Nevada Child Support Calculator (2026) | Gastelum Attorneys

Reviewed by Jennifer Setters, Esq. · Updated July 2026

The calculator and the information on this page are general estimates for
educational purposes only. They are not legal advice, they do not guarantee
any court outcome, and your use of this page does not create an
attorney-client relationship with Gastelum Attorneys.

Use this Nevada child support calculator to estimate what you
will likely pay or receive before going to court in 2026. Enter each parent’s
income, number of children, and custody type above for an instant estimate
based on Nevada’s current tiered formula under
NAC 425.140.
This child support calculator for Nevada reflects the 2020
formula update and the ruling in Martinez v. Martinez,
140 Nev. Adv. Op. 73 (Nov. 27, 2024), which requires transportation costs to
be analyzed within the child support determination itself, the two most
significant changes affecting Clark County calculations today. For the
official state tool, see the
Nevada Child Support Guidelines Calculator
maintained by the court system, or the
Nevada DWSS Child Support Guidelines page.

How the Nevada Child Support Calculator Works in 2026

Nevada replaced its old flat-percentage child support formula on
February 1, 2020. The current system, codified in
Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 425, uses a tiered
model that applies different percentages to different income brackets. The 2020
update eliminated the presumptive caps that existed under former
NRS 125B.070 (since repealed), meaning higher-income parents can owe
significantly more than under the old rules.

To use the child support calculator for Nevada correctly, you need three inputs:
each parent’s gross monthly income (GMI), the
number of children subject to the order, and the
custody arrangement (primary or joint physical custody).
Parents going through a divorce in Las Vegas or a custody dispute
must provide this information on a
Financial Disclosure Form filed with
the Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County Family Division).

Nevada Child Support Percentage Table (NAC 425.140, 2026)

There is no presumptive maximum cap under the current guidelines. Before
February 1, 2020, Nevada imposed presumptive maximum amounts under former
NRS 125B.070. That section has been repealed, and the tiered system contains
no ceiling: percentages decrease at higher income tiers, but obligations
continue to increase with income.

What Counts as Gross Monthly Income in Nevada?

Under NAC 425, gross monthly income includes all income before taxes from any
source: wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, overtime pay (when it is
substantial, consistent, and can be accurately determined under
NAC 425.025),
investment income, rental income, alimony received, periodic pension or
retirement payments, unemployment benefits, and Social Security disability
and old-age insurance benefits.

Income does not include child support received from another
case, public assistance benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Self-Employment Income and the Nevada Child Support Calculator

Self-employment income is one of the most contested issues in Clark County
child support cases. Under NAC 425, a self-employed parent’s GMI is generally
calculated as gross business revenue minus legitimate business
expenses, but what qualifies as “legitimate” is where disputes arise.
For income from a business entity a parent controls, NAC 425.025 also reaches
undistributed income and permits adjustments to claimed depreciation.

Courts review Schedule C (sole proprietors), K-1 (partnerships and S-corps),
and corporate tax returns. IRS-allowed deductions such as vehicle depreciation,
home office deductions, and equipment write-offs may be added back if the court
determines they do not reflect real out-of-pocket costs.

For parents with fluctuating income, including seasonal workers, commission
earners, gig economy workers, and business owners, courts commonly average
income over a representative period such as 12 to 24 months. In high-conflict
cases, a judge may order a forensic accounting review. If you
suspect the other parent is running personal expenses through a business to
reduce their reported income, a
Las Vegas child support attorney
can request discovery of bank statements, QuickBooks files, and tax records.

Primary Custody vs. Joint Custody: Which Formula Applies?

The custody arrangement determines which formula the Nevada child support
calculator applies. Nevada courts classify physical custody based on a
365-day year using the guideline from Rivero v. Rivero,
125 Nev. 410 (2009):

Primary physical custody: One parent has the child more than
60% of the year (more than 219 overnights). Only the non-custodial parent’s
income is used. The full formula amount is owed to the custodial parent.

Joint physical custody: Each parent has the child at least
40% of the year (approximately 146 overnights). Both parents’ incomes are run
through the formula separately. The lower amount is subtracted from the
higher, and the parent with the larger obligation pays the
difference (the offset method under
NAC 425.115).

The 40% figure is a guideline, not a rigid cutoff. Under
Bluestein v. Bluestein, 131 Nev. 106, 345 P.3d 1044 (2015), the
Rivero guideline serves as a tool, and the child’s best interest remains the
primary consideration in classifying and modifying custody.

Example: Joint Custody Child Support Calculation

Example: Primary Custody Child Support Calculation

When Courts Adjust the Nevada Child Support Formula

The Nevada child support calculator produces a presumptive amount:
the court assumes it is correct unless a party demonstrates grounds for
adjustment. Under
NRS 125B.080,
courts apply the guidelines adopted by the Division of Welfare and Supportive
Services, and under
NAC 425.150(1)
a judge may increase or decrease the calculated amount based on eight
enumerated factors, with written findings of fact. The eight factors are:
any special educational needs of the child; the legal responsibility of the
parties for the support of others; the value of services contributed by
either party; any public assistance paid to support the child; the cost of
transportation of the child to and from visitation; the relative income of
both households; any other necessary expenses for the benefit of the child;
and the obligor’s ability to pay.

