WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Nevada

Child Support

Updated: 
January 9, 2024

How will the amount of child support be decided?

Nevada, like most states, has a formula that it uses for determining how much a parent should pay in child support. Judges will generally award the parent who has custody the following percentage of the other parent’s gross income:

  1.  For one child, it’s the sum of:
    • 16 percent of the first $6,000 of the paying parent’s monthly gross income; plus
    • 8 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income between $6,001 and $10,000; and
    • 4 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income that is greater than $10,000.
  2. For two children, it’s the sum of:
    • 22 percent of the first $6,000 of the paying parent’s monthly gross income; plus
    • 11 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income between $6,001 and $10,000; and
    • 6 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income that is greater than $10,000.
  3. For three children, it’s the sum of:
    • 26 percent of the first $6,000 of the paying parent’s monthly gross income; plus
    • 13 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income between $6,001 and $10,000; and
    • 6 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income that is greater than $10,000.
  4. For four children, it’s the sum of:
    • 28 percent of the first $6,000 of the paying parent’s monthly gross income; plus
    • 14 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income between $6,001 and $10,000; and
    • 7 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income that is greater than $10,000.
  5. For each additional child, in addition to the amount allotted for four children, the court would add an additional sum per child of:
    • 2 percent of the first $6,000 of the paying parent’s monthly gross income; plus
    • 1 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income between $6,001 and $10,000; and
    • 0.5 percent of the paying parent’s monthly gross income that is greater than $10,000.1

There is an exception, however, if the paying parent earns a very low income. If the court determines that his/her economic circumstances limit his/her ability to pay the amount of child support explained above, the child support obligation would be established by using a low-income schedule which is based on the current federal poverty guidelines.2

In addition to the child support amount ordered, every court order for the support of a child must include a term that says that one or both parents are required to provide medical support for the child and any details relating to that requirement.3

1 Nev. Admin. Code § 425.140
2 Nev. Admin. Code §§ 425.140; 425.145(1)
3 Nev. Admin. Code § 425.135(1)