Expenses that child support may cover

When a noncustodial parent is ordered by a Nevada court to pay child support to a custodial parent, they may believe that they should only be assisting with covering the child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter. However, there are more costs associated with raising a child than basic necessities, such as school costs, textbooks and lunch money. Noncustodial parents are expected to help with these expenses as well.

In addition to child support, in Nevada, each parent is expected to pay half of their child’s medical insurance premiums. Each parent must also pay half of medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Child support payments may also be used to cover other extraneous costs. For example, if a custodial parent is responsible for getting a child to and from school, the payment may go toward the cost of maintaining a vehicle. Some courts also include the cost of entertainment, such as a computer or a trip to an amusement park, as part of the costs of raising a child.

In Nevada, the amount of child support a noncustodial parent may be required to pay to a custodial parent is determined using state-specific guidelines. Because there are a number of factors the court takes into consideration when awarding child support, a family law attorney may assist a noncustodial parent with providing all of the proper financial documents so that an appropriate payment amount can be awarded. If the noncustodial parent’s circumstances change, the attorney may help with obtaining an adjustment that reflects their client’s new circumstances.

Source: Findlaw, “What Does Child Support Cover?“, December 19, 2014