Las Vegas Child Custody Lawyers

Why Parents in Las Vegas Trust Cohen Fic & Squires

Choosing the right child custody attorney in Las Vegas can shape the next chapter of your family’s life. Cohen Fic & Squires brings together courtroom experience, public-service leadership, professional recognition, and a genuinely client-centered approach to family law in Nevada.

Our attorneys are known for clear communication, compassionate guidance, and strategic representation. We take the time to understand your goals, prepare every case with purpose, and advocate with the focus and strength your family deserves. That combination of preparation and personal attention is why clients facing divorce, custody disputes, and domestic violence matters turn to us during some of life’s most important moments.

When you work with our firm, you can expect:

• Prepared advocacy: Every strategy is built around your child’s needs and your long-term goals, not a one-size-fits-all template.

• Focused on results: We move cases forward with clarity and strength, and we are honest with you about what to expect.

• Compassionate support: You deserve guidance, respect, and steady advocacy, especially when emotions run high.

Meet Your Las Vegas Custody Team

When you hire Cohen Fic & Squires, you gain a team of dedicated Las Vegas family law attorneys who bring courtroom experience, community leadership, and professional recognition to your case.

Lesley Cohen brings compassionate guidance and strategic representation to every family she serves. With a background in public service and leadership, she understands how to advocate effectively for parents and children, both inside and outside the courtroom, and she is known for helping clients navigate difficult custody matters with steady, thoughtful counsel.

Summer Squires is recognized for clear communication and personalized legal support. Nationally ranked among the Top 10 Under 40 by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, she combines that recognition with a genuine commitment to keeping each client informed, prepared, and confident throughout the child custody process.

Holly Fic is known for dedicated advocacy and a relentless focus on her clients’ futures. She helps parents protect their relationships with their children and pursue custody outcomes that support long-term stability and peace of mind.

Together, our attorneys offer the experience of a seasoned firm with the personal attention of a team that truly cares about your family.

Understanding Child Custody in Nevada: Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody

Nevada law divides child custody into two distinct parts. Understanding the difference is the first step toward protecting your rights.

Legal custody refers to the authority to make major decisions about your child’s upbringing, including health care, education, and religious instruction. Under NRS 125C.002, Nevada courts presume that joint legal custody is in a child’s best interest when parents agree to it or when one parent has shown a genuine effort to build a meaningful relationship with the child. This means both parents typically share decision-making authority, even when the child lives primarily with one parent.

Physical custody refers to where your child actually lives day to day. Physical custody can be joint or primary:

• Joint physical custody means the child spends substantial time with each parent. In Nevada, a parent generally must have the child at least 40 percent of the time (roughly 146 days per year) for the arrangement to count as joint physical custody.

• Primary physical custody means one parent has the child more than 60 percent of the time, while the other parent typically exercises parenting time (often still called visitation).

It is common for parents to share joint legal custody even when one parent has primary physical custody. Every family is different, and the right arrangement depends on your circumstances and, above all, on your child’s best interest.

How Nevada Courts Decide Custody: The Best Interest of the Child

In every custody case, the sole consideration of a Nevada court is the best interest of the child. This standard is set out in NRS 125C.0035, and it guides every custody decision a Clark County Family Court judge makes. Nevada law gives no preference to either parent based on whether they are the mother or the father.

Nevada courts also start from a preference for joint physical custody, and joint legal custody is presumed appropriate in most cases. That preference can be overcome when the evidence shows a different arrangement better serves the child.

When determining the best interest of the child, the court must consider and make specific findings on a list of factors, including:

• The wishes of the child, if the child is old enough and mature enough to express an intelligent preference.

• Any nomination of a guardian for the child by a parent.

• Which parent is more likely to encourage a frequent and continuing relationship with the other parent.

• The level of conflict between the parents and their ability to cooperate to meet the child’s needs.

• The mental and physical health of each parent.

• The physical, developmental, and emotional needs of the child.

• The nature of the relationship between the child and each parent.

• The child’s ability to maintain a relationship with siblings.

• Any history of parental abuse or neglect of the child or a sibling.

• Whether either parent has committed an act of domestic violence or child abduction.

This list is not exhaustive. A judge may weigh any factor that affects your child’s welfare. Because the analysis is fact-intensive, presenting your case clearly and credibly is critical, and that is where experienced Las Vegas custody attorneys make a difference.

A Note on Safety: Domestic Violence and Custody

Nevada treats safety with the seriousness it deserves. If a court finds by clear and convincing evidence that a parent has committed one or more acts of domestic violence, the law creates a rebuttable presumption that awarding that parent sole or joint physical custody is not in the child’s best interest. If safety is a concern in your case, tell your attorney right away so we can gather the right evidence and ask the court for appropriate protections.

The Child Custody Process in Clark County Family Court

Custody cases in the Las Vegas area are handled by the Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court, located at the Family Court and Services Center on North Pecos Road. While every case is unique, the typical path looks like this:

1. Filing and service. Your case begins by filing the appropriate petition or complaint with the court and formally serving the other parent, who then has a set period to respond.

