Case library
Nevada family-law decisions, briefed for practice.
1201 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.
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470 cases · Custody & Relocation - NRS ch. 125C - custody, visitation, relocation.
SEATON VS. BORLAND (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 14, 202692754 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.This is a procedural dismissal of a pro se appeal from a district court order resolving child custody issues. The court did not reach the merits. The court recounted the procedural notices and orders governing the…
HALL VS. LOFTIS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 11, 202690386-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody and child support determinations for abuse of discretion. See Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007) (custody); Edgington v. Edgington,…
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…
LOVETT VS. CHRISTENSEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Sep 9, 202691090-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed; remand granted.This is a pro se appeal from a district court order modifying child custody, resolved on an unopposed NRAP 12A motion for limited remand. Because respondent filed no opposition and the time to do so had passed, the…
BUCHANAN VS. BREWER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 31, 202691363-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody and relocation determination for abuse of discretion. Flynn v. Flynn, 120 Nev. 486, 92 P.3d 1224 (2004); Johnson v. Bennett, 141 Nev., Adv. Op. 35, 575…
ANDERSON-ALEXANDER VS. MOTEN, III (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 25, 202690813-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's custody modification for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). Modification of a physical custody arrangement requires the…
De Vincenzi v. Reeves
Aug 21, 202690884 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The court applied the settled abuse-of-discretion standard for child custody determinations, citing Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). "An abuse of discretion occurs when…
PLATA VS. GUTIERREZ (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 21, 202691173-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded ("AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART AND REMAND this matter to the district court for proceedings consistent with this order").Custody modification. The court of appeals reviewed the custody ruling for a clear abuse of discretion, quoting Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007), that district courts enjoy "broad…
STEVENS VS. LANEY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 21, 202691371-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and dismissed in part. ("Accordingly, we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED IN PART and DISMISS IN PART this appeal.")**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…
OCASIO VS. WIRSZ C/W 87589
Aug 20, 202687589-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgments of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review.** Custody determinations are reviewed for a clear abuse of discretion, and will not be disturbed absent one. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). An abuse of discretion…
CAMPBELL VS. CAMPBELL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 19, 202691924-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals addressed two issues: a due process challenge and a substantial-evidence/abuse-of-discretion challenge to the best-interest findings. On due process, the court applied de novo review, citing Eureka…
CARRERA VS. PETERSON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 6, 202691367-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")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.…
ROHMILLER VS. AKESON (CHILD CUSTODY)
Aug 4, 202692643 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal in Docket No. 92643 dismissed; fast track briefing reinstated in Docket No. 92490; appeals in Docket Nos. 92490 and 92888 consolidated; transmission of the record directed.This order resolves procedural questions across three related pro se appeals from District Court Case No. D-19-592237-C. The underlying orders are the December 7, 2025 order denying a motion to modify child custody and…
ADAMS VS. LEE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 24, 202691436-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of a motion to modify custody for an abuse of discretion. Myers v. Haskins, 138 Nev. 553, 556, 513 P.3d 527, 531 (Ct. App. 2022); see also Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015,…
BROFMAN VS. FIORE (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 24, 202691260-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.The Court of Appeals first addressed the scope of the appeal. Brofman's notice of appeal challenged the July 2025 modification order and "all underlying interlocutory and motion orders merged therein," and his opening…
CURRERI VS. MAYHALL (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 23, 202690197-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part and dismissed in part.The court reviewed the denial of a motion to modify physical custody without an evidentiary hearing for an abuse of discretion, citing Myers v. Haskins, 138 Nev. 558, 556, 513 P.3d 527, 531 (Ct. App. 2022). A district…
PERREIRA VS. EISENBERG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 22, 202691613-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the child custody decision for abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by substantial evidence—"evidence that a reasonable person may accept as adequate to sustain a…
GRIGALANZ VS. COPAS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 9, 202691619-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")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…
WOLFE VS. MANNION (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 8, 202691617-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")**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,…
ORTEGA VS. DIST. CT. (ORTEGA) (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jul 1, 202692312-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition granted in part and denied in part; the court directed the Clerk to issue a writ of mandamus instructing the district court to vacate the bench warrant issued against Medina.The Court of Appeals addressed a petition for a writ of mandamus or prohibition in a child custody matter. It set out the governing standards: mandamus is available to compel performance of an act the law requires as a…
IBANEZ VS. CHAISAWANG (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 30, 202691075-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")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…
Johnson et al v. Parker
Jun 30, 202690848-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody determinations - including physical custody, relocation, and legal custody - for an abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by…
HICKS VS. LINDSEY (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 29, 202691345-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's visitation decision for an abuse of discretion, citing Ramos v. Franklin, 139 Nev. 54, 60, 525 P.3d 1227, 1232 (2023). Under the governing standard, a court abuses its…
LORENZO VS. GENDEBIEN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 18, 2026142 Nev. Adv. Op. 46 (Ct. App. 2026) · 90082-COA · Nevada Supreme Court
Reversed and remanded.**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),…
BACKMAN VS. GELBMAN (CHILD CUSTODY) C/W 91070
Jun 16, 202688482-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgments of the district court AFFIRMED.")**Standard of review.** The court reviewed child-custody determinations, including parenting-time decisions, for abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by substantial evidence and leaving credibility…
