Case library
Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.
24 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.
Case Library = case briefs of the decisions themselves. For long-form explainers of the governing law, Guides; for the exact quotable passages, verified verbatim, the Canon.
24 cases · counsel of record Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
IN RE: E.C., J.O.C., M.E.C., O.E.C. AND V.R.C. (FAMILY)
Sep 3, 202691256-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")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…
IN RE: N.D., G.D. AND M.D. (FAMILY)
Jan 8, 2026142 Nev. Adv. Op. 2 (2026) · 90392 · Nevada Supreme Court
Appeal allowed to proceed.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…
MARTINELLI VS. DEL REAL (FAMILY)
Dec 9, 202525-53628 · 88908-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."The Court of Appeals reviewed each assignment of error under the abuse-of-discretion standard. On the motion to reopen discovery, the court applied the standard that "[d]iscovery matters are within the district court's…
B. VS. DIST. CT. (CLARK CNTY. DEP'T FAM. SERV.) (FAMILY)
Nov 7, 202525-48691 · 91507-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition denied.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…
DESTIN VS. DIST. CT. (HANDWERKER-LAMASTER) (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 28, 2025141 Nev. Adv. Op. 42 (2025) · 89114 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition denied.Standard of review. Mandamus may issue under NRS 34.160 to compel performance of an act the law requires, and under Nev. Const. art. 6, § 4. Relief is available only where the district court "manifestly abused [its]…
IN RE: A.T., A MINOR (FAMILY)
Jun 12, 2025141 Nev. Adv. Op. 32 (2025) · 89128 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition denied.Standard of review and writ jurisdiction. The court reviewed statutory interpretation de novo, citing Hobbs v. State, 127 Nev. 234, 237, 251 P.3d 177, 179 (2011). Mandamus is available to compel a duty or control a…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF H.B. III
Apr 3, 2025141 Nev. Adv. Op. 15 (2025) · 87887 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed with instructions.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,…
STOJACK VS. DIST. CT. (J.R.-S.) (FAMILY)
Feb 14, 202525-07082 · 89815-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition denied.Stojack sought traditional mandamus relief from the denial of a motion to disclose his minor child's therapy records. The court recited the governing framework: mandamus is available "to compel the performance of an act…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF A. A L. R. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jan 15, 202525-02174 · 88396-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed a district court's denial of a minor guardianship petition under an abuse-of-discretion standard: "Absent a showing of abuse, we will not disturb the district court's exercise of discretion…
CROSIER VS. CROSIER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 31, 202424-41239 · 87206-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("we ORDER the custody decree and post-decree order REVERSED AND REMAND this matter to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the custody determination for an abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). Deference to the district court's discretionary determinations is not…
CARDENAS-GARCIA VS. DIST. CT. (DEPT. OF FAMILY SERV.)
Aug 22, 2024140 Nev. Adv. Op. 52, 554 P.3d 231 (2024) · 87414 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition denied.Standard of review: The court reviews questions of statutory interpretation de novo, even on a writ petition, citing Int'l Game Tech., Inc. v. Second Jud. Dist. Ct., 124 Nev. 193, 198, 179 P.3d 556, 559 (2008). The…
B.Y. AND A.F. VS. DIST. CT. (BURDISS)
Apr 25, 2024140 Nev. Adv. Op. 32 (2024) · 88027 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition granted in part.The court treated this as an emergency original writ proceeding because no adequate legal remedy existed to challenge denial of temporary guardianship. NRS 34.170. Mandamus review applies the…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF Y.U.G. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 19, 202424-13754 · 87635-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court REVERSED and REMANDED for proceedings consistent with this order.")The appeal presented a question of subject matter jurisdiction over a guardianship petition. The court reviewed the issue de novo, citing Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009) ("Subject matter…
FALCONI VS. DIST. CT. (MINTER)
Feb 15, 2024140 Nev. Adv. Op. 8, 543 P.3d 92 (2024) · 85195 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition granted.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…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF D.M.F.
Sep 28, 2023139 Nev. Adv. Op. 38, 535 P.3d 1154 (2023) · 84274 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions.Standard of review. The court reviews guardianship determinations for abuse of discretion, citing Jason S. v. Valley Hosp. Med. Ctr. (In re Guardianship of L.S. & H.S.), 120 Nev. 157, 87 P.3d 521 (2004), and State v.…
SENJAB VS. ALHULAIBI (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 21, 2021137 Nev. Adv. Op. 64, 497 P.3d 618 (2021) · 81515 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.The court reviewed both subject-matter jurisdiction and statutory interpretation de novo, citing Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009), and Young v. Nev. Gaming Control Bd., 136 Nev. 584, 586, 473…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO L.L.S.
May 27, 2021137 Nev. Adv. Op. 22 (2021) · 79124 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.Standard of review: Constitutional questions, including a parent's procedural due process rights in a termination proceeding, are reviewed de novo. In re Parental Rights as to M.F., 132 Nev. 209, 212, 371 P.3d 995, 997…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO T.M.R.
May 27, 2021137 Nev. Adv. Op. 23 (2021) · 81032 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.The opinion resolves an ambiguity in Nevada's civil discovery framework as applied to parental-rights terminations. The Court reviews a denial of a motion in limine for abuse of discretion under State ex rel. Department…
MULKERN VS. DIST. CT. (CLARK CTY. DEP'T OF FAMILY SERV.'S)
Oct 18, 2018134 Nev. Adv. Op. 82, 429 P.3d 277 (2018) · 76399 · Nevada Supreme Court
Petition granted in part.Standard of review and writ standards. The court reiterated that mandamus is available to compel an act required by law or to control arbitrary or capricious exercises of discretion, citing Int'l Game Tech., Inc. v.…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO S.L., N.R.B., H.R.B., W.C.B. C/W 71889
Aug 2, 2018134 Nev. Adv. Op. 59, 422 P.3d 1253 (2018) · 71889 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: The Court reviews questions of law de novo and the district court's factual findings for substantial evidence, citing In re Parental Rights as to A.L., 130 Nev. 914, 918, 337 P.3d 758, 761 (2014).…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO S.L., N.R.B., H.R.B., W.C.B. C/W 71889
Aug 2, 2018134 Nev. Adv. Op. 59, 422 P.3d 1253 (2018) · 71873 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.The court applied the familiar two-part termination framework: clear and convincing evidence of (1) at least one ground of parental fault and (2) that termination serves the child's best interests. NRS 128.105(1); In re…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.D.L. AND C.L.B., JR.
Oct 5, 2017133 Nev. Adv. Op. 72 (2017) · 69047 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed.The court reviewed the district court's findings of fact for substantial evidence, applying close scrutiny because termination of parental rights is "tantamount to imposition of a civil death penalty." In re Parental…
LEWIS VS. LEWIS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 30, 2016132 Nev. Adv. Op. 46 (2016) · 66497 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review: Contempt orders are normally reviewed for abuse of discretion, In re Water Rights of the Humboldt River, 118 Nev. 901, 907, 59 P.3d 1226, 1230 (2002), but constitutional issues are reviewed de novo,…
IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.P.M. AND E.M.M.
Sep 10, 2015131 Nev. Adv. Op. 66 (2015) · 64214 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review. A party petitioning to terminate parental rights must establish by clear and convincing evidence that termination is in the child's best interest and that parental fault exists, citing In re Parental…
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.