Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.

The court addressed two issues of first impression concerning the interaction of Nevada's retirement statutes with community property interests created by divorce decrees: (1) whether NRS 1A.450(1)(a) permits a JRS…

Standard of review. The court reviews the district court's distribution of community property, including PERS benefits and vacation/sick pay, for abuse of discretion. Wolff v. Wolff, 112 Nev. 1355, 1359, 929 P.2d 916,…

Cherry, J. (en banc). The Court held that, unless specifically set forth in the divorce decree, an allocation of a community-property interest in the employee spouse's PERS pension does not also entitle the nonemployee…

The principal issue was whether relief is available to a former spouse when a veteran unilaterally waives military retirement pay to receive disability benefits, eliminating the former spouse's share. The court held…

Young, J. Reviewing for abuse of discretion, Shane v. Shane, 84 Nev. 20, 435 P.2d 753 (1968), the Court held the district court erred by classifying the nonemployee spouse's share of the community pension as 'limited…

The Court of Appeals reviewed the post-decree custody modification for an abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). An abuse of discretion occurs "when a district court's…

**Enforcement of the stipulated California judgment / Kayden's Law.** The court identified a dual inquiry: whether Kayden's Law impacted the custody order (a legal question) and whether the reunification-related…

This is a pro se appeal from a First Judicial District Court order domesticating a foreign judgment and resolving all child custody issues. The Supreme Court resolved the matter on jurisdictional grounds without…

The Court of Appeals reviewed a child custody decree and affirmed. On subject matter jurisdiction, the court held that under NRS 3.223(1)(a), the family courts have "original, exclusive jurisdiction in any proceeding"…

The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's award of attorney fees for an abuse of discretion. Miller v. Wilfong, 121 Nev. 619, 622, 119 P.3d 727, 729 (2005). An abuse of discretion occurs when the court's…

The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's division of property for abuse of discretion. Schwartz v. Schwartz, 126 Nev. 87, 90, 225 P.3d 1273, 1275 (2010). It emphasized, however, that "deference is not owed to…

Standard of review and choice of law. The court reviewed the divorce-related determinations for abuse of discretion, quoting Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004) ("This court reviews…

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.…

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…

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…

The Court of Appeals addressed two principal issues: (1) whether Nevada law permits a child to have three legal parents, and (2) the propriety of the district court's child support order. As a threshold matter, the…

The Court of Appeals reviewed the award of attorney fees and costs for abuse of discretion, citing LVMPD v. Blackjack Bonding, 131 Nev. 80, 89, 343 P.3d 608, 614 (2015). The court set out the governing framework for…

**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the custody and child support determinations for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); Romano v. Romano, 138 Nev. 1, 7, 501 P.3d…

**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,…

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…

**Enforcement of the stipulated California judgment / Kayden's Law.** The court identified a dual inquiry: whether Kayden's Law impacted the custody order (a legal question) and whether the reunification-related…

**Standards of review.** The court identified competing framings of the reunification issue and conducted a two-part inquiry: (1) whether Kayden's Law impacts the custody order, and (2) whether the district court's…

This is an appeal from a district court order dismissing a custody petition for lack of standing. The Court of Appeals reviewed the dismissal de novo, applying "the same rigorous, de novo standard as dismissal for…

**Due process challenge.** The court restated that "[P]rocedural due process requires notice and an opportunity to be heard," Callie v. Bowling, 123 Nev. 181, 183, 160 P.3d 878, 879 (2007), and that "[d]ue process is…

Standard of review: subject matter jurisdiction is reviewed de novo; factual findings receive deference and are upheld if not clearly erroneous and supported by substantial evidence. Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660,…

Standard of review: questions of law are reviewed de novo; factual findings are reviewed for substantial evidence. In re Parental Rts. as to A.L., 130 Nev. 914, 918, 337 P.3d 758, 761 (2014). Substantial evidence is…

The court applied the two-prong termination framework requiring clear and convincing evidence of (1) parental fault and (2) best interest of the child. NRS 128.105(1); In re Termination of Parental Rts. as to N.J., 116…

Standard of review: questions of law are reviewed de novo; the district court's factual findings are reviewed for substantial evidence. In re Parental Rts. as to A.L., 130 Nev. 914, 918, 337 P.3d 758, 761 (2014). The…

The court reviewed the constitutional challenge to NRS 128.109 de novo, citing Hernandez v. Bennett-Haron, 128 Nev. 580, 586, 287 P.3d 305, 310 (2012), and applied the presumption of validity from Flamingo Paradise…

The court applied the two-prong termination framework of NRS 128.105(1) and In re Termination of Parental Rts. as to N.J., 116 Nev. 790, 800-01, 8 P.3d 126, 132-33 (2000), requiring clear and convincing evidence of (1)…