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…
TOUNG VS. REACHI SOLIS (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 16, 202691453-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")Standard of review: The court reviews a child custody decision for an abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); see also Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922 P.2d 541,…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF E.I.C. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 15, 202691844-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")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…
VIDRINE VS. MULLINER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Jun 3, 202626-25097 · 91919 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal and cross-appeal dismissed.The court addressed two independent grounds for dismissal. As to the cross-appeal, the court's analysis turned on the timeliness requirements of NRAP 4(a). The court issued an order to show cause why the cross-appeal…
KHALIFAH VS. HOLLINGS (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 29, 202626-24401 · 89482-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed all challenged rulings - custody, school choice, and child support, including the orders denying reconsideration - for abuse of discretion, affirming factual findings supported by…
SEIDLINGER VS. HSIUNG (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 27, 202626-23993 · 91401-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of a motion to modify custody without an evidentiary hearing for abuse of discretion, citing Myers v. Haskins, 138 Nev. 553, 556, 513 P.3d 527, 531 (Ct. App. 2022). A court…
LEE VS. PERRY (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 20, 202626-23130 · 90830-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.**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…
ROWLAND VS. YZAGUIRRE (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 13, 202626-21876 · 91568-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of a motion to modify custody, without an evidentiary hearing, for abuse of discretion. Myers v. Haskins, 138 Nev. 553, 556, 513 P.3d 527, 531 (Ct. App. 2022); see also Wallace…
GLICKMAN VS. GLICKMAN (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 7, 202626-20822 · 90343-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the district court's child custody decree AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody determinations for an abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007). When evaluating best interest, the district…
TEAMER VS. SUMMERS (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 7, 202626-20819 · 89296-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed two issues: (1) the district court's decision to permit withdrawal of deemed admissions under NRCP 36(b), and (2) the district court's weighing of the NRS 125C.0035(4) best-interest…
ORTEGA VS. ORTEGA (CHILD CUSTODY)
May 4, 202626-20077 · 92302 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court conducted a sua sponte jurisdictional review. Appellate jurisdiction in Nevada exists only where authorized by statute or court rule. See Brown v. MHC Stagecoach, LLC, 129 Nev. 343, 345, 301 P.3d 850, 851…
BELEN VS. CHAPMAN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 28, 202626-19334 · 91144-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's decision to exclude evidence for an abuse of discretion, citing M.C. Multi-Family Dev., L.L.C. v. Crestdale Assocs., Ltd., 124 Nev. 901, 913, 193 P.3d 536, 544 (2008),…
SUMMIT VS. SUMMIT (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 24, 202626-18819 · 90741-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.The court reviewed the district court's custody and parenting-time determinations for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); see also Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019,…
VALDEZ VS. SERMERSHEIM (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 22, 202626-18503 · 91866 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction on two independent grounds. First, applying Valley Bank of Nev. v. Ginsburg, 110 Nev. 440, 448, 874 P.2d 729, 735 (1994), the court noted that to qualify as a party…
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF J.L.M. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 15, 202626-17382 · 92062 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed the appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction. Citing NRAP 3A(a), the court reiterated that only an "aggrieved" party may appeal, relying on Valley Bank of Nev. v. Ginsburg, 110 Nev. 440, 446, 874…
PELZ VS. PEREA (FAMILY)
Apr 14, 202626-17079 · 90584-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed. ("ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.")The Court of Appeals reviewed the post-judgment attorney fee award for 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 decision is not…
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…
DAVIS VS. PFEIFER (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 13, 202626-16808 · 92013 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
"ORDERS this appeal DISMISSED."The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed this pro se appeal from a child custody order for failure to prosecute. After issuing a January 28, 2026 notice setting deadlines for a transcript request form or certificate of no…
KHALIFAH VS. DIST. CT. (HOLLINGS) (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 10, 202626-16583 · 92105-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Petition denied.This is an original proceeding for extraordinary writ relief arising from a child custody matter. The court set out the governing standards. A writ of mandamus is available to compel performance of an act that the law…
WOODY VS. RUBIO (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 7, 202626-15764 · 91969 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.This is a procedural dismissal for failure to prosecute a pro se child-custody appeal. After issuing a January 16, 2026 notice setting deadlines for a transcript request form (or certificate of no transcript request), a…
ORTEGA VS. ORTEGA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 6, 202626-15562 · 92026 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court applied the rule that appellate jurisdiction exists only when authorized by statute or court rule, citing Brown v. MHC Stagecoach, LLC, 129 Nev. 343, 345, 301 P.3d 850, 851 (2013). Two potential bases for…
SALINAS VS. QUINN, JR. (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 6, 202626-15550 · 91952 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed this pro se appeal from a child custody decree for failure to prosecute. After issuing a January 14, 2026, notice setting deadlines for the docketing statement (February 4, 2026) and…
DAVIS VS. TROTTA (CHILD CUSTODY)
Apr 3, 202626-15252 · 90587-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Affirmed.The Court of Appeals reviewed the denial of an NRCP 60(b)(1) motion for an abuse of discretion, citing Rodriguez v. Fiesta Palms, LLC, 134 Nev. 654, 656, 428 P.3d 255, 257 (2018), holding modified by Willard v.…
MONDAY VS. CHRISTIAN (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 30, 202626-14515 · 90704-COA · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Reversed and remanded.The Court of Appeals reviewed the district court's child custody decision for abuse of discretion. Ellis v. Carucci, 123 Nev. 145, 149, 161 P.3d 239, 241 (2007); see also Wallace v. Wallace, 112 Nev. 1015, 1019, 922…
BINGHAM VS. BINGHAM (CHILD CUSTODY)
Mar 16, 202626-12049 · 92141 · Nevada (SCOTN/COA)
Appeal dismissed.The court dismissed the appeal under NRAP 3(a)(2) for failure to pay the filing fee required by NRAP 3(e). After the appeal was docketed without the fee, the court issued a 7-day notice to pay the fee or demonstrate…
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.
