How many custody & visitation resources are in Nevada?

Women's Corner tracks 16 custody & visitation resources for women in Nevada.

Are custody & visitation resources in Nevada free?

15 of the 16 listed custody & visitation resources in Nevada are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Nevada have custody & visitation resources?

Listings span cities including Las Vegas, Reno.

What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Nevada?

Featured entries include Nevada Family Courts Self-Help Center, Clark County Family Court, Washoe County Family Court, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — Family Law, Washoe Legal Services — Family Law.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

8 of 16 Nevada custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.

Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?

No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.

How does the court decide who gets custody?

Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.

What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?

Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.

Can I get sole custody?

Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.

Best Custody & Visitation in Nevada — 16 resources

About Custody & Visitation for Women

Custody and visitation cases for women are handled in state and county family courts under each state's 'best interest of the child' standard. Mothers seeking sole, joint, or primary physical custody can use free self-help centers inside most courthouses to file petitions, parenting plans, and modification requests without an attorney. The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Women's Law Project track state-by-state custody trends, and organizations like the Battered Mothers Custody Conference advocate where abuse intersects with custody. This directory combines official state court self-help portals, county family law facilitators, women-focused family law firms, and maternal advocacy organizations.

Custody & Visitation in Nevada

Nevada family courts handle divorce, custody, and support, with Clark County (Las Vegas) operating the state's largest family court. The Child Support Enforcement Program operates under DWSS. Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, and North Las Vegas are the major metros. Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Washoe Legal Services, and the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence serve women.

16 Resources

1. Nevada Family Courts Self-Help Center — Free

Statewide self-help portal run by the Nevada courts at selfhelp.nvcourts.gov, offering downloadable custody, visitation, and divorce packets standardized for use in any Nevada district court. Mothers can preview the forms before walking into a courthouse and can chat with a live navigator during business hours by calling 775-325-6731. Free, statewide, and especially valuable for rural Nevada counties that lack a local self-help window.

775-325-6731 · Statewide Online Resource · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

2. Clark County Family Court — Free

Eighth Judicial District Family Division at 601 N Pecos Rd in Las Vegas is the busiest family courthouse in Nevada and handles every custody, divorce, and protective-order case for Clark County. Hearings are calendared Monday through Friday and walk-in filing windows close at 5pm. Call 702-455-1500 ahead of your filing date to confirm which department your case has been assigned to and whether your hearing will be in-person or via BlueJeans.

702-455-1500 · 601 N Pecos Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89101 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Washoe County Family Court — Free

Second Judicial District Family Division at 1 S Sierra St in downtown Reno hears all Washoe County custody, paternity, and divorce cases under NRS 125 and 125C. The Family Court Resource Center inside the courthouse helps unrepresented mothers fill out parenting plans and motions to modify. Call 775-328-3110 to confirm which judge or hearing master is assigned to your case before filing.

775-328-3110 · 1 S Sierra St, Reno, NV 89501 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — Family Law — Free

LACSN at 725 E Charleston in Las Vegas is the Clark County family-law legal aid backbone, with attorneys handling custody, divorce, and protective-order cases for women under 200% of federal poverty. Its Ask-A-Lawyer program lets you sit down for a free 30-minute session with a volunteer attorney. Call 702-386-1070 for intake screening; bring any existing Clark County case number if you have one.

702-386-1070 · 725 E Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Washoe Legal Services — Family Law — Free

Northern Nevada's primary civil legal aid office at 299 S Arlington Ave in Reno represents low-income mothers in contested custody, divorce, and TPO cases in Washoe County Family Court. Staff attorneys are familiar with the local hearing masters and judicial officers handling family calendars. Call 775-329-2727 for intake; income generally must be at or below 200% of federal poverty.

775-329-2727 · 299 S Arlington Ave, Reno, NV 89501 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

6. Clark County Family Court Mediation — Free

Court-connected Family Mediation Center at 601 N Pecos in Las Vegas is the gatekeeping step for most contested Clark County custody cases — judges typically require mediation before scheduling an evidentiary hearing. Sessions focus on building a workable parenting-time schedule. Call 702-455-1500 to confirm whether your case has been referred and how to request a Spanish-language mediator.

