Nebraska Revised Statutes

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (2026)

Natural guardians; court appointment of guardian of minor; standby guardian; conditions for appointment; child born out of wedlock; additional considerations; filings

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) The father and mother are the natural guardians of their minor children and are duly entitled to their custody and to direct their education, being themselves competent to transact their own business and not otherwise unsuitable. If either dies or is disqualified for acting, or has abandoned his or her family, the guardianship devolves upon the other except as otherwise provided in this section.

(b) In the appointment of a parent as a guardian when the other parent has died and the child was born out of wedlock, the court shall consider the wishes of the deceased parent as expressed in a valid will executed by the deceased parent. If in such valid will the deceased parent designates someone other than the other natural parent as guardian for the minor children, the court shall take into consideration the designation by the deceased parent. In determining whether or not the natural parent should be given priority in awarding custody, the court shall also consider the natural parent's acknowledgment of paternity, payment of child support, and whether the natural parent is a fit, proper, and suitable custodial parent for the child.

(c) The court may appoint a standby guardian for a minor whose parent is chronically ill or near death. The appointment of a guardian under this subsection does not suspend or terminate the parent's parental rights of custody to the minor. The standby guardian's authority would take effect, if the minor is left without a remaining parent, upon (1) the death of the parent, (2) the mental incapacity of the parent, or (3) the physical debilitation and consent of the parent.

(d) The court may appoint a guardian for a minor if all parental rights of custody have been terminated or suspended by prior or current circumstances or prior court order. The juvenile court may appoint a guardian for a child adjudicated to be under subdivision (3)(a) of section 43-247 as provided in section 43-1312.01. A guardian appointed by will as provided in section 30-2606 whose appointment has not been prevented or nullified under section 30-2607 has priority over any guardian who may be appointed by the court, but the court may proceed with an appointment upon a finding that the testamentary guardian has failed to accept the testamentary appointment within thirty days after notice of the guardianship proceeding.

(e) The petition and all other court filings for a guardianship proceeding shall be filed with the clerk of the county court. The party shall state in the petition whether such party requests that the proceeding be heard by the county court or, in cases in which a separate juvenile court already has jurisdiction over the child in need of a guardian under the Nebraska Juvenile Code, such separate juvenile court. Such proceeding is considered a county court proceeding even if heard by a separate juvenile court judge, and an order of the separate juvenile court in such guardianship proceeding has the force and effect of a county court order. The testimony in a guardianship proceeding heard before a separate juvenile court judge shall be preserved as in any other separate juvenile court proceeding.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 27 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: Rebecca B. v. Sandra B., 621 N.W.2d 289 (Neb. 2000).

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Rebecca B. v. Sandra B., 621 N.W.2d 289 (Neb. 2000). · cites it 23× “S-99-1262, S-99-1263, and S-99-1264 are appeals from the county court’s orders appointing the grandparents as coguardians for each child under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Cum. Supp. 2000).”

In Re Sabrina K., 635 N.W.2d 727 (Neb. 2001). · cites it 3× “§ 43-247 (3) (Reissue 1998) when the county court has previously appointed a guardian for the juvenile, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Reissue 1995).”

In Re Guardianship of Elizabeth H., 771 N.W.2d 185 (Neb. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 5× “*193 Section 30-2608 provides, in relevant part: (a) The father and mother are the natural guardians of their minor children and are duly entitled to their custody.”

In Re Guardianship of DJ, 682 N.W.2d 238 (Neb. 2004). “See, also, § 30-2608(a) ("[t]he father and mother are the natural guardians of their minor children and are duly entitled to their custody .”

Uhing on Behalf of Jones v. Uhing, 488 N.W.2d 366 (Neb. 1992). · cites it 2× “” Insofar as the quoted material is concerned, chapter 34, § 6, is a verbatim predecessor of the current Nebraska statute, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Reissue 1989).”

Orr v. Knowles, 337 N.W.2d 699 (Neb. 1983). · cites it 2× “Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Reissue 1979) provides: “The father and mother are the natural guardians of their minor children and are equally entitled to their custody and to direct their education, being themselves competent to transact their own business and not otherwise…”

In Re Est. of Jeffrey B., 688 N.W.2d 135 (Neb. 2004). · cites it 2× “§ 30-2608(d). The priority provision of § 30-2608(d) is intended to address circumstances in which a court-appointed guardian comes into *771 existence before a parental nomination is discovered or implemented by acceptance, so that the authority of the court-appointed guardian…”

In re Interest of Mekhi S., 309 Neb. 529 (Neb. 2021). · cites it 2× “18 See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Reissue 1995).”

Karpf v. Karpf, 481 N.W.2d 891 (Neb. 1992). · cites it 2× “See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Reissue 1989) (parents are natural guardians of their minor children).”

In Re Guardianship of Zyla, 555 N.W.2d 768 (Neb. 1996). · cites it 2× “§ 24-517(2) (Reissue 1995) gave the county court, as it does presently, the "[e]xclusive original jurisdiction of all matters relating to guardianship .”

Joyce S. v. Frank S., 571 N.W.2d 801 (Neb. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “See, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (Reissue 1995); Uhing v.”

In Re Guardianship of Lavone M., 610 N.W.2d 29 (Neb. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 6× “Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (a) (Cum. Supp.”

Show all 27 citing cases →

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608(a) — 6 cases

In Re Guardianship of Cameron D., 706 N.W.2d 586 (Neb. Ct. App. 2005).

Carla R. v. Tim H., 682 N.W.2d 238 (Neb. 2004).

In Re Guardianship of Brenda B., 698 N.W.2d 228 (Neb. Ct. App. 2005).

In re Guardianship of Jordan M. (Neb. Ct. App. 2014).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608(d) — 3 cases

In Re Est. of Jeffrey B., 688 N.W.2d 135 (Neb. 2004). “§ 30-2608(d). The priority provision of § 30-2608(d) is intended to address circumstances in which a court-appointed guardian comes into *771 existence before a parental nomination is discovered or implemented by acceptance, so that the authority of the court-appointed guardian…”

In Re Guardianship of Lavone M., 610 N.W.2d 29 (Neb. Ct. App. 2000). “Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2608 (a) (Cum. Supp.”

In Re Guardianship & Conservatorship of McDowell, 762 N.W.2d 615 (Neb. Ct. App. 2009).

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