Custody

There is a preference in Nevada for both parents to have a continuing relationship and frequent contact with the child, and to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing after the parents have separated or ended their relationship.¹ The judge will assume that awarding joint legal custody is in the best interest of the child if:

• the parents agree to it in court; or
• the parent seeking joint legal custody has demonstrated (or has tried to demonstrate but the other parent wouldn’t allow it) an intent to establish a meaningful relationship with the child.²

The judge could grant joint legal custody to both parents while still granting sole or primary physical custody to one parent.³ Therefore, even if your child lives with you full-time, the other parent can still have a right to make decisions about your child’s life if s/he has joint legal custody.

¹ N.R.S. § 125C.001
² N.R.S. § 125C.002(1)
³ N.R.S. § 125C.002(2)