The State of Nebraska Judicial Branch announced on Apr. 14 the successful implementation of a Parenting Plan Review Pilot in Judicial District 9, which covers Hall and Buffalo counties. The initiative was developed as part of the 2024 Chief’s Leadership Academy to provide additional support for district judges reviewing parenting plans submitted to the court.
The project aims to ensure that parenting plans comply with statutory requirements and streamline case management for families involved in domestic relations cases. This is important because it supports self-represented litigants and helps maintain consistency across judicial districts, according to the official website of the State of Nebraska Judicial Branch.
Judge Ryan Post led a working group that identified gaps in support for district judges during parenting plan reviews. After evaluating options, a pilot collaboration between District 9 and the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation’s Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) was launched under Presiding Judge Patrick Lee. Informational sessions were held in Hall and Buffalo counties, providing litigants with resources about process steps, compliance notices, and general case information.
Once a parenting plan is submitted for review, it is tracked using Microsoft Lists before being evaluated by ODR staff against a checklist covering statutory components. The ODR does not make determinations on custody or appropriateness but checks if all required elements are present; final decisions rest with district judges. Between June 2025 and January 2026, ODR reviewed 117 plans—100 from attorneys and 17 from self-represented litigants—with an average review time of about half an hour per plan.
Common omissions included provisions ensuring school attendance or clarifying emergency decision-making authority for parents while children are in their care. Following this pilot’s success, changes to Local Court Rule 9-13 were approved by the Supreme Court effective Feb. 11, requiring parties seeking custody or parenting time orders to either use model forms or submit their proposed plans for ODR compliance review prior to hearings.
The Nebraska Judicial Branch extends across urban and rural areas through its eighteen judicial districts according to its official website. It also maintains court facilities statewide to ensure public access while supporting community engagement through educational outreach such as traveling oral arguments at schools as reported by its website. Standardized rules help ensure consistent operations throughout all courts according to official information.
District courts interested in adopting similar pilots can contact Kelly Riley, Director of ODR.
