Important Information Regarding Child Custody in Nevada: Custody situations tend to be emotionally driven matters that require knowledgeable and compassionate representation. At Roberts Stoffel Family Law Group, our child custody attorneys have the experience necessary to handle the most difficult disputes. Let our attorneys be your voice in and out of the courtroom.

Legal Custody Definition and Determination

Legal custody should be thought of as decision making pertaining to the welfare of children, and usually deals with issues involving education, religion, and health.

Pursuant to Nevada Statute, married parents have joint legal custody of their children. Unmarried parents do not automatically have joint legal custody; however, it is customary for the Court to grant joint legal custody to unmarried parents.

Legal custody can be modified by making an application to the Court. Rarely is it modified with the exception of extreme situations. These situations vary and are dependent on the specific facts of each case. A lawyer with our firm can help determine if your situation may qualify for a custody modification.

Physical Custody Definition and Determination

Physical custody refers to where the children will live. In addition, it determines the amount of child support and who will receive support, as well as the Federal Tax Exemption for the children. Thanks to the tireless efforts of father’s rights organizations, physical custody is no longer determined based upon gender. The Clark County Courts are required to focus on the “best interest of the children” standard instead of the “Tender Years Doctrine” which presumed that children would be better off with their mother at a young age rather than with their father.

In 2009, the Nevada Supreme Court issued a ruling in Rivero v. Rivero, 124 Nev. Adv. Rep. 84, 195 P. 3d 328 (2008), which defined joint and primary physical custody. Under the holding, regardless of what the custodial arrangement is called, the Court is now required to look at the timeshare and determine the percentage of time the children spend with each parent.

 A Helping Hand During A Difficult Time

Contact now for a FREE Consultation with a custody attorney! At Roberts and Stoffel Family Law, we’ve helped many families resolve child custody issues with the help of our Las Vegas child custody lawyers. Take the first step and reach out to us today, we’re here to answer any questions you have about a child custody.

Determination Of Custody in Nevada

The courts in Nevada determine custody solely based on the best interest of the child. If it appears to the court that joint custody would be in the best interest of the child, the court may grant custody to the parties jointly. Preference must not be given to either parent for the sole reason that the parent is the mother or the father.

The court will determine custody in the following order of preferences unless the best interest of the child requires otherwise:

• To both parents jointly pursuant or to either parent.
• To a person or persons in whose home the children have been living and where he or she has had a wholesome and stable environment.
• To any person related within the fifth degree of consanguinity to the child whom the court finds suitable and able to provide proper care and guidance, regardless of whether the relative resides within this State.
• To any other person or persons whom the court finds suitable and able to provide proper care and guidance.

Determining The Best Interest of the Child In Court

In determining the best interest of the child, the court will consider the following items:

• The wishes of the children if he or she is of sufficient age and capacity to form an intelligent preference as to his or her custody.
• Any nomination by a parent or a guardian for the children.
• Which parent is more likely to allow frequent associations and a continuing relationship with the noncustodial parent.
• The level of conflict between the parents.
• The ability of the parents to cooperate to meet the needs of the child.
• The mental and physical health of the parents.
• The physical, developmental and emotional needs of the child.
• The nature of the relationship of the child with each parent.
• The ability of the child to maintain a relationship with any sibling.
• Any history of parental abuse or neglect of the child or a sibling.
• Whether either parent or any other person seeking custody has engaged in an act of domestic violence against the child, a parent of the child, or any other person residing with the child.
• Whether either parent or any other person seeking custody has committed any act of abduction.

Jurisdiction

Actions should be filed where the children live, not necessarily in the State where a parent lives. According to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act, jurisdiction will be decided upon the child’s home state or, where he/she has been living for more than six (6) months. Other factors include emergency jurisdiction, whether another state has jurisdiction over the child, and if the child and a parent hold significant contacts in a particular state.

Once jurisdiction has been established, jurisdiction remains in the issuing state until the state loses continuing exclusive jurisdiction. Simply put, it means that no one remains living in the issuing state. Just because a parent is permitted to relocate with a child, does not mean jurisdiction automatic transfers to the state where the child has relocated.

Mediation

According to NRS 3.475, due to the number of people living in Clark County, all parents are required by Nevada law to attend a confidential mediation to attempt to resolve disputes. Mediation is a process in which the parents meet with a mediator, outside the presence of counsel, to attempt an amicable resolution of custody issues.