Where To Find Family Court Records In Nevada?

Nevada has district courts, which have jurisdiction over civil cases involving family matters and juvenile cases related to neglect and abuse. Furthermore, the Nevada family court handles legal household issues such as divorce, child support, annulments, guardianships, name changes, paternity, and custody. Family court records are managed by the Office of the Clerk of the county where the case was filed. Documents from family courts can be procured in person, by mail or online. A valid government-issued photo ID card and a fee may be required to obtain family court files in Nevada. The Supreme Court hosts a database for all cases filed electronically in Nevada and can be accessed by providing a party name or case docket.

The records contained in documents related to family court include both marriage and divorce records. Both types of records have information that is considered personal to the parties involved. It is recommended that those parties maintain these records with care to make changes in the future. The subjective nature of these records results in both being considerably more difficult to find and obtain than other types of public records. In many cases, these records are not available through either government or third-party public record websites.

What Is Family Law In Nevada?

Nevada family laws are statutes guiding legal decisions taken by the court concerning family-related affairs such as divorce, adoption, domestic violence, child abuse, and child custody. Title 11 of the Nevada Revised Statute addresses premarital agreements, dissolution of marriage, custody, visitation, and the adoption of children and adults.

What Are Family Court Cases And Records In Nevada?

In Nevada, the Clerk of Court where the hearing occurs is in charge of preserving files from family court. Family court cases are litigations involving family disputes. The following are the types of cases heard in a Nevada family court:

Custody, paternity, and child support: The family court has jurisdiction to address cases involving child custody, paternity, and visitation. These issues asides paternity associated with divorce, separation, or annulment. Paternity consists of a man’s declaration as to the father of a child, which is done by DNA tests. Either parent can file for paternity in a family court.

Divorce: This is one of the most popular family cases in Nevada. When a person intends to process marriage dissolution, a case is filed with the family court for a court order to do so. Divorce or annulment is the two ways marriages are ended in Nevada.

Name Changes: By legal means, an adult or child can change names by filing a name change case at the family court.

Guardianship: In cases of minors, guardians are assigned by the court to oversee the medical, personal, and financial needs of the child.

Juvenile matters: In Nevada, offenses committed by teenagers and children are handled in a family court. Other issues involve cases of child abuse or child neglect. The court also maintains juvenile records

Domestic violence protection orders: Domestic violence protection orders are court orders for individuals who desire to keep away from an abusive family member or significant other. According to the Nevada statute, domestic violence includes cases of stalking, battery, trespassing, and destruction of private property.

Adoptions and termination of parental rights: Adoption entails becoming a child’s legal parents permanently. Once the family court does the approval, the biological parents lose all custody rights to the child. The district court of the county where the child resides handles case filings of adoption. However, concerned persons can file for termination of parental rights if the child’s biological parents do not consent to the adoption process.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

Are Family Court Cases Public Records In Nevada?

The Nevada Open Records Act, governed by Chapter 239.0105 et seq, guarantees that public members can gain access to public records generated by government bodies at all levels. Additionally, public records can be requested by anyone without a statement of purpose, as there are no restrictions against the use of records in Nevada. There are files exempted from public view in specific situations, which are termed confidential and require special permission from legal authorities for access.

The Title 11 Dissolution of Marriage, Chapter 125.110, gives the criteria that make divorce records open for public view. Cases involving child custody are confidential records under NRS 239.0105.

How Do I Find Family Court Records In Nevada?

Interested persons can visit the office of the relevant county clerk to obtain family court records. Applications can be made via mail, in person, or online, and a fee and a valid photo ID may be required. The Supreme Court of Nevada also maintains family court records, and queries for such documents can be mailed to the clerk’s office:

Carson City Clerk of Court
201 South Carson Street
Carson City
Nevada 89701
Phone: (775) 684–1600

Las Vegas Clerk of Court
408 East Clark Avenue
Las Vegas
Nevada 89101
Phone: (702) 486–9300
Email: nvscclerk@nvcourts.nv.gov

Parties can also file a Public Request Form queried to the office of the Department of Administration in Nevada. Individuals can send the form to:

The Department of Administration
515 E. Musser St.,
Carson City NV 89701
deptadmin@admin.nv.gov

How Do I Find Family Court Records Online?

Most counties in Nevada have online portals where interested individuals can search for family court records. The Supreme court also has an electronic archive containing family court records and information on locating courts in Nevada. As the repository for all electronically filed cases, interested individuals can find court records by providing the names of persons involved in the subject or case docket.

What Is Nevada Custody Law?

The Nevada Revised Statute, Chapter 125C, which is the custody and visitation law, indicates that minors will have a continued relationship with the parents after divorce or marriage annulment. It also ensures that such parents share the rights and responsibilities of child care regarding medical, financial, and educational support. By law, custody cases are confidential records. According to NRS 125C.005, access to child custody records and other vital information are permitted only to the parents or guardians without limitations.

Further, the Nevada custody law implies that a court may award primary physical custody to a parent if the court determines that joint physical custody is not in the child’s best interest. The conditions are stated in the 2015 Nevada Statutes, Chapter 445.AB 263.

How To Find Family Court Lawyers In Nevada?

Members of the public can find family court lawyers by consulting the family court clerk in the county of residence. The Supreme Court of Nevada also has provisions for persons seeking to employ a licensed Nevada attorney by contacting the court on 1 (800) 789–5747 or through Nevada’s State Bar. The State Bar of Nevada has a Lawyer Referral Service for individuals in need of legal services. A $45 consultation fee is required. To get a family court lawyer, contact the State Bar of Nevada through the toll-free telephone line at 1 (702) 382–2200.