Nebraska Revised Statutes

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (2026)

Preserve and reunify the family; reasonable efforts; requirements

✓ current as of July 2026

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(1) In determining whether reasonable efforts have been made to preserve and reunify the family and in making such reasonable efforts, the juvenile's health and safety are the paramount concern.

(2) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families prior to the placement of a juvenile in foster care to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the juvenile from the juvenile's home and to make it possible for a juvenile to safely return to the juvenile's home.

(3) If continuation of reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family is determined to be inconsistent with the permanency plan determined for the juvenile in accordance with a permanency hearing under section 43-1312, efforts shall be made to place the juvenile in a timely manner in accordance with the permanency plan and to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the juvenile.

(4) Reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family are not required if a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that:

(a) The parent of the juvenile has subjected the juvenile or another minor child to aggravated circumstances, including, but not limited to, abandonment, torture, chronic abuse, or sexual abuse;

(b) The parent of the juvenile has (i) committed first or second degree murder to another child of the parent, (ii) committed voluntary manslaughter to another child of the parent, (iii) aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit murder, or aided or abetted voluntary manslaughter of the juvenile or another child of the parent, (iv) committed a felony assault which results in serious bodily injury to the juvenile or another minor child of the parent, or (v) been convicted of felony sexual assault of the other parent of the juvenile under section 28-319.01 or 28-320.01 or a comparable crime in another state; or

(5) Except as otherwise provided in the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act, if the family includes a child who was conceived by the victim of a sexual assault and a biological parent is convicted of the crime under section 28-319 or 28-320 or a law in another jurisdiction similar to either section 28-319 or 28-320, the convicted biological parent of such child shall not be considered a part of the child's family for purposes of requiring reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family.

(6) If reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family are not required because of a court determination made under subsection (4) of this section, a permanency hearing, as provided in section 43-1312, shall be held for the juvenile within thirty days after the determination, reasonable efforts shall be made to place the juvenile in a timely manner in accordance with the permanency plan, and whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the juvenile shall be made.

(7) Reasonable efforts to place a juvenile for adoption or with a guardian may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family, but priority shall be given to preserving and reunifying the family as provided in this section.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 131 cases (31 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: In Re DeWayne G., Jr., 638 N.W.2d 510 (Neb. 2002).

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In Re DeWayne G., Jr., 638 N.W.2d 510 (Neb. 2002). · cites it 45× “On May 16, 2000, DeWayne filed a motion requesting a hearing, inter alia, on whether the State had made reasonable efforts to reunify the children with DeWayne pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 1998).”

State v. Selina N., 669 N.W.2d 429 (Neb. 2003). · cites it 25× “The State appeals and asserts that the court erred when it failed to find that reasonable efforts at reunification with Selina were not required under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (4) (Reissue 1998), and when it failed to terminate Selina’s parental rights.”

In Re Hope L., 775 N.W.2d 384 (Neb. 2009). · cites it 15× “The State also alleged that under Neb.Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 2008), it did not need to make attempts to reunify the family.”

In Re Interest of Ethan M., 723 N.W.2d 363 (Neb. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 12× “” Before that question can be answered with respect to any of the three children involved in these cases, there is a predicate question: “Who is the parent of whom?” The question arises by virtue of the language of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 2004), which states in…”

In Re Interest of Janet J., 666 N.W.2d 741 (Neb. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 35× “In the dispositional order, the juvenile court approved a case plan which did not provide for reasonable efforts to reunify Janet with Florance because the court found that Florance had committed felony assault upon other of her children and because Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01…”

State v. Heather N. (In Re Michael N.), 302 Neb. 652 (Neb. 2019). · cites it 4× “Finally, the pleadings alleged that pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 2016), reason- able efforts to reunify Michael with his parents were not required.”

In Re Interest of Andrew M., 643 N.W.2d 401 (Neb. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 9× “01 is only incorporated into § 43-292(6), not into the remaining subsections of § 43-292. In re Interest of DeWayne G.”

In Re Interest of Stephanie H., 639 N.W.2d 668 (Neb. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 5× “1041, which included the enactment of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 1998), using new language expressly directed at foster placement: “[Reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families prior to the placement of a juvenile in foster care.”

Christine W. v. Trevor W., 303 Neb. 245 (Neb. 2019). · cites it 2× “view, a compelling reason for determining that filing such a petition would not be in the best interests of the juvenile; or (c) The family of the juvenile has not had a reasonable opportunity to avail themselves of the services deemed necessary in the case plan or permanency…”

Child. Under 18 Years of Age. State v. Benjamin T. (In Re Interest Jade H.), 25 Neb. Ct. App. 678 (Neb. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 8× “, born May 2015, January 2010, and June 2008, respectively. On the afternoon of October 24, 2016, the children were in Benjamin's vehicle, which he was driving, when a collision occurred.”

