Case library
Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.
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.
64 results for “NRS 125.150(3)”
KISHNER VS. KISHNER (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Apr 11, 197793 Nev. 220, 562 P.2d 493 (1977) · 8077 · Nevada Supreme Court
The clarification order appealed from is vacated, and the original decree is affirmed.The court (Smart, D.J.) resolved whether NRS 125.150(4) - providing that upon the death of either party or the wife's remarriage all alimony awarded by the decree ceases unless the court has otherwise ordered -…
KILGORE VS. KILGORE
Oct 3, 2019135 Nev. Adv. Op. 47, 449 P.3d 843 (2019) · 73977 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.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,…
KLABACKA VS. NELSON C/W 66772
May 25, 2017133 Nev. Adv. Op. 24 (2017) · 68292 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.The Supreme Court, sitting en banc, addressed nine principal issues arising from a divorce that involved two valid Nevada self-settled spendthrift trusts. **Subject-matter jurisdiction.** Reviewing de novo (Ogawa v.…
SAVARD VS. SAVARD (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 14, 202626-17099 · 89248-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Jurisdiction over the amended decree.** The court applied NRAP 4(a)(2) and NRAP 4(a)(6), holding that "[a] notice of appeal filed after the court announces a decision or order—but before the entry of the judgment or…
LOVE VS. LOVE (PATERNITY)
May 19, 1998114 Nev. 572, 959 P.2d 523 (1998) · 29729 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded (the order resolving the paternity complaint and the attorney's fees award reversed; increased child support and private tuition left in place pending the district court's further decisions on remand).A divorce decree establishing paternity is generally res judicata and precludes relitigation between the parties. Harris v. Harris, 95 Nev. 214, 217, 591 P.2d 1147, 1148-49 (1979). However, res judicata does not bar…
OSHIRO VS. OSHIRO (FAMILY)
Nov 26, 2025141 Nev. Adv. Op. 59 (2025) · 89205 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: Statutory construction is reviewed de novo, Martin v. Martin, 138 Nev. 786, 789, 520 P.3d 813, 817 (2022); the fairness of an alimony award is reviewed for abuse of discretion, Wolff v. Wolff, 112…
CONTE VS. CONTE
Jun 25, 202525-27917 · 87945-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Judgment of the district court reversed, the sanctions award vacated, and the matter remanded to the district court for proceedings consistent with the order.The Court of Appeals reviewed the statutory-interpretation question de novo, citing Martin v. Martin, 138 Nev. 786, 789, 520 P.3d 813, 817 (2022), and applied the plain-language rule from Leven v. Frey, 123 Nev. 399,…
KLABACKA VS. NELSON C/W 66772
May 25, 2017133 Nev. Adv. Op. 24 (2017) · 66772 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.**Subject-matter jurisdiction.** Reviewing de novo (Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009); Landreth v. Malik, 127 Nev. 175, 179, 251 P.3d 163, 166 (2011)), the court rejected Eric's Trust's…
HO VS. HO
Sep 19, 202424-34630 · 86775-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.**Property distribution - standard and framework.** The court reviewed the distribution of community property for abuse of discretion. Kilgore v. Kilgore, 135 Nev. 357, 359, 449 P.3d 843, 846 (2019). Property acquired…
REED VS. REED
Jan 31, 202525-04770 · 87580-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The court reviews a decision to grant or deny a motion to modify alimony for an abuse of discretion, Davitian-Kostanian v. Kostanian, 139 Nev., Adv. Op. 27, 534 P.3d 700, 705 (2023), and will not…
PHILLIPS VS. PHILLIPS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 29, 202222-13646 · 82414 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the child custody order for abuse of discretion, leaving factual findings undisturbed if supported by substantial evidence. Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d…
FICK VS. FICK (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
May 7, 1993109 Nev. 458, 851 P.2d 445 (1993) · 22515 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part and remanded in part (to establish a time frame for the recipient to commence re-training).Property acquired during marriage is presumed community property (NRS 123.220), though spouses may hold property in joint tenancy (NRS 123.030); a valid joint-tenancy deed rebuttably overcomes the community presumption…
FRANKLIN VS. FRANKLIN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 4, 202323-39225 · 84334 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.Standard of review. Child custody decisions are reviewed for abuse of discretion, with factual findings sustained if supported by substantial evidence. Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 216 P.3d 213, 226 (2009);…
