Home › Resources › Nevada

Filing for divorce in Nevada

What you file, where you file, what it costs, and the rules that catch people out. Compiled from Nevada court and statute sources.

How to read these entries.

This is general legal information compiled from state court websites, state statutes, and official self-help materials. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone.

Why we publish it. Most people meet the family law system once, at the worst moment of their life, knowing nothing about it. That gap is where people get overcharged and poorly served. This page exists so you can walk in already knowing roughly how your state works, ask sharper questions, and recognize when an answer does not sound right. It is here to help you hold your attorney to a standard, not to replace what they do.

Talk to a lawyer licensed in your state. That is the normal path, not a fallback for when something goes wrong. Nothing here can account for the facts of your marriage, your finances, or your children, and those facts are usually what determines the outcome. Many states also have free legal aid and court self-help centers, and we link to them by state.

Verify before you rely on anything. Every entry cites its source. Follow that citation to the official state site and confirm it still says what we say it says, and that it applies to your situation. Filing fees, form numbers, e-filing rules, and local standing orders change frequently, and a form number that was right last year can get your filing rejected today.

The same state can treat you very differently depending on whether your spouse agrees, whether you have minor children, whether you file jointly or alone, and which county or judge hears it. Waiting periods run from filing in some states and from service in others. Deadlines described here as fixed are the statutory default, and a judge may still have narrow discretion in an emergency.

If you are in danger, do not wait on any of these timelines. An order of protection is a separate and much faster process than a divorce, and it does not depend on any waiting period described on this page.

Your roadmap
What you file
Joint Petition for Divorce, with or without minor children, signed by both spouses before a notary
Complaint for Divorce and Summons, if you are filing alone
Affidavit of Resident Witness, notarized, proving your six weeks of residency
Family Court Cover Sheet and Confidential Information Sheet with Social Security numbers
General Financial Disclosure Form, required under the civil rules
Child Welfare and Identification Sheet, parenting plan, and child support worksheets, if you have children
COPE parenting class certificate, required in Clark County when children are involved
Decree of Divorce, and a fee waiver application if needed
Where you fileFamily Division of the District Court in your county. Some counties use their own forms, so check locally first.
What it costsRoughly $217 to $364 by county. Waivable for low-income filers.
The sequence
1. Establish six weeks of residency, then find a resident witness who sees you regularly to sign the affidavit.
2. Decide your track. A Joint Petition, where you file the initial and final paperwork together, is by far the fastest route.
3. Complete every section of the petition and sign it, along with the decree, in front of a notary.
4. File the packet with the district court and pay the fee. The clerk assigns a case number and returns stamped copies.
5. If you filed a Complaint instead, serve your spouse within 120 days. They have 21 days to answer, and both sides file financial disclosures.
6. Submit the filed petition and the original decree to your assigned judge. There is no waiting period, and most uncontested cases are signed without a hearing.
Filing a joint petition gives up your right to appeal any provision of the settlement or request a new trial, so have the agreement reviewed before signing. The most common rejection reasons are a defective resident witness affidavit, incomplete disclosures, and outdated form versions.
Court forms

Nevada offers two paths: a Joint Petition (both spouses sign, the fastest route) or a Complaint for Divorce. Either way you file in District Court with an Affidavit of Resident Witness. Filing fees run about $280 to $360 by county, waivable for low-income filers.

Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: divorceOfficial Joint Petition and Complaint packets with free guided interviews.
State rules and gotchas

One of the shortest residency rules, and no general waiting period Verified Jul 2026

Nevada requires just six weeks (42 days) of residency for one spouse, among the shortest anywhere, and imposes no general post-filing waiting period. A Joint Petition where both spouses agree can move quickly, though the actual timeline still depends on service, judicial review, and your court's calendar.

Source: NRS Sections 125.020 and 125.181. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.

You need a "resident witness" affidavit, and leaving it out gets you rejected Verified Jul 2026

Nevada makes you prove residency with an Affidavit of Resident Witness, a sworn statement from a friend, relative, or neighbor confirming you have lived in Nevada six weeks. A missing or defective affidavit is one of the most common reasons Nevada petitions get bounced at filing.

Source: NRS Section 125.020. Confirm with the court.

Community property means an even split of assets and debts Verified Jul 2026

Nevada is a community-property state, so property and debts acquired during the marriage are generally divided 50/50, regardless of whose name is on them. Separate property (owned before the marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner, and custody starts from a presumption of joint legal and physical custody.

Source: NRS Sections 125.150 and 125C.0025. Confirm with the court.

Choosing a Nevada attorney?

Read reviews from real clients. No sponsored placements, no pay to rank.

Search Nevada family law attorneys