The life of a child can be impacted not only emotionally but financially when parents divorce or separate. With divided households, a parent may be less able to meet the financial needs of the child. This issue is resolved through the payment of child support. In a Nevada divorce or where unmarried parents part ways, the children involved must be financially supported to ensure their safety, health, and well-being. Nevada, like other states, mandates child support and provides guidelines for its calculations. 

How long does Child Support last?

Child support is generally required to be paid until the child reaches the age of 18 and graduates from high school or to age 19 if the child does not graduate from high school.

Which parent receives Child Support payments?

• Custodial Parent – Usually, if a child lives with a parent more than 60 percent of the time, that parent is entitled to child support. This parent is considered the primary or “custodial parent.” The other parent is referred to as the “non-custodial parent.”
• Higher Income Earner with Joint Custody – When parents have joint custody of a child, the parent who has a higher income generally must pay the lower-earning parent this support. Parents sharing physical custody of the child for at least 40 percent of the time are considered to be in joint custody.
• Multiple Children – When parents share custody of two or more children and each parent has physical custody of at least one of the children, the support required by the court will depend on the number of children needing support.

Child support is a common issue in divorce and paternity actions. It is also critical to the child’s best interests, which is the highest priority of the family courts. At Gary Huntsman Law, we can help you in seeking, modifying, or enforcing child support payments. Our goal is to ensure that you secure a payment that is fair and just for both you and your child.