702-455-1500 · 601 N Pecos Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89101 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

7. State Bar of Nevada — Lawyer Referral

The State Bar's referral service at 3100 W Charleston in Las Vegas matches Nevada mothers with vetted family-law attorneys who offer a low-cost initial consultation, typically $45 for 30 minutes. Useful when you want a brief paid opinion before deciding whether to retain. Call 702-382-2200 and describe your county and case type so the operator can match you to a member who practices in your district.

702-382-2200 · 3100 W Charleston Blvd Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

8. Nevada 211 — Family Law Referrals — Free

Dial 211 from anywhere in Nevada to reach a live information specialist who will triage your situation and route you to the right Clark County, Washoe County, or rural Nevada legal-aid program. Operators are trained on domestic-violence timelines and rural court calendars. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish; free from any phone including prepaid mobile.

211 · Statewide Service · 24/7 · Visit Website

9. WomensLaw.org — Custody Information — Free

Plain-language Nevada-specific custody guides written by attorneys covering NRS 125C's joint physical custody preference, how the 'best interest' factors apply in Nevada, and what mothers need to show to request supervised visitation. Site is mobile-friendly with a quick-exit button for survivors of abuse. Free, anonymous, available in Spanish, and indexed by Nevada district.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. ABA Family Law Section — Find a Lawyer — Free

American Bar Association family-law portal explaining how custody, relocation, and parenting-time disputes are litigated nationally, with a directory of Nevada Family Law Section members in Las Vegas, Reno, and Henderson. The public-resources tab includes free fact sheets on relocation and military parenting plans. Useful background reading before retaining counsel.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Federal Office of Child Support Services — Free

Federal OCSS oversees state IV-D agencies and partners with Nevada's DWSS Child Support Enforcement Program. The site explains how interstate cases work when a father has moved out of Nevada, how UIFSA referrals are processed, and how passport denial for arrears is triggered. Helpful when your case crosses Nevada's borders into California, Arizona, or Utah.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. USA.gov — Child Custody and Support — Free

The federal government's plain-English starting point for custody and child-support questions, with direct links to Nevada DWSS and to the Clark and Washoe family courts. Useful if you are unsure which Nevada agency handles your specific situation or whether to file in state court or through DWSS.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. ChildWelfare.gov — Custody Resources — Free

Federal information gateway curated by HHS covering kinship custody, ICWA cases (relevant for Nevada's 27 federally recognized tribes), and parenting-plan templates that pass muster in family court. Free downloadable fact sheets you can hand to a Nevada judge or share with a Guardian ad Litem.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges — Free

NCJFCJ is headquartered in Reno on the UNR campus and publishes the bench-book guidance many Nevada family-court judges actually train from, including domestic-violence-informed custody decision frameworks. Their public site has free briefs worth reading before a contested Washoe or Clark County hearing.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Cornell Legal Information Institute — Family Law — Free

Free legal reference from Cornell Law School covering custody doctrine, the UCCJEA (Nevada adopted at NRS 125A), and the constitutional rights of parents. Useful when you want to verify a claim an opposing party or attorney is making about Nevada family law.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. FindLaw — Child Custody — Free

Plain-language legal articles for non-lawyers covering Nevada's preference for joint physical custody under NRS 125C.0025, relocation rules under NRS 125C.006, and what to expect at a temporary-orders hearing in Clark or Washoe County. Free and ad-supported — useful for a quick concept check before talking to an attorney.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many custody & visitation resources are in Nevada?: Women's Corner tracks 16 custody & visitation resources for women in Nevada.
Are custody & visitation resources in Nevada free?: 15 of the 16 listed custody & visitation resources in Nevada are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Nevada have custody & visitation resources?: Listings span cities including Las Vegas, Reno.
What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Nevada?: Featured entries include Nevada Family Courts Self-Help Center, Clark County Family Court, Washoe County Family Court, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — Family Law, Washoe Legal Services — Family Law.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 8 of 16 Nevada custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.
Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?: No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.
How does the court decide who gets custody?: Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.
What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?: Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.
Can I get sole custody?: Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.