Case library
Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.
692 decisions, organized by topic. Practitioner summaries with key holdings, posture, disposition, and the statutes cited - up front, where you need them. Every summary links to the full opinion.
399 cases · Custody & Relocation - NRS ch. 125C - custody, visitation, relocation.
ZIRATE VS. SALAZAR
Feb 8, 202424-04792 · 86416-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The court reviews child custody determinations, including resolution of relocation requests, for an abuse of discretion, citing Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007), and…
CURRERI VS. MAYHALL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Feb 2, 202424-04098 · 87834 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court conducted a preliminary jurisdictional review under NRAP 3(g) and identified a defect under NRAP 4(a)(4)(C) and NRAP 4(a)(6). A timely tolling motion terminates the 30-day appeal period, and a notice of appeal…
BARTON VS. BARTON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 31, 202424-03620 · 86753-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody order for abuse of discretion, citing Roe v. Roe, 139 Nev., Adv. Op. 21, 535 P.3d 274, 284 (Ct. App. 2023) ("A district court's custody order is reviewed for an…
KEMP VS. TURQUEZA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 31, 202424-03705 · 86347 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The court reviewed subject matter jurisdiction de novo, citing Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 702 (2009), and reviewed the district court's underlying factual findings for clear error, deferring where…
MATHESON VS. MATHESON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 31, 202424-03696 · 87763 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction based on a premature notice of appeal. Under NRAP 4(a)(4), specified post-judgment motions carry tolling effect and contemplate entry of a written order resolving…
ELMORE VS. HERRIN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 30, 202424-03465 · 86191-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court REVERSED AND REMANDED.")Standard of review: The district court has "broad discretionary power" in determining child custody, Hayes v. Gallacher, 115 Nev. 1, 4, 972 P.2d 1138, 1140 (1999), and a custody determination will not be overturned…
WILSON VS. WILSON
Jan 30, 202424-03609 · 84981-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of attorney fees for an abuse of discretion, citing Miller v. Wilfong, 121 Nev. 619, 622, 119 P.3d 727, 729 (2005). The court noted that under Davis v. Ewalefo, 131 Nev. 445,…
XAVIER VS. XAVIER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 30, 202424-03506 · 86767-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody determination for an abuse of discretion. Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 216 P.3d 213, 226 (2009), overruled in part on other grounds by Romano v. Romano,…
SANTOS GARCIA VS. DORADO ROSALES (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 22, 202424-02317 · 85962-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of attorney fees and costs for abuse of discretion, citing Gunderson v. D.R. Horton, Inc., 130 Nev. 67, 80, 319 P.3d 606, 615 (2014), and noted that a district court abuses its…
LORENZO VS. GENDEBIEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 19, 202424-02105 · 87318 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeals dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.The court conducted a sua sponte jurisdictional review following docketing-statement review and issued an order to show cause regarding appellate jurisdiction. The court evaluated three potential bases for appeal and…
WHITE VS. JONES (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 19, 202424-02194 · 86500-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: A district court's visitation decision is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Ramos v. Franklin, 129 Nev., Adv. Op. 6, 525 P.3d 1227, 1232 (2023). Factual findings are upheld if supported by…
ZAMBOANGA VS. ORTIZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 19, 202424-02134 · 86050-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Custody determination REVERSED and REMANDED for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the children's best interests would be served by modification.The Court of Appeals (Gibbons, Bulla, Westbrook) reversed on two independent grounds: a due process violation and an abuse of discretion in denying an evidentiary hearing despite prima facie showings by both movants.…
WALKER VS. WALKER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 10, 202424-01042 · 87441 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed a pro se postjudgment family law appeal as abandoned based on the appellant's failure to file a docketing statement and fast track statement after notice and a second compliance order. The October…
YOUNG VS. YOUNG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 28, 202323-42165 · 87770 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court granted appellant's motion to voluntarily dismiss her appeal pursuant to NRAP 42(b). The order contains no substantive analysis and no discussion of the underlying child custody proceedings before the Eighth…
HABASHI VS. KAMEL-KIROLLOS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 26, 202323-41864 · 85917-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals applied deferential, abuse-of-discretion review across all four claims. **Child custody.** Child custody decisions are reviewed for abuse of discretion, and factual findings are affirmed if…
HANSEN VS. HANSEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 26, 202323-41858 · 84435-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."The Court of Appeals reviewed each of Irina's claims under an abuse-of-discretion standard and affirmed. Child support. Child support orders are reviewed for abuse of discretion, Edgington v. Edgington, 119 Nev. 577,…
OLSEN VS. OLSEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 22, 202323-41754 · 85923 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court invoked NRAP 42(b) to convert appellant's notice of withdrawal into a motion for voluntary dismissal and grant it. No merits analysis, standard of review, or doctrinal discussion appears in the order. The…
