Opinion ID: 2507848
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The child support order

Text: Nevada imposes upon both parents the duty to provide child support. [1] Our state's child support statute authorizes a district court to determine a parent's support obligation based on his or her gross monthly income, which could include both SSI and SSD benefits. [2] Although the United States Supreme Court has accorded the states great deference in matters regarding family law, under the Supremacy Clause, a federal statute may preempt a state statute when the two laws conflict. [3] Federal law exempts certain social security benefits from legal process. Thus, in the present matter we must determine whether SSI and/or SSD are preempted by federal law from being considered as gross monthly income under Nevada's child support statute. Making this determination requires an understanding of the distinction between SSI and SSD. Each is intended to serve a specific purpose for the recipient.