Family court
Family law self help center Las Vegas: handling custody and child support on your own
People search for a family law self help center Las Vegas parents can use when they have a custody
or child support case and no lawyer. Before you go, it helps to know what the law says. This page
covers it: what the family court decides,
how a judge picks custody, how Nevada figures child support, and how to file without paying fees if
you cannot afford them.
What you do now
1. Know which court. Clark County is the Eighth Judicial District (NRS 3.010). Each
district with a county of 100,000 or more has a family court as a division of the district court
(NRS 3.0105). It handles divorce, custody, child support, paternity, guardianship of children and a
minor's name change (NRS 3.223(1)).
2. Ask for a fee waiver if money is tight. You can file without paying court costs
if you get public assistance, your household net income is at or under 150 percent of the federal
poverty level, your basic living costs are more than your income, or you show another strong reason
(NRS 12.015(2)). You fill out the court's form with a sworn declaration (NRS 12.015(1)(a)). If it is
granted, the sheriff serves your papers for free (NRS 12.015(2)).
3. Write down the schedule you want. Days, nights, holidays, school breaks, pickup
and drop-off. A clear plan you can explain helps in mediation and in front of the judge.
4. Gather income proof. Pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters for both parents if
you can get them. Child support is figured from gross monthly income (NAC 425.140).
5. Expect mediation. In a county of 700,000 or more, like Clark County, the court must
run a mandatory mediation program for custody and visitation cases (NRS 3.475(1)). See below.
Custody: what the judge looks at
Before any order, both parents share custody. If no court has
decided custody, each parent has joint legal and joint physical custody until a court orders
otherwise. That is true whether or not the parents were ever married (NRS 125C.0015).
The only question is the child. The sole consideration is the best
interest of the child. Neither parent is favored for being the mother or the father
(NRS 125C.0035(1), (2)).
Joint custody comes first. The law prefers joint physical custody
when the parents agree, or when a parent has shown, or tried to show and been blocked by the other
parent, that they want a real relationship with the child (NRS 125C.0025(1)). Joint legal custody is
presumed in the same cases (NRS 125C.002(1)). If a parent asks for joint physical custody and the judge
says no, the judge must give the reason (NRS 125C.0035(3)(a)).
When joint custody is presumed wrong. If a parent cannot care for
the child at least 146 days a year, or the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that a parent
committed domestic violence (NRS 125C.003(1)).
The judge must make findings on these points, among others (NRS 125C.0035(4)):
The child's wishes, if old and mature enough to have a real preference.
Which parent is more likely to let the child keep a close relationship with the other parent.
How much the parents fight, and how well they can work together for the child.
Each parent's mental and physical health, and the child's needs.
The child's bond with each parent, and with brothers and sisters.
Any abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or abduction of a child.
Mediation
The mediation program covers custody and visitation (NRS 3.475(2)(a)). It must charge fees on a
sliding scale based on what you can pay (NRS 3.475(2)(e)). The mediator can only tell the court whether
you reached an agreement, nothing else that was said (NRS 3.475(2)(d)). The court can excuse a case for
good cause, such as a history of child abuse or domestic violence (NRS 3.475(2)(b)). If you are afraid
of the other parent, tell the court before mediation. See our
protection order page.
Child support: how Nevada figures it
Both parents must support their child (NRS 125B.020(1)). The judge must use the state's guidelines
(NRS 125B.080). If one parent has primary physical custody, the other parent pays. With joint physical
custody, each parent's amount is figured and the higher one pays the difference
(NAC 425.115(2), (3)).
| Children | Share of the first $6,000 of the paying parent's gross monthly income | Source |
|---|
| 1 | 16%, then 8% of income from $6,000 to $10,000, then 4% above that | NAC 425.140(1) |
| 2 | 22%, then 11%, then 6% | NAC 425.140(2) |
| 3 | 26%, then 13%, then 6% | NAC 425.140(3) |
| 4 | 28%, then 14%, then 7% | NAC 425.140(4) |
| Each more child | Add 2%, then 1%, then 0.5% | NAC 425.140(5) |
| Low income | If the paying parent can't afford the schedule, a low-income schedule based on the federal poverty guidelines is used | NAC 425.145(1) |
| Review | Either parent can ask for a review at least every 3 years, and any time circumstances change. A 20% change in gross monthly income counts | NRS 125B.145(1), (4) |
Example: one child, paying parent earns $4,000 a month gross. 16% of $4,000 is $640 a month before
any adjustment.
The judge can adjust the amount, with findings, for things like special school needs, other children
the parent supports, transportation costs for visits, the income of both homes, and the paying
parent's ability to pay (NAC 425.150(1)).
Read 2026-11-08 off the Nevada Revised Statutes: chapters 3, 125B and 125C revisions
stamped 9/9/2026 (2026R1), chapter 12 revision stamped 4/15/2026 (2025); and the Nevada Administrative
Code, chapter 425 revision stamped 4/13/2026.
Changing an order later
Child support. A change needs a change in circumstances
(NAC 425.170(1)). A 20% change in gross monthly income counts (NRS 125B.145(4)). So does the child or
the parent receiving support starting public assistance (NAC 425.170(2)). If your income changes, ask for a
review then, not months later.
Unmarried and no paternity order? The law has special rules on
custody of a child born to parents who never married when paternity has not been set
(NRS 125C.003(2)). Getting paternity on record protects both parents.
Good to know
Filing for divorce too? See our divorce page. Fighting over holidays? See
holiday custody schedules. For a free lawyer or legal
clinic, see free legal help, and for court basics,
going to court without a lawyer. A child in danger right now:
call 911.
For forms, the Family Law Self-Help Center's location and hours, and filing fees, check with the
Eighth Judicial District Court directly. Call
211 if you need help.