Family and friends may steer you wrong……

Family law practitioners often hear, “my friend or family said that I am entitled to X.” I can’t tell you how many times that I have heard this statement or, “my friend went through a divorce and she received X.”

Every case is different. First, your family and friends probably do not know the law and if your family or friends went through a divorce/child custody action, their action probably had a different judge and the facts are usually different. The other consideration is that your friends and family are probably only telling you what they believe to be true or what they want you to know.

This advice is also relevant in most fields of law including car accidents, wrongful death cases, personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases and slip and fall cases.

A little knowledge can be very dangerous. Listen to your lawyer.

How do I calculate child support if one parent is designated primary physical custodian?

In a case where one parent has primary physical custody, child support is set pursuant to the non-custodial parent’s gross monthly income (before taxes). The gross monthly income is multiplied by a figure determinative by the amount of children subject of the relationship.
1 child = 18%
2 children = 25%
3 children = 29%
4 children = 31%
Each additional child, an additional 2%
Thereafter, the Court looks to the statutory presumptions and sets child support based upon whichever figure is less (the statutory presumption is multiplied by the amount of children). Please see Hanrattylawgroup.com for current statutory presumptions.
Once child support is determined, the Court can consider several factors (NRS 125B.080(9)) when adjusting the child support upward or downward. The factors for the court to consider are as follows:

1. The cost of health insurance
2. The cost of child care
3. Any special educational needs of the child
4. The age of the child
5. The legal responsibility of the parents for support of others
6. The value of services contributed by either parent
7. Any public assistance paid to support the child
8. Any expense reasonably related to the mother’s pregnancy and confinement
9. The cost of transportation of the child to and from visitation if the custodial parent moved with the child from the jurisdiction of the court which ordered the support and the noncustodial parent remained
10. The amount of time the child spends with each parent
11. Any other necessary expenses for the benefit of the child
12. The relative income of both parents

Although the statutory presumptions and adjustment factors still apply in joint custody cases, the determination of child support is different.

Welcome to Hanratty Law Group’s recently established blog.

Hanratty Law Group is a law firm located in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada.  We have three attorneys that practice solely in the area of family law which includes, but is not limited to, divorce, child custody, spousal support and post divorce litigation.  Hanratty Law Group also has an attorney that practices in personal injury and corporate litigation. Our goal is to provide our clients with the personal attention necessary to achieve their ultimate goal.

This goal of this blog is to keep our followers updated on family law and personal injury issues that arise within the Court.   Furthermore, it is our goal to post all new case law, changes in Court rules and procedures.  Lastly, with consent from our clients, we will be providing facts and decisions related to some of our ongoing cases.  Please note that all posts related to a specific case will be limited due to the confidentiality of our clients.

The attorneys at Hanratty Law Group hope you find the posts informative and useful.  You can also contact us through our websites to request information to be posted on the blog.  For family law cases, please visit www.HanrattyLawGroup.com and for personal injury and corporate litigation cases please visit www.LVinjuryLawFirm.com.

Thank you and enjoy!