YOUNG VS. YOUNG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 22, 202323-41700 · 85802 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeals dismissed.The court dismissed both appeals on two independent grounds: mootness and lack of an appealable order. On mootness, the court relied on Personhood Nev. v. Bristol, 126 Nev. 599, 602, 245 P.3d 572, 574 (2010),…
YOUNG VS. YOUNG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 22, 202323-41702 · 87269 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeals dismissed; emergency motion to confirm the December 1 order's effectiveness denied; April 3 stay dissolved; countermotion for stay denied.The court resolved two appeals on justiciability and appealability grounds. As to mootness, the court applied Personhood Nev. v. Bristol, 126 Nev. 599, 602, 245 P.3d 572, 574 (2010), reiterating that mootness is a…
FOCHT VS. CAMPBELL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 20, 202323-41247 · 86167-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody decision for an abuse of discretion, citing Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). Under that standard, the court will affirm…
MEAD VS. MEAD (CHILD CUSTODY) C/W 84878
Dec 20, 202323-41256 · 84843-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed in Docket No. 84843-COA; reversed and remanded in Docket No. 84878-COA.The court addressed appellate jurisdiction before reaching the merits. It held that the temporary custody order challenged in Docket No. 84843-COA did not "finally establish[ ] or alter[] the custody of minor children"…
ASKEW VS. ASKEW (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 13, 202323-40411 · 84315-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review.** District courts have broad discretion in child custody cases, reviewed for abuse of discretion; factual findings will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence — "evidence that a…
LOZANO-DONOHUE VS. DONOHUE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 13, 202323-40378 · 84261-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded (Order of Reversal and Remand).The Court of Appeals reviews child custody determinations for an abuse of discretion, but "the district court must have reached its conclusions for the appropriate reasons." Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d…
PAYNE VS. PAYNE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 13, 202323-40385 · 86478-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's denial of a motion to modify child custody without an evidentiary hearing for abuse of discretion, citing Myers v. Haskins, 138 Nev., Adv. Op. 51, 513 P.3d 527, 531…
OLSEN VS. OLSEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 5, 202323-39353 · 87622 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed the appeal under NRAP 3(a)(2) for failure to comply with filing requirements. The appeal was docketed November 20, 2023, without payment of the filing fee required by NRAP 3(e). The clerk's notice…
FRANKLIN VS. FRANKLIN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 4, 202323-39225 · 84334 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.Standard of review. Child custody decisions are reviewed for abuse of discretion, with factual findings sustained if supported by substantial evidence. Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 216 P.3d 213, 226 (2009);…
TOLIVER VS. TOLIVER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 29, 202323-38770 · 85877-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("It is so ORDERED." affirming the district court's order.)The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody modification against the settled standard that a district court has broad discretion in custody matters, but its findings must be supported by substantial evidence —…
ANDERSON VS. BLECHA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 27, 202323-38374 · 86292-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody modification for abuse of discretion, citing Bautista v. Picone, 134 Nev. 334, 336, 419 P.3d 157, 159 (2018). An abuse of discretion occurs when the decision is…
GENNARDO VS. GENNARDO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 22, 202323-38085 · 85370-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded: the court AFFIRMs the child custody judgment, REVERSEs as to the permanent relocation of the children, and REMANDs for expeditious proceedings.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody and relocation determinations for abuse of discretion. "Appellate courts 'will not disturb the district court's custody determinations absent a clear abuse of…
PEDERSON VS. JETER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 17, 202323-37496 · 86104-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The Court of Appeals reviewed the custody decision for an abuse of discretion, declining to disturb findings supported by substantial evidence, citing Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 216 P.3d 213, 226 (2009),…
HAER VS. REYES (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 15, 202323-37084 · 84078-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part and remanded.The court applied an abuse-of-discretion standard of review to the child support determinations, citing Edgington v. Edgington, 119 Nev. 577, 588, 80 P.3d 1282, 1290 (2003). Underlying factual findings will not be…
ROBERSON VS. ROBERSON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 15, 202323-37125 · 85635-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The court addressed two issues under different standards of review. On the decree-interpretation issue, the court reviewed the district court's interpretation of the divorce decree de novo, treating it as a question of…
KRAGEN VS. DIST. CT. (KRAGEN)
Oct 30, 202323-35210 · 86626-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition granted; the Court of Appeals directed the clerk to issue a writ of mandamus instructing the district court to vacate its orders concluding that home state jurisdiction exists and to reconsider the matter after an evidentiary hearing. (The request for a writ of prohibition was denied.)The Court of Appeals granted mandamus relief directed at Eighth Judicial District Court orders assuming UCCJEA jurisdiction and establishing temporary custody in a divorce action. On jurisdiction, the court reiterated…
