Financial Obligations

Child Support: When determining child support, Nevada courts consider the custodial timeshare as well as gross monthly income of the parties. In doing so, the court is directed by Nevada statutes and case law. Nevada statutes (NRS 125B.070 and 125B.080) set the percentage and maximum child support amount per child as follows:

1. For one child, 18 percent;
2. For two children, 25 percent;
3. For three children, 29 percent;
4. For four children, 31 percent; and
5. For each additional child, an additional 2 percent, of a parent’s gross monthly income.

But for deviation, the amount of child support ordered per child cannot exceed the presumptive maximum amount as follows:

If a parent’s gross monthly income is equal to or greater than $14,583, the presumptive maximum amount the parent may be required to pay pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 is $800.

Alimony: a court-ordered financial obligation for one spouse to continue supporting the other for a specified/indefinite period after separation or marital dissolution. There are several types of alimony:

1. Temporary spousal support – a form of alimony or “maintenance” paid by one spouse to the other during the pendency of divorce/separate maintenance. Here, the lower-earning spouse is usually awarded periodic funds (and sometimes legal fees) to meet basic his/her basic needs while the divorce is proceeding and place both parties on “equal footing” as much as possible.
2. Lump sum alimony – a single predetermined amount of support paid to the lower-earning spouse upon divorce.
3. Periodic alimony – periodic (usually monthly) payments paid to the lower-earning spouse for a specific amount and duration following divorce.
4. Permanent alimony – periodic payments made to a spouse which end only upon a spouse’s death or the receiving spouse’s remarriage, unless otherwise ordered.
5. Rehabilitative alimony – payments made for a spouse to obtain training or education. Rehabilitative alimony may be awarded alongside periodic/permanent or lump sum alimony.

While no set formula is available to Nevada courts in setting alimony, the court may consider any relevant factor and is specifically directed to consider the following:

1. The financial condition of each spouse;
2. The nature and value of the respective property of each spouse;
3. The contribution of each spouse to any property held by the spouses pursuant to NRS123.030;
4. The duration of the marriage;
5. The income, earning capacity, age and health of each spouse;
6. The standard of living during the marriage;
7. The career before the marriage of the spouse who would receive the alimony;
8. The existence of specialized education or training or the level of marketable skills attained by each spouse during the marriage;
9. The contribution of either spouse as homemaker;
10. The award of property granted by the court in the divorce, other than child support and alimony, to the spouse who would receive the alimony; and
11. The physical and mental condition of each party as it relates to the financial condition, health and ability to work of that spouse.