Nevada child support guidelines
Nevada is a percentage-of-income state, but its guidelines were substantially reworked in a 2019–2020 reform. This page explains the current approach and points you to the official state resources — it doesn’t calculate your amount.
A tiered percentage, not a flat one
Older Nevada guidelines applied a simple flat percentage of the paying parent’s gross income (with a cap). The reform replaced that with a tiered schedule in the Nevada Administrative Code: different percentages apply to different bands of income, and the structure varies by the number of children. The effect is a more graduated result, especially for higher earners.
Because the exact tiers, thresholds, and adjustments are detailed — and precisely the kind of thing that changes on review — this page doesn’t reproduce the numbers. The official calculator above applies the current schedule correctly.
The $100 minimum, age, and modification
Nevada’s reformed guideline (NAC Chapter 425, effective February 1, 2020) also eliminated the old presumptive income caps, so higher incomes are handled by the tiered schedule rather than a hard ceiling. A minimum award of $100 per month per child applies unless the court finds in writing that the obligor can’t pay it. Support runs to 18, or 19 if still in high school. Under NRS 125B.145, either parent can request a review every three years, and a 20% or greater change in gross income is grounds to modify. Adjustments for shared physical custody and each parent’s circumstances can move the result meaningfully.
For an actual figure
Use the official Nevada DWSS resources linked above, and for anything tied to a real case, consult a Nevada family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Nevada is set by Nevada’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official Nevada calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Nevada for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in Nevada?
- Nevada uses a percentage-of-income model applied to the paying parent's gross monthly income. A 2019–2020 reform replaced the old flat percentages with a tiered structure: the percentage steps down as income rises past set thresholds, and it varies by the number of children. Because the tiers and thresholds are specific, the state's official calculator is the reliable way to apply them.
- What changed in the Nevada 2020 guidelines?
- Nevada moved from simple flat percentages (with a cap) to a bracketed schedule in Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 425, effective February 1, 2020. Instead of one percentage on all income, different percentages apply to different income bands, and the old presumptive income caps were eliminated. If you remember an older flat-percentage figure, it may be out of date.
- Does Nevada consider both parents’ incomes?
- The base obligation is driven by the paying parent’s income, but Nevada’s guidelines include adjustments — for shared physical custody, for each parent’s circumstances, and for the child’s needs — that the court applies. The official calculator and worksheet handle these; a single percentage on gross income is only a rough starting point.
- Is there a minimum, and until what age is support paid?
- Yes. The minimum award is $100 per month per child unless the court makes a written finding that the obligor cannot pay it. Support ends at 18, or at high-school graduation (up to 19) if the child is still in school. Either parent may request a review every three years, and a change of 20% or more in gross income is grounds to modify (NRS 125B.145).
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services resources linked on this page, and consult a Nevada family-law attorney for a real case. This page explains the model but does not compute a figure.