Child custody in Nevada

Nevada courts would rather deal with custody agreements instead of disputes. However, if an agreement cannot be established, then a judge can make a decision regarding legal and physical custody.

Legal custody refers to a parent’s right to have a say in a child’s upbringing. Issues pertaining to education, medical treatments and religion fall under the legal custody category. When a parent has legal custody rights, he or she has access to any school or medical documents. Typically, parents with legal custody may participate in school-related events. Unless otherwise declared or stated, both parents are granted equal legal custody rights.

Physical custody pertains to where a child lives and spends time. Parents with primary physical custody live with their children on a full-time basis. In many cases, the non-residential parent will receive visitation rights on weekends and during certain holidays. The court will sometimes give both parents physical custody, which is known as joint physical custody. The child will then live with each parent for an equal amount of time.

In Nevada, child custody decisions are based on the child’s best interest. When a parent is awarded physical custody, it is because the court believes the child will have the strongest chance to flourish in the designated environment. Courts push joint legal custody because it allows both parents to have active roles the lives of their child or children.

The court believes that children benefit best when both parents are actively involved in their lives. A family law attorney could advise a parent on how to pursue custodial rights that promote the best interest of a child.

Source: Clark County Courts, “Custody, Visitation & Child Support”, September 23, 2014