PRACTICE AREA

WHAT TO EXPECT

Nevada is on the verge of changing its child support laws, and it should.

They are very outdated and produce severe results often with slight alterations to a parties’ timeshare.

Currently, the law bases child support on a parties’ gross monthly income. For one child, it is 18%.

If a parent has primary physical custody, then the other parent pays this statutory percentage to the custodial parent.

If the parents share joint physical (not legal) custody, then you calculate each parent’s statutory percentage obligation and subtract the smaller number form the larger number with the result being the higher income earner’s child support obligation to the lower income earner. In short, if you have joint physical custody and make the same income, neither pays support.

The parties also should split the premium for the child’s health insurance as well as split unreimbursed medical expenses.

It is possible to deviate from the statutory formula and have parties agree to their own child support amounts. There are specific legal requirements when doing this however.