Divorce in the United States is a common occurrence. When divorce involves children, things tend to become complicated. While most parents want to remain a consistent part in the lives of their children, usually one parent obtains a majority of the child custody after a divorce.
Nevada child support guidelines help determine several post-divorce parental obligations, including the amount of support the parent without physical custody of the child is required to pay. This is a quick summary of the child support guidelines in Nevada.
Joint Custody Under Nevada Child Support Guidelines
Although Nevada statutory laws do not specifically define joint custody, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that joint physical custody needs to be an option if it is in the best interest of the child. If joint custody is necessary, it is the court's responsibility to determine a timeshare that each parent can equally share with the child. When determining child support for joint custody, both parent's incomes are analyzed, the difference between the two support amounts is calculated, and the higher-income parent is obligated to pay the lower-income parent the difference.
The following table outlines the specifics of Nevada child support guidelines.
| Code Sections | Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 125B: Obligation Of Support |
| Obligations of Parents | Nevada child support guidelines state that the parents of a child have a duty to provide the child necessary maintenance, health care, education and support. Also, they are liable, in the event of the child's death, for any funeral expenses. |
| Support by Parent Without Physical Custody | When the parents of a child do not reside together, the parent with physical custody of the child may recover a reasonable portion of the cost of care, support, education and maintenance from the parent without physical custody. |
| Amount of Payments | When determining the amount of child support in Nevada, the parents gross monthly income must be calculated. This gross monthly income is then multiplied by a percentage depending on the amount of children requiring child support. The percentages are as follows:
However, not more than the presumptive maximum amount per month per child will be allowed to be awarded to the parent with physical custody. |
Understanding the Nevada child support laws can be difficult. If you are dealing with child support issues and would like legal assistance, you can contact a Nevada child support lawyer through FindLaw. Visit FindLaw's sections on child support and family law for more articles and information on this topic.
