Blog
Child Custody And The Pandemic
April 16, 2020Many people are asking how COVID-19 affects child custody
Adult Guardianship in Nevada
July 15, 2019I know that you do family law and divorce here in Reno, but I was wondering if you also do elder law?
Child Custody Evaluation
March 20, 2018Can an ex-husband force a new doctor he has chosen for a custody evaluation? Will the court have to decide this issue?
School Choice and Child Custody Laws
March 07, 2018My ex-wife just informed me that my daughter is switching schools in the Reno area. Can she do that without my authorization or does that violate child custody laws? I only take my daughter to school every other Monday but the school she is choosing adds another 20 minutes to my commute.
529 Plan Cashed Out
February 27, 2018My daughter graduates from high school this June and when I asked my ex about the 529 plan he angrily told me that he cashed it out. I had no idea that he could even do this. I thought it had to be used for college expenses.
Domestic Violence and Child Custody
February 12, 2018If an ex is trying to get custody over their child by using a domestic violence charge from 10 years ago, is it still relevant? Will the person lose custody over their child? We answer these questions and more.
Proving Waste Claims in Nevada
September 20, 2017The family court in Reno has wide discretion in making findings of community waste, but if you are successful in this claim, you could be compensated for the Ponzi scheme loss.
Co-Parenting Rules: A Father’s Right to Be Present in Delivery Room
May 09, 2017A divorced couple is expecting a child. The father wants to be fully involved, but the mother is upset. He's worried she won't allow him to be in the delivery room.
Child Support Nevada - Modification in High Income Cases
May 04, 2017The ex-husband's income has substantially increased, and the wife wonders whether the child support should increase as well.
Prenuptial Agreements
April 06, 2017I got married on December 31, 2016 in Costa Rica. The wedding was very expensive and included 120 of our closest friends and family. Six months prior he had mentioned the idea of a prenup but I did not think he was serious and we did not discuss it again.
Can my Parental Rights be Terminated?
March 29, 2017A parent's right to raise a child is an essential and basic civil right. Terminating your parental rights will be based on your abandonment of the child.
Josh & Katie
November 04, 2016Katie found out Josh kissed a girl at a bachelor party. The trust was completely gone. She asked for a divorce and $10K payment for the wedding expenses.
Mark & Steve
November 04, 2016Mark had a pretty dramatic reaction to his break up with Steve—he burned Steve’s stuff. Arson is not positive closure for a failed relationship.
Becoming an Egg Donor
July 11, 2016A senior college student is tired of being financially unstable and is considering selling her eggs. We give you advice and information on the extensive egg harvesting process before you decide to become an egg donor.
Typical Rehabilitative Alimony in Nevada
May 23, 2016A stay-at-home Mom is looking to rejoin the workforce after the end of a 21-year-long marriage. What her ex be required to only pay the standard alimony? What are the possibilities? We answer those questions.
Infidelity and Divorce
May 16, 2016After a heart-breaking end to her marriage, a mother asks how much bearing the circumstances of the divorce will affect a judge's ruling for custody. Is adultery a consideration? What about environment? We answer those questions.
Client/Therapist Confidentiality in Family Court
May 09, 2016How far does client/patient confidentiality extend in child custody cases? How much information can be requested from a therapist? We respond to a wife who is concerned that admissions to her therapist may cost her custody of her children.
Alimony: When is modification permissible?
April 28, 2016A single mother-of-two is concerned that her husband will lower alimony payments while she struggles to provide for their children. We address her concerns with the reality of alimony modification.
Military Custody Cases
April 28, 2016What protections do service members have in cases of joint custody? We provide the answer.
Child Custody: When Do the Kids Get the Choice?
February 10, 2016How much say do children have when it comes to court-ordered visitation? What is the obligation of the parent when children refuse to visit the other parent? We respond to a concerned parent, and the answer may surprise you.
Domestic Partnership v. Marriage
October 13, 2015What is a domestic partnership? What rights does a person have in a domestic partnership? Are domestic partnerships equivalent to marriage in Nevada? We answer these questions and more.
Am I Legally Required to Disclose My Child’s Phone Number To My Ex?
September 23, 2015After facing demands from their ex-husband to disclose their son's separate phone number, a parent asks us about her legal obligation to comply. Continue reading to find our response.
Divorce and Child Custody: Does Nevada Recognize Civil Unions as Marriage?
September 11, 2015A parent in a civil union coming to an end wonders about marriage equality when it comes to their divorce and the custody of their child. Read our answer to this question.
How to Combat False Allegations of Alcohol Abuse
July 08, 2015Gone are the days when mothers had an upper hand in custody litigation simply by virtue of the archaic belief that young children need their mothers more than their fathers. Joint physical custody is the norm.
Love Court: Off the Record Weekly Podcast
June 05, 2015Check out our weekly podcast, “Love Court: Off the Record” on SoundCloud. We discuss family law, co-parenting, divorce, and relationships in an entertaining way. We banter, we laugh, we tell stories, we talk about celebrities’ family law issues...
Blended Families: A New Baby
April 30, 2015I have been part of a blended family for three years now. My wife has two kids from her previous marriage, and we are expecting our first child together this fall. What can we do to ensure that the kids see adding the baby to the clan as a positive thing?
Stepmom Boundaries
April 23, 2015I recently received the following inquiry: I’ve heard you talk a lot about blended families from the perspective of a stepmom, but I rarely hear you talk about what it is like from the real mom’s perspective. I have been divorced for 5 years and have joint physical custody of my 9-year old son...
New Spouse’s Income and Nevada Child Support Law
March 26, 2015It is a common scenario in my office. Client, who has children from a previous marriage, and his fiancé come in to “just cover their bases.”
