Alimony (Spousal Support)

Court-ordered payments from one spouse to the other to provide financial support during or after a divorce. Nevada courts weigh factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, and the standard of living established during the marriage. Alimony may be temporary (while the case is pending), rehabilitative (to allow a spouse to gain training or education), or, in longer marriages, longer-term.

Governing authority: NRS 125.150  ·  NRS 125.040

Annulment

A court decree declaring that a marriage is void or voidable—legally treating it as though it never validly existed. This differs from divorce, which ends a marriage that was valid. Grounds in Nevada include a marriage that is prohibited by law (such as bigamy) or one entered into through fraud, lack of consent, or incapacity.

Governing authority: NRS 125.290  ·  NRS 125.300

Best Interest of the Child

The controlling standard Nevada courts apply to every custody and visitation decision. Rather than favoring either parent automatically, the court weighs a list of statutory factors—including the child’s needs and any expressed preference, each parent’s ability to meet those needs and to cooperate with the other parent, and any history of domestic violence, abuse, or neglect.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.0035

Child Support

The financial obligation of a parent to contribute to a child’s care. Nevada calculates the presumptive amount using statewide guidelines based on the paying parent’s gross monthly income and the number of children, subject to adjustment for specific circumstances. The duty of support belongs to both parents.

Governing authority: NRS 125B.020  ·  NRS 125B.080  ·  NRS 425.620 (guideline schedule)

Community Property

Property and debt acquired by either spouse during the marriage. Nevada is a community property state, so the law presumes both spouses own such property equally, and the court divides it equally (or as nearly equal as practicable) at divorce unless a compelling reason justifies an unequal split. Contrast with separate property.

Governing authority: NRS 125.150

Complaint for Divorce

The initial pleading that begins a divorce case. Filed by the spouse seeking the divorce (the plaintiff), it states the grounds and the relief requested—such as property division, custody, and support—and must satisfy Nevada’s residency and jurisdiction requirements.

Governing authority: NRS 125.020  ·  NRCP 3

Decree of Divorce

The final court order that legally ends the marriage and sets out the binding terms of the parties’ divorce, including division of property and debt, custody and parenting time, child support, and any alimony. Once entered, it is enforceable and generally modifiable only as to custody and support.

Governing authority: NRS 125.150  ·  NRCP 58

Discovery

The pre-trial process through which each party obtains information and evidence from the other. In Nevada family cases this includes mandatory exchange of financial information, along with tools such as requests for documents, interrogatories, and depositions.

Governing authority: NRCP 16.2  ·  NRCP 26

Financial Disclosure Form (FDF)

A sworn statement of a party’s income, monthly expenses, assets, and debts. Nevada requires an FDF in family cases that involve child support, spousal support, or division of property, so the court and the parties have an accurate financial picture.

Governing authority: NRCP 16.2

Grounds for Divorce

The legally recognized reasons a court may grant a divorce. Nevada is a no-fault state: the parties need not prove wrongdoing. The most common ground is incompatibility. A divorce may also be granted when the spouses have lived apart for at least one year, or on the basis of insanity existing for two years.

Governing authority: NRS 125.010

Home State (UCCJEA)

Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, the state where a child has lived with a parent (or a person acting as a parent) for at least six consecutive months immediately before a custody proceeding—or since birth, for an infant. The home state generally has priority to make the initial custody determination.

Governing authority: NRS 125A.085  ·  NRS 125A.305

Joint Legal Custody

An arrangement in which both parents share the right and responsibility to make major decisions about the child’s upbringing—such as education, health care, and religious training—regardless of where the child primarily lives.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.002

Joint Physical Custody

A custody arrangement in which the child spends a significant amount of time living with and being supervised by each parent. In Nevada, joint physical custody generally contemplates each parent having the child at least 40% of the time.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.0025  ·  NRS 125C.0035

Jurisdiction (Divorce)

A court’s authority to hear and decide a case. To obtain a Nevada divorce, at least one spouse must have resided in (or been domiciled in) Nevada for at least six weeks before the complaint is filed, and must intend to remain.

Governing authority: NRS 125.020

Legal Custody

The authority to make major decisions about a child’s life, including education, medical care, and religious upbringing. Legal custody may be held jointly by both parents or solely by one, and is decided separately from physical custody.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.002

Legal Separation (Separate Maintenance)

A court action in which a spouse seeks support and maintenance while the parties remain legally married. It is an alternative to divorce for couples who wish to live apart and resolve financial and parenting issues without ending the marriage.