2. Temporary orders. Early in the case, the court can issue temporary custody and parenting-time orders so your child has stability while the case is pending.

3. Mandatory mediation. In contested custody cases, Clark County requires parents to attempt mediation through the Family Mediation Center (FMC) before the court will set a trial. FMC mediates child-related issues only, on a confidential, sliding-scale basis, and helps many families reach a workable parenting plan without the cost and stress of trial.

4. Parenting class. Parents with minor children are generally required to complete a court-ordered parenting education seminar before the case is finalized.

5. Negotiation or trial. If mediation produces an agreement, it can be submitted to the court as a binding order. If not, the case proceeds to an evidentiary hearing, where the judge applies the best interest factors and decides custody.

Our attorneys handle Clark County family court matters regularly and understand how local judges approach these cases. That familiarity helps us prepare you for what is ahead and position your case for the best possible outcome.

Modifying an Existing Custody Order

Life changes, and a custody order that worked two years ago may no longer fit your family. Nevada allows you to seek a child custody modification, but the standard you must meet depends on what you are asking to change.

To change physical custody, the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision in Ellis v. Carucci requires you to show two things: first, a substantial change in circumstances affecting the welfare of the child since the last order; and second, that the requested change is in the child’s best interest. Examples of a substantial change can include a serious decline in a child’s well-being, safety concerns, or a parent’s relocation.

Changes to parenting time or visitation may not require proof of a substantial change in circumstances, but they still must serve the child’s best interest. If you and the other parent agree on a change, it can often be formalized through a stipulation and order. If you cannot agree, an experienced custody modification lawyer can present your case to the court.

Relocation: Moving Out of State With Your Child

Relocation is one of the most contested issues in Nevada family law. If you have primary physical custody and want to move in a way that would substantially affect the other parent’s time with the child, NRS 125C.007 requires you to obtain the other parent’s written consent or the court’s permission first.

To approve a move, the court generally looks at whether the relocating parent has a good-faith reason for the move, whether the move is in the child’s best interest, and whether both the parent and child will gain an actual advantage. Moving with a child without consent or a court order can carry serious consequences, including a potential change of custody. Whether you hope to relocate or you want to keep your child close, careful preparation is essential, and we can guide you through every step.

Child Custody Services We Provide

Our Las Vegas family law team handles the full range of child custody and parenting matters, including:

• Establishing legal and physical custody in divorce and paternity cases

• Negotiating and drafting parenting plans and custody agreements

• Custody modifications when circumstances change

• Relocation requests and objections

• Visitation and parenting-time disputes

• Enforcement of existing custody orders

• Custody matters involving domestic violence and child safety

• Cases involving Child Protective Services (CPS) and dependency concerns

• High-conflict custody cases requiring strong, strategic advocacy

Serving Families Across Las Vegas and Clark County

Cohen Fic & Squires proudly represents parents throughout the greater Las Vegas valley and Clark County, Nevada. Whether you need a child custody lawyer in North Las Vegas, Henderson, or anywhere in the metro area, our team is ready to help. We serve families in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Paradise, Boulder City, Mesquite, and Laughlin. No matter where in Southern Nevada your family is, we will help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and strength.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody in Nevada

How does child custody work in Nevada?

Nevada custody has two parts: legal custody (the right to make major decisions about your child) and physical custody (where the child lives). Courts decide both based on the best interest of the child under NRS 125C.0035, and they start from a preference for joint custody. In most contested cases, parents attend mediation through the Family Mediation Center before a judge decides any unresolved issues at a hearing.

Does Nevada favor mothers in child custody cases?

No. Nevada law expressly prohibits giving preference to either parent based solely on whether they are the mother or the father. Custody is decided on the best interest of the child.

What is the difference between legal and physical custody?

Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about your child’s health, education, and welfare. Physical custody is where the child lives day to day. Parents can share one, both, or have them divided in different ways.

How is joint physical custody defined in Nevada?

Parents generally have joint physical custody when each parent has the child at least 40 percent of the time. When one parent has the child more than 60 percent of the time, that parent has primary physical custody.

How much does a custody lawyer cost in Nevada?

Every case is different, and the cost depends on the complexity of your situation, the level of conflict, and whether your case settles or goes to trial. We offer a free initial consultation, so you can discuss your case and our fees with no obligation before deciding how to move forward.

What are the biggest mistakes in a custody battle?

Common mistakes include speaking negatively about the other parent in front of the child, violating an existing order, refusing to cooperate or communicate, posting about the case on social media, and trying to handle a high-conflict case without experienced counsel. Because the court weighs each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, how you conduct yourself matters. A knowledgeable Las Vegas child custody attorney can help you avoid costly missteps.

Do we have to go to mediation before a custody trial?

In most contested custody cases in Clark County, yes. The court refers parents to the Family Mediation Center to try to resolve child-related issues before a trial is scheduled.

Can I change an existing custody order?

Often, yes. To modify physical custody, you typically must show a substantial change in circumstances affecting the child and that the change is in the child’s best interest. We can review your order and advise you on your options.