Domestic Violence and Nevada Family Court
How Nevada family courts consider domestic violence when determining custody.
Child Safety, Domestic Violence Concerns, and Parenting Time
Key Child-Safety Considerations
When there has been relationship harm, decision-makers in Canada generally focus on what is safest and most stable for the child. They usually look at:
- The child’s age, needs, and routines (school, health, community connections)
- Any history of violence, threats, or controlling behaviour in the home
- Whether the child has seen or heard arguments, intimidation, or harm
- How each caregiver handles stress, conflict, and parenting responsibilities
- Substance use, mental health concerns, and whether these are being managed
- Previous police involvement, child protection reports, or court orders
- Safety planning already in place (for example, safe exchanges, no-contact conditions)
Children can be affected even if they are not directly hurt. Exposure to yelling, fear, and tension can still be a safety and wellbeing issue.
Each province and territory may have slightly different laws and terms (“parenting time,” “access,” “decision-making responsibility,” or “custody”). The overall focus is usually the child’s safety and best interests.
How to Raise Domestic Violence Concerns
If you are involved in a family court, child protection, or mediation process, safety concerns can often be shared in more than one way. Options may include:
- Describing patterns of behaviour that feel unsafe (for example, constant monitoring, threats, or isolation), not only one-time incidents
- Explaining how the situation affects the child’s sleep, mood, school, or daily life
- Sharing any existing conditions (such as peace bonds, no-contact orders, bail conditions, or previous court orders)
- Letting professionals know if you are afraid of retaliation for speaking about safety
- Asking whether there are safer options for communication and parenting exchanges
Many people choose to write down key dates, patterns, and incidents in a concise way before speaking with lawyers, duty counsel, mediators, or court staff so they can focus on the most important safety points.
If you have a lawyer or advocate, you can usually ask how to share information in a way that protects your safety and privacy. If you do not have a lawyer, duty counsel or legal clinics in many areas may be able to provide brief legal information.
Additional support options across Canada, including information on safety planning and services, can be found through resources listed at DV.Support.
Evidence That Is Typically Reviewed
Family courts and child protection agencies usually look at information from different sources. Not all of the items below will be available in every situation, and the weight given to each type of information can vary by province or territory.
- Police records: Incident reports, charges, or history of calls to the home
- Child protection records: Assessments, safety plans, and previous involvement
- Court orders and agreements: Past or current family, criminal, or protection orders
- Messages and communications: Texts, emails, social media messages, voicemail recordings, and call logs that show patterns of harassment, threats, or control
- Medical or counselling notes: Where available, records that mention injuries, stress, or fear (access to these may be limited and subject to privacy rules)
- School or daycare notes: Attendance issues, behaviour changes, or reports of the child expressing fear
- Witness information: Statements from neighbours, friends, family members, or others who have seen or heard relevant behaviour
- Personal notes and timelines: Contemporaneous notes about incidents, including dates, times, and what happened, can sometimes help show a pattern over time
Saving digital information can increase risk if someone closely monitors your devices. Consider basic device and account precautions; guidance is available on the Digital Safety page.
Supervised Visitation and Safe Parenting Time
In some cases, decision-makers may consider supervised parenting time to reduce risk to the child and to the non-abusive caregiver. Terms vary across Canada, but common possibilities include:
- Supervised access centres: Parenting time at a designated centre, with trained staff present and structured arrival and departure procedures
- Third-party supervision: Parenting time supervised by a trusted adult (such as a relative or community member) who is acceptable to the court or agency
- Monitored exchanges: A neutral place or service used only for pick-up and drop-off, while parenting time itself is unsupervised
- Virtual parenting time: Video or phone-based contact, sometimes in addition to or instead of in-person visits, depending on safety and distance
- Gradual changes: Schedules that start with short, supervised visits and are adjusted over time if this is considered safe and appropriate
Supervision is usually considered when there are concerns about violence, substance use, abduction risk, or significant conflict that could affect the child. It is not always permanent; arrangements may be reviewed and changed based on updated information and the child’s needs.
Availability of supervised access centres and specific procedures can differ by region. Local family law information centres, legal clinics, or child protection workers can often explain options in your area.