Case library
Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.
Practitioner summaries with key holdings, posture, disposition, and the statutes cited - up front, where you need them. Every summary links to the full opinion.
47 results for “NRS Chapter 125”
AMAYA VS. GUERRERO RIVERA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 3, 201919-28444 · 75769 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.The court reviewed de novo the interpretation of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) and NRS 3.2203, citing Int'l Game Tech., Inc. v. Second Judicial Dist. Court, 124 Nev. 193, 198, 179 P.3d 556, 559 (2008). The opinion describes…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF B.A.A.R.
Sep 3, 202020-32489 · 78626-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review: The Court of Appeals reviews factual determinations for abuse of discretion, In re Guardianship of N.M., 131 Nev. 751, 754, 358 P.3d 216, 218 (2015), but applies de novo review to questions of…
DESTIN VS. DIST. CT. (HANDWERKER-LAMASTER) (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 28, 202525-37656 · 89114 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition denied.Standard of review. Mandamus may issue under NRS 34.160 to compel performance of an act the law requires, and under Nev. Const. art. 6, § 4. Relief is available only where the district court "manifestly abused [its]…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO L.R.S., J.M.S. AND J.L.S.
Sep 19, 202424-34571 · 86682 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review. The court reviewed conclusions of law, including statutory construction, de novo (Dewey v. Redev. Agency of Reno, 119 Nev. 87, 93-94, 64 P.3d 1070, 1075 (2003)), and factual findings for substantial…
WASHOE CTY. HUMAN SERVS. AGENCY VS. DIST. CT. (C.-S.)
Dec 29, 202222-40818 · 83422 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition denied.The court (Hardesty, C.J., for an en banc court) addressed two threshold issues — writ jurisdiction and mootness — before reaching a substantive due process question. Writ jurisdiction. Citing NRS 34.170, In re William…
GILL VS. GILL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 5, 202626-10349 · 89753 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review: subject matter jurisdiction is reviewed de novo; factual findings receive deference and are upheld if not clearly erroneous and supported by substantial evidence. Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660,…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF A.D.I., A.R.I., A.J.I.
Jul 9, 202424-23774 · 84126 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.Standard of review: Guardianship determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion. In re Guardianship of D.M.F., 139 Nev., Adv. Op. 38, 535 P.3d 1154, 1161 (2023); State v. Eric A.L. (In re Eric A.L.), 123 Nev. 26,…
NANCE VS. FERRARO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 5, 201818-90063 · 72454-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review: Evidentiary rulings on motions in limine and child-custody determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion. State ex rel. Dep't of Highways v. Nev. Aggregates & Asphalt Co., 92 Nev. 370, 376, 551…
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…
LUONG VS. VAHEY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 30, 202222-37693 · 83929-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**NRCP 60(a).** The court reviewed the denial of clerical-correction relief for abuse of discretion. Mack v. Estate of Mack, 125 Nev. 80, 93, 206 P.3d 98, 107 (2009); Frontier Ins. Serv., Inc. v. State, 109 Nev. 231,…
DAVIS VS. EWALEFO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 2, 201515-20176 · 63731 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition for reconsideration granted; affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review: The district court has "broad discretionary power" in determining child custody, including visitation, Hayes v. Gallacher, 115 Nev. 1, 4, 972 P.2d 1138, 1140 (1999); Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev.…
MARTINEZ VS. MARTINEZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 27, 202424-45380 · 84148 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.Standard of review. Child support determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion under Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440, 92 P.3d 1224, 1227 (2004), but questions of law - including statutory and regulatory…
EGGLESTON VS. CLARK CNTY. DEP'T OF FAMILY SERV.
Dec 10, 202424-47196 · 87583-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Jurisdiction / service.** The court first addressed DFS's threshold challenge to subject matter jurisdiction. Nevada's APA (NRS Chapter 233B) governs judicial review of administrative decisions. Liberty Mut. v.…
SMITH VS. STATE, DIV. OF WELFARE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVS.
