Opinion ID: 2013815
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: security for child support obligation

Text: As noted above, the district court ordered Todd to set aside part of his workers' compensation award as security for his child support obligation. Todd argues that this was error. The Legislature has long given specific statutory authorization for a court, in an appropriate case, to require sufficient security to be given for the payment of alimony and child support awards. See Lacey v. Lacey, 215 Neb. 162, 337 N.W.2d 740 (1983). Neb.Rev. Stat. § 42-371(6) (Cum.Supp.2000) provides with reference to child support payments that [t]he court may in any case, upon application or its own motion, after notice and hearing, order a person required to make payments to post sufficient security, bond, or other guarantee with the clerk to insure payment of both current and any delinquent amounts. However, reasonable security for payment of child support under § 42-371(6) should be invoked only when extraordinary circumstances require it. See, Klinginsmith v. Wichmann, 252 Neb. 889, 567 N.W.2d 172 (1997); Lacey, supra; Muller v. Muller, 3 Neb.App. 159, 524 N.W.2d 78 (1994). In this case, Todd was given notice and hearing on this issue well prior to the entry of the decree. Caroline filed a motion prior to trial seeking to have Todd post security for his child support obligation pursuant to § 42-371. Based on the evidence presented at trial, we conclude that the district court's order was not an abuse of discretion. The record reflects that Todd ceased employment after settling his workers' compensation case and had spent approximately $24,000 within 1 month of receiving the settlement proceeds. The remaining proceeds of the workers' compensation settlement were the only funds available to secure Todd's child support obligation. Given the possibility, supported by the record, that Todd would exhaust the settlement proceeds and then be unwilling or unable to pay his child support, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in ordering Todd to set aside a portion of the settlement proceeds as security for his child support obligation. Compare Casselman v. Casselman, 204 Neb. 565, 284 N.W.2d 7 (1979) (order requiring security proper where much of defendant's security could be lost through foreclosure proceedings). Todd's assignment of error is without merit.