ELLETT VS. ELLETT (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Jan 25, 197894 Nev. 34, 573 P.2d 1179 (1978) · 8909 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded. ("Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded for redistribution of the two community property automobiles.")The court affirmed in part and reversed in part a supplemental divorce decree. (1) Retirement benefits: because the January partial decree expressly reserved property division and alimony, it was interlocutory and not a…
GARCIA RODRIGUEZ VS. LEON-YANEZ
Apr 29, 202424-14789 · 85289-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the distribution of community property, orders concerning omitted assets, child support, alimony, and attorney fees each for abuse of discretion. See Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135…
HANSEN VS. HANSEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 26, 202323-41858 · 84435-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED."The Court of Appeals reviewed each of Irina's claims under an abuse-of-discretion standard and affirmed. Child support. Child support orders are reviewed for abuse of discretion, Edgington v. Edgington, 119 Nev. 577,…
BLANCO VS. BLANCO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Oct 31, 2013129 Nev. 723, 311 P.3d 1170 (2013) · 60153 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with the opinion; any resulting default decree must comply with the standards set forth (best-interest merits determination for custody and support, equal disposition of community property with findings, and Young/Foster analysis for remaining claims).The court defined the limits on case-concluding discovery sanctions (default) in divorce proceedings, holding that the permissibility of a default depends on the particular claim. Holdings: (1) Child custody and child…
JACOBS VS. JACOBS (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Jan 31, 196783 Nev. 73, 422 P.2d 1005 (1967) · 5134 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed. ("Affirmed.")Zenoff, J. On the husband's appeal from a divorce decree that, in lieu of periodic alimony, ordered him to convey his interest in the parties' jointly held home to the wife 'for her future support, maintenance and…
PHILLIPS VS. PHILLIPS
Apr 29, 202222-13647 · 82693 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The court reviewed the custody order for abuse of discretion under Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), and reviewed factual findings for substantial evidence under Ellis v. Carucci, 123…
PATTERSON VS. PATTERSON
Apr 12, 202424-12779 · 84932-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")This is an appeal from the denial of an NRCP 60(b) motion to set aside a stipulated divorce decree. The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's ruling for abuse of discretion, noting that it "will not disturb the…
FRANKLIN VS. FRANKLIN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 20, 202424-21407 · 84334 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review. Child custody decisions are reviewed for abuse of discretion, with factual findings sustained if supported by substantial evidence. Rivero v. Rivero, 125 Nev. 410, 428, 216 P.3d 213, 226 (2009);…
EIVAZI VS. EIVAZI
Oct 5, 2023537 P.3d 476 (Nev. Ct. App. 2023) · 84427-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review. The court reviewed alimony determinations, attorney fee awards, and disposition of community property (including underlying marital waste determinations) for abuse of discretion. Kogod v.…
CARRELL VS. CARRELL (RETIREMENT DIVISION)
Sep 1, 1992108 Nev. 670, 836 P.2d 1243 (1992) · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed as to the characterization of the wife's pension award and the award of attorney's fees, and remanded with instructions to recharacterize the wife's portion of the pension funds as community property and to make findings supporting any fee award; affirmed in all other respects.Per Curiam. Retirement benefits earned during marriage are community property, Walsh v. Walsh, 103 Nev. 287, 738 P.2d 117 (1987). As community property, they carry rights that do not attach to spousal support - most…
DAVITIAN-KOSTANIAN VS. KOSTANIAN
Aug 31, 2023139 Nev. Adv. Op. 27, 534 P.3d 700 (2023) · 84086 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.Standard of review. Statutory interpretation is reviewed de novo. Arguello v. Sunset Station, Inc., 127 Nev. 365, 368, 252 P.3d 206, 208 (2011). Child support and alimony rulings are reviewed for abuse of discretion.…
FOLLETT VS. FOLLETT (FAMILY)
Apr 14, 202626-17096 · 90905-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's divorce-related decisions for an abuse of discretion, citing Williams v. Williams, 120 Nev. 559, 566, 97 P.3d 1124, 1129 (2004), and Davitian-Kostanian v. Kostanian,…
CARNEY VS. MORURI
