Las Vegas Child Support Lawyers

How Nevada Calculates Child Support

Nevada calculates child support under a tiered percentage-of-income model set out in the Nevada Administrative Code, applied to the paying parent’s gross monthly income. The system replaced Nevada’s older flat-percentage formula in 2020, and the current structure applies a different rate to different slices of income rather than one flat percentage of everything a parent earns.

For one child, the general framework applies a higher percentage to the first portion of monthly income, a reduced percentage to the next bracket, and a smaller percentage above that. The rate increases with each additional child, so a family with two or three children uses a higher base percentage across the same income tiers. Because these percentages and brackets are set by regulation and can be adjusted, we calculate every case using the current guideline figures in effect at the time your order is entered, and we will walk you through exactly how the math applies to your income.

Gross monthly income for these purposes is defined broadly. It generally includes wages, salary, bonuses, self-employment income after ordinary business expenses, commissions, pensions, and investment income. Means-tested public assistance is generally excluded. When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or deliberately underemployed, Nevada courts can impute income, meaning the court calculates support based on what that parent is capable of earning rather than what they claim to earn. We handle these disputes often, and we know how to prove earning capacity when a parent is trying to minimize their obligation.

Nevada law also sets a minimum support obligation of a fixed monthly amount per child, which applies even to parents with very low or no reported income. On the other end of the spectrum, there is no hard cap limiting support for high earners; support is calculated across the full income structure, which makes accurate income documentation especially important in high-asset cases.

Joint Custody and Child Support

Custody time changes the calculation. When parents share joint physical custody, Nevada courts generally calculate each parent’s support obligation separately based on their own income, and the parent with the higher obligation pays the other parent the difference between the two figures. This offset approach means the parenting time schedule in your custody order directly affects your support number, which is one more reason your custody and support cases should be handled together rather than as two unrelated issues. Our Las Vegas child custody lawyers and child support attorneys coordinate on every case that involves both.

Beyond the Base Calculation: Add-On Expenses

The guideline percentage is usually only part of the picture. Nevada courts routinely address additional costs on top of the base support figure, including:

• Health insurance premiums for the child, and how the cost is divided between parents
• Uninsured or unreimbursed medical, dental, and orthodontic expenses
• Childcare costs required for a parent to work or attend school
• Extraordinary expenses tied to a child’s education, activities, or special needs
• Transportation costs connected to parenting time exchanges

Leaving these items out of a support order is one of the most common mistakes we see in orders parents prepared without an attorney, and it usually leads to disputes later. We make sure every real cost your child incurs is accounted for from the start.

Establishing Child Support in Clark County

Child support can be established as part of a divorce, alongside a paternity action, or through a standalone petition when parents were never married and are not otherwise in a case together. Support matters in the Las Vegas area are handled by the Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court, and in cases involving public assistance or enforcement, the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) may also be involved.

Financial Disclosure

Both parents provide documentation of income, which forms the basis for the guideline calculation.

Custody Determination

Because custody time affects the support formula, support is usually finalized alongside, or after, the custody arrangement.

Guideline Calculation

We prepare the support worksheet using current guideline percentages, gross income figures, and any applicable add-on expenses.

Court Order

The judge enters a support order that is enforceable through wage withholding, contempt proceedings, and other tools available under Nevada law.

Modifying a Child Support Order (H2)

Support orders are not set in stone. Nevada law allows either parent, or the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, to request a review of an existing order. A change of a significant percentage in the paying parent’s gross monthly income is treated as a qualifying change in circumstances that can justify recalculating support under the current guidelines. Support orders can also be reviewed periodically without needing to prove any other change, simply because time has passed and incomes, expenses, and a child’s needs evolve.

Common reasons parents come to us for a modification include a job loss or new job, a significant raise, a change in the custody or parenting time schedule, a child’s changing medical or educational needs, or a parent’s incarceration. We handle both sides of these cases: parents asking the court to increase or decrease support, and parents defending an order that is fair as written.

Enforcing an Unpaid Child Support Order

When a parent stops paying court-ordered support, Nevada gives the receiving parent real tools to enforce the order, including income withholding directly from the paying parent’s wages, contempt of court proceedings that can carry fines or jail time, interception of tax refunds, and suspension of licenses, including driver’s and professional licenses, for parents who fall seriously behind. Our attorneys pursue these remedies aggressively on behalf of parents who are owed support, and we also defend parents facing enforcement action when the underlying order no longer reflects their real financial situation, which is a modification issue rather than a reason to simply stop paying.

Why Las Vegas Families Choose Cohen Fic & Squires

Cohen Fic & Squires has practiced family law exclusively since 2003. We do not take personal injury, criminal, or commercial cases; support and custody disputes are core to what we handle every week, not an occasional matter. The firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating a law firm can receive for legal ability and ethics.

Partner Lesley Cohen brings the perspective of her service in the Nevada State Assembly to every case involving how Nevada’s family law statutes are written and applied. Partner Summer Squires was nationally ranked among the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys’ Top 10 Under 40. Partner Holly Fic is known for steady, clear advocacy that keeps clients informed at every stage of a support dispute. The firm also includes Certified Divorce Financial Analysts on staff for cases where income and assets are complex, and offers in-house mediation services for parents who want to resolve support and custody terms without a courtroom fight.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in Nevada

How is child support calculated in Nevada?

Nevada uses a tiered percentage-of-income model applied to the paying parent’s gross monthly income, with the percentage increasing based on the number of children and decreasing at higher income brackets. Custody time, health insurance, childcare, and other add-on costs can all affect the final number.

Is there a minimum amount of child support in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada sets a minimum monthly support obligation per child that applies even when a parent has little or no reported income, though the court can consider a parent’s genuine ability to pay.

Does joint custody reduce child support?

It can. When parents share joint physical custody, Nevada courts typically calculate each parent’s obligation separately based on income, and the higher-earning parent pays the other parent the difference. The exact effect depends on both parents’ incomes and the actual custody split.

Can child support be changed after the order is entered?

Yes. A significant change in either parent’s income, a change in the custody schedule, or simply the passage of time can support a request to modify the order. We can review your current order and tell you honestly whether a modification is likely to succeed.

What happens if my ex stops paying child support?

Nevada allows enforcement through wage withholding, contempt of court, tax refund interception, and license suspension, among other tools. If support has stopped, we can move quickly to enforce your existing order.

Do unmarried parents have to pay child support in Nevada?

Yes. Child support obligations apply regardless of whether the parents were ever married, once paternity is legally established. Our paternity attorneys and child support attorneys frequently handle these cases together.

How long does child support last in Nevada?

Support generally continues until a child turns 18, or 19 if still in high school, though it can continue longer for a child with a disability that began before adulthood and prevents self-support.