IN RE: K.B. AND Z. C.-H. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 26, 202323-34951 · 87432 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed the appeal sua sponte for lack of appellate jurisdiction following its initial jurisdictional review of the notices of appeal. The order on review was a district court order for protective custody of…
CAMBRA VS. LANDINO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 24, 202323-34663 · 85093-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the custody and relocation determinations for abuse of discretion (Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440 n.6, 92 P.3d 1224, 1227…
HERNANDEZ-BASILIO VS. MARQUEZ-HERNANDEZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 13, 202323-33548 · 84487-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed each of Edgar's claims under the abuse-of-discretion standard. On physical custody, the court applied Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), reviewing custody…
PERRY VS. LEE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 10, 202323-33051 · 86002-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court REVERSED AND REMAND this matter to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the question of subject matter jurisdiction de novo, citing Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009). Subject matter jurisdiction over child custody is governed by NRS…
ARMSTRONG VS. BALL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 5, 202323-32588 · 85718-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("ORDER OF REVERSAL AND REMAND")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody and child support determinations for an abuse of discretion under Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 438, 216 P.3d 213, 226, 232 (2009), overruled on…
LIPATA VS. RAZO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 4, 202323-32526 · 87227 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court applied the settled rule that it "may only consider appeals authorized by statute or court rule." Brown v. MHC Stagecoach, LLC, 129 Nev. 343, 345, 301 P.3d 850, 851 (2013). Identifying the order on appeal as a…
KADER VS. KADER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 29, 202323-32041 · 87096 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court conducted a sua sponte jurisdictional review of the notice of appeal. It held that the challenged interlocutory order was not appealable as a final judgment under NRAP 3A(b)(1) because it did not dispose of…
KELLEY VS. KELLEY
Sep 28, 202323-31815 · 84685 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review. Whether the district court applied the correct legal standard, and whether that standard infringes a fundamental right, are reviewed de novo. Lawrence v. Clark County, 127 Nev. 390, 393, 254 P.3d…
MCDANIEL VS. CHRISTIAN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 27, 202323-31610 · 86959 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court granted appellant's unopposed motion for voluntary dismissal pursuant to NRAP 42(b) and dismissed the appeal. No substantive issues were reached, and no legal analysis is set forth in the order.
HARRIS VS. FIGUEROA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 13, 202323-30051 · 85333-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody determination for abuse of discretion. Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996). A district court abuses its discretion when its decision is…
POOL VS. POOL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 13, 202323-29920 · 85771-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's decision not to hold an evidentiary hearing before denying a motion to modify custody for an abuse of discretion, citing Bautista v. Picone, 134 Nev. 334, 338, 419 P.3d…
SEARE VS. SEARE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 12, 202323-29762 · 87154 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed the appeal under NRAP 3(a)(2) for failure to comply with the filing-fee requirement of NRAP 3(e). After docketing on August 17, 2023, the court issued a 14-day notice directing payment or compliance…
RAMIREZ-RIVAS VS. ARREGUIN-GARCIA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 11, 202323-29729 · 86973 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.This is a clerk's order dismissing an appeal for failure to pay the filing fee required by NRAP 3(e). After docketing on July 17, 2023, the court issued a 14-day notice to pay or to demonstrate compliance with NRAP 24…
DAVITIAN-KOSTANIAN VS. KOSTANIAN
Aug 31, 202323-28546 · 84086 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review. Statutory interpretation is reviewed de novo. Arguello v. Sunset Station, Inc., 127 Nev. 365, 368, 252 P.3d 206, 208 (2011). Child support and alimony rulings are reviewed for abuse of discretion.…
ROWBERRY VS. ROWBERRY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 28, 202323-27999 · 85076-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court REVERSED and REMANDED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody and relocation determinations for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440, 92 P.3d…
SUPNICK VS. SUPNICK (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 24, 202323-27641 · 85818-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The Court of Appeals addressed appellate jurisdiction on its own initiative through a show cause order, applying Nevada's finality rules to a post-divorce-decree custody context. The dispositive question was whether the…
FRANE VS. FRANE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 22, 202323-27419 · 85498-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review.** The court reviewed custody determinations for abuse of discretion, affirming if supported by substantial evidence. Locklin v. Duka, 112 Nev. 1489, 1493, 929 P.2d 930, 933 (1996); Ellis v.…
Every summary is independently verified against the source opinion; summaries are informational research aids, not legal advice, and no substitute for reading the decision. Topic groupings are derived automatically from each case’s category tag and cited statutes; a case may appear under two topics.