Nevada paternity law governs the legal establishment of the father-child relationship for children born outside of marriage in Las Vegas and Clark County — a determination that has major consequences for child support obligations, child custody and visitation rights, inheritance rights, and the child access to the father medical history and benefits. Paternity in Nevada can be established voluntarily through a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) at the hospital at birth, or through a Nevada court order following genetic testing when paternity is contested. Both fathers seeking to establish their parental rights and mothers seeking to establish a legal father for child support purposes may initiate Nevada paternity proceedings in Clark County Family Court. Hauser Family Law represents Las Vegas clients in Nevada paternity establishment proceedings, both establishing and contesting paternity claims.
Nevada Acknowledgment of Paternity Voluntary Process, Nevada DNA Paternity Testing Standards and Court-Ordered Testing, Disestablishing Paternity When Genetic Testing Contradicts Prior Legal Finding, Presumed Father Status Under Nevada Law, Father Rights to Custody and Visitation After Paternity Establishment, Child Support Establishment Concurrent with Nevada Paternity Proceedings, Retroactive Child Support in Nevada Paternity Cases, and Paternity Establishment Benefits for the Child
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity: when an unmarried Las Vegas couple agrees on the identity of the child father, both parents can sign a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) at the hospital at birth or later at a Nevada vital records office. A properly signed AOP has the same legal effect as a court order of paternity — it establishes the legal father-child relationship without court proceedings. The AOP can be rescinded within 60 days of signing, but after 60 days it can only be challenged in court on grounds of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact. Contested paternity — court-ordered DNA testing: when paternity is disputed, either parent can request court-ordered genetic testing through Clark County Family Court. Nevada requires that genetic testing use a DNA test with a minimum 99% probability of paternity for a positive determination. The court uses the DNA test results as the basis for a paternity order. Presumed father doctrine: Nevada recognizes presumed father status in specific circumstances — a man is presumed to be the father of a child born during his marriage to the mother, or born within 285 days of the termination of the marriage. This marital presumption can be challenged through genetic testing but requires affirmative court action. Retroactive child support in Nevada paternity cases: once paternity is legally established, Nevada courts can order the legal father to pay retroactive child support going back to the date of the child birth or the date of the paternity filing, depending on the circumstances. Hauser Family Law represents Las Vegas fathers establishing parental rights and Las Vegas mothers establishing legal fathers for child support and custody purposes in Clark County paternity proceedings.