Mar 29, 202424-11254 · 85614-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's order setting aside a divorce decree and adjudicating an omitted asset for abuse of discretion, reviewing factual findings deferentially (not to be set aside unless…
BRADDOCK VS. BRADDOCK (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Nov 21, 197591 Nev. 735, 542 P.2d 1060 (1975) · 7740, 7875 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed. ("The judgment and orders of the lower court are affirmed.")In consolidated appeals the court addressed the validity of an Ohio antenuptial agreement and the resulting property, support, and fee awards. Because the agreement was executed and to be performed in Ohio, Ohio law…
DAVIDSON VS. DAVIDSON
Sep 29, 2016132 Nev. Adv. Op. 71 (2016) · 67698 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed.Standard of review: Questions of statutory construction are reviewed de novo. I. Cox Constr. Co. v. CH2 Invs., LLC, 129 Nev. 139, 142, 296 P.3d 1202, 1203 (2013). Appellate jurisdiction: The Court first held that the…
SPRENGER VS. SPRENGER (ALIMONY)
Jul 26, 1994110 Nev. 855, 878 P.2d 284 (1994) · Nevada Supreme Court
Remanded to the district court with instructions to increase and extend the wife's alimony award; affirmed in all other respects, including the separate-property characterization of the nursery, the equal division of community property, the coin-collection award, and the attorney's-fee award.Per Curiam. Stock acquired before marriage is separate property, NRS 123.130(2); transmutation from separate to community property must be shown by clear and convincing evidence, and the appearance of a spouse's…
HORTA VS. HORTA (CHILD CUSTODY) C/W 86978
Oct 3, 202424-36910 · 86873-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The panel reviewed each challenge under abuse-of-discretion standards and declined to disturb findings supported by substantial evidence. **Income determination.** A district court's factual findings, including a…
LOPEZ, JR. VS. LOPEZ (FAMILY)
Dec 9, 202525-53644 · 89245-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's decision whether to award alimony for an abuse of discretion. Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135 Nev. 64, 66, 439 P.3d 397, 400 (2019). Under NRS 125.150(1)(a), the district…
TAVARES VS. TAVARES
Mar 4, 202626-10136 · 88218-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's denial of an NRCP 60 motion to set aside for abuse of discretion, citing Cook v. Cook, 112 Nev. 179, 181-82, 912 P.2d 264, 265 (1996). It first established the…
CUNNING VS. CUNNING
May 3, 202424-15700 · 84255-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.The panel (Gibbons, Bulla, Westbrook, JJ.) reviewed the district court's division of property and its attorney fee and alimony determinations for abuse of discretion, and applied the substantial-evidence standard to the…
SARGEANT VS. SARGEANT (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Apr 7, 197288 Nev. 223, 495 P.2d 618 (1972) · 6567 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed in part, reversed as to the trust for the child, and remanded with directions to enter a modified decree.In this contested divorce, the trial court granted the wife the divorce as the party least at fault and awarded her a lump-sum support and maintenance award of $331,200, attorney's fees totaling $52,500, and ordered…
HALBROOK VS. HALBROOK (CHILD CUSTODY)
Dec 31, 1998114 Nev. 1455, 971 P.2d 1262 (1998) · 30880, 31441 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded for reevaluation of the relocation motion; attorney's fees award reversed.Applying Schwartz v. Schwartz, 107 Nev. 378, 382-83, 812 P.2d 1268, 1270-71 (1991), and its progeny, the court held the district court erred in finding the moving parent lacked a sensible, good-faith reason to relocate.…
ROSIAK VS. ROSIAK C/W 86632
Feb 22, 202424-06443 · 85464-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED IN PART AND VACATED IN PART AND REMAND this matter to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order.").**Standard of review.** The court reviews "decisions regarding child support for an abuse of discretion," Romano v. Romano, 138 Nev. 1, 7, 501 P.3d 980, 985 (2022), abrogated in part on other grounds by Killebrew v.…
STOJANOVICH VS. STOJANOVICH (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Nov 25, 197086 Nev. 789, 476 P.2d 950 (1970) · 6141 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded for reconsideration of the property division.The only issues concerned the district court's disposition of property. Petor did not contest the characterization of the home as community property, challenging only its award. The court held the trial judge abused his…
SNYDER VS. SNYDER C/W 82756/83029
Oct 20, 202222-32996 · 81887-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirming in part, reversing in part, and remanding (Docket No. 81887-COA); dismissing appeals (Docket No. 82756-COA and Docket No. 83029-COA).Docket No. 81887-COA (divorce decree). The court reviewed the subject matter jurisdiction challenge de novo. Ogawa v. Ogawa, 125 Nev. 660, 667, 221 P.3d 699, 704 (2009). Raymond argued that neither party satisfied the…
