According to Nevada law, the state bar must review Nevada's child support formulas every four years and report its findings to the Legislature. Family Court Judge Terrance Marren has accused the 1993 Legislature of ignoring the committee's first report to avoid controversy. More than half of all child support obligors do not pay their child support on time or in full. The result is that many Nevada primary parents and children live in poverty or with a diminished quality of life because child support obligors choose not to honor their obligation to pay child support. The child support committee included a recommendation for mandatory wage withholding in its 1996 report.
Officials say noncustodial parents find creative ways to avoid their support obligations.
Some sidestep wage withholding by making frequent job changes or by accepting underground employment. The attorney said his committee consists of family law practitioners who represent both mothers and fathers. Willick said Nevada lawmakers first approved child support guidelines in 1987. Willick expects the cap proposal to attract the most controversy. The hearing master said private attorneys and the community at large tend to view child support as one component of a divorce case.