Upward adjustments (court orders more than the formula)
most often rest on the child’s special educational needs or on other
necessary expenses for the child’s benefit, the catch-all factor where costs
not otherwise addressed in the order are typically raised.

Downward adjustments (court orders less than the formula)
most often rest on the paying parent’s legal responsibility for the support
of others, the cost of transportation for visitation, or the obligor’s
ability to pay.

Separate from these adjustment factors, the support order must also address
the child’s health care coverage and unreimbursed medical costs
(NAC 425.135) and reasonable childcare costs (NAC 425.130).

Under Martinez v. Martinez, 140 Nev. Adv. Op. 73 (Nov. 27, 2024),
transportation costs between households must be considered
within the child support determination itself under
NAC 425.150(1)(e), rather than addressed in a separate order. If either
parent relocated outside Clark County, this ruling could significantly
affect your calculation.

Under Matkulak v. Davis, 138 Nev. Adv. Op. 61 (Sept. 1, 2022),
the Nevada Supreme Court established that any upward adjustment based on the
relative income of the households under NAC 425.150(1)(f) cannot exceed the
total obligation the other party would owe if roles were reversed. Courts can
increase support for high-income parents, but there is a built-in cap on
extreme upward adjustments.

Imputed Income: When a Parent Hides or Reduces Earnings

Nevada courts do not allow a parent to reduce their child support obligation
by voluntarily quitting a job, reducing hours, or concealing income. When a
judge determines that a parent is underemployed or unemployed without good
cause, the court imputes income under
NAC 425.125,
assigning an earning capacity based on what that parent could reasonably earn.

Circumstances the court takes into consideration include: education level,
professional licenses, employment history, prior earnings, physical and
mental health, the local job market, and available work in their field.

Evidence courts accept for imputed income claims: prior pay
stubs and W-2s, tax returns showing historical earnings, LinkedIn or resume
evidence of qualifications, job postings matching the parent’s skills,
testimony from a vocational evaluator, and evidence of lifestyle inconsistent
with reported income.

Both parents must file a
Financial Disclosure Form (FDF)
in any case involving child support. Inaccurate or incomplete disclosures can
result in sanctions, recalculated support, and contempt of court charges.

Additional Costs on Top of the Calculator Amount

The amount produced by the Nevada child support calculator is the
base support obligation only. Nevada’s guidelines require
the support order to also address several categories of expenses:

• Health insurance and medical support: The order must
  address the child’s health care coverage and specify how its cost is
  allocated between the parents (NAC 425.135).
• Unreimbursed medical expenses: Co-pays, deductibles,
  prescriptions, dental, vision, and mental health costs not covered by
  insurance, allocated as the order specifies. Many Clark County Family
  Court orders include the 30/30 rule: the paying parent
  has 30 days to send proof, and the other parent has 30 days to reimburse
  their share or object in writing. This is a common Clark County order
  provision, not a statewide statute.
• Childcare: Reasonable childcare costs necessary for a
  parent to work or attend school, allocated between the parents in the
  order (NAC 425.130).
• Special needs: Costs tied to a child’s specific
  educational or therapeutic requirements can support an adjustment to the
  base amount under NAC 425.150.

How to Modify a Child Support Order in Nevada

Under
NRS 125B.145,
an order for the support of a child must be reviewed by the court at least
every three years upon the request of a parent, a legal guardian, or the
child support enforcement agency. An order may also be reviewed at any time
based on changed circumstances, and a change of 20% or more in the
gross monthly income of a person subject to the order is deemed
changed circumstances requiring a review. A change in the
custody arrangement, for
example moving from primary to joint custody, can also support modification.
The current NAC 425 formula applies to all modifications regardless of when
the original order was entered.

Unpaid child support accumulates with interest. Enforcement options in Nevada
include wage garnishment, tax refund interception, driver’s license suspension,
passport denial, liens on property, and contempt of court. Knowingly failing
to pay court-ordered support is a Category C felony under
NRS 201.020
when arrears total $10,000 or more, punishable by 1 to 5
years in state prison.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nevada Child Support Calculator (2026)

How much is child support in Nevada for one child in 2026?

For one child, the base obligation is 16% of the first $6,000 of gross monthly
income, plus 8% of income between $6,001 and $10,000, plus 4% above $10,000.
A parent earning $5,000/month owes $800/month. A parent earning $8,000/month
owes $1,120/month. In joint custody, both parents’ obligations are calculated
and the lower is subtracted from the higher.

What is the most accurate Nevada child support calculator?

