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.
117 cases · Divorce, Property & Alimony - NRS ch. 125 and community property (ch. 123).
CARRERA VS. PETERSON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 6, 202691367-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody decision for abuse of discretion, which occurs only when "no reasonable judge could reach a similar conclusion under the same circumstances." Ellis v.…
IN RE: JOINT PETITION OF MCKENDRY (FAMILY)
Jul 1, 202690847-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and dismissed in part ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED in part, and DISMISS this appeal in part.").The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's decisions concerning divorce proceedings for an abuse of discretion, citing Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004), while noting that…
PAUL VS. PAUL (FAMILY)
Jun 30, 202689845-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, appeal dismissed in part without prejudice, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's characterization of property under the substantial evidence standard. Waldman v. Maini, 124 Nev. 1121, 1128, 195 P.3d 850, 855 (2008). Under NRS 123.220, property…
ELWARDT VS. ELWARDT (FAMILY)
Jun 18, 202688886-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.The court reviewed the district court's property determinations for an abuse of discretion, upholding property characterizations supported by substantial evidence. Eivazi v. Eivazi, 139 Nev. 408, 411, 537 P.3d 476, 482…
FISHER VS. WING (FAMILY)
May 28, 202626-24100 · 91269-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed an amended decree of divorce following its own prior remand in Fisher v. Wing, No. 87698-COA, 2025 WL 1770808 (Nev. Ct. App. Jun. 25, 2025). On the change-of-venue issue, the court noted…
SACHETTI VS. SACHETTI (FAMILY)
Apr 29, 202626-19422 · 89619-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the enforcement of an agreement-based divorce decree and an attorney-fee award. It set out the governing standards: district court decisions in divorce proceedings and on reconsideration…
FOLLETT VS. FOLLETT (FAMILY)
Apr 14, 202626-17096 · 90905-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's divorce-related decisions for an abuse of discretion, citing Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004), and Davitian-Kostanian v. Kostanian,…
SAVARD VS. SAVARD (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 14, 202626-17099 · 89248-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Jurisdiction over the amended decree.** The court applied NRAP 4(a)(2) and NRAP 4(a)(6), holding that "[a] notice of appeal filed after the court announces a decision or order—but before the entry of the judgment or…
MARQUART VS. MARQUART (FAMILY)
Mar 30, 202626-14556 · 90708-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The Court of Appeals reviews district court alimony decisions for an abuse of discretion, citing Davitian-Kostanian v. Kostanian, 139 Nev. 247, 252, 534 P.3d 700, 705 (2023), and will "not disturb…
TAVARES VS. TAVARES
Mar 4, 202626-10136 · 88218-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's denial of an NRCP 60 motion to set aside for abuse of discretion, citing Cook v. Cook, 112 Nev. 179, 181-82, 912 P.2d 264, 265 (1996). It first established the…
RAMOS VS. SANCHEZ-PLATA (FAMILY)
Jan 12, 202626-01666 · 90886 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court applied the settled rule that appellate jurisdiction exists only where authorized by statute or court rule, citing Taylor Constr. Co. v. Hilton Hotels, 100 Nev. 207, 678 P.2d 1152 (1984). It analyzed two…
VASQUEZ, JR. VS. VASQUEZ (FAMILY)
Dec 23, 202525-55958 · 89329-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed both the marital-waste/property-disposition determination and the alimony award. The opinion frames property division under NRS 125.150(1)(b), which requires an equal disposition of…
LOPEZ, JR. VS. LOPEZ (FAMILY)
Dec 9, 202525-53644 · 89245-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's decision whether to award alimony for an abuse of discretion. Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135 Nev. 64, 66, 439 P.3d 397, 400 (2019). Under NRS 125.150(1)(a), the district…
GOLDSTEIN VS. GOLDSTEIN
Dec 2, 202525-52569 · 88541-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.The Court of Appeals reviewed the attorney fee award for abuse of discretion. Logan v. Abe, 131 Nev. 260, 266, 350 P.3d 1139, 1143 (2015). An abuse of discretion "can occur when the district court bases its decision on…
OSHIRO VS. OSHIRO (FAMILY)
Nov 26, 202525-52060 · 89205 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: Statutory construction is reviewed de novo, Martin v. Martin, 138 Nev. 786, 789, 520 P.3d 813, 817 (2022); the fairness of an alimony award is reviewed for abuse of discretion, Wolff v. Wolff, 112…
SMITH VS. SMITH (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 24, 202525-46489 · 89755-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed Ronald's procedural due process arguments for plain error, citing Hamm v. Arrowcreek Homeowners' Ass'n, 124 Nev. 290, 300, 183 P.3d 895, 903 (2008), abrogated on other grounds by Saticoy…
FASSARI VS. FASSARI (FAMILY)
Oct 23, 202525-46389 · 90183-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the district court's determination of personal jurisdiction de novo, citing Fulbright & Jaworski LLP v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 131 Nev. 30, 35, 342 P.3d 997, 1001 (2015). It…
