What are Nevada Family Court Records?

Nevada family court records are official documents providing details of family law cases heard in family courts in the state. These case files are legal documents prepared, served, and filed during hearings and trials. Filing these documents is a formal process that makes them part of the official record. Like other Nevada court records, they include summons, motions, affidavits, orders, notices, citations, waivers, dockets, and final judgments. Family court records may pertain to civil and criminal matters, though they primarily focus on civil cases. A judge presides over family court cases and is responsible for issuing orders and rulings. The kind of data contained in family court records includes personal details, case history, and court decisions. The court's responsibility includes maintaining these files and ensuring their accuracy and security. Under the provisions of the Nevada Public Records Act, family court records are available to the public unless otherwise sealed by statute or court rule.

Nature and Jurisdiction of Nevada Family Courts

The family divisions of the district courts, otherwise known as family courts, hear a wide variety of cases related to domestic matters, including annulments, divorces, paternity issues, adoption, and domestic abuse. The court's jurisdiction includes civil matters such as divorce and custody, and may also extend to certain criminal issues related to family law. They also approve restraining orders, custody and visitation rights, property divisions, and name changes. Family courts are located within the district court system across Nevada. The Nevada Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have discretionary jurisdiction over family cases appealed from the family courts as well as other divisions of the district court.

All records and proceedings from these cases are filed and managed by the record custodian of each court. The court's record-keeping practices ensure the integrity and accessibility of case files. Records of cases appealed to the Supreme Court but were heard initially by the family courts are kept by the clerks of the District Courts.

Are Family Court Records Public in Nevada?

Most of Nevada’s family court records are available upon request. However, certain family law cases are deemed confidential, and access to their records is restricted according to the court's rules and statutory limitations. These include those about juvenile and parental adjudication. Only authorized individuals are allowed access to these records. These are usually the parties involved, their legal representatives, and court/state agencies tasked with reviewing family law cases. Third parties requesting access have the right to petition the court to unseal confidential records, but a court order is required to access or view sealed family law records in Nevada. Only those with relevant court orders can view and/or copy sealed family law records in Nevada. Notwithstanding, Nevada marriage records, divorce record information, dispute hearings, child support, and alimony case information may be disclosable but sensitive information withheld from public disclosure.

How Do I Get Family Court Records in Nevada?

Members of the public can access Nevada family court records:

• In person
• By mail
• Online

How To Obtain Nevada Family Court Records In Person

First, locate the courthouse where the family law case was filed. This is usually the district court. Find the address and contact information of the Nevada district court of interest using the Nevada Judiciary directory. Call the clerk’s office in the courthouse to enquire about the availability of the family court record of interest. Court officials can also provide information about the request process, including the information needed to find and retrieve records, the fee required for searching and copying records, and when to visit the courthouse to obtain these records. Clear instructions are provided by the clerk's office to guide requesters through the necessary steps.

Some courthouses have public access terminals available to members of the public to view court records. Searching for records can be done by case number or party name. To obtain copies of court records, the requester usually needs to complete a request form, attach a government-issued photo ID, and pay the required search/copy fees. The length of a court hearing may affect the time and cost required to obtain transcripts or records.

Are Child Custody Records Public In Nevada?

Nevada family law matters, including custody, are governed by Chapter 125C of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Although Nevada follows an open records policy for court documents, child custody proceedings are typically shielded from public access. Records that include parenting plans, custody evaluations, or reports about children’s welfare are confidential. The Nevada Rules for Sealing and Redacting Court Records (SRCR 3) allow judges to restrict access where disclosure would harm a child’s privacy. As a result, the public can usually view only docket information and final orders, while substantive filings are limited to the parties and their counsel.

Requesting Nevada Family Court Records by Mail

Not all Nevada district courts accept mail requests for court records. Some of them accept both regular mail and email requests. When unsure about the options available, contact the clerk of court where the family law case was filed and ask for the mailing and/or email addresses of the office of the clerk as well as the steps required to submit a request. Usually, Nevada family courts require those requesting records by mail to submit written requests providing details like names of the individuals involved in the cases, the case number (a unique number assigned to each case and essential for locating the correct file), and specific documents needed. In some cases, the filing date or filing details of the requested documents may also be required to process the request. Each mail request should also include a copy of the requester’s government-issued photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and copy/search fees applicable. Some Nevada courts provide downloadable forms including all the details required for requesting court records. For such courts, completed forms replace written requests.

How to Obtain Nevada Family Court Records Online

With the exception of the 8th judicial district court, Nevada district courts do not have online case management portals. For such districts, access to family records is limited to in-person and mail-in/email requests. The 8th judicial district court provides an online system for accessing and searching family court records. By visiting its Case Records inquiry page, users can search for records by case number, party name, or other criteria. This system allows for searching and retrieving current case information, although there may be a delay of 3 - 4 weeks in uploading new data after hearing dates. The data available through this online system is considered official, but it may be subject to updates or corrections.

The state’s appellate courts also make their records accessible online. Use the Appellate Court Case Lookup search tool provided on the Nevada Judiciary website to find the records of appealed family law cases.

Nevada public records are also accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability and can often serve as a starting point when researching a specific or multiple records. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties must provide:

• The name of someone involved, providing it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question such as a city, county, or state name

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites, and record availability may differ from official channels.

Family Court Records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain personal information of those involved and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this both marriage and Nevada divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records, and may not be available through government sources or third party public record websites.

How Do I Access Divorce Records in Nevada?

Like most court records, Nevada makes divorce records prepared by state courts available to the public. These records are also maintained by the offices of the clerks of district courts. These records are different from divorce vital records. Vital records for Nevada are available from the Office of Vital Records of the Department of Health and Human Services of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health. This agency maintains divorce records at the county level. Those looking for divorce records must contact the offices of county clerks in the jurisdiction where the divorces were finalized.

Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and divorce records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.