Divorce in Las Vegas runs through the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, and the city's filing logistics are tied to Clark County rather than to Nevada as a whole. Whether you live near the Strip, Summerlin, Henderson-adjacent Green Valley, or the northwest valley around Centennial Hills, your case is filed and heard at one of two downtown courthouses. This page covers exactly where to go, what it costs, and how Nevada law shapes your case.
Nevada's six-week residency rule (NRS 125.020) and pure no-fault grounds (NRS 125.010) make Las Vegas one of the fastest places in the country to dissolve a marriage. Uncontested joint petitions often finalize in one to three weeks without a hearing.
Las Vegas Divorce Key Facts (2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Filing court | Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division |
| Primary courthouse | Family Courts and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89155 |
| Secondary location | Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89155 (Depts. F, H, Q, T, U, W, X) |
| Filing fee | $364 (complaint) / $328 (joint petition) |
| Residency requirement | 6 weeks (42 days) under NRS 125.020 |
| Waiting period | None after filing |
| Property model | Community property (equal division) under NRS 125.150 |
How do I file for divorce in Las Vegas, Nevada?
To file for divorce in Las Vegas, you submit a Complaint for Divorce or a Joint Petition to the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, and pay the Clark County filing fee of $364 (or $328 for a joint petition) as of March 2026. At least one spouse must have lived in Nevada for six weeks. Most filers now use the Odyssey Guide & File system online or file in person at 601 N. Pecos Road.
If you and your spouse agree on everything (property, debts, custody, support), you file a Joint Petition for Summary Divorce under NRS § 125.181. A judge reviews the paperwork and signs the Decree without a hearing. If you disagree, one spouse files a Complaint and serves the other, who then has time to respond before the case proceeds toward settlement or trial. The Family Law Self-Help Center on the first floor of the Family Courts and Services Center (702-455-1500) provides free forms and guidance.
Where do I file for divorce in Las Vegas? (which courthouse)
Las Vegas divorce cases are filed at the Family Courts and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Road, Las Vegas, NV 89155, the primary family law courthouse for Clark County. The Family/Juvenile filing counter and the Clerk of the Court's family records office are both located here. Phone: (702) 455-2385.
Some family departments sit at a second building. As of January 2024, cases assigned to Departments F, H, Q, T, U, W, and X are heard at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Avenue, downtown. Most judges, though, are at the Pecos Road location. Check your department assignment on your case documents before any hearing so you arrive at the right courthouse. Divorce and domestic records are maintained at the Pecos Road clerk's office and can be requested in person, by mail, or via online Case Inquiry.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Las Vegas?
A Las Vegas divorce lawyer generally charges $250 to $450 per hour, with retainers of $2,500 to $7,500 common for contested cases. An uncontested divorce handled by an attorney often costs $1,500 to $3,000 total, while a fully litigated, custody-disputed case can exceed $15,000 to $30,000 per side. The $364 Clark County filing fee is separate from attorney fees.
Costs scale with conflict. A joint petition where both spouses agree may need only a few hours of attorney time, or none at all if you use the Self-Help Center. Disputes over community property, alimony under NRS § 125.150, or child custody drive up hours through discovery, mediation, evaluations, and hearings. If you cannot afford the filing fee, file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis; Clark County waives fees for households below 125% of the federal poverty level (roughly $18,075 for a single person), usually deciding within three to five business days. Fee waivers do not cover attorney fees, mediation, or custody evaluations.
How long does a divorce take in Las Vegas?
A divorce in Las Vegas can finalize in as little as one to three weeks when spouses file a Joint Petition for Summary Divorce, because Nevada imposes no mandatory waiting period after filing under Chapter 125. Contested cases typically take six months to over a year, depending on custody disputes, asset complexity, and the Eighth Judicial District Court's docket.
The speed comes from Nevada's no-fault framework. You only need to allege incompatibility under NRS § 125.010, and the court accepts it without proof of wrongdoing. More than 95% of Nevada divorces are filed on incompatibility grounds. The two remaining grounds, living separate and apart for one year and insanity for two years, are rarely used. Because there is no cooling-off period, an agreed joint petition can move from filing to a signed Decree of Divorce within days once a judge reviews it.
What are the residency requirements to file in Clark County?
To file for divorce in Clark County, at least one spouse must have physically resided in Nevada for six consecutive weeks (42 days) immediately before filing, under NRS § 125.020. This is one of the shortest residency requirements in the United States. You prove it with an Affidavit of Resident Witness signed by a Nevada resident who can confirm your presence.
The six-week rule is strict and applies even when the marriage or the cause of divorce occurred in Nevada. There is no separate Las Vegas or Clark County residency period beyond the statewide six weeks, but the witness affidavit must come from someone who can attest to your physical presence in the state. Newcomers to Las Vegas often establish residency with a lease, utility bills, a Nevada driver's license, or vehicle registration to support the affidavit if challenged.
How is property divided in a Las Vegas divorce?
Las Vegas divorces follow Nevada's community property rule, meaning courts divide marital assets and debts as close to 50/50 as practicable under NRS § 125.150. Nevada is one of only nine community property states, and since 1993 judges are required to make an equal disposition unless a written, compelling reason justifies an unequal split.
Community property includes nearly everything acquired during the marriage, regardless of which spouse's name is on the title, plus property held in joint tenancy. Separate property, such as assets owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance, generally stays with the original owner. A judge may divide unequally for compelling reasons like one spouse's economic waste or fraud, but must state those reasons in writing. Affair-related spending can reduce the offending spouse's share. Omitted assets discovered later can be divided within three years under NRS 125.150(3).
A 2025 change Las Vegas filers should know
Nevada courts became open by default on October 1, 2025, when SB 432 repealed the statutes that previously let a spouse request an automatically closed divorce courtroom. The change followed a 2024 Nevada Supreme Court ruling that blanket closures violated open-court principles. A judge can still seal records or close a hearing, but only case by case with written findings narrowly tailored to a specific interest.
For most Las Vegas filers this has little day-to-day effect, but it matters if privacy is a concern. The repealed provisions included former NRS 125.080 and NRS 125.110. If you need part of your file sealed, your attorney must now make a specific motion rather than rely on an automatic closure.