Are Nevada Family Court Hearings Public? SB 432 Explained

• Open by default — hearings start public; observers and press may attend
• Judges may close only narrow portions — when a compelling interest such as child safety or HIPAA/FERPA records requires it
• Written findings required — judges cannot close without documenting the justification
• Financial disclosure forms are not public — sealed materials, custody evaluations, and medical records remain protected
• Criminal penalties apply — posting protected personal information online can be a category D felony

Reviewed by Jennifer Setters, J.D. — Managing Attorney, Gastelum Attorneys, Las Vegas. UNLV Criminal Justice, B.S. Boyd School of Law, J.D. Over a decade representing clients in Clark County Family Court. | Last updated March 2026 | Statutes: SB 432 (Oct 1, 2025), SB 275 (Jul 1, 2025), NRS 125C | New Beginnings, Brighter Tomorrows.

This guide explains what changed on October 1, 2025, what information remains protected, and what you can do before your next court date in Clark County to protect your family’s privacy. For a case evaluation, call (702) 979-1455.

What changed in Nevada family court on October 1, 2025?

Before October 1, 2025, Nevada had laws that allowed either spouse in a divorce to request — and often automatically obtain — a closed courtroom. In 2024, the Nevada Supreme Court held in a published opinion that these blanket closure statutes violated constitutional principles requiring open courts. The Court ruled that closure decisions must be made case by case, with written findings, and must be narrowly tailored to the specific interest being protected.

The Legislature responded by passing SB 432, which took effect October 1, 2025. The law repealed the automatic-closure statutes, established “open by default” as the standard, and defined exactly when and how a judge may close a proceeding or seal a record. For families with active cases in Clark County Family Court — including Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas — this means your divorce, custody, or support hearing is now presumptively open to the public unless your attorney successfully moves for a targeted closure.

Quick overview of SB 432

• Open by default: Family-law proceedings start open. A judge may close all or part of a hearing only when closure is necessary to protect a compelling interest.
• What judges must weigh: The presumption of openness; each child’s best interests; risks from disclosing health or education records (HIPAA/FERPA); and whether openness could cause harassment, undue embarrassment, or harm. Judges must make written findings and use the least restrictive option available.
• Closed portions’ transcripts and recordings: If a segment is closed, the transcript or recording of that portion is confidential and cannot be distributed beyond the parties, counsel, and necessary staff and experts.
• Records — public vs. private: Pleadings, summonses, orders, and judgments are generally public. Financial disclosure forms, sealed materials, custody evaluations, medical and psychological reports, and other confidential exhibits are not publicly accessible without a court order.
• Doxxing penalties: Publicly posting protected personal information can trigger criminal penalties, including a category D felony under certain circumstances.
• Repeal of automatic-closure statutes: Prior laws allowing automatic closure of divorce trials were repealed to align with the Nevada Supreme Court’s 2024 constitutional ruling.

Are family court hearings public in Nevada?

Yes — as of October 1, 2025, they are. Under SB 432, all family court proceedings in Nevada begin with a presumption of openness. This includes divorce hearings, child custody hearings, child support hearings, legal separation proceedings, and adoption matters heard in Clark County Family Court. Any member of the public may attend unless a judge has issued a specific, written order closing all or a portion of the proceeding.

This is a significant change from prior Nevada practice, where parties could more readily obtain closed courtrooms. The shift reflects the Nevada Supreme Court’s 2024 constitutional ruling that open-court principles apply to family law proceedings just as they do to other civil and criminal matters.

Can a custody hearing be closed to the public in Las Vegas?

A custody hearing in Clark County Family Court can be partially or fully closed, but only if a judge finds a compelling interest that outweighs the presumption of openness — and issues written findings to that effect. Common compelling interests in custody cases include: testimony about a minor child’s medical diagnosis, psychological treatment, or educational records protected by HIPAA or FERPA; safety concerns related to domestic violence; or testimony that could directly endanger a child if made public.

