; and
5. minimizing the child’s exposure to parental conflict.² 

When you file a custody case, the judge may ask you and the other parent to submit a parenting plan that you agree upon, or the judge may send you to mediation to try to develop a plan together. If you cannot reach an agreement, the judge may write a parenting plan on his/her own based upon what s/he believes is in the best interests of your child, taking into account the child’s age, developmental needs, and relationship with each parent.³

¹ NE R.S. § 43-2922(18)
² NE R.S. § 43-2922(17)
³ NE R.S. § 43-2929(1)(a), (5)