Case library
Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.
29 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.
29 cases · counsel of record Pecos Law Group
GRAY VS. GRAY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 10, 202691341-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody modification and the attorney fee award for abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by substantial evidence - "evidence that a reasonable person may…
DE NOTO VS HILTON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 16, 202691325-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the physical-custody determination for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). A district court abuses its discretion when its decision is not…
SAMAAN VS. SAMAAN (FAMILY)
Mar 30, 202690571 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal and cross-appeal dismissed.This is a clerk's order dismissing an appeal and cross-appeal in a family-division matter pursuant to the parties' stipulation. The court acted under NRAP 42, which governs voluntary dismissal of appeals. The order…
JENSEN VS. PETERSON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 12, 202525-49409 · 90580-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the evidentiary ruling for an abuse of discretion, which will not be disturbed "absent a showing of palpable abuse." M.C. Multi-Fam. Dev., L.L.C. v. Crestdale Assocs., Ltd., 124 Nev. 901,…
DOS SANTOS VS. DREIBELBIS (FAMILY)
Sep 16, 202525-40470 · 89249-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviews annulment proceedings for an abuse of discretion. Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566-67, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004). NRS 125.340(1) provides that "[i]f the consent of either party was…
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]…
PEARSON VS. PEARSON (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 22, 202525-22824 · 89033-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the custody and relocation determination for abuse of discretion, noting that district courts enjoy "broad discretionary powers to determine child custody matters," which will…
MARTINEZ VS. MARTINEZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 27, 2024140 Nev. Adv. Op. 73, 559 P.3d 863 (2024) · 84148 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.Standard of review. Child support determinations are reviewed for abuse of discretion under Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440, 92 P.3d 1224, 1227 (2004), but questions of law - including statutory and regulatory…
SULLIVAN VS. SULLIVAN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 6, 202424-19892 · 87424-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed ("ORDER the district court orders AFFIRMED.").Standard of review. The court reviews the exclusion of expert testimony for abuse of discretion, citing Hallmark v. Eldridge, 124 Nev. 492, 498, 189 P.3d 646, 650 (2008), and reviews child custody determinations…
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…
GENNARDO VS. GENNARDO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Nov 22, 202323-38085 · 85370-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded: the court AFFIRMs the child custody judgment, REVERSEs as to the permanent relocation of the children, and REMANDs for expeditious proceedings.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody and relocation determinations for abuse of discretion. "Appellate courts 'will not disturb the district court's custody determinations absent a clear abuse of…
FISHER VS. COBIAN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 16, 202323-26762 · 85203-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED but REMANDED for the limited purpose of correcting the clerical error.Standard of review: The court of appeals reviews child custody decisions for an abuse of discretion, Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 161 P.3d 239 (2007), affirming determinations supported by substantial evidence,…
MARTINEZ VS. MARTINEZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 23, 202323-08966 · 84148-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."Standard of review: child-custody determinations, including parenting-time schedules, are reviewed for an abuse of discretion, Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 216 P.3d 213, 226 (2009), overruled on other grounds by…
SHEEHAN VS. MANTY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 16, 202323-08107 · 84125-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")This is an appeal from a family court order dismissing a child custody action under NRS 125A.365 on inconvenient-forum grounds in favor of California. The Court of Appeals addressed four assignments of error. On the…
ARZOLA VS. ESTRADA
Dec 22, 202222-40144 · 83941-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirming in part and reversing in part (Docket No. 83251-COA), reversing (Docket No. 83941-COA) and remanding.The court reviewed the child custody order, the child support and relocation decisions, and the attorney fees award all for abuse of discretion, citing Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996);…
