Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Guide

When a parent falls behind on child support in Nebraska, the state has a broad set of enforcement tools to collect what is owed. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Child Support Enforcement division administers these remedies under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapters 42 and 43. This guide explains each Nebraska enforcement mechanism, when it applies, and what both obligors and custodial parents should expect.

Wage Garnishment and Income Withholding

The primary enforcement tool for child support in Nebraska is immediate income withholding, governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. §43-1718.02. Nebraska law mandates income withholding in every child support order. The withholding order directs the paying parent's employer to deduct support from wages before the paycheck is issued and remit the funds to the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center (NCSPC) within seven business days of withholding.

Employers may charge an administrative fee of up to $2.50 per month for processing withholding. Withholding applies to wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, and retirement benefits. Employers who fail to comply with a withholding order may be held liable for the amounts they should have withheld and face penalties under §43-1718.05.

Federal law under the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) caps total withholding at 50% of disposable earnings for parents supporting a second family, or 60% for those without one. An additional 5% applies when arrears exceed 12 weeks, bringing the maximum to 65%. Nebraska law also provides anti-retaliation protections—employers who discharge or discipline an employee because of a withholding order are subject to penalties under §43-1723.

License Suspensions

Nebraska suspends licenses when an obligor is delinquent on child support under Neb. Rev. Stat. §§43-3301 through 43-3326. DHHS can direct the relevant licensing agency to suspend or deny driver's licenses, professional licenses, and recreational licenses (including hunting and fishing permits). The obligor receives written notice and has 30 days to request a hearing, pay the arrears in full, or enter a court-approved payment plan.

Reinstating a suspended driver's license requires resolving the arrearage and paying a $50 reinstatement fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles. License suspension is one of Nebraska's most effective enforcement tools because it directly impacts an obligor's ability to drive and work. For more on how Nebraska calculates child support amounts, see our detailed guide.

Tax Refund Intercepts

Nebraska participates in both state and federal tax refund intercept programs. For state income tax refunds, DHHS certifies obligors with qualifying arrears to the Nebraska Department of Revenue, which intercepts the refund and redirects it toward the outstanding child support balance. Joint filers may request an injured spouse allocation to protect their share of the refund.

At the federal level, Nebraska participates in the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), which intercepts federal tax refunds when arrears reach $500 for cases receiving IV-D services or $150 for public-assistance cases. Obligors receive advance notice and may contest on mistake-of-fact grounds only. These automated interception tools are especially effective for collecting from obligors without regular employment.

Property Liens

Under Neb. Rev. Stat. §42-371, Nebraska places liens against the real property and registered personal property of an obligor who owes past-due child support. A child support judgment becomes an automatic lien on any real estate owned by the obligor in Nebraska. Property cannot be sold, transferred, or refinanced until the lien is satisfied or released.

DHHS can also seek bank account levies and attachment of other financial assets. These tools are particularly effective for collecting large arrears balances from obligors who have assets but resist voluntary payment. Once recorded, liens remain attached to the property until the arrearage is paid in full or the court orders a release.

Interest on Arrears

Nebraska charges simple interest at a rate determined by statute on overdue child support under Neb. Rev. Stat. §42-358.02. The current judgment interest rate is 6.256% per year, accruing on any amount not paid within 30 days of the due date. Unlike some states that require a separate court action, interest in Nebraska accrues by operation of law once the payment becomes delinquent.

Over time, accrued interest can substantially increase the total amount owed. This provides a strong financial incentive for obligors to stay current on payments. The custodial parent does not need to file a motion for interest to begin accruing—it happens automatically.

Contempt of Court and Passport Denial

Nebraska courts can hold a delinquent parent in contempt of court for willful nonpayment of child support. Civil contempt proceedings can result in sanctions including incarceration. Courts typically include a purge plan—specific payment terms the obligor must meet to avoid or end jail time. Either the custodial parent or the county attorney may file a contempt petition in the court that issued the original support order.

At the federal level, the government will deny, revoke, or restrict a passport when child support arrears exceed $2,500 under 42 U.S.C. §652(k). This applies to all states including Nebraska. Parents who need international travel must resolve their arrears or enter an approved payment plan before a passport will be issued or renewed. For parents dealing with spousal maintenance alongside child support, our Nebraska spousal support guide covers those obligations separately.

Interstate and Federal Enforcement

When the paying parent lives outside Nebraska, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) enables cross-state enforcement. Nebraska can register its support order in the obligor's home state and use that state's enforcement tools, or the other state can forward income withholding orders directly to the employer.

DHHS centralizes all collections through the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center regardless of where the paying parent resides. Parents can contact DHHS or visit the Nebraska DHHS Child Support website for assistance with interstate cases.

Estimate Your Nebraska Divorce Costs

Use our free calculator to estimate overall divorce expenses in Nebraska, including support obligations and legal fees.

Key Takeaways

• Automatic wage garnishment: Income withholding is mandatory in every Nebraska support case under §43-1718.02, with employers required to remit within seven business days
• License suspension: Driver's, professional, and recreational licenses are suspended for delinquent obligors under §§43-3301 through 43-3326, with a $50 DMV reinstatement fee
• Tax refund intercepts: State tax refunds are intercepted through the Department of Revenue; federal refunds through the Treasury Offset Program at $500
• Property liens: Child support judgments create automatic liens on real property under §42-371; DHHS can also levy bank accounts
• Interest accrual: Nebraska charges 6.256% simple interest on overdue support under §42-358.02, accruing automatically 30 days after delinquency
• Passport denial: Federal law blocks passports when arrears exceed $2,500
• Interstate reach: UIFSA enables enforcement across state lines through DHHS coordination with the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center

For a broader overview of the divorce process in Nebraska, see our Nebraska divorce filing checklist.