A judge cannot close a custody hearing simply because the parties prefer privacy or because the subject matter is sensitive. The closure must be narrowly tailored — meaning the judge should close only the specific portion involving the protected information, not the entire hearing. If you have a custody case with sensitive medical, school, or safety-related evidence, speak with a custody attorney before your hearing date about filing a targeted motion for partial closure under SB 432.

Are divorce records public in Clark County?

Partially. Under SB 432, Nevada divorce records are not uniformly public or uniformly sealed — the answer depends on which document you are asking about.

The Decree of Divorce is a public record — anyone can request a copy. But the financial disclosure forms you filed, the custody evaluation the court ordered, and any medical or school records submitted as exhibits are not public. Courts can seal or redact additional materials when a compelling interest outweighs public access. If you are concerned about specific documents in your case, file a motion to seal or redact before those documents are entered into the public court record.

Can my ex post my address or court documents online in Nevada?

No — and doing so can be a criminal offense under SB 432. The law adds penalties for publicly posting protected personal information, which includes home addresses, children’s school information, financial account details, and protected information from sealed court records. Under certain circumstances this can be charged as a category D felony in Nevada.

If your ex — or anyone else — posts protected personal information related to your case online, take these steps immediately:

1. Preserve the evidence. Take dated screenshots and save URLs before anything is removed. Do not rely on the post still being there when you need it.
2. Contact your attorney. This is a potential SB 432 violation and possibly a violation of any protective order already in place. Your attorney can file for emergency relief if the posting creates a safety risk.
3. Consider civil remedies. In addition to criminal penalties, posting protected information may support civil claims for damages.
4. Contact law enforcement if safety is at risk. If the posting reveals your location or your children’s school and you have reason to believe there is a safety threat, contact LVMPD and your attorney simultaneously.

How to protect your privacy in Clark County Family Court — 5 steps

1. Audit your case file before the hearing. List all exhibits containing sensitive health, mental health, education, location, or financial data. Decide what to redact and what to file under seal. Do this at least two weeks before your hearing date — last-minute sealing motions are harder to get granted.
2. Draft a targeted closure or sealing motion. Identify the specific compelling interest — child safety, HIPAA, FERPA — explain the harm from public disclosure, propose narrow alternatives such as redaction or limiting electronic coverage, and request written findings. A broad request to close the entire hearing is far less likely to succeed than a narrow, documented request to close a specific portion.
3. Coordinate redactions and stipulations where possible. If both parties agree that certain exhibits should be sealed — medical records, school records, psychological evaluations — stipulate to it before the hearing. This saves time and reduces the risk of the judge denying the request for lack of agreement.
4. Prepare your witnesses. Teach witnesses to signal when testimony is about to touch on protected information. Counsel can then request a brief, limited closure of that portion. Witnesses who don’t know to signal may inadvertently disclose protected information in open court before anyone can object.
5. Manage your digital footprint. Remind family and friends not to post documents, addresses, school names, or case details online during your proceeding. A violation can be criminal under SB 432 — and evidence of violations can be used in court.

How SB 275 (effective July 1, 2025) affects custody strategy

SB 275 works alongside SB 432 for families with contested custody involving domestic violence or claims of parental alienation. Key changes:

• Limits on certain “reunification treatment” orders: Courts cannot mandate specific programs that isolate a child from a protective parent or that lack credible proof of safety and effectiveness.
• No removals solely to “repair” relationships: Judges cannot remove a child from — or restrict contact with — a capable protective parent merely to fix a deficient parent-child relationship.
• Expert evidence standards elevated: Testimony on domestic violence or child abuse must come from experts with appropriate clinical expertise. Courts must consider documented evidence of past domestic violence, including arrests and protection orders.
• Ongoing judicial training required: Judges and court-connected professionals — guardians ad litem, evaluators, mediators, and key staff — must complete continuing education consistent with best practices on domestic violence and child safety.

Together, SB 432 and SB 275 represent the most significant changes to Clark County Family Court procedure in over a decade. If your case involves custody, domestic violence, or reunification issues, both statutes directly affect your strategy. See our child custody lawyer page for how we approach custody cases under the current Nevada law framework.

