Child relocation disputes are among the most emotionally difficult and legally complex issues in Nevada family law. Whether you are a parent who needs to move for career opportunities, family support, or a new relationship — or a parent facing the prospect of your child being moved away — Nevada’s relocation law under NRS 125C.006 creates a framework that requires careful navigation. The stakes are high: the outcome determines how much time your child spends with each parent and the geographic shape of their childhood.
Nevada’s 60-Day Notice Requirement
Under NRS 125C.006, a parent who wants to relocate with a child and change the child’s primary residence must provide the other parent with written notice at least 60 days in advance. The notice must include the intended new address, the proposed new school if the child is school-age, and the reasons for the relocation. Failure to provide proper notice can result in a court finding of contempt and can weigh heavily against the relocating parent in a relocation hearing.
If the other parent objects to the relocation within 30 days of receiving notice, the relocating parent cannot move the child until a court hearing is held. The court then applies the relocation factors under NRS 125C.006 to determine whether to permit the move.
When Does NRS 125C.006 Apply?
Nevada’s relocation statute applies when a parent intends to relocate outside of Nevada or to a location within Nevada that would “materially affect” the other parent’s ability to exercise their custody time. Relocation from Las Vegas to Reno, for example, can trigger the statute’s requirements even though both cities are within the same state, if the distance would substantially impair the non-relocating parent’s parenting time. The statute does not apply to short-term moves, temporary relocations for medical treatment, or moves that both parents agree to in writing.
Factors Courts Consider in Nevada Relocation Cases
Nevada courts evaluating a relocation request consider the best interests of the child using a multi-factor analysis including:
- Whether the relocation is made in good faith for a legitimate purpose, or whether it is motivated primarily by a desire to interfere with the other parent’s relationship with the child
- Whether the purpose of the relocation can be accomplished by relocating to a location that is less disruptive to the non-relocating parent’s parenting time
- Whether the relocation will improve the quality of life for both the relocating parent and the child financially, educationally, or emotionally
- The extent to which the non-relocating parent’s current parenting time can be preserved through an adjusted schedule — extended summer time, school break visits, and video communication
- The child’s ties to Nevada, including school, friends, extended family, and community activities
- The child’s age and developmental stage — younger children have stronger dependency on the primary caregiver; older children’s expressed preferences receive more weight
- The feasibility of a realistic parenting plan that preserves the non-relocating parent’s relationship with the child despite the geographic distance
- Each parent’s history of compliance with custody orders and facilitation of the other parent’s relationship with the child
Burden of Proof in Nevada Relocation Cases
The relocating parent bears the initial burden of demonstrating that the relocation is in the child’s best interest. If the relocation is approved, the court then determines a modified parenting plan that preserves the non-relocating parent’s meaningful relationship with the child to the extent practicable given the new distance. This typically means concentrated parenting time — longer school break visits, summer custody, and video calls — rather than the frequent shorter visits that work in a co-parenting arrangement where both parents live in the same city.
International Relocation and the Hague Convention
International relocation adds another layer of legal complexity. Moving a child to a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction — which includes most of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and many other nations — creates potential legal mechanisms for the non-relocating parent to compel the child’s return if the move was not court-authorized. If you are considering international relocation, or if you believe your co-parent intends to move internationally without authorization, contact a family law attorney immediately before any action is taken.
Contact Hauser Family Law About Child Relocation
Hauser Family Law represents both relocating parents and parents opposing relocation in Nevada family court proceedings. If you need to move with your children or you need to protect your parenting time from a proposed relocation, contact us today for a consultation about your rights under Nevada law.