Opinion ID: 2169451
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Standard for Modification of Child Support Order.

Text: We first address Kenneth's argument, properly rejected by the Court of Appeals, that the district court erred in setting aside the parties' property settlement agreement with respect to child support without a finding that such agreement was procured by fraud or was unconscionable. Kenneth misstates the standards applicable to this case. The present action is one for a modification of a child support order, which order is subject to a material change of circumstances analysis and is always subject to review and modification, whereas the standards upon which Kenneth relies relate variously to real and personal property and maintenance. Kenneth's first argument on further review is unavailing. Kenneth relies on Neb.Rev.Stat. § 42-366 (Reissue 1998), and the cases Prochazka v. Prochazka, 198 Neb. 525, 253 N.W.2d 407 (1977), and Klabunde v. Klabunde, 194 Neb. 681, 234 N.W.2d 837 (1975), in support of his argument that the district court and the Court of Appeals should have analyzed the change of age provision under a fraud or unconscionable analysis. Kenneth's reliance is misplaced. Section 42-366 provides that the parties to a dissolution of marriage may enter into a written property settlement agreement containing provisions for, among other things, the support and custody of minor children. § 42-366(1). The statute specifically provides that the terms of the agreement, except terms providing for the support and custody of minor children, shall be binding upon the court unless it finds ... that the agreement is unconscionable. (Emphasis supplied.) § 42-366(2). We further note that child support orders are always subject to review and modification. Shomaker v. Shomaker, 183 Neb. 609, 163 N.W.2d 102 (1968). See, also, Hoover v. Hoover, 2 Neb.App. 239, 508 N.W.2d 316 (1993). In applying § 42-366, we have held that if the terms of a property settlement agreement with respect to real and personal property and maintenance are not found unconscionable, the agreement is binding upon the dissolution court and the initial decree must carry such agreement into effect. Prochazka v. Prochazka, supra . See, also, Smith v. Ganz, 219 Neb. 432, 363 N.W.2d 526 (1985); Dobesh v. Dobesh, 216 Neb. 196, 342 N.W.2d 669 (1984); § 42-366(4). We have also held that where a party to a divorce action voluntarily executes a property settlement agreement which is approved by the dissolution court and incorporated into a divorce decree from which no appeal is taken, provisions dealing with division of real and personal property, division of pension benefits, and division of stock will not thereafter be vacated or modified in the absence of fraud or gross inequity. Klabunde v. Klabunde, supra . See, also, Hoshor v. Hoshor, 254 Neb. 743, 580 N.W.2d 516 (1998); Pascale v. Pascale, 229 Neb. 49, 424 N.W.2d 890 (1988); Colson v. Colson, 215 Neb. 452, 339 N.W.2d 280 (1983). Notwithstanding Kenneth's argument to the contrary, neither the unconscionable standard nor the fraud or gross inequity standard as utilized in the cases referred to above are applicable to this action involving modification of child support. Instead, we have consistently held that a party seeking to modify a child support order must show a material change in circumstances which has occurred subsequent to the entry of the original decree or a previous modification and was not contemplated when the decree was entered. Rhoades v. Rhoades, 258 Neb. 721, 605 N.W.2d 454 (2000). Kenneth's first argument is without merit, and the Court of Appeals did not err in rejecting his argument.