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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)