Oct 31, 202222-33993 · 83309-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Order vacating judgment and remanding.Standard of review: The court reviews a child support order for an abuse of discretion, Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996); see also Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440, 92 P.3d 1224, 1227…
KLABACKA VS. NELSON C/W 66772
May 25, 201717-17511 · 66772 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.**Subject-matter jurisdiction.** Reviewing de novo (Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009); Landreth v. Malik, 127 Nev. 175, 179, 251 P.3d 163, 166 (2011)), the court rejected Eric's Trust's…
LORENZO VS. GENDEBIEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 18, 2026142 · 90082-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the NRCP 12(b)(5) dismissal de novo, applying the "rigorous standard of review" from Buzz Stew, LLC v. City of North Las Vegas, 124 Nev. 224, 227-28, 181 P.3d 670, 672 (2008),…
IN RE: A.T., A MINOR (FAMILY)
Jun 12, 202525-26203 · 89128 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition denied.Standard of review and writ jurisdiction. The court reviewed statutory interpretation de novo, citing Hobbs v. State, 127 Nev. 234, 237, 251 P.3d 177, 179 (2011). Mandamus is available to compel a duty or control a…
IN RE: K.M.S.
Feb 17, 202222-05362 · 81946 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The court reviewed the guardianship appointment for abuse of discretion under In re Guardianship of N.M., 131 Nev. 751, 758, 358 P.3d 216, 220 (2015), and addressed appealability under NRS 159A.375(1), which expressly…
ALHEIYAL VS. SWENSEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 14, 202424-38531 · 88055-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of a motion to set aside a divorce decree for abuse of discretion, citing Rodriguez v. Fiesta Palms, LLC, 134 Nev. 654, 656, 28 P.3d 255, 257 (2018), and Cook v. Cook, 112 Nev.…
CRISTOS VS. TOLAGSON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 20, 202323-12301 · 84167-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Judgment of the district court AFFIRMED but REMANDED for the limited purpose of correcting the clerical error.Standard of review: After a bench trial, the court reviews legal conclusions de novo and upholds factual findings supported by substantial evidence, citing Vegas United Inv. Series 105, Inc. v. Celtic Bank Corp., 135…
HALL VS. LOFTIS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 3, 202222-17755 · 81461-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The court applied de novo review to Hall's jurisdictional challenges. Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009). On the divorce-decree jurisdiction issue, the court noted Loftis pleaded only separate…
KLABACKA VS. NELSON C/W 66772
May 25, 201717-17511 · 68292 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.The Supreme Court, sitting en banc, addressed nine principal issues arising from a divorce that involved two valid Nevada self-settled spendthrift trusts. **Subject-matter jurisdiction.** Reviewing de novo (Ogawa v.…
DAWSON VS. DIST. CT. (DEPT. FAMILY SERV.) (FAMILY)
Apr 29, 202626-19361 · 92113-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition denied.The court began with the standard governing extraordinary writ relief: mandamus is available to compel performance of an act the law requires as a duty resulting from an office, trust, or station, or to control an…
SOLDO-ALLESIO VS. FERGUSON
Feb 13, 202525-06948 · 87657-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review. The Court of Appeals reviews a child custody order for abuse of discretion, Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); Roe v. Roe, 139 Nev., Adv. Op. 21, 535 P.3d 274, 284 (Ct.…
IN RE: PETITION BY COOPER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 9, 202525-39503 · 89485-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed four issues. **Subject matter jurisdiction (UCCJEA).** The court reviewed the district court's subject matter jurisdiction determination de novo, citing Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667,…
HARRISON VS. HARRISON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 28, 201616-23434 · 66157 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.The court reviewed the district court's denial of modification under an abuse of discretion standard. See Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). The opinion situates the analysis at the…
ROMANO VS. ROMANO (CHILD CUSTODY) C/W 81439
Jan 13, 202222-01343 · 81259 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: Custody and child-support determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 438, 216 P.3d 213, 226, 232 (2009). A district court abuses its discretion in a…
EDWARDS VS. SANTOYO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 16, 202424-29284 · 88329-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we affirm the district court's decision to grant Santoyo's motion to dismiss.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction de novo, citing Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009). It applied the deferential standard to…
Fernandez v. Fernandez
Feb 4, 201051423 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.The question presented was "whether parents can, by stipulation, eliminate or abridge a trial court's statutory authority to review and modify a child support order." The court answered no, holding that a stipulated…
MARTINEZ VS. AVILA, JR. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 30, 202222-20738 · 83023 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.**Standard of review.** The court applies deferential review to the district court's factual findings, setting them aside only if clearly erroneous or unsupported by substantial evidence, while reviewing legal questions…