The most accurate tool is the
official Nevada Child Support Guidelines
Calculator maintained by the state court system, which applies
NAC 425.140 directly. The
Nevada DWSS Child Support Guidelines page
also provides the official formula documentation. Attorney-built calculators
like this one estimate the same formula and include legal context about
adjustment factors and supplemental expenses that the official tool does not
explain. For court-ready numbers, have a
child support attorney
verify the calculation.

Is there a maximum child support amount in Nevada?

No. Nevada eliminated presumptive maximum caps when the tiered formula took
effect on February 1, 2020, removing the old limits under former
NRS 125B.070, which has since been repealed. Under current NAC 425
guidelines there is no ceiling. Percentages decrease at higher income tiers
but obligations continue to increase with income.

What is the 30/30 rule for child support in Nevada?

The 30/30 rule applies to unreimbursed medical expenses. The parent who pays
an out-of-pocket medical cost must send proof within 30 days. The other parent
has 30 days to reimburse their proportional share or file a written objection.
It is a provision commonly written into Clark County Family Court orders
rather than a statewide statute.

Can a judge ignore the child support formula in Nevada?

Yes, within limits. Under
NAC 425.150(1),
a judge can adjust the formula amount upward or downward based on eight
enumerated factors: the child’s special educational needs, the parties’
legal responsibility for the support of others, the value of services
contributed by either party, public assistance paid to support the child,
the cost of transportation for visitation, the relative income of both
households, other necessary expenses for the child’s benefit, and the
obligor’s ability to pay. Under Martinez v. Martinez,
140 Nev. Adv. Op. 73 (Nov. 27, 2024), transportation costs must be
considered within the support determination itself. Under
Matkulak v. Davis, 138 Nev. Adv. Op. 61 (Sept. 1, 2022), any upward
adjustment based on relative household income cannot exceed what the other
parent would owe if roles were reversed.

How does joint custody affect child support in Nevada?

Joint physical custody (each parent has the child at least 40% of overnights,
the guideline established in Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410 (2009)
and applied with the child’s best interest as the primary consideration)
triggers the offset calculation under NAC 425.115. Both parents’ obligations
are calculated separately, then the smaller is subtracted from the larger.
The parent with the higher obligation pays the difference, usually producing
a lower payment than primary custody.

What if the other parent is hiding income?

Nevada courts impute income to a parent who is underemployed or unemployed
without good cause, or who is concealing earnings. The judge assigns an
earning capacity based on education, work history, prior earnings, and local
job market. The court may order a vocational evaluation or forensic
accounting review. Both parents must file a
Financial Disclosure Form;
inaccurate disclosures can result in contempt charges.

How is self-employment income calculated for child support?

Self-employed parents’ GMI generally equals gross revenue minus legitimate
business expenses, and NAC 425.025 also reaches undistributed income of a
business entity the parent controls. Courts review Schedule C, K-1, and
corporate tax returns. IRS deductions like depreciation may be added back if
they don’t reflect real out-of-pocket costs. For fluctuating income, courts
commonly average earnings over 12 to 24 months.

When does child support end in Nevada?

Child support ends when the child turns 18. If the child is still enrolled
in high school at 18, support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever
comes first. If the child has a disability that began before the age of
majority, support may continue beyond the age of majority until the child is
no longer disabled or becomes self-supporting (NRS 125B.110).

Can parents agree to a different child support amount?

Yes. Parents can stipulate to an amount that differs from the formula, but
the judge must approve it. If either parent later requests a modification,
the court applies the current NAC 425 guidelines regardless of any prior
agreement.

How is child support different from alimony in Nevada?

Child support uses a statutory formula and goes to the custodial parent for
the child’s benefit.
Alimony (spousal support) has no
fixed formula; it is determined by the court under NRS 125.150 based on
marriage length, each spouse’s income, and standard of living. A parent in a
Las Vegas divorce may owe both simultaneously. Estimate
spousal support separately with our

Nevada Alimony Calculator.

How do I file for child support in Las Vegas?

Request child support as part of a
custody case or
divorce filing in the Eighth Judicial District Court
(Clark County Family Division). Alternatively, apply through the District
Attorney’s Family Support Division (Child Support Enforcement), which can
establish paternity, locate the other parent, and set up an order. Both
parents must submit a Financial Disclosure Form and a child support
calculation worksheet.

How often can child support be modified in Nevada?

Under
NRS 125B.145,
an order must be reviewed at least every three years upon request, without
any showing of changed circumstances. At any other time, an order may be
reviewed based on changed circumstances, and a change of 20 percent or more
in the gross monthly income of a person subject to the order is deemed
changed circumstances requiring a review.

Does Nevada child support cover college expenses?

No. Nevada’s statutory child support obligation ends at age 18 (or 19 if
still in high school). Courts cannot order a parent to pay college tuition
or expenses unless both parents agree to include it in a settlement agreement
that the court approves.

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