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Nevada Family Court: Custody and Parenting-Time Guide

Plain-language Nevada information for a custody or parenting-time route, including filing, official forms, free help, fee waivers, and legal-cost context.

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This page provides general legal information, not legal advice. State law, court rules, forms, and local procedures can change. Confirm current requirements with the court handling the case.

State laws, court rules, and forms can change. Automated link checks will run every week once the monitoring job is deployed. Please check each cited source before relying on it. Report a broken link or changed law.

Find the right family court

The custody or parenting-time route described in this guide is handled through the Nevada District Courts. Other family-law matters can follow a different court or procedure.

Find the court for your area.

  • Nevada Judicial Branch self-help materials identify District Courts as the courts that handle typical family-law cases, including custody.Sources:Find My Court

How Nevada courts decide custody

In an action determining physical custody, Nevada law makes the child's best interest the court's sole consideration and permits joint physical custody when it appears to serve that interest.Sources:NRS Chapter 125C — Custody and Visitation

  • Nevada law says the court must consider and make specific findings about listed best-interest factors, among other things; it also says neither parent receives a preference solely for being the mother or father.Sources:NRS Chapter 125C — Custody and Visitation

Key legal sources

Parenting time

Nevada law requires an order awarding a limited custody right to define that right with sufficient particularity and include all specific times and other terms; this draft does not state a statewide schedule.Sources:NRS Chapter 125C — Custody and Visitation

Key legal sources

How to file

This route is limited to an initial Nevada District Court custody/paternity case for unmarried parents without an existing custody order. It excludes divorce, separation, modification, enforcement, emergency relief, protection orders, guardianship, adoption, and interstate matters.Sources:Filing the Custody Paternity Papers

  1. Confirm the initial unmarried-parent route

    The official custody/paternity filing guidance applies to unmarried parents without an existing custody order. Confirm jurisdiction, parentage, and county-specific requirements before filing.Sources:Filing the Custody Paternity Papers

  2. Prepare the required opening forms

    The official filing guidance identifies the Family Cover Sheet, Summons, and Complaint for Custody/Paternity as required to open this case; use the current approved forms.Sources:Filing the Custody Paternity Papers, Custody Paternity and Child Support Forms

  3. File with the District Court and arrange service

    File the opening forms with the District Court in your county. The official service guidance says the filed complaint and summons must be served within 120 days and describes who may serve them; confirm local requirements.Sources:Filing the Custody Paternity Papers, Find My Court, How to Serve the Custody / Paternity Papers

  4. Use the applicable official service forms

    The official service guidance identifies different forms for proof of service, a service waiver, alternate service, or publication, depending on the circumstances. Do not treat a conditional service form as required for every case.Sources:How to Serve the Custody / Paternity Papers

Official forms

Open the official forms portal.

  • The Nevada Self-Help Center provides statewide approved custody/paternity forms, but says Clark and Washoe County users should check their specialized self-help sites for local forms and instructions.Sources:Custody Paternity and Child Support Forms

Free court self-help

Find court self-help near you.

  • Nevada Legal Services

    Area served: Nevada; confirm service area and matter availability with the provider.

    Provides civil legal-services information and intake resources.Sources:Nevada Legal Services

    Eligibility: Eligibility and representation availability require direct confirmation with the provider.

  • Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

    Area served: Southern Nevada; confirm current county and matter availability with the provider.

    Provides civil legal-services information and access-to-justice resources.Sources:Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

    Eligibility: Eligibility and representation availability require direct confirmation with the provider.

Fee waivers

Nevada's official fee-waiver guidance calls this an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and describes it as a request for the court to waive a filing fee.Sources:Court Fees and Fee Waivers

Who may qualify

  • Nevada law allows an indigent litigant application and lists public assistance, household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, necessary expenses exceeding income, or other compelling inability to pay as grounds for the court to grant it.Sources:NRS 12.015 — Actions Involving Indigent Persons

What to do

  1. Use the current official fee-waiver packet

    The official guidance directs a person seeking a fee waiver to submit an application, request for submission, and order for the judge to review with the filing paperwork.Sources:Court Fees and Fee Waivers

Official fee-waiver forms

Key statute or rule

Attorney cost benchmark

Lawyer fees vary by county, experience, services, and the facts of a case. This state benchmark is context for planning, not a quote.

State and local details to confirm

Part of Family Law in Your State.