Nevada’s two unique cottage industries – gambling and divorce – each came into full maturity in 1931, with the state legislature’s legalization of casino gambling and the lowering of Nevada’s divorce residency period to six (6) weeks.
Nevada has long maintained the nation’s most liberal laws on divorce jurisdiction. Nevada Divorce remains available to anyone who has been a resident of the State of Nevada for a period of no less than six (6) consecutive weeks prior to the commencement of the divorce action, and can verify in their Complaint that they and their spouse are “incompatible” in marriage. See NRS 125.010 and NRS 125.020. Provided that either the Plaintiff or the Defendant meets Nevada’s residency requirements, a divorce action validly lies in the district courts of Nevada. After the residency period has been established – a status that must be corroborated by the testimony of resident witness — Nevada has no waiting or “cooling off” period, and does not require a showing of any fault-based cause. While the ability to obtain a Nevada divorce after the six (6) week residency period is satisfied remains undisputed today, it is important to note that the divorcing court’s ability to adjudicate child custody, child support, property rights, and spousal support/alimony is subject to other jurisdictional factors that require the capable analysis of an experienced lawyer.