Child Custody: Legal Custody and Physical Custody
January 29, 2015There is a big difference between the two categories of child custody. All final decrees involving child custody must address both legal and physical custody. It is important to understand the difference and the impact one small word can have.
Co-Parenting Etiquette: Telephone Contact
January 20, 2015Most parenting plans and Nevada custody orders include a provision regarding the frequency of phone contact between parent and child during the other parent's custodial time. Typical provisions range from a mandated call once a day to unrestricted telephone access.
Five Ways to Avoid Child Custody Litigation
January 14, 2015It is easy to fall into the trap of post-divorce litigation. The same personality issues that led to your unsuccessful marriage are the same reasons you continue to fight post-divorce. Custody litigation is extremely expensive and acrimonious for all involved.
Co-Parenting Etiquette: Managing Children’s Technology
January 05, 2015A parenting issue that worries most families, whether intact, separated or blended, is the proper management their children's access to technology. For divorced or separated parents, particularly challenging co-parenting dilemmas are presented when the parents do not see eye to eye on this issue.
Co-Parenting: Who Should Attend the Children’s Events?
October 07, 2014From a legal standpoint, there are no consequences for anyone in this scenario. Some custody agreements specifically provide for birthday party arrangements, most don’t. This is one of those things that parents must resolve outside of the courtroom.
Co-Parenting: When the Ex Won’t Exercise Visitation
September 29, 2014From a legal standpoint, there is nothing you can do to force Mom to take care of her son. Dad already has primary physical custody and should be receiving child support. A judge will not force a parent to exercise her custody rights. If you are incurring childcare costs because of her refusal to take her son on her w
Addictions and Child Custody
July 16, 2014The most common issue I see as a family law practitioner is addiction. Many times the same addiction issues that lead to the divorce itself are a focus in the resulting custody proceedings.
Evidence of Marijuana Use in Child Custody Cases
September 04, 2013Even though marijuana seems headed towards being the next drug that is eventually legalized, taxed and regulated throughout the country (like alcohol), parents should not assume that marijuana use is acceptable in the lives of their children. Judges are fond of saying, “Children are entitled to a drug-free life.”
How Much Will You Pay for Child Support in Nevada
September 04, 2013Child Support is governed by Statute. The Court will first determine your gross monthly income (pre-tax) and will use that number to determine the amount owed based on either a joint physical custody scenario or a primary physical custody scenario.
Alimony Reduction: Agreement by Acquiescence
June 20, 2013Consider the following scenario: Husband and Wife have been married for 23 years. Husband and Wife still get along but have just grown apart. Husband and Wife get divorced.
Temporary Spousal Support: Don’t Wait for the Court Order
June 20, 2013If you are facing divorce and are the primary wage earner in the family, you need to come to the realization that you will likely be required to pay temporary spousal support to the dependent spouse pending finalization of the divorce.
Summer Break…from Child Support?
June 20, 2013Every year around this time I am asked whether it would be appropriate for a parent to receive a reduction or abatement in child support during extended summer visitation when the children are not with the parent who normally receives child support.
Divorce Decree Delays
June 20, 2013Long story short: You file for divorce. After a long and acrimonious battle you go to court and your attorneys finally negotiate a settlement agreement- not the perfect agreement, but one that both you and your spouse can live with
Child Custody After Prison
June 18, 2013If your child’s other parent was in prison and has now been paroled you may believe that you have a slam dunk case for sole custody. This may or may not be true- it depends on the crime that the other parent committed and the present circumstances.
Co-Parenting: A Primary Focus of this Blog
March 20, 2013As a family law attorney in Reno, divorced mother of one, married stepmother of one and mother of whom I will lovingly call the “linking child” (i.e. the child of a second marriage where one or both spouses have children from a prior marriage),
Co-Parenting: No Bad Mouthing
March 20, 2013It is so easy to fall into the habit of villainizing, or even demonizing, your ex-spouse, your spouse’s ex-spouse or your ex-spouse’s new spouse.
Co-Parenting: The Holiday Timeshare
March 20, 2013Co-parenting during the holidays definitely presents some challenges. One such challenge is finding the time-share arrangement that will work for your co-parenting team.
Co-Parenting: Child’s Education Decisions
March 20, 2013Most parents would agree that there are few parenting decisions as important as those affecting the child’s education.
Co-Parenting: Playing One Parent Against the Other
March 20, 2013I was eight years old when I first realized that I could play my mom against my dad.
Divorce: Not Ready, but Want to Protect Yourself
March 20, 2013Couples experiencing severe marital problems may wish to physically separate but, given the financial crisis, can’t fathom trying to maintain two separate households.
Divorce: Your Exit Strategy
March 20, 2013Invariably one of the first questions we are asked in an initial consultation by potential clients seriously considering divorce is 'how do I plan for divorce?'
Modification of an Out-of-State Child Support Order
March 20, 2013Nevada’s version of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (“UIFSA”), codified in NRS Chapter 130, governs the issue of whether a person may seek to modify an out-of-state child support order in Nevada courts.
Registration of an Out-Of-State Child Custody
March 20, 2013The following is the procedure for registration of an out-of-state child custody determination pursuant to NRS 125A.465.
Attorney-Client Relationship: Withholding Your Files
March 20, 2013Sometimes it happens that a client has a falling out with his or her attorney. It may be that there is a personality conflict, a difference in opinion as to what course of action is in the client’s best interests or a dispute over the attorney’s billing practices.
Property Down-Payment May Be a Gift to Your Spouse
March 20, 2013In Nevada, if you use your separate property funds as a down payment towards the purchase of your marital residence, you may be unintentionally gifting one-half of that amount to your spouse and may not be able to recover it upon divorce.
The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce by Elizabeth M.
March 20, 2013I recently read a book called “Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce” by Elizabeth Marquardt.