Gonzales-Alpizar v. Griffith
Jan 30, 201459387 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The court resolved two issues of first impression: (1) whether a Costa Rican spousal and child support order is enforceable in Nevada under UIFSA, codified at NRS Chapter 130, and (2) whether it may be enforced under…
HARGROVE VS. WARD
Mar 24, 202222-09207 · 81331 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review: A district court's child support determination is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Miller v. Miller, 134 Nev. 120, 125, 412 P.3d 1081, 1085 (2018). Statutory construction is reviewed de novo. Id. at…
COBIAN VS. RAMIREZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 18, 202424-39361 · 88076-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed several distinct rulings under differing standards. **Subject matter jurisdiction / registration of the foreign order.** The court reviewed subject matter jurisdiction de novo, giving…
WOOTEN VS. WOOTEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 12, 202424-12781 · 87208-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Service of process (waiver).** The court applied the rule that an objection to personal jurisdiction, process, or service of process is waived if not raised as a defense in an answer or pre-answer motion under NRCP…
Friedman v. Eighth Judicial District Court Ex Rel. County of Clark
Nov 23, 201157245 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition granted.**Standard of review and writ standards.** Unless the jurisdictional facts are disputed — and they were not here — subject matter jurisdiction under the UCCJEA presents questions of law reviewed de novo. Ogawa v. Ogawa,…
GRIGALANZ VS. COPAS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 9, 202691619-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")This is an appeal from a district court order dismissing a custody petition for lack of standing. The Court of Appeals reviewed the dismissal de novo, applying "the same rigorous, de novo standard as dismissal for…
Johnson et al v. Parker
Jun 30, 202690848-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody determinations - including physical custody, relocation, and legal custody - for an abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by…
WASHOE CTY HUMAN SERVS. AGENCY VS. DIST. CT. (B.) (C/W 84278)
Dec 22, 202222-40276 · 84277 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petitions for writs of mandamus or prohibition denied.The court addressed justiciability rather than the merits of the constitutional challenge to NRS 128.109(1)(a) and (2). Citing NCAA v. Univ. of Nev., Reno, 97 Nev. 56, 58, 624 P.2d 10, 11 (1981), the court reiterated…
St. Mary v. Damon
Oct 3, 201358315 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions.The court reviewed the legal questions de novo, citing State Indus. Ins. Sys. v. United Exposition Servs. Co., 109 Nev. 28, 30, 846 P.2d 294, 295 (1998) ("Questions of law are reviewed de novo."). Parentage is…
PHILLIPS VS. PHILLIPS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 29, 202222-13646 · 82414 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the child custody order for abuse of discretion, leaving factual findings undisturbed if supported by substantial evidence. Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d…
PHILLIPS VS. PHILLIPS
Apr 29, 202222-13647 · 82693 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The court reviewed the custody order for abuse of discretion under Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), and reviewed factual findings for substantial evidence under Ellis v. Carucci, 123…
FONDREN VS. LOPEZ (FAMILY)
Mar 4, 202626-10149 · 90575-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the child support modification order for an abuse of discretion, Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), noting that an abuse occurs when findings are not…
EIVAZI VS. EIVAZI
Oct 5, 202323-32631 · 84427-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review. The court reviewed alimony determinations, attorney fee awards, and disposition of community property (including underlying marital waste determinations) for abuse of discretion. Kogod v.…
ROMANO VS. ROMANO (CHILD CUSTODY) C/W 81439
Jan 13, 202222-01343 · 81439 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: A district court's custody determinations, child-support decisions, and attorney-fees awards are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 216 P.3d 213 (2009); Kantor v.…
BRYANT VS. SORGET (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 29, 202525-37913 · 89717-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.Standard of review. Custody determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion, Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007), and "An abuse of discretion occurs when a district court's decision is not…
ANDERSON VS. MORALES
May 17, 202424-17520 · 86327-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child support order for an abuse of discretion. Edgington v. Edgington, 119 Nev. 577, 588, 80 P.3d 1282, 1290 (2003). A district court abuses its discretion when its…
PATTERSON VS. WAINWRIGHT (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 19, 202424-09701 · 86926-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody determination for abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by substantial evidence. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241-42 (2007). The…
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.