The laws in Nevada when it comes to juveniles are designed to prioritize rehabilitation whenever that’s possible. However, for juveniles who have committed particularly serious offenses or who have repeatedly committed the same offense, there can be some pretty serious penalties, including incarceration. A criminal defense attorney in Reno, NV can help you and your family.
What Are the Penalties for Juvenile Crimes in Nevada?
The bad news first: if a youth is guilty of a particularly serious crime, there’s a good chance they are going to end up incarcerated in a juvenile detention center or a resident treatment facility. But there are some other scenarios.
Child support can be modified if the circumstances of the parents or the child change substantially. However, it is not easy to get a change, and you’ll need to be able to prove why a change is necessary to get the court to sign off. A family attorney in Reno, NV can help you get the change you need from the court.
Child support can be changed under the “substantial change” rule in Nevada law. Under this rule, if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, a child support modification can be ordered.
However, the courts do not like to make these changes lightly. It must be clearly proven that your situation qualifies.
How to Request a Change
Either parent can request a change, and in most cases the basic requirement is that there must be a 20% or greater change in income on the part of one of the parents for the change to even be considered. The exception is, of course, if you can prove a substantial change of another type. Some of the most common acceptable substantial changes include the birth of a new child or if the child who is being supported becomes emancipated.
Navigating the complexities of divorce can be daunting, especially in Reno, NV, where local laws and procedures can impact the process significantly. At Barber Law Group, we understand the challenges you face and are here to provide clarity, guidance, and support. Here are seven crucial things you need to know before filing for divorce in Reno.
1. Understanding Nevada’s Residency Requirements
Before you can file for divorce in Reno, you must meet Nevada’s residency requirement. One of the spouses must have lived in Nevada for at least six weeks prior to filing. This is a legal stipulation designed to prevent people from coming to Nevada solely to take advantage of its divorce laws.
Custody battles are always difficult, but however hard your spouse may be making things for you, you do have legal rights in Reno, NV. The child’s other parent cannot simply cut you out of the child’s life, and your parental rights can only be taken from you in very specific circumstances. Talk to a child custody attorney as soon as possible to get help with your case.
The Right to Equal Custody and Responsibility
The law does not discriminate for or against either parent. Until the court has rendered a decision otherwise, each parent automatically enjoys joint legal custody and joint physical custody of the child. This means that, until there is a court order in place, parents must coparent and allow the other to be involved in decisions about the child’s life. The court will always presume that joint custody is the best thing for the child until evidence is presented to the contrary. This means that if you wish to get sole custody, you will need to prove clearly with evidence that it is in the best interest of your child for their other parent not to share custody. This also means that if the other parent is trying to take custody away from you, they have a high bar to reach, and you have the right to enjoy all your custody and responsibility rights until such time as they meet that bar to the court’s satisfaction. If your child’s other parent is trying to block your right to custody and decision-making, talk to us immediately about what steps to take next.
When Should You Hire a Family Lawyer for Divorce?
When your marriage begins moving toward divorce, it’s important to secure the legal representation you need to protect your future interests. Knowing when to hire a family lawyer can significantly affect the outcome of your case. You do not need to wait until a dispute escalates; early legal advice from a child custody attorney in Reno, NV can help you prevent missteps.
Filing or Responding to a Divorce Petition
If you intend to file for divorce in Nevada, you should consult a family lawyer before formally initiating the case. Doing so allows you to understand your obligations under Nevada’s community property laws and ensures your initial filings are accurate. If your spouse files first, you must respond within a limited timeframe. In Nevada, you have 21 days to respond to being served for divorce by your spouse. Retaining legal counsel immediately helps you meet filing deadlines and respond in a way that preserves your interests.
How Can You Modify Child Support?
Nevada law has specific guidelines regarding child support, but there are circumstances under which parents can apply for a modification. If you’re unsure how to begin, a family attorney in Reno, NV, can help you get started and provide invaluable support during the legal process. Below, the Barber Law Group explains the most important information you need to know about child support modifications under Nevada law.
Criteria for Child Support Modification in Nevada
Existing child support orders aren’t set in stone. If you wish to modify how much support you’re currently paying or receiving, a lawyer can help you petition the court for a change. You may be eligible to modify child support if you meet the following eligibility criteria outlined under Nevada law.
How Do Custody Laws Affect Parents’ Rights?
If you are going through a custody dispute in Nevada, you need to understand how state laws influence your rights as a parent. Custody laws aim to protect the best interests of the child, but they also define what rights and responsibilities each parent holds. Consulting a criminal defense lawyer in Reno, NV, can ensure you receive the support you need to protect yourself and your child.
Determining Legal Custody and Decision-Making Rights
Legal custody gives you the authority to make important decisions about your child’s life. In cases of divorce or separation, the court may award joint legal custody or sole legal custody. If you and the other parent share joint legal custody, you both have the right to participate in decisions about your child’s education, health care, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities. If the court awards sole legal custody, then only one parent has this right.
What Should I Expect During a Divorce Consultation?
When you begin thinking about divorce, one of the first legal steps is often scheduling a consultation with an attorney. This meeting gives you the opportunity to share your situation, ask questions, and get legal guidance based on your unique circumstances. While every divorce consultation in Reno, NV, is different depending on the facts involved, there are some common elements that most initial meetings include.
A Discussion of Your Marital Background and Concerns
At the start of your consultation, we’ll ask for general information about your marriage—such as how long you’ve been married, whether you and your spouse still live together, and what led you to consider divorce. Whether your concerns involve property division, parenting issues, or financial support, we listen carefully and without judgment.
If you have children, we’ll talk about current custody and visitation arrangements, decision-making responsibilities, and whether any urgent issues may require court involvement. We’ll also cover short-term living arrangements, access to joint finances, and the need for temporary support while your case is pending.
Divorce is a complicated process even before you get around to dividing your assets, and the last thing you want while navigating an emotional transition is to get into a drawn-out fight over what is fair. No matter the size of your estate, your divorce attorney in Reno, NV will help you navigate the complexities of asset division so you can focus on preparing for the next stage of your life.
Dividing Community Property
Nevada is a community property state, meaning that all assets and debt acquired from the moment of marriage are considered owned by both you and your spouse. Upon divorce, community property is split 50/50 regardless of whether it was acquired jointly or under one spouse’s name. Community property could include your income and retirement funds, joint bank accounts and credit cards, loans, real estate, and more.
How Is Child Custody Decided in a Divorce?
Are you dealing with questions of child custody in a divorce? A juvenile crimes attorney in Reno, NV explains how child custody is generally determined.
Legal vs. Physical Custody
Legal custody is the right and responsibility for making major decisions that affect the child’s life. This could mean decisions regarding healthcare, education, and religious upbringing, among others. Nevada law assumes that joint legal custody is in the child’s best interest, and will consider this to be the default unless there is clear evidence indicating that one parent is unfit.
The court may assign physical custody, i.e., where the child will primarily reside, as sole, primary, or joint. Sole custody, of course, means that a child lives with only one parent. Primary physical custody means that a child lives with one parent more than 60% of the time. Joint physical custody means that the child spends at least 40% of the time with each parent. Nevada’s general policy is to maintain a child’s ongoing relationship with both parents and to encourage parents to share rights and responsibilities in raising the child. However, the best interests of the child guides this decision.
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