Nevada

JURISDICTIONAL END OF MARRIAGE DATE: Date of Decree of Divorce. If not Divorced use current date.

STATE TYPE FOR PENSION EVALUATION: Nevada is a "community property" state. Nevada is a community property state in which the court will divide all property of the marriage equally, unless the court finds a compelling reason to not do so. The reasons for not equally dividing the community property must be in writing.

[Nevada Revised Statutes; Chapter 125, Section 150]. 

NEV. REV. STAT. 123.050

Husband or wife not liable for debts of other incurred before marriage.

Neither the separate property of a spouse nor his share of the community property is liable for the debts of the other spouse contracted before the marriage.

NEV. REV. STAT. 123.121

Segregation of damage awards when spouses sue jointly.

When a husband and wife sue jointly, any damages awarded shall be segregated as follows:

1. If the action is for personal injuries, damages assessed for:

(a) Personal injuries and pain and suffering, to the injured spouse as his separate property.

(b) Loss of comfort and society, to the spouse who suffers such loss.

(c) Loss of services and hospital and medical expenses, to the spouses as community property.

2. If the action is for injury to property, damages shall be awarded according to the character of the injured property. Damages to separate property shall be awarded to the spouse owning such property, and damages to community property shall be awarded to the spouses as community property.

NEV. REV. STAT. 123.220

Community property defined.

All property, other than that stated in NRS 123.130, acquired after marriage by either husband or wife, or both, is community property unless otherwise provided by:

1. An agreement in writing between the spouses, which is effective only as between them.

2. A decree of separate maintenance issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

3. NRS 123.190.

4. A decree issued or agreement in writing entered pursuant to NRS 123.259.

NEV. REV. STAT. 123.259

Division of income and resources of husband and wife: Manner; conditions; restrictions.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, a court of competent jurisdiction may, upon a proper petition filed by a spouse or the guardian of a spouse, enter a decree dividing the income and resources of a husband and wife pursuant to this section if one spouse is an institutionalized spouse and the other spouse is a community spouse.

2. The court shall not enter such a decree if the division is contrary to a premarital agreement between the spouses which is enforceable pursuant to chapter 123A of NRS.

3. Unless modified pursuant to subsection 4 or 5, the court may divide the income and resources:

(a) Equally between the spouses; or

(b) By protecting income for the community spouse through application of the maximum federal minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5 (d)(3)(c) and by permitting a transfer of resources to the community spouse an amount which does not exceed the amount set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(f)(2)(A)(ii).

4. If either spouse establishes that the community spouse needs income greater than that otherwise provided under paragraph (b) of subsection 3, upon finding exceptional circumstances resulting in significant financial duress and setting forth in writing the reasons for that finding, the court may enter an order for support against the institutionalized spouse for the support of the community spouse in an amount adequate to provide such additional income as is necessary.

5. If either spouse establishes that a transfer of resources to the community spouse pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 3, in relation to the amount of income generated by such a transfer, is inadequate to raise the income of the community spouse to the amount allowed under paragraph (b) of subsection 3 or an order for support issued pursuant to subsection 4, the court may substitute an amount of resources adequate to provide income to fund the amount so allowed or to fund the order for support.

6. A copy of a petition for relief under subsection 4 or 5 and any court order issued pursuant to such a petition must be served on the state welfare administrator when any application for medical assistance is made by or on behalf of an institutionalized spouse. He may intervene no later than 45 days after receipt by the welfare division of the department of human resources of an application for medical assistance and a copy of the petition and any order entered pursuant to subsection 4 or 5, and may move to modify the order.

7. A person may enter into a written agreement with his spouse dividing their community income, assets and obligations into equal shares of separate income, assets and obligations of the spouses. Such an agreement is effective only if one spouse is an institutionalized spouse and the other spouse is a community spouse or a division of the income or resources would allow one spouse to qualify for services under NRS 427A.250 to 427A.280, inclusive.

8. An agreement entered into or decree entered pursuant to this section may not be binding on the welfare division of the department of human resources in making determinations under the state plan for Medicaid.

9. As used in this section, "community spouse" and "institutionalized spouse's have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(h).

NEV. REV. STAT. 125.150

Alimony and adjudication of property rights; award of attorney's fee; subsequent modification by court.

Except as otherwise provided in NRS 125.155 and unless the action is contrary to a premarital agreement between the parties which is enforceable pursuant to chapter 123A of NRS:

1. In granting a divorce, the court:

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(b) Shall, to the extent practicable, make an equal disposition of the community property of the parties, except that the court may make an unequal disposition of the community property in such proportions as it deems just if the court finds a compelling reason to do so and sets forth in writing the reasons for making the unequal disposition.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in granting a divorce, the court shall dispose of any property held in joint tenancy in the manner set forth in subsection 1 for the disposition of community property. If a party has made a contribution of separate property to the acquisition or improvement of property held in joint tenancy, the court may provide for the reimbursement of that party for his contribution. The amount of reimbursement must not exceed the amount of the contribution of separate property that can be traced to the acquisition or improvement of property held in joint tenancy, without interest or any adjustment because of an increase in the value of the property held in joint tenancy. The amount of reimbursement must not exceed the value, at the time of the disposition, of the property held in joint tenancy for which the contribution of separate property was made. In determining whether to provide for the reimbursement, in whole or in part, of a party who has contributed separate property, the court shall consider:

(a) The intention of the parties in placing the property in joint tenancy;

(b) The length of the marriage; and

(c) Any other factor which the court deems relevant in making a just and equitable disposition of that property.

As used in this subsection, "contribution" includes a down payment, a payment for the acquisition or improvement of property, and a payment reducing the principal of a loan used to finance the purchase or improvement of property. The term does not include a payment of interest on a loan used to finance the purchase or improvement of property, or a payment made for maintenance, insurance or taxes on property.

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4. In granting a divorce, the court may also set apart such portion of the husband's separate property for the wife's support, the wife's separate property for the husband's support or the separate property of either spouse for the support of their children as is deemed just and equitable.

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6. If the court adjudicates the property rights of the parties, or an agreement by the parties settling their property rights has been approved by the court, whether or not the court has retained jurisdiction to modify them, the adjudication of property rights, and the agreements settling property rights, may nevertheless at any time thereafter be modified by the court upon written stipulation signed and acknowledged by the parties to the action, and in accordance with the terms thereof.

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