Reno Child Support Lawyer

Let Our Experienced Child Support Attorney in Reno, NV, Advocate for Payments That Fairly and Reasonably Provide Security for Your Child

Child support issues are among the most important and emotionally charged aspects of any family law case. Whether you are going through a divorce, facing post-decree modifications, or establishing support for the first time, our experienced Reno child support lawyer at Smit Law Group can help ensure your child’s financial stability while protecting your rights as a parent.

Child support in Nevada is more than just a number. It’s a reflection of a child’s right to share in the financial resources of both parents. We are committed to fighting for fair and favorable decisions in child support disputes, protecting children’s financial security while ensuring that parents pay their fair share without unreasonable burdens. For help resolving your child support matter with skilled advocacy and compassionate understanding, contact us today.

What to Know About Child Support in Nevada

Child support is a court-ordered financial contribution that one parent makes to the other for the purpose of supporting their minor child or children. The goal is to ensure that both parents contribute proportionally to the child’s upbringing by covering necessities such as:

• Housing
• Food
• Clothing
• Healthcare
• Education

In Reno and throughout Nevada, courts handle child support as part of a larger family law framework that includes child custody, visitation, and divorce. Whether parents were married or not, child support cases are governed by the same fundamental principles: ensuring the child’s needs are met and maintaining consistency across households.

Our child support attorney in Reno, NV, can guide you through each step of the process, from establishing an initial order to modifying or enforcing existing payments.

Your future deserves attention today. Call 775-993-2235 or contact our team to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Available 24/7

775-993-2235

Who Pays Child Support in Nevada?

Under Nevada law, both parents have a duty to financially support their children. However, the parent who spends less time with the child (the “non-custodial” parent) is typically the one who pays child support.

This payment helps balance the financial responsibilities between households, particularly when one parent incurs more of the day-to-day expenses for the child. Even in cases of joint or shared custody, the parent with the higher income may still owe support, depending on the disparity between the parents’ earnings and the amount of time each spends with the child.

A Reno child support lawyer can analyze your parenting arrangement, income, and expenses to calculate an accurate and fair child support obligation in compliance with Nevada law.

Understanding how child support is determined, modified, and enforced is essential to achieving a fair and lasting arrangement that serves your child’s best interests.

Child Support in the Context of Divorce

Child support often arises during divorce proceedings. When parents file for divorce in Reno, the court will address custody, visitation, and child support as part of the overall decree.

Support orders are typically issued alongside custody determinations to ensure financial stability from the start.

If you are pursuing or responding to a divorce petition, it’s crucial to have an experienced legal advocate who can coordinate your case strategy. Your lawyer’s role involves ensuring that support calculations are fair and integrated with other family law issues, such as property division and spousal support.

Post-Decree Support

After a divorce is finalized, the child support order remains enforceable until it’s modified by the court or the child reaches the age of 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Even after a divorce decree is entered, parents may need legal assistance to adjust payments due to changing financial circumstances.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Nevada

Nevada follows a formula‐based system under the child support guidelines, as implemented by NRS 125B.080 in conjunction with regulations adopted under NRS 425.620. Generally, the support calculation is based on a parent’s gross monthly income and the number of children.

Per the Nevada Division of Social Services, current basic guideline percentages are as follows:

• One child: 16% of gross monthly income
• Two children: 22%
• Three children: 26%
• Four children: 28%
• Each additional child: +2%

The statutes and regulations provide a presumptive guideline amount, but courts have discretion to deviate from this formula based on certain factors, such as:

• The child’s specific financial needs
• Each parent’s income and financial condition
• The cost of health insurance and childcare
• The amount of time each parent spends with the child
• Special educational or medical requirements

As your skilled child support attorney in Reno, NV, we will ensure that these factors are fully considered to achieve an outcome that aligns with both statutory requirements and practical realities.

Establishing Child Support

Establishing child support is a formal process that can occur through either:

• Divorce or custody proceedings: Child support is included as part of a larger family law action.
• Paternity actions: When parents were never married, the court must first establish legal paternity before determining support.

The establishment process involves:

• Filing a petition or motion for child support
• Verifying each parent’s income through documentation
• Applying the Nevada guidelines to determine the presumptive amount
• Reviewing factors for potential deviation
• Entering a legally enforceable support order

A Reno child support lawyer from Smit Law Group can assist in collecting necessary financial information, presenting accurate evidence, and ensuring the support order reflects your child’s best interests.

