Hiring a Child Custody Lawyer in Nevada
How courts in Nevada decide custody, emergency custody, parenting classes, how to check a lawyer's license, and free or low-cost family law help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Nevada: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Nevada Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c), a contingent fee agreement must be in writing, signed by the client, and must state in boldface type at least as large as the largest type in the agreement: how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal; whether expenses are deducted from the recovery and whether before or after the fee is calculated; whether the client owes expenses regardless of outcome; that if the client loses, the client may be liable for the opposing party's attorney fees and will be liable for its costs as required by law; and that a suit brought solely to harass or coerce a settlement may result in liability for malicious prosecution or abuse of process. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and any remittance. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. By statute (NRS 7.095), in actions for injury or death against a health care provider based on professional negligence, an attorney may not contract for or collect a contingent fee of more than 35 percent of the amount recovered (net of litigation costs), whether by settlement, arbitration or judgment. NRS 7.095: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-007.html |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Nevada's Fee Dispute program is free and voluntary, for disputes of at least $250. Most disputes go to mediation first; if mediation fails and both parties have agreed to binding arbitration, an arbitrator or panel holds a hearing and decides the fee owed. File the Petitioner's Agreement for Arbitration of Fee Dispute (online, or request a mailed copy) with supporting documents in PDF to the Fee Dispute Department. The committee cannot hear fees already fixed by a court, malpractice or misconduct claims, or a matter already filed in court unless a court directs it. |
Nevada rules to know first
| How custody is decided | The court's sole consideration is the child's best interest. There is a presumption that joint legal custody, and a preference that joint physical custody, is in the child's best interest if the parents agree or a parent has shown (or tried to show) intent to build a meaningful relationship with the child. The child's wishes are considered if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to form an intelligent preference; no specific age is set. A finding of domestic violence by clear and convincing evidence creates a rebuttable presumption against custody by the perpetrator. |
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| Emergency custody | While a custody case is pending, a parent can file a motion for temporary orders, including temporary custody. If there is an emergency, the parent can also file an Ex Parte Application for an Order Shortening Time asking the judge to hear the motion sooner, and must serve the other party with all filed papers and the notice of hearing within 3 days. Protection orders are a separate process. This self-help center serves the Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County); procedures in other judicial districts may differ. |
| Parenting classes | In Clark County, the court may require separating parents to attend a seminar for separating parents (the COPE class), and may order mediation through the Family Mediation Center when custody is disputed; only the assigned judge can waive mediation. |
| Grandparents' rights | Grandparents and great-grandparents (and other children of either parent) may seek reasonable visitation if a parent has died, the parents divorced or separated, an unmarried parent cohabited and is deceased or separated, or parental rights were relinquished or terminated. They may file only if a parent has denied or unreasonably restricted visits, and must then overcome a presumption that visitation is not in the child's best interests by clear and convincing evidence. Source: NRS 125C.050 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Nevada's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) refers callers to a private attorney who practices in the relevant area of law. Call 702-382-0504 or toll-free 1-800-789-5747 (800-789-LRIS), or use the online option. The referred attorney may charge a $45 non-refundable fee for a consultation of up to 30 minutes; after that, fees are negotiated directly with the attorney, and there is no obligation to hire the attorney. If you cannot afford regular fees, LRS may try to prequalify you for a reduced-fee attorney (no more than $25 for the initial consultation and no more than $75 per hour after that) or refer you to another legal services agency. LRS overview: https://nvbar.org/for-the-public/find-a-lawyer/lrs/ |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Nevada, a public corporation supervised by the Nevada Supreme Court, licenses Nevada lawyers. Its Bar Status page explains the license statuses (such as Active, Inactive, Administrative Suspension, Discipline Suspension and Disbarment), and the bar says it can tell you whether an attorney is licensed in Nevada and in good standing; call the Las Vegas office at 702-382-2200 or the Reno office at 775-329-4100. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The State Bar of Nevada's Office of Bar Counsel investigates complaints of attorney misconduct. File online with the complaint form, by U.S. mail, or in person at the Las Vegas office (3100 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102) or Reno office (9456 Double R Blvd., Suite B, Reno, NV 89521); filing is free. Include your contact information, the lawyer's name and firm, a detailed narrative with dates and copies of supporting documents, and file a separate complaint for each attorney. Steps are initial review (usually within 10 business days), a written response from the lawyer, investigation, screening panel review and, if warranted, a formal hearing; it can take one to six months or longer. Reprimands, suspensions and disbarments are public; dismissals and private admonitions are not. The bar issues a Certificate of Good Standing and Statement of Discipline History. FAQs: https://nvbar.org/for-the-public/attorney-discipline/faqs-attorney-discipline/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Nevada Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance statewide to low-income Nevadans who meet its eligibility requirements; you can check eligibility and apply through its online intake form or contact the nearest office. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) lists Nevada Legal Services as the LSC-funded grantee in the state. In Clark County, the Family Law Self-Help Center (run by Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada under contract with Clark County) offers information and forms for people representing themselves. Family Law Self-Help Center: https://www.familylawselfhelpcenter.org/; LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.