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Does a Non-Biological Parent Have to Pay Child Support in Las Vegas?

Every child deserves to receive financial support from both parents, even if the parents do not live together in the same household. If only one parent has custody of the child, or if one parent has primary custody, the non-custodial parent is responsible for paying financial support.  A standard formula is used in the state of Nevada to determine how much child support must be paid. The formula considers the amount of time that each parent spends with the child; the number of shared children;  the total income of the family and the percent of the income made by each parent; and the special needs of the child.

While child support is required, however, the support is generally only due from biological parents. A non-biological parent typically does not have to pay child support in Las Vegas. This means that if a couple was married and was raising a child together but the child only belonged to one of the two spouses, the other would not have any child support obligations after divorce. This is true no matter how long the couple was wed.

Understanding the guidelines and rules for child support is extremely important in order to ensure the needs of children are met as well as to secure your own finances.  An experienced Las Vegas, Nevada divorce and family lawyer at Pintar Albiston LLP can provide guidance and assistance on child support cases. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn more.

Does a Non-Biological Parent Have to Pay Child Support in Las Vegas?

A non-biological parent generally has no legally recognized relationship to the child, except as a step-parent. As a result, if the step-parent divorces from the child’s parent, he or she will not have to pay child support in Las Vegas. The step parent typically also would have no legal right to insist upon visitation with the child, although the parents could work out an agreement that allows a relationship to be maintained if the child and step-parent have become close.

There is, however, an exception to this general rule. If a non-biological parent has adopted a child, then a permanent legal relationship is formed. The adoptive parent has every responsibility to the child that a biological parent would have. This is true in both stranger adoptions and inter-family or step-parent adoptions. The parent who has adopted the child is responsible for paying support if he or she is no longer raising the child in his home. The adoptive parent also has visitation rights, just as any parent would.

Step-parents need to realize the permanence of adopting their spouse’s child or children and need to make an informed choice about whether they wish to take on this responsibility. Once a step-parent has adopted a child, the relationship will not be severed by divorce and the step-parent will continue to have parental rights and obligations including a duty to pay child support in Las Vegas.

An experienced divorce and family law attorney at Pintar Albiston LLP can help with adoptions, divorces and child custody or support issues. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn more.