Family

Getting a divorce in Nevada

In Nevada, one of you only has to have lived here 6 weeks to file, and if you and your spouse agree on everything you can file together. Here's which path fits you, what it costs, and where to get free help in Clark County.

What to do first

1. Check residency. One of you must have lived in Nevada for at least 6 weeks before filing (NRS 125.020). Someone other than you or your spouse signs a resident witness affidavit confirming it.

2. Decide if you agree on everything. If you agree on property, debts, spousal support and, if you have children, custody and support, you can file a joint petition together. If you don't agree, or your spouse won't sign, one of you files a complaint on your own.

3. Use the court's free guided forms. The Guide & File interview walks you through either path and fills in the papers: nevada.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL. Use Chrome or Firefox. Safari isn't supported.

4. If you can't afford the fee, ask the court to waive it. File an Application to Waive Filing Fee with your papers. You may qualify if you get public assistance, your expenses are higher than your income, or your household income is under 150% of the federal poverty level.

Filing together: the joint petition

A joint petition is signed under oath by both spouses (NRS 125.182). You can use it only if every one of these is true (NRS 125.181):

One of you meets the 6-week residency rule.
You're incompatible, or you've lived apart for a year.
You have no minor children, or you've signed an agreement on custody and child support.
You have no community property, or you've signed an agreement dividing property and debts.
You both waive spousal support, or you've agreed on it.
You both give up notice of the decree, appeal and a new trial.

Either spouse can back out by filing a notice of revocation with the clerk any time before the final decree is entered, and giving the other spouse a copy (NRS 125.183). The Self-Help Center says a mailed-in joint petition usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks to process. Nevada law has no waiting period after filing.

Filing on your own: the complaint

File a complaint with the district court (NRS 125.020). The grounds are incompatibility, living apart for a year, or insanity lasting 2 years (NRS 125.010).

Serve your spouse within 120 days. An adult who isn't part of the case, not a family member or partner, hands them the complaint and summons, then signs an affidavit of service that you file.

Your spouse has 21 calendar days to answer. If they don't respond, you can ask the court for a default decree.

What it costs

Filing	Fee	Source
Divorce complaint or joint petition	$299	Clark County Clerk fee chart
Answer to a divorce complaint	$217	Clark County Clerk fee chart
E-filing your documents	$3.50	Family Law Self-Help Center
Fee waiver, if you qualify	$0	Application to Waive Filing Fee

Fees as listed by the Clark County Clerk and the Family Law Self-Help Center, checked October 2026. Confirm at the clerk's window before you pay.

Free help

Family Law Self-Help Center — 601 N. Pecos Rd, Las Vegas. Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. 702-455-1500. Free help with forms. Staff can't give legal advice. Divorce forms.

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Family Law Ask-A-Lawyer — free 15-minute phone consultations with a lawyer, Thursdays 2pm to 5pm. Sign up in advance at lacsn.org.

If you're not safe — protection orders for domestic violence are handled at the same center on Pecos Rd. Call 702-455-1500 and press 2. You don't pay anything up front to apply (NRS 33.050). In an emergency, call 911.

Good to know

Your divorce is final on the day the decree is filed with the clerk. Keep a filed copy. You'll need it to change your name, update a lease, or prove your status.