ROBERSON VS. ROBERSON C/W 87925
Oct 9, 202525-44182 · 87774-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review.** The court reviews awards of attorney fees for abuse of discretion. Chowdhry v. NLVH, Inc., 109 Nev. 478, 485, 851 P.2d 459, 464 (1993). A district court abuses its discretion when its findings…
SOTELO VS. SOTELO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 30, 202525-42702 · 88638-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the district court's alimony and community property determinations for abuse of discretion, citing Kivazi v. Etvazi, 139 Nev. 408, 411, 537 P.3d 476, 482 (Ct. App. 2023).…
DOS SANTOS VS. DREIBELBIS (FAMILY)
Sep 16, 202525-40470 · 89249-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviews annulment proceedings for an abuse of discretion. Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566-67, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004). NRS 125.340(1) provides that "[i]f the consent of either party was…
ROWAN VS. WALKER
Sep 11, 202525-39849 · 87590-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child support and alimony rulings for abuse of discretion, citing Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), and Gilman v. Gilman, 114 Nev. 416,…
ORTIZ VS. ORTIZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 3, 202525-38518 · 89440-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's community property determinations for an abuse of discretion, citing Eivazi v. Eivazi, 139 Nev. 408, 411, 537 P.3d 476, 482 (Ct. App. 2023). Property characterizations…
NEYMAN VS. NEYMAN
Aug 21, 202525-36828 · 86780-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Alimony modification jurisdiction (Siragusa).** The court reviewed questions of law, including interpretation of caselaw, de novo (Martin v. Martin), but treated whether a party is in arrears as a question of fact…
POLK VS. ROWLAND
Jul 2, 202525-28834 · 86937-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded ("we reverse the district court's decisions rejecting Polk's motions to enforce the decree of divorce" and "remand for further proceedings").The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's divorce-related rulings for abuse of discretion. It cited Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004), and Schwartz v. Schwartz, 126 Nev. 87, 90,…
CONTE VS. CONTE
Jun 25, 202525-27917 · 87945-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Judgment of the district court reversed, the sanctions award vacated, and the matter remanded to the district court for proceedings consistent with the order.The Court of Appeals reviewed the statutory-interpretation question de novo, citing Martin v. Martin, 138 Nev. 786, 789, 520 P.3d 813, 817 (2022), and applied the plain-language rule from Leven v. Frey, 123 Nev. 399,…
LOPEZ VS. PENALOZA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 3, 202525-24488 · 88714-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The panel (Bulla, Gibbons, Westbrook, JJ.) reviewed the district court's custody, child support, and alimony determinations for abuse of discretion. **Custody.** Applying Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d…
EINIGER VS. DIST. CT. (EINIGER) (FAMILY)
May 22, 202525-22827 · 90055-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition granted. The court directed the clerk to issue a writ of mandamus instructing the district court to comply with NRS 14.015(5) by ordering the expungement of the notice of lis pendens.This is an original writ proceeding. A writ of mandamus is available to compel the performance of an act the law requires or to control a manifest abuse or an arbitrary or capricious exercise of discretion (NRS 34.160;…
SCHRICKER VS. SCHRICKER
May 16, 202525-22003 · 87984-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals addressed a series of assignments of error under differing standards of review. **Jurisdiction.** Reviewing subject matter jurisdiction de novo (Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704…
WHITE VS. WHITE (FAMILY)
Mar 28, 202525-14259 · 89138-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the divorce-decree determinations for an abuse of discretion, citing Devries v. Gallio, 128 Nev. 706, 709, 290 P.3d 260, 263 (2012). The court framed the analysis under contract principles:…
MEZZANO VS. TOWNLEY
Feb 19, 202525-07684 · 87863-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded ("ORDER AFFIRMING IN PART, REVERSING IN PART AND REMANDING").Standard of review: The court reviews determinations "made in a divorce decree for an abuse of discretion." Devries v. Gallio, 128 Nev. 706, 709, 290 P.3d 260, 263 (2012) (cited in the opinion). Framework: Under Nevada…
REED VS. REED
Jan 31, 202525-04770 · 87580-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The court reviews a decision to grant or deny a motion to modify alimony for an abuse of discretion, Davitian-Kostanian v. Kostanian, 139 Nev., Adv. Op. 27, 534 P.3d 700, 705 (2023), and will not…
ALLEN VS. ALLEN
Dec 18, 202424-48725 · 88401-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's decisions in the divorce proceeding, including the property division, alimony, and NRCP 60(b) rulings, for an abuse of discretion. See Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev.…
GABROY VS. GABROY