This is an appeal from a final order in an NRS Chapter 432B child-protection proceeding. As a threshold matter, the court addressed the State's jurisdictional challenge. The State contended the order containing the…

The court began with the standard governing extraordinary writ relief: mandamus is available to compel performance of an act the law requires as a duty resulting from an office, trust, or station, or to control an…

The court addressed a jurisdictional question of first impression after In re A.B.: whether an order dismissing a NRS Chapter 432B child-protection petition is substantively appealable. Appellate jurisdiction in Nevada…

The Supreme Court entertained the original mandamus petition because placement orders are not appealable, consistent with In re Matter of J.B., 140 Nev., Adv. Op. 39, 550 P.3d 333, 337 (2024). On standing, the court…

This is an original proceeding seeking extraordinary writ relief - a writ of mandamus or prohibition - challenging the district court's jurisdiction in a proceeding under NRS Chapter 432B. The court set out the…

The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of a motion to terminate guardianship for abuse of discretion, citing In re Guardianship of L.S. & H.S., 120 Nev. 157, 163, 87 P.3d 521, 525 (2004). It also noted the district…

Standard of review. The court reviews guardianship determinations for abuse of discretion, citing In re Guardianship of D.M.F., 139 Nev. 342, 348, 535 P.3d 1154, 1161 (2023), and In re Eric A.L., 123 Nev. 26, 33, 153…

Standard of review. The court applied abuse-of-discretion review to the guardianship determination: "Absent a showing of abuse, we will not disturb the district court's exercise of discretion concerning guardianship…

Standard of review: Guardianship determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion. In re Guardianship of L.S. & H.S., 120 Nev. 157, 163, 87 P.3d 521, 525 (2004) ("Absent a showing of abuse, we will not disturb the…

The court reviewed the statutory-interpretation question de novo. State v. Catanio, 120 Nev. 1030, 1033, 102 P.3d 588, 590 (2004). When statutory text is unambiguous, it is given its plain meaning, Firestone v. State,…

The Court of Appeals addressed two principal issues: (1) whether Nevada law permits a child to have three legal parents, and (2) the propriety of the district court's child support order. As a threshold matter, the…

**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the NRCP 12(b)(5) dismissal de novo, applying the "rigorous standard of review" from Buzz Stew, LLC v. City of North Las Vegas, 124 Nev. 224, 227-28, 181 P.3d 670, 672 (2008),…

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…

The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody decision for an abuse of discretion, Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007), affirming factual findings supported by substantial evidence, id. at…

**Standard of review.** The court applies deferential review to the district court's factual findings, setting them aside only if clearly erroneous or unsupported by substantial evidence, while reviewing legal questions…

Standard of review. The Court reviews NRCP 60(b) rulings for abuse of discretion, citing Cook v. Cook, 112 Nev. 179, 181-82, 912 P.2d 264, 265 (1996), and Skender v. Brunsonbuilt Constr. & Dev. Co., 122 Nev. 1430, 1435,…

The appellant filed a notice of withdrawal of appeal, which the court treated as a motion for voluntary dismissal. Citing NRAP 42, the court found cause appearing and granted the motion, dismissing the appeal. The order…

This is an emergency pro se original petition for a writ of mandamus challenging the district court's purported refusal to resolve motions concerning enforcement of a child custody order on appeal in Docket Nos.…

The court addressed appellate jurisdiction as a threshold matter, noting that it "may only consider appeals authorized by statute or court rule." Brown v. MHC Stagecoach, LLC, 129 Nev. 348, 345, 301 P.3d 850, 851…

**Standard of review.** The Court of Appeals reviews an order declaring a litigant vexatious and restricting court access for an abuse of discretion, Jordan v. State ex rel. Dep't of Motor Vehicles & Pub. Safety, 121…

The supreme court conducted its standard jurisdictional review of the notice of appeal and the NRAP 3(g) documents and identified a jurisdictional defect: appellant failed to identify an appealable order under NRAP…

Standard of review. Mandamus is available to compel performance of a legally required act or to control an arbitrary or capricious exercise of discretion. IGT v. Second Jud. Dist. Ct., 124 Nev. 193, 197, 179 P.3d 556,…

The court reviewed the petition under the familiar mandamus standard: mandamus issues to compel performance of a legal duty or to correct a manifest abuse of discretion or arbitrary or capricious action where no other…

The court exercised its discretion to entertain an original writ petition under NRS 34.160 and NRS 34.170, citing Gardner v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 133 Nev. 730, 405 P.3d 651 (2017); Int'l Game Tech., Inc. v. Second…