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Is there a fee for opening a child support case? |
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No. Effective January 1, 2000 there is no longer a fee to open a child support case. |
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What if the parents of the child(ren) were never married to each other? |
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Then an action to establish paternity must be initiated. See Paternity Issues FAQ. |
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What if I am on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)? |
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Your case will automatically be referred to the District Attorney's Office, Family Support Division. |
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If I am on TANF, am I still eligible to receive child support payments from the noncustodial parent? |
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If you are receiving TANF , your rights to receive court ordered child support may be affected. |
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What if I am not on TANF? |
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Child support collected on behalf of non- TANF families goes directly to the custodial parent. |
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Are my children eligible for medical insurance coverage? |
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We can establish and enforce medical insurance coverage. |
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Can the Court order the noncustodial parent to pay child support? |
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Yes. The District Attorney's Office, Family Support Division, can get a court order for child support. However, to get a court order, we must know where the noncustodial parent resides or works. |
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What if the noncustodial parent has a job, but is not making child support payments ordered by the Court? |
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We can get an order for income withholding and the child support will be withheld from the noncustodial parent's wages or salary. The court order for withholding of the noncustodial parent's wages, other income, or assets for payment of child support applies to all future employers and all future sources of income. However, in order to establish income withholding, we must know where the noncustodial parent works. |
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What if the noncustodial parent, who owes child support, receives unemployment, workers' compensation, or state or local government retirement system benefits? |
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Those benefit checks can be attached for payment of support. |
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What if the noncustodial parent does not have a job or any other income or assets? |
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The Court will order him or her to find a job and to notify the Court immediately when a job has been found. We can also intercept federal and state income tax refunds from the parent who owes child support. |
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What if the noncustodial parent owns real property, but still does not pay the court ordered child support? |
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We can impose liens against real property belonging to the noncustodial parent for the amount of child support which is overdue. |
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What other enforcement tools does the District Attorney's Office, Family Support Division use in attempting to collect child support for the custodial parent? |
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In addition to income withholding, which includes withholding of unemployment and worker's compensation benefits and military and government checks, we can suspend driver's licenses and professional, occupational, and recreational licenses, certificates, and permits. |
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Can child support still be collected if the noncustodial parent moves out of the State of Nevada? |
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Yes. Many enforcement tools apply to out-of-state noncustodial parents as well. U.S. Attorney criminal prosecution may be used in some extreme interstate cases. |
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Does the District Attorney's Office, Family Support Division also determine custody of the children and visitation rights or settle visitation disputes? |
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No. You will need to seek the advice of an attorney regarding those issues. |
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Does the District Attorney's Office, Family Support Division resolve property settlement matters or collect payment of medical bills? |
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No. You will need to seek the advice of an attorney regarding those issues. |
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Will the District Attorney's Office, Family Support Division locate children or become involved in cases of rape or incest? |
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If the problems in the above question exist, you should report them to the appropriate police agency for their assistance and for the assistance of the Criminal Division of the District Attorney's Office or seek the advice of a private attorney. |
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Will my case be kept confidential? |
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Any information that you give us may be reported to Nevada State Welfare and there is no lawyer-client privilege. Also, we must put in our pleadings your and your child's name, and serve them on the person you are seeking child support from. All documents filed with the County Clerk's Office are available to the public. You can provide an affidavit giving sufficient information to show the court that you or your child's health, safety or liberty are at risk if this information is provided. The Court may order your file sealed in the County Clerk's Office. The files of the District Attorney's Family Support Division are otherwise held in confidence. |