In Re Interest of Mainor T., 674 N.W.2d 442 (Neb. 2004). · cites it 3× “01, and it is not optional when a child is detained for any significant period of time. Although the juvenile court’s preprinted form order entitled “Adjudication Hearing” contained a checkmark beside a standard finding that “reasonable efforts were made to preserve and reunify…”

In Re Interest of Anthony V, 680 N.W.2d 221 (Neb. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 11× “The State repeated its initial allegations and further alleged that reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family were not required under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 1998) because Kirsten had committed first or second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter of…”

Show all 131 citing cases →

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(1) — 6 cases

In Re Interest of Janet J., 666 N.W.2d 741 (Neb. Ct. App. 2003). “In the dispositional order, the juvenile court approved a case plan which did not provide for reasonable efforts to reunify Janet with Florance because the court found that Florance had committed felony assault upon other of her children and because Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01…”

In re Interest of Kaliyah C. (Neb. Ct. App. 2025).

In re Interest of Soliana V. (Neb. Ct. App. 2017).

In re Interest of Lukah C. (Neb. Ct. App. 2023).

Wang Anderson v. The State of Nebraska (D. Neb. 2019).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(2) — 4 cases

In Re DeWayne G., Jr., 638 N.W.2d 510 (Neb. 2002). “On May 16, 2000, DeWayne filed a motion requesting a hearing, inter alia, on whether the State had made reasonable efforts to reunify the children with DeWayne pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 1998).”

In Re Interest of Stephanie H., 639 N.W.2d 668 (Neb. Ct. App. 2002). “1041, which included the enactment of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 1998), using new language expressly directed at foster placement: “[Reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families prior to the placement of a juvenile in foster care.”

In re Interest of Mateo L., 309 Neb. 565 (Neb. 2021).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(3) — 1 case

In Re Tayla R., 767 N.W.2d 127 (Neb. Ct. App. 2009).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(4) — 12 cases

State v. Selina N., 669 N.W.2d 429 (Neb. 2003). “The State appeals and asserts that the court erred when it failed to find that reasonable efforts at reunification with Selina were not required under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (4) (Reissue 1998), and when it failed to terminate Selina’s parental rights.”

In Re Interest of Ethan M., 723 N.W.2d 363 (Neb. Ct. App. 2006). “” Before that question can be answered with respect to any of the three children involved in these cases, there is a predicate question: “Who is the parent of whom?” The question arises by virtue of the language of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 2004), which states in…”

In Re Ethan M., 774 N.W.2d 766 (Neb. Ct. App. 2009).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(4)(a) — 12 cases

In Re Hope L., 775 N.W.2d 384 (Neb. 2009). “The State also alleged that under Neb.Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 2008), it did not need to make attempts to reunify the family.”

Child. Under 18 Years of Age. State v. Benjamin T. (In Re Interest Jade H.), 25 Neb. Ct. App. 678 (Neb. Ct. App. 2018). “, born May 2015, January 2010, and June 2008, respectively. On the afternoon of October 24, 2016, the children were in Benjamin's vehicle, which he was driving, when a collision occurred.”

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(4)(b) — 4 cases

In Re Interest of Anthony V, 680 N.W.2d 221 (Neb. Ct. App. 2004). “The State repeated its initial allegations and further alleged that reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family were not required under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01 (Reissue 1998) because Kirsten had committed first or second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter of…”

In Re Interest of Hailey M., 726 N.W.2d 576 (Neb. Ct. App. 2007).

In Re Hailey M., 726 N.W.2d 576 (Neb. Ct. App. 2007).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(4)(b)(iii) — 2 cases

In Re Interest of Hailey M., 726 N.W.2d 576 (Neb. Ct. App. 2007).

In Re Hailey M., 726 N.W.2d 576 (Neb. Ct. App. 2007).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(4)(b)(iv) — 1 case

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(4)(c) — 4 cases

In re Interest of Misty L. (Neb. Ct. App. 2025).

In re Interest of Aiden B. (Neb. Ct. App. 2025).

In re Interest of Josselynn E. (Neb. Ct. App. 2013).

In re Interest of Brendon J. (Neb. Ct. App. 2015).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(6) — 2 cases

In re Interest of LeAntonaé D., 28 Neb. Ct. App. 144 (Neb. Ct. App. 2020).

In re Interest of Soliana V. (Neb. Ct. App. 2017).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-283.01(7) — 2 cases

In re Interest of Mateo L., 309 Neb. 565 (Neb. 2021).

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