Las Vegas Divorce Lawyer: Trial-Ready Attorneys, 5,000+ Clark County Cases

What Gets Divided?

Under NRS 123.220, property acquired during the marriage is generally community property. The court divides it equally under NRS 125.150(1)(b) unless it finds a compelling reason for an unequal split. This includes wages, retirement contributions, real estate, business interests, and debt. Property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance may qualify as separate property.

Hidden Assets & Commingling

When one spouse controls the finances, formal discovery and forensic accounting can identify commingled funds, undervalued business interests, and assets not disclosed during initial proceedings. Early financial disclosure and expert witness retention often influence how courts evaluate asset values.

Alimony & Spousal Support

While Nevada courts weigh 11 statutory factors under NRS 125.150 to determine alimony, many Clark County judges use the unofficial Tonopah Formula as a starting benchmark. For a full breakdown of how income gaps and marriage length affect calculations under Kogod v. Cioffi-Kogod, visit our Nevada spousal support guide.

Jennifer Setters, J.D., Managing Attorney & Founder, Gastelum Attorneys

Jennifer Setters is a Nevada-licensed Las Vegas divorce attorney and founding partner of Gastelum Attorneys. She earned her J.D. from the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law and holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from UNLV. Licensed with the State Bar of Nevada (Bar No. 13126), Jennifer has represented clients in the Eighth Judicial District Court since 2018 and leads a firm that has handled more than 5,000 family law cases across Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

State Bar of Nevada (No. 13126) · UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, J.D. · Eighth Judicial District Court · Licensed since 2018

Which Las Vegas law firm focuses on high-asset, contested, and complex divorce?

Gastelum Attorneys focuses on high-asset, contested, and complex family law matters in Las Vegas. The firm has eight Nevada-licensed attorneys, has handled more than 5,000 Clark County cases since 2018, and represents clients in English and Spanish in the Eighth Judicial District Court, handling business valuations, retirement and stock-option division, hidden-asset discovery, and high-conflict custody.

How do I choose the right divorce lawyer in Las Vegas for my case?

The right divorce attorney in Las Vegas for your case depends on your situation, but the most important factors are consistent: the attorney should practice exclusively in family law, appear regularly in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court, prepare cases for trial from the outset (not just settlement), and communicate transparently about fees and billing. For high-asset cases, look for experience with forensic accounting and business valuation. For custody disputes, look for familiarity with Nevada’s domestic violence custody presumption under NRS 125C.0035(5) and the statutory definition of domestic violence in NRS 33.018. For Spanish-speaking clients, bilingual representation preserves nuance that interpreters can miss. Gastelum Attorneys offers a same-week case evaluation with a Nevada family law attorney, not a call center. Read what our clients say →

Where are Gastelum Attorneys’ offices in Las Vegas?

Gastelum Attorneys has two offices in Las Vegas: the main office at 718 S 8th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 in Downtown Las Vegas, about three miles from the Family Courts and Services Center, reachable at (702) 979-1455, and a Summerlin office at 1635 Village Center Cir, Ste. 250, Las Vegas, NV 89134, reachable at (725) 605-2736. Both offices serve clients throughout Clark County, calls are answered 24/7, and consultations are available in English and Spanish. See directions to both offices →

What do divorce lawyers in Las Vegas typically charge?

An uncontested divorce typically costs $2,500–$5,000 in total legal fees. A contested divorce with property disputes runs $10,000–$30,000 or more. High-conflict cases involving forensic accountants, depositions, and trial preparation can exceed $50,000. Most firms, including Gastelum Attorneys, charge a retainer up front applied to your bill as work is completed.

How long does a divorce take in Nevada?

An uncontested Nevada divorce using the Summary Proceeding can be finalized in 1–3 weeks once paperwork is correctly filed. A contested divorce in Clark County typically takes 9–11 months based on our firm’s caseload. High-conflict divorces involving hidden assets, business valuations, or custody disputes can run 12–24 months. The biggest variable is whether both parties are willing to negotiate. For a full breakdown by case type, see our Nevada divorce timeline guide.

Does Nevada require separation before filing for divorce?

No. Nevada is a no-fault divorce state under NRS 125.010; no separation period is required before filing. The only requirement is that one spouse must have lived in Nevada for at least six continuous weeks (NRS 125.020). You can file in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court even if you were married in another state.

What is a spouse entitled to in a Nevada divorce?

Nevada is a community property state; both spouses generally have an equal interest in community property acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name it is in or who earned the income. This includes the family home, retirement accounts, business interests, vehicles, and debt. Separate property, owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance, generally stays with its original owner. For a full breakdown, see our guide on property division in Nevada.

Can I get a divorce in Las Vegas if my spouse won’t sign?

Yes. Nevada does not require both spouses to sign divorce papers. If your spouse refuses to respond after being properly served, the court can grant a default divorce. If they contest proceedings but refuse to cooperate, the case proceeds to trial and the judge issues a ruling. A non-signing spouse cannot permanently block a divorce in Nevada. See: Can you get a divorce without the other person signing?

How is child custody decided in Nevada?

Nevada decides custody under the best interest of the child standard in NRS 125C.0035, weighing each parent’s relationship with the child, stability, co-parenting ability, and any history of domestic violence (a finding of domestic violence by clear and convincing evidence after an evidentiary hearing creates a rebuttable presumption against custody for the perpetrator under NRS 125C.0035(5)). Because custody is fact-specific, our child custody lawyer in Las Vegas page covers how Clark County judges apply each factor in full.

What is the difference between legal separation and divorce in Nevada?

A legal separation in Nevada (NRS 125.190) allows spouses to live apart and divide assets, debts, and custody, but remain legally married. Divorce terminates the marriage entirely. Couples choose legal separation for religious reasons, to preserve insurance benefits, or to maintain military spousal benefits that require a certain marriage length. Legal separation can be converted to divorce later. Both proceedings use the same Clark County District Court process and require the same financial disclosures. See our full guide to Nevada legal separation.

Can I get alimony in a Las Vegas divorce?

Yes. Nevada courts can award spousal support under NRS 125.150 when there is a significant disparity in earning capacity. Nevada does not guarantee alimony. Judges weigh 11 statutory factors including marriage length, income, employability, household contributions, and standard of living. Many Clark County judges use the unofficial Tonopah Formula as a starting benchmark, but outcomes vary by judge and case facts. Use our Nevada alimony calculator or visit our spousal support Las Vegas page for a full breakdown.

Does Nevada protect privacy in divorce court records?

Yes, though the framework changed on October 1, 2025. Under SB 432, Nevada family court proceedings are now presumptively open, replacing the prior automatic-closure rules. A judge may seal a record or close part of a hearing only on a showing that a compelling interest, such as a child’s best interests or a party’s privacy, outweighs public access. Sensitive materials like financial disclosure forms, custody evaluations, and medical or psychological reports are generally not part of the public record without a court order, and willfully posting another person’s protected personal identifying information can be charged as a category D felony. Our Nevada family court privacy guide explains how this works, and our Las Vegas family law attorneys can advise on protecting sensitive information in your filings.