Opinion ID: 2636236
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The calculation of child support in joint physical custody arrangement with unequal timeshare

Text: The Wright v. Osburn formula determines which parent should receive child support when parties equally share joint physical custody. [32] Under that formula, child support is calculated based on the parents' gross incomes. [33] Each parent is obligated to pay a percentage of their income, according to the number of children, as determined by NRS 125B.070( l )(b). The difference between the two support amounts is calculated, and the higher-income parent is obligated to pay the lower-income parent the difference. [34] The district court may adjust the resulting amount of child support using the statutory factors. [35] The purposes of the Wright formula are to adjust child support to equalize the child's standard of living between parents and to provide a formula for consistent decisions in similar cases. [36] In unequal timeshare situations, where there is a primary and secondary custodial parent or a custodial and noncustodial parent, the court applies the statutory formula, and makes any necessary deviations. [37] For example, under NRS 125B.080(9)(j), the child support award may be adjusted according to [t]he amount of time the child spends with each parent. Nevada law, however, does not give courts sufficient direction for determining how to calculate child support when the arrangement provides for joint physical custody but the parents share unequal time with the child. In such cases, parents may have disparate incomes and also incur different financial burdens while caring for the child. In extending Wright to cases of joint custody with unequal timeshares, we adopt a formula that accounts for any disparity in income as well as time spent caring for the child.