Nebraska divorce at a glance
Confirm with your county before filing — fees and rules can vary.
Divorce in Nebraska: the mandatory court hearing
Most states let an agreed divorce slide through without a hearing, but Nebraska does not. After a year of residency and the 60-day waiting period under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-363, both spouses must appear before a judge to approve the settlement in person — the hearing is mandatory even when nothing is contested. That single fact reshapes how people plan their case.
The state is no-fault only, with the sole ground being that the marriage is irretrievably broken under § 42-361, and there is no separation requirement. The Complaint for Dissolution goes to the District Court in the county where either spouse lives. Nebraska also runs on its own vocabulary: custody is legal and physical custody, and the Parenting Act requires a detailed parenting plan plus parenting classes for parents of minor children.
Property division is equitable, alimony follows § 42-365, and child support is set by the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines’ income shares model under Neb. Ct. R. § 4-204. The self-help forms come from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, and the filing fee is $164.