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.
48 cases · Child Support - NRS ch. 125B, ch. 425, NAC ch. 425.
WOLFE VS. MANNION (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 8, 202691617-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Due process.** The court reviewed the due-process claim de novo, citing *Eureka County v. Seventh Jud. Dist. Ct.*, 134 Nev. 275, 279, 417 P.3d 1121, 1124 (2018). Applying *Martinez v. Martinez*, 140 Nev., Adv. Op. 73,…
IBANEZ VS. CHAISAWANG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 30, 202691075-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody and relocation determinations for abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by substantial evidence, "which is evidence that a reasonable person may accept…
LANCASTER VS. BAUERLE (FAMILY)
Jun 30, 202691372-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."The Court of Appeals reviewed the child support order under an abuse-of-discretion standard, citing Backman v. Gelbman, 141 Nev., Adv. Op. 8, 565 P.3d 330, 333 (Ct. App. 2025), and noting that "[a]n abuse of discretion…
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…
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…
MEAD VS. MEAD (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 23, 202525-55962 · 90450-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of a motion to modify custody without an evidentiary hearing for abuse of discretion, citing Myers v. Haskins, 138 Nev. 558, 556, 513 P.3d 527, 531 (Ct. App. 2022), and reviewed…
PERALTA VS. TALLEY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 20, 202525-50924 · 89288-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded as to the child support award; the balance of the amended decree remains in place.The Court of Appeals reviewed the child support award under a mixed standard. Matters of custody and support rest in the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion,…
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,…
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…
DURAN VS. ARMAS
Aug 26, 202525-37358 · 87593-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. (Order of Affirmance.)**Standard of review.** The court reviewed child custody determinations, legal-custody modifications, child support decisions, and continuance rulings for abuse of discretion. *Ellis v. Carucci*, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161…
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…
SCHMIDT VS. FAY
Aug 12, 202525-35259 · 87592-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we affirm the district court divorce decree and the subsequent denial of Schmidt's motion to amend the decree.")The Court of Appeals reviewed a challenge to a stipulated divorce decree, applying settled contract principles to settlement agreements. The court reiterated that when parties to pending litigation enter into a…
SHELLMIRE VS. HALL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 31, 202525-33547 · 88918-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed and remanded in part, and dismissed in part.The Court of Appeals reviewed the custody determination for abuse of discretion, citing Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007), and reaffirmed that factual findings supported by substantial…
JEFFERY VS. BECKWITH (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 24, 202525-32417 · 89155-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded. (The court states it "affirm[s] the district court's physical custody determination, but we reverse the court's custody decree as it pertains to child support and health insurance, vacate the decree with respect to arrears, and remand this matter for proceedings consistent with this order.")**Custody — standard and framework.** The court reviewed the custody determination for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). "An abuse of discretion occurs when a district…
ROSSER VS. TAYLOR (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 23, 202525-18256 · 87864-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review. Child custody decisions are reviewed for abuse of discretion, Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), and custody determinations supported by substantial evidence will not…
BACKMAN VS. GELBMAN
Feb 13, 202525-06946 · 86396-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review. Child support orders are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996). An abuse of discretion exists when findings are not supported by…
PIERCE VS. PIERCE
Dec 11, 202424-47514 · 86714 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.The Court reviews child support determinations for abuse of discretion, and underlying factual findings must be supported by substantial evidence. Hargrove v. Ward, 138 Nev., Adv. Op. 14, 506 P.3d 329, 331 (2022);…
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…
BACKMAN VS. GELBMAN
Nov 20, 202424-44278 · 86396-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("we ... ORDER the judgment of the district court REVERSED AND REMAND this matter for proceedings consistent with this order.")The court reviewed the child support order for abuse of discretion, citing Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996). An abuse of discretion occurs when findings are not supported by substantial…
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…
CLARK VS. HARRIS
Aug 13, 202424-28617 · 86954-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: "We review decisions regarding child support for an abuse of discretion." Romano v. Romano, 138 Nev. 1, 7, 501 P.3d 980, 985 (2022), abrogated in part on other grounds by Killebrew v. State ex rel.…
RANDALL VS. STATE OF CAL.