Nov 20, 202424-44253 · 87387-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review — community property.** The court reviewed the district court's disposition of community property for abuse of discretion, citing Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135 Nev. 64, 75, 439 P.3d 397, 406 (2019).…
DOUGLAS VS. DOUGLAS
Oct 11, 202424-38333 · 86888-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of attorney fees in a divorce proceeding for abuse of discretion, citing Miller v. Wilfong, 121 Nev. 619, 622, 119 P.3d 727, 729 (2005). It reiterated that attorney fees and…
HORTA VS. HORTA (CHILD CUSTODY) C/W 86978
Oct 3, 202424-36910 · 86873-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The panel reviewed each challenge under abuse-of-discretion standards and declined to disturb findings supported by substantial evidence. **Income determination.** A district court's factual findings, including a…
GIBSON VS. GIBSON
Sep 19, 202424-34631 · 87203-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed a district court decision concerning divorce proceedings for abuse of discretion under Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004), and Schwartz v. Schwartz, 126 Nev.…
HO VS. HO
Sep 19, 202424-34630 · 86775-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.**Property distribution - standard and framework.** The court reviewed the distribution of community property for abuse of discretion. Kilgore v. Kilgore, 135 Nev. 357, 359, 449 P.3d 843, 846 (2019). Property acquired…
BUCK VS. BUCK
Sep 13, 202424-33772 · 85283 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Decree and post-decree order AFFIRMED.Standard of review. The court reviewed the district court's property characterization and disposition for abuse of discretion. Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135 Nev. 64, 75, 439 P.3d 397, 406 (2019). "An abuse of discretion…
HARRIS-BEY VS. HARRIS-BEY
Aug 30, 202424-31336 · 86711-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's division of property and alimony award for abuse of discretion, declining to disturb decisions supported by substantial evidence - "evidence that 'a sensible person may…
FRANKLIN VS. FRANKLIN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 20, 202424-21407 · 84334 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.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);…
SASSLER VS. SASSLER
Jun 17, 202424-21011 · 87017-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's alimony and property rulings for abuse of discretion, noting that decisions in divorce proceedings will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence — "that…
ANSELL VS. ANSELL
May 28, 202424-18595 · 83916-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed determinations made in a divorce decree for abuse of discretion, citing Devries v. Gallio, 128 Nev. 706, 709, 290 P.3d 260, 263 (2012). Interpretation and construction of…
GRYBOWSKI VS. GRYBOWSKI
May 28, 202424-18540 · 86067-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."Standard of review: The court reviews the denial of a motion for reconsideration for abuse of discretion, citing Saticoy Bay, LLC, Series 34 Innisbrook v. Thornburg Mortg. Sec. Tr. 2007-8, 138 Nev. 335, 343, 510 P.3d…
FAUGHNAN VS. FAUGHNAN
May 17, 202424-17537 · 86279-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The court reviewed the denial of NRCP 60(b)(1) relief for abuse of discretion, citing *Willard v. Berry-Hinckley Indus.*, 136 Nev. 467, 469, 469 P.3d 176, 179 (2020). Under NRCP 60(b)(1), a district court may relieve a…
LOFTON VS. LOFTON
May 9, 202424-16261 · 86302-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and dismissed in part.The panel first addressed appellate jurisdiction over the divorce decree. Because the August 11, 2022 order adjudicating the parties' outstanding life insurance issues constituted the final judgment in the divorce…
CUNNING VS. CUNNING
May 3, 202424-15700 · 84255-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.The panel (Gibbons, Bulla, Westbrook, JJ.) reviewed the district court's division of property and its attorney fee and alimony determinations for abuse of discretion, and applied the substantial-evidence standard to the…
GARCIA RODRIGUEZ VS. LEON-YANEZ
Apr 29, 202424-14789 · 85289-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the distribution of community property, orders concerning omitted assets, child support, alimony, and attorney fees each for abuse of discretion. See Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135…
YU VS. YU
Apr 29, 202424-14787 · 86578-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and dismissed in part.The Court of Appeals reviewed a post-decree order dividing and enforcing marital property. The panel resolved the appeal on jurisdictional and record-based grounds. As to Brian's challenges to the underlying 2015 decree…
PATTERSON VS. PATTERSON
Apr 12, 202424-12779 · 84932-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")This is an appeal from the denial of an NRCP 60(b) motion to set aside a stipulated divorce decree. The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's ruling for abuse of discretion, noting that it "will not disturb the…
CARNEY VS. MORURI
Mar 29, 202424-11254 · 85614-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's order setting aside a divorce decree and adjudicating an omitted asset for abuse of discretion, reviewing factual findings deferentially (not to be set aside unless…
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.