Child Support

On February 1, 2020, child support laws changed in the State of Nevada.

The biggest change is that there is a tiered calculation based upon income,

and there are no longer any caps (maximum amounts per child).

The first step is always to calculate each parent’s gross monthly income.

Gross monthly income means salary and wages, overtime if it is “substantial,

consistent and can be accurately determined[,]” interest and investment

income, Social Security benefits (age based and disability based), periodic

payments from retirement, proceeds from worker’s compensation or

personal injury awards, unemployment insurance, etc. The list is much more

expansive then previously provided under the law.

Once gross monthly income is calculated, the second step is to determine the

physical custodial arrangement. The physical custody arrangement

determines who will pay child support. In a primary physical custody

arrangement, the “non-custodial” parent pays child support based upon the

formula. The only manner to modify that amount is through deviation set

forth in the child new child support guidelines. In a joint physical custody

arrangement, the child support is calculated for both parents and then an

offset is applied based upon the difference between the income of the higher

income parent and the lower income parent.

The figures to calculate child support is based upon the number of children.

The percentage changes for the first $6,000.00 of income, then the next

$4,000.00 in income and then any amount after $10,000.00. A breakdown

of those percentages is as follows:

 One child:

o The first $6,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 16%,

o The next $4,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 8%, and

o Anything over $10,000.00 in gross monthly income is

calculated at 4%.

 Two children:

o The first $6,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 22%,

o The next $4,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 11%, and

o Anything over $10,000.00 in gross monthly income is

calculated at 6%.

 Three children:

o The first $6,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 26%,

o The next $4,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 13%, and

o Anything over $10,000.00 in gross monthly income is

calculated at 6%.

 Four children:

o The first $6,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 28%,

o The next $4,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 14%, and

o Anything over $10,000.00 in gross monthly income is

calculated at 7%.

 Any number above four children:

o The first $6,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 28% plus 2% for each additional child,

o The next $4,000.00 of a parent’s gross monthly income is

calculated at 14% plus 1% for each additional child, and

o Anything over $10,000.00 in gross monthly income is

calculated at 7% plus ½ a percent for each additional

child.

Besides the basic calculation, there are also deviation or modification factors

that the Court can consider.