LEVY VS. LEVY (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Dec 29, 198096 Nev. 902, 620 P.2d 860 (1980) · 10896 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in all respects.The Court (per curiam) affirmed in all respects a divorce decree that declared the parties' settlement agreement valid. The parties married in 1968 and separated in 1976; after Louis filed for divorce, a pre-trial…
HILDAHL VS. HILDAHL (CHILD SUPPORT)
Oct 15, 197995 Nev. 657, 601 P.2d 58 (1979) · 10220 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed. ("Affirmed.")The court affirmed a judgment for support arrearages and a contempt order against a father who unilaterally reduced fixed monthly support-and-maintenance payments when a child came to live with him. Accrued alimony and…
SOTELO VS. SOTELO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 30, 202525-42702 · 88638-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Standard of review.** The court reviewed the district court's alimony and community property determinations for abuse of discretion, citing Kivazi v. Etvazi, 139 Nev. 408, 411, 537 P.3d 476, 482 (Ct. App. 2023).…
SOLINGER VS. SOLINGER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 20, 202323-12320 · 84832-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.**Custody.** Child custody decisions are reviewed for abuse of discretion, Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541, 543 (1996), and will not be set aside if supported by substantial evidence, Ellis v.…
KORBEL VS. KORBEL (DIVORCE)
Mar 11, 1985101 Nev. 140, 696 P.2d 993 (1985) · 15491 · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded with instructions. The court reversed the $2,500 attorney's fee award and remanded with instruction to modify the award in accordance with the opinion (i.e., to exclude the $2,000 attributable to the prior, dismissed appeal).Per Curiam (Springer, C.J., Mowbray, Steffen, Gunderson, JJ., and Zenoff, Sr. J., concurring). The husband appealed only the portion of a post-decree order awarding the wife $2,500 in attorney's fees, $2,000 of which…
MCINNIS VS. MCINNIS (CHILD SUPPORT)
Aug 9, 197894 Nev. 532, 582 P.2d 802 (1978) · 9911 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed. ("the order denying Appellant's motion to modify the judgment and decree of divorce by increasing the child support payments must be affirmed. . . . we affirm.")The court affirmed the denial of a mother's motion to increase child support. Jurisdiction to modify rested on NRS 125.140(2) (Cavell v. Cavell), and review is for abuse of discretion (Edwards v. Edwards). Applying the…
GABROY VS. GABROY
Nov 20, 202424-44253 · 87387-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review — community property.** The court reviewed the district court's disposition of community property for abuse of discretion, citing Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, 135 Nev. 64, 75, 439 P.3d 397, 406 (2019).…
SMITH VS. SMITH (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Dec 6, 1984100 Nev. 610, 691 P.2d 428 (1984) · 15078 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed. ("Accordingly, the orders of the district court are affirmed.")Per Curiam. On the husband's appeal from post-judgment orders denying return of monies paid, holding him in contempt, and requiring him to execute a promissory note and deed of trust and to pay attorney's fees, the…
HERRMANN VS. HERRMANN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Feb 8, 202424-04791 · 86246-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Dismissed in part and affirmed in part.The court addressed jurisdiction, then reached the merits of three challenges. As to jurisdiction over the order setting a vexatious litigant hearing, the court held that no statute or court rule authorizes an appeal…
SASSLER VS. SASSLER
Jun 17, 202424-21011 · 87017-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's alimony and property rulings for abuse of discretion, noting that decisions in divorce proceedings will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence — "that…
ZAHRINGER VS. ZAHRINGER (DIVORCE PROPERTY & ALIMONY)
Jan 12, 196076 Nev. 21, 348 P.2d 161 (1960) · 4212 · Nevada Supreme Court
Affirmed with costs to respondent. ("Judgment affirmed, with costs to respondent.")By the Court, Pike, J. On the wife's appeal from the portion of a divorce decree awarding certain Firestone stock to the husband as separate property, the court affirmed. Property acquired during coverture is presumed…
NEYMAN VS. NEYMAN
Aug 21, 202525-36828 · 86780-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**Alimony modification jurisdiction (Siragusa).** The court reviewed questions of law, including interpretation of caselaw, de novo (Martin v. Martin), but treated whether a party is in arrears as a question of fact…
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.