Governing authority: NRS 125.190

Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA)

A written contract in which divorcing spouses resolve some or all of the issues in their case—property and debt division, alimony, custody, and support. When approved by the court, it is typically incorporated into the divorce decree and becomes enforceable as a court order.

Governing authority: NRS 125.150

Modification

A request to change an existing order because of a change in circumstances. Child support may be reviewed and adjusted (for example, on a change in income or every three years); alimony may be modified where the statute and the decree allow; and custody may be changed when a modification serves the child’s best interest and rests on a substantial change in circumstances.

Governing authority: NRS 125B.145 (support review)  ·  NRS 125.150  ·  NRS 125C.0035

No-Fault Divorce

A divorce granted without either spouse having to prove marital misconduct. Nevada’s primary no-fault ground is incompatibility—the spouses simply cannot get along—so neither party must show fault to end the marriage.

Governing authority: NRS 125.010

Parenting Time (Visitation)

The schedule of time a child spends with each parent, and the term increasingly used in place of “visitation” for the non-primary parent. In defined circumstances, certain relatives—such as grandparents—may also petition for visitation.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.0035  ·  NRS 125C.050

Paternity (Parentage)

The legal establishment of a child’s parent, which creates rights and duties including custody, parenting time, and support. Establishing parentage is often the first step before a court can order custody or child support for children whose parents were not married.

Governing authority: NRS 125B.020  ·  NRS Chapter 126 (Parentage)

Physical Custody

Refers to where the child physically lives and is supervised day to day. Nevada recognizes joint physical custody (substantial time with each parent) and primary physical custody (the child lives mostly with one parent while the other has parenting time).

Governing authority: NRS 125C.0025  ·  NRS 125C.003

Preliminary Injunction / Temporary Orders

Orders entered while a case is pending to preserve the status quo and provide for immediate needs—such as temporary support, custody and parenting time, use of the home, and preservation of assets—until the court enters final orders.

Governing authority: NRS 125.040  ·  NRCP 65

Primary Physical Custody

An arrangement in which the child lives with one parent more than 60% of the time, while the other parent typically exercises parenting time. The parent with primary physical custody provides the child’s main residence.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.003

Relocation (Move-Away)

A custodial parent’s request to move the child’s residence out of Nevada, or a significant distance within Nevada that would substantially impair the other parent’s relationship with the child. It requires the other parent’s written consent or, failing that, the court’s permission after weighing statutory factors.

Governing authority: NRS 125C.006  ·  NRS 125C.0065  ·  NRS 125C.007

Separate Property

Property a spouse owned before the marriage, or acquired during the marriage by gift or inheritance, together with the rents, issues, and profits of that property. Separate property remains the owning spouse’s and is generally not divided as community property at divorce.

Governing authority: NRS 125.150  ·  NRS 123.130 (separate property)

Service of Process

The formal delivery of the summons and complaint to the other party, giving legal notice that a case has been filed and starting that party’s time to respond. Nevada rules govern who may serve, how, and the alternatives when a party cannot be personally served.

Governing authority: NRCP 4  ·  NRCP 4.2  ·  NRCP 4.4

Summary Proceeding for Divorce (Joint Petition)

A streamlined, faster divorce available when both spouses agree on all terms and meet statutory conditions—such as agreement on property, debt, and (where applicable) support. The spouses file jointly, and the process avoids a contested trial.

Governing authority: NRS 125.181

Temporary Emergency Jurisdiction (UCCJEA)

Authority that allows a Nevada court to enter emergency custody orders when a child is physically present in the state and has been abandoned, or protection is needed because the child, a sibling, or a parent is threatened with or subjected to mistreatment or abuse—even if Nevada is not the child’s home state.

Governing authority: NRS 125A.335

UCCJEA (Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act)

The uniform law Nevada adopted to decide which state has authority over a child-custody matter and to enforce custody orders across state lines. It is designed to prevent conflicting orders from different states and to discourage parents from moving a child to shop for a friendlier court.

Governing authority: NRS 125A.005  ·  NRS 125A.465  ·  NRS 125A.475