This is the next post in my series on the modification of child support for Las Vegas fathers. My last article provided a general overview of topics which this series will be addressing and it also stressed the need to contact an attorney to assist you with such matters. By retaining qualified counsel you help to ensure that the matter is handled properly and you reduce the chance of being held in contempt of court. In this article, I will explain how Nevada determines child support. If you need assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
The calculation of Nevada child support involves several steps. The first is to determine the paying parent’s gross monthly income. This includes wages, business income, and other taxable payments which the parent can expect to receive on a regular basis. Certain non-taxable income will also be included in the gross monthly total. A parent’s payment will generally be set at 18 percent of their monthly income if they have one child, 25 percent if they have two children, or 29 percent of their income if they have three or more income. A monthly obligation, however, will be capped at certain amounts. The caps are adjusted on an annual basis by the state of Nevada.
While the aforementioned calculations may seem straightforward, they are not necessarily the final step in determining a monthly support payment. There are many situations in which the Clark County Family Court may grant an offset, against the monthly obligation, due to other circumstances. If, for example, a father is paying support for another child, in another case, then the Court will often grant a $50 reduction in the current case. Also, if it can be shown that the paying parent is providing other financial assistance for the child then the Court may be willing to grant additional offsets. Finally, under Rivero v. Rivero, if the parents have joint custody of the child then the Court will consider the incomes of both parties with the higher earning parent making a reduced monthly payment to their counterpart.
Several issues can arise when determining a child support obligation. There may be disputes as to whether a particular source of funds should be included in one’s “income.” There may be disputes over whether a particular source of income is actually recurring. Also, disputes can quickly arise in regards to whether offsets should be granted. If you are involved in such a disagreement then it is important that you do not take matters into your own hands. Contact my office to speak with a Las Vegas fathers’ rights lawyer regarding your child support.