May 30, 202424-18997 · 85049 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The court reviewed the denial of a motion to modify child support for abuse of discretion, citing Romano v. Romano, 138 Nev. 1, 7, 501 P.3d 980, 985 (2022), and will uphold the district court's determination if…
PERREIRA VS. EISENBERG (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 29, 202424-18709 · 86792-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody order for abuse of discretion. Roe v. Roe, 139 Nev., Adv. Op. 21, 535 P.3d 274, 284 (Ct. App. 2023). Review focuses on whether the district court "reached…
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…
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…
SILVA FILHO VS. BELAY DA SILVA
Apr 19, 202424-13735 · 86120-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child support order for an abuse of discretion, deferring to and upholding findings that are not clearly erroneous and are supported by substantial evidence. Hargrove…
STANISIC VS. SHEA
Apr 11, 202424-12751 · 84590-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The court reviewed the district court's child support order for abuse of discretion, citing Edgington v. Edgington, 119 Nev. 577, 588, 80 P.3d 1282, 1290 (2003). A district court abuses its discretion when its findings…
KAGAN VS. KAGAN
Dec 20, 202323-41246 · 84644-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviews child support orders 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 findings are not…
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…
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.…
FREELOVE VS. FREELOVE
Feb 7, 202323-03755 · 82732-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviews child support orders for an abuse of discretion. Romano v. Romano, 138 Nev., Adv. Op. 1, 501 P.3d 980, 985 (2022). A district court abuses its discretion when its findings are…
RAMSEIER VS. RIVAS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 23, 202323-02049 · 84645-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's discretionary family-law determinations deferentially. Best-interest determinations are "reviewed deferentially" (Davis v. Ewalefo, 131 Nev. 445, 450, 352 P.3d 1139,…
PEREZ VS. HAYWOOD
Dec 27, 202222-40630 · 83625-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. The court ordered "the judgment of the district court REVERSED AND REMAND this matter to the district court with instructions to remand this matter to the hearing master for a new hearing."The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child support order for abuse of discretion, citing Hargrove v. Ward, 138 Nev., Adv. Op. 14, 506 P.3d 329, 331 (2022), and noting that a court abuses its discretion if…
ARZOLA VS. ESTRADA
Dec 22, 202222-40144 · 83941-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirming in part and reversing in part (Docket No. 83251-COA), reversing (Docket No. 83941-COA) and remanding.The court reviewed the child custody order, the child support and relocation decisions, and the attorney fees award all for abuse of discretion, citing Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996);…
ARZOLA VS. ESTRADA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 22, 202222-40141 · 83251-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part (Docket No. 83251-COA); reversed (Docket No. 83941-COA) and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody order, child support determination, relocation question, and attorney fees award for abuse of discretion. *Wallace v. Wallace*, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543…
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…
GUADRON VS. HAYDEN
Oct 7, 202222-31743 · 83612-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the child support order for an abuse of discretion, citing Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), and Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440, 92 P.3d 1224, 1227…
GARCIA VS. SHAPIRO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 17, 202222-25740 · 83992-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The court reviewed evidentiary, custody, and child-support rulings for abuse of discretion, applying the standard that a court abuses its discretion when "no reasonable judge could reach a similar conclusion under the…
MAHONEY, JR. VS. MAHONEY C/W 82413
Jul 21, 202222-22958 · 82412-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review. Factual findings are reviewed for substantial evidence: "this court will not disturb a district court's findings of fact if they are supported by substantial evidence." Keife v. Logan, 119 Nev. 372,…
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…
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.…
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…
MILLER VS. MILLER
Mar 15, 201818-10186 · 69353 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions.Standard of review: Statutory construction is reviewed de novo. City of Reno v. Reno Gazette-Journal, 119 Nev. 55, 58, 63 P.3d 1147, 1148 (2003). A district court's child support determination is reviewed for abuse of…
DAVIDSON VS. DAVIDSON
Sep 29, 201616-30276 · 67698 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: Questions of statutory construction are reviewed de novo. I. Cox Constr. Co. v. CH2 Invs., LLC, 129 Nev. 139, 142, 296 P.3d 1202, 1203 (2013). Appellate jurisdiction: The Court first held that the…
Major v. State
Aug 28, 201462819 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.This appeal presented an issue of first impression in Nevada: whether a district court has jurisdiction to impose restitution to the State for the cost of child care in a child abuse case where a family court has…
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…
Rivero v. Rivero
Oct 30, 200846915 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded in part (custody determination and child support); affirmed in part (the district court's orders regarding the recusal, disqualification, and attorney fees).Standards of review: custody decisions, including visitation schedules, are reviewed for abuse of discretion (Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996)); factual findings must be supported by…
Mason v. Cuisenaire
Feb 9, 200640338 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with instructions.Full faith and credit. The court restated that "[t]he full faith and credit clause of the United States Constitution requires that a final judgment entered in a sister state must be respected by the courts of this state…
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.