ARZOLA VS. ESTRADA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 22, 202222-40141 · 83251-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part (Docket No. 83251-COA); reversed (Docket No. 83941-COA) and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody order, child support determination, relocation question, and attorney fees award for abuse of discretion. *Wallace v. Wallace*, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543…
MARTIN VS. MARTIN C/W 82517
Dec 1, 2022138 Nev. Adv. Op. 78, 520 P.3d 813 (2022) · 81810 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.The court reviewed questions of law - interpretation of caselaw, statutory construction, federal preemption, and application of res judicata - de novo, citing Liu v. Christopher Homes, LLC, 130 Nev. 147, 321 P.3d 875…
MARTIN VS. MARTIN C/W 82517
Dec 1, 2022138 Nev. Adv. Op. 78, 520 P.3d 813 (2022) · 82517 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.The court reviewed de novo the questions of law presented: interpretation of caselaw, statutory construction, and federal preemption. See Liu v. Christopher Homes, LLC, 130 Nev. 147, 151, 321 P.3d 875, 877 (2014); Wyeth…
BRANDES VS. PICTUM (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 29, 202222-30618 · 83399-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody modification for an abuse of discretion, subject to the requirement that "the district court must have reached its conclusions for the appropriate…
SOBCZYK VS. OSBORNE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 18, 202222-25824 · 83565-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The standard of review throughout is abuse of discretion. The court reviews child custody decisions for abuse of discretion and affirms if supported by substantial evidence, meaning evidence a reasonable person may…
WALLACE VS. WALLACE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 22, 202222-19787 · 83591-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's denial of a motion to modify physical custody without an evidentiary hearing for an abuse of discretion. See Bautista v. Picone, 134 Nev. 334, 338, 419 P.3d 157, 160…
EORIO VS. EORIO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 15, 202222-12014 · 83132-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's relocation decision for abuse of discretion. Pelkola v. Pelkola, 137 Nev., Adv. Op. 24, 487 P.3d 807, 809 (2021); Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 436, 440, 92 P.3d 1224, 1229…
WARREN VS. AHYANG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 23, 202222-09171 · 82909-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The court reviews a district court's child custody decisions for an abuse of discretion, and the decision must be supported by substantial evidence, "evidence that a reasonable person may accept as…
MILLER VS. MILLER
Mar 15, 2018134 Nev. Adv. Op. 16, 412 P.3d 1081 (2018) · 69353 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions.Standard of review: Statutory construction is reviewed de novo. City of Reno v. Reno Gazette-Journal, 119 Nev. 55, 58, 63 P.3d 1147, 1148 (2003). A district court's child support determination is reviewed for abuse of…
ARCELLA VS. ARCELLA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 26, 2017133 Nev. Adv. Op. 104 (2017) · 71503 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions.The Court reviewed the district court's best-interest determination for clear abuse of discretion. Mack v. Ashlock, 112 Nev. 1062, 1065, 921 P.2d 1258, 1261 (1996). It identified three independent abuses of discretion.…
NGUYEN VS. BOYNES (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 22, 2017133 Nev. Adv. Op. 32 (2017) · 69166 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review. The Court reviewed application of the equitable adoption doctrine de novo as a question of law, citing Rennels v. Rennels, 127 Nev. 564, 569, 257 P.3d 396, 399 (2011). It reviewed the parentage…
Rivero v. Rivero
Oct 30, 2008125 Nev. 410, 216 P.3d 213 (2009) · 46915 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded in part (custody determination and child support); affirmed in part (the district court's orders regarding the recusal, disqualification, and attorney fees).Standards of review: custody decisions, including visitation schedules, are reviewed for abuse of discretion (Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996)); factual findings must be supported by…
Hudson v. Jones
Jul 13, 2006122 Nev. 708, 138 P.3d 429 (2006) · 43828 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.The question presented was whether the parental preference doctrine applies to a parent's motion to modify a custody arrangement in which a nonparent holds joint legal and primary physical custody following a litigated…
Potter v. Potter
Sep 22, 2005121 Nev. 613, 119 P.3d 1246 (2005) · 42488 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions.The en banc court, per Becker, C.J., addressed whether NRS 125C.200 applies to parties who share joint physical custody. The court reviewed the question de novo, noting that "Statutory interpretation is a question of…
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.