Resources for self-represented parents in Clark County

Before your hearing, review local rules, departmental pages, and current notices from the Eighth Judicial District Court Family Division. If you are self-represented, the Clark County Family Law Self-Help Center and the statewide Nevada State Self-Help Center provide forms and guides at no cost. For bill language and legislative history, visit the Nevada Legislature pages for SB 432 and SB 275 directly.

Quick checklist: protecting your privacy under SB 432

• Identify sensitive topics before your hearing: medical records, mental health records, IEP and school records, home addresses, therapy notes, custody evaluations.
• Choose redaction vs. sealing for each exhibit and prepare a proposed order before the hearing date.
• Ask to close only the necessary portion of the hearing — not the entire proceeding — and request written findings.
• Offer alternatives to full closure: redaction, limiting electronic or media coverage.
• Prepare witnesses on when and how to signal for a brief closure request.
• Do not post protected personal information online. Preserve evidence of any violations immediately.
• If your ex posts your address, school information, or protected court documents online — screenshot, save URLs, and contact your attorney the same day.

Frequently asked questions — Nevada family court privacy and SB 432

What changed in Nevada family court on October 1, 2025?

SB 432 took effect October 1, 2025, making family court hearings open to the public by default. Before this date, Nevada had statutes allowing parties to obtain closed courtrooms more easily. The Nevada Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling struck down those blanket-closure laws as unconstitutional, and SB 432 implemented the case-by-case, narrowly tailored approach the Court required.

What is the Nevada family court privacy law in one sentence?

SB 432, effective October 1, 2025, makes family court hearings open by default while allowing narrowly tailored closures when a compelling interest — such as a child’s safety or HIPAA/FERPA-protected information — requires protection.

Are family court hearings public in Nevada?

Yes. Under SB 432, all family court proceedings — divorce, custody, support, and legal separation — are open to the public by default as of October 1, 2025. A judge may close all or part of a hearing only with written findings showing a compelling interest that outweighs public access.

How do I ask a judge to close a portion of my hearing in Las Vegas?

File a targeted motion identifying the sensitive topic, explaining the harm from public disclosure, proposing less-restrictive alternatives such as redaction or limiting electronic coverage, and requesting written findings from the court. A broad request to close the entire hearing is far less likely to succeed than a specific, documented motion targeting only the protected portion.

Are my medical records or my child’s school records public in a custody case?

No. Medical, psychological, and education records are typically confidential under HIPAA and FERPA. Courts generally require sealing or redaction of these records unless good cause exists for disclosure. File a motion to seal or redact before these documents enter the public record.

Are my divorce financial disclosures public in Nevada?

No. Financial disclosure forms are specifically listed under SB 432 as records that are not publicly accessible without a court order. The Decree of Divorce itself is public, but the financial worksheets, income disclosures, and asset schedules you filed are not.

Can my ex post my address or court documents online in Nevada?

No. SB 432 adds criminal penalties for publicly posting protected personal information. Under certain circumstances this can be charged as a category D felony. If this happens, preserve screenshots and URLs immediately, contact your attorney, and consider both criminal and civil remedies.

Can I prevent cameras or livestreaming in my family court proceeding?

Yes, when electronic coverage creates a substantial risk that cannot be mitigated by sealing or redaction alone. Ask the court to limit cameras to observers only or to briefly close the specific segment involving sensitive information.

Does SB 275 change orders for reunification programs?

Yes. SB 275, effective July 1, 2025, restricts courts from ordering certain reunification programs that isolate a child from a protective parent, raises expertise requirements for domestic violence and abuse testimony, and mandates ongoing training for judges and court-connected professionals.

When should I hire an attorney instead of using self-help forms?

Hire counsel when your case involves contested custody, complex evidence such as medical or school records, potential safety concerns, domestic violence history, or media and public attention. SB 432 and SB 275 add procedural complexity — targeted closure and sealing motions, HIPAA/FERPA redaction protocols, and expert evidence standards — that are difficult to navigate without legal guidance.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and court practices change. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.

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