Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska
Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska
Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
the best interests of the child require such action. Heistand v. Heistand, 267 Neb.<br />
300, 673 N.W.2d 541 (2004).<br />
A decree of divorce, insofar as minor children are concerned, is never final in the<br />
sense that it cannot be changed, but is subject to review at any time in the light of<br />
changing conditions. See Matson v. Matson, 175 Neb. 60, 120 N.W.2d 364 (1963).<br />
Haynes v. Haynes, 205 Neb. 35, 286 N.W.2d 108 (1979)<br />
While it is true that a parent has a natural right to the custody of his child, the court is<br />
not bound as a matter of law to restore a child to a parent under any and all<br />
circumstances. The welfare of a child of tender years is paramount to the wishes of<br />
the parent where it has formed a natural attachment for persons who have long been<br />
in the relation of parents with the parents’ approval and consent<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 />
Hickenbottom v. Hickenbottom; 239 Neb. 579; 477 N.W.2d 8 (1991)<br />
[T]he parties in a proceeding to dissolve a marriage cannot control the disposition of<br />
minor children by agreement. Hicks v. Hicks, 223 Neb. 189, 388 N.W.2d 510 (1986)<br />
A stepfather is the husband of a child’s mother by virtue of a marriage subsequent<br />
to that of which the child is the offspring; thus, a husband who divorces the mother of<br />
such a child is no longer the child’s stepfather.<br />
[U]nder appropriate circumstances, an ex-stepparent is entitled to visitation with a<br />
former stepchild.<br />
In re Interest of Brian B. et al., 268 Neb. 870, 689 N.W.2d 184 (2004)<br />
The right of parents to maintain custody of their child is a natural right, subject only<br />
to the paramount interest which the public has in the protection of the rights of the<br />
child.<br />
In re Interest of Karlie D., 283 Neb. 581, ____ N.W.2d ___ (March 2012)<br />
The <strong>Nebraska</strong> Juvenile Code clearly expresses a preference for placement with<br />
blood relatives.<br />
In re Interest of Lakota Z. & Jacob H., 282 Neb. 584, 804 N.W.2d 174 (2011)<br />
Under the parental preference principle, a parent’s natural right to the custody of his<br />
or her child trumps the interests of strangers to the parent-child relationship and the<br />
preferences of the child.<br />
Absent circumstances which justify terminating a parent’s constitutionally protected<br />
right to care for his or her child, due regard for the right requires that a biological or<br />
adoptive parent be presumptively regarded as the proper guardian for his or her<br />
child.<br />
In guardianship termination proceedings involving a biological or adoptive parent,<br />
the parental preference principle serves to establish a rebuttable presumption that<br />
the best interests of a child are served by reuniting the child with his or her parent.<br />
An individual who opposes the termination of a guardianship bears the burden of<br />
proving by clear and convincing evidence that the biological or adoptive parent either<br />
is unfit or has forfeited his or her right to custody. Absent such proof, the<br />
- 48 -