Child Custody
In cases of divorce and separation, the court presiding over the divorce proceedings may also be the court to determine child custody arrangements.
There are two types of custody – legal custody and physical custody.
Legal custody permits a parent to make parenting decisions on a non-emergency basis. Specifically, a parent with legal custody may make decisions regarding school enrollment, extracurricular activities, religious upbringing, medical needs, and the location where a child resides. In most cases, parents share legal custody.
Physical custody can be joint (custody shared between both parents) or one parent can have primary custody. In joint custody situations, the parents share near equal parenting time. In determining all custody decisions, the court looks to reach a decision in the best interest of the child. The best interest of the child includes the wishes of the child if the child is of sufficient age, the level of conflict between the parents, the nature of the child’s relationship with each parent, as well as the mental and physical health of the parents.
Child Support
Child support is the financial support of minor children. In Nevada, child support is a percentage of gross monthly income earned by a parent. Child support payments are intended to provide food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities for a minor child. The amount of child support is determined by considering several factors, including the number of children and, in joint custody situations, the income of each parent.