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Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska

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support may be judicially halted when such incidents are brought to the attention of the court. It is<br />

imperative for child support attorneys to convey this information to custodial parents. As an officer<br />

of the court, a IV-D attorney should consider whether to participate in a request to modify support<br />

when it is discovered that a child has been removed from the court’s jurisdiction without<br />

authorization.<br />

Note, this set of rules only applies to “custodial” parents. Parents who have possession of their<br />

child but not legal custody are not governed accordingly.<br />

Farnsworth v. Farnsworth, 257 Neb. 242, 597 N.W.2d 592 (1999)<br />

Of all the disputes that courts are called upon to resolve, parental relocation cases<br />

such as this one are among the most complicated and troubling. That is because the<br />

interests of the custodial parent, who often has legitimate, sound reasons for<br />

wanting to move to a distant state, are mutually exclusive to the interests of the<br />

noncustodial parent, who commonly has a compelling desire to continue frequent,<br />

regular contact with the child. Complicating matters further, courts must ultimately<br />

perform the difficult task of weighing the best interests of the child, which may or<br />

may not be consistent with the personal interests of either or both parents.<br />

To prevail on a motion to remove a minor child, the custodial parent must first satisfy<br />

the court that he or she has a legitimate reason for leaving the state. . . . After<br />

clearing that threshold, the custodial parent must next demonstrate that it is in the<br />

child’s best interests to continue living with him or her. . . . Of course, whether a<br />

proposed move is in the best interests of the child is the paramount consideration.<br />

In determining whether removal to another jurisdiction is in the child’s best interests,<br />

the trial court considers (1) each parent’s motives for seeking or opposing the move;<br />

(2) the potential that the move holds for enhancing the quality of life for the child and<br />

the custodial parent; and (3) the impact such a move will have on contact between<br />

the child and the noncustodial parent, when viewed in the light of reasonable<br />

visitation. See McLaughlin v. McLaughlin, 264 Neb. 232, 647 N.W.2d 577 (2002).<br />

Gartner v. Hume, 12 Neb. App. 741, 686 N.W.2d 58 (2004)<br />

To prevail on a motion to remove a minor child to another jurisdiction, the custodial<br />

parent must first satisfy the court that he or she has a legitimate reason for leaving<br />

the state. After clearing that threshold, the custodial parent must next demonstrate<br />

that it is in the child’s best interests to continue living with him or her.<br />

Hibbard v. Hibbard, 230 Neb. 364, 366, 431 N.W.2d 637, 639 (1988).<br />

<strong>Child</strong>ren have the right to be treated as interested and affected persons and not as<br />

pawns or chattel of either or both parents.<br />

Shaffer v. Shaffer, 231 Neb. 910, 438 N.W.2d 507 (1989)<br />

Generally, siblings should not be separated.<br />

Res Judicata & Paternity<br />

(a/k/a “My two dads”)<br />

(see also Collateral Estoppel)<br />

DeVaux v. DeVaux, 245 Neb. 611, 621-22, 514 N.W.2d 640, 647 (1994)<br />

Facts: Wife gave birth during marriage to child fathered by a boyfriend. She did not inform her<br />

husband. Parties later divorced and husband was ordered to pay child support, and was given<br />

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