Enforcement of Child Support Orders

If a parent fails to pay child support, Nevada offers several enforcement mechanisms, including:

• Wage garnishment
• Intercepting tax refunds
• Suspending driver’s or professional licenses
• Contempt of court actions
• Seizure of property or liens

At Smit Law Group, we work closely with local agencies and courts to ensure that unpaid support is pursued aggressively while protecting our clients from excessive or improper enforcement actions.

Enforcement can also apply across state lines under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (in Nevada, established under NRS 130.0902 to NRS 130.802). Under this law, support orders from other states can be enforced in Nevada and vice versa.

Modifying Child Support Orders

Life changes, and so can your ability to pay or your child’s financial needs. Nevada law allows for modification of child support orders under certain conditions. Generally, accepted reasons for modification include:

• A change in income of either parent (such as job loss or promotion)
• A change in custody or parenting time arrangement
• The child’s medical or educational needs changing
• A periodic review, which can be requested every three years

To request a modification, a parent must demonstrate a “substantial change in circumstances,” typically defined as a 20% change in income or other significant shift that would make the current order unfair or inappropriate.

Our child support attorney in Reno, NV, helps clients evaluate whether they qualify for modification and navigate the legal process to adjust payments appropriately. We also defend against requests for unjustified modifications, ensuring our clients’ financial interests remain protected.

Child Support and Custody: How They Interact

It’s common for parents to confuse child custody and child support, but they are distinct issues that influence one another.

Custody determines where the child lives and how time is divided between parents, while support determines the financial contribution from each parent.

For instance, in joint custody arrangements, child support is still often necessary to account for income disparities. Courts seek to balance both parents’ contributions to ensure the child’s living standard remains consistent across households.

Because child custody and support are so interconnected, many families choose to work with a child support attorney in Reno, NV, who also has deep experience handling custody matters. At Smit Law Group, we manage both aspects seamlessly as part of our broader family law services.

Post-Decree Life and Long-Term Considerations

Child support doesn’t end once a court order is issued. It evolves as your child grows and as your life circumstances change. Over time, parents may experience:

• Relocation to or from Reno
• New marriages or stepchildren
• Changes in employment or self-employment income
• The child’s needs increasing with age

A Reno child support lawyer can help you proactively review and adjust your order as needed, preventing future disputes and ensuring continued compliance with Nevada law.

We also assist with post-decree enforcement and modification motions, helping parents maintain financial stability and minimize conflict as they co-parent long-term.

How Smit Law Group Can Help

At Smit Law Group, we combine deep knowledge of Nevada family law with a compassionate, client-centered approach. Our attorney understands that every family’s situation is unique and that every child deserves fair and consistent support.

We take the time to explain your options clearly, guide you through complex paperwork, and advocate for your rights in court if necessary. Whether you’re establishing, enforcing, or modifying a child support order, our experienced lawyer will work diligently to achieve a resolution that serves both you and your child’s best interests.

Why Choose Smit Law Group as Your Reno Child Support Lawyer?

In Reno and throughout the region, families turn to Smit Law Group for help protecting their rights and their child’s security in support calculations, modifications, and enforcement. Clients choose our law firm for our:

• Full support for family law issues: Our diligent handling of child support cases fits into our law firm’s broader practices of family law. We assist our clients with related issues such as divorce, child custody, and more, so you have a strategy that addresses every aspect of your legal issue.
• Multilingual service to overcome language barriers: We are one of the few family law firms in the Reno area that is equipped to serve our region’s Hispanic population in their own language. Drawing on attorney Margaretha "Greta" Smit’s fluency in English, Spanish, Dutch, German, and French, we provide multilingual legal assistance.
• Extensive legal experience: Attorney Greta Smit has nearly two decades of experience practicing law, and our firm has served the Reno area since 2014. We have a record of securing our clients favorable outcomes in child support cases, custody cases, property division disputes, and other issues that pertain to divorce proceedings.

We’re committed to advocating for our clients and, particularly, for the children whose lives are directly impacted by the financial support they receive.

Contact a Reno Child Support Lawyer at Smit Law Group Today for Your Initial Consultation

Whether you are filing for divorce, establishing paternity, or seeking a modification, our Reno child support lawyer is ready to help. We provide the legal insight and compassionate guidance you need to secure a fair outcome for your family.

Take the first step toward protecting your child’s future by scheduling a confidential consultation with our family law firm. Contact Smit Law Group online or call 775-993-2235 today.