How to Get the Final Divorce Decree

Getting the Final Divorce Decree

There are a few more forms that you have to turn in to finalize your divorce. This page explains the process and the different forms so you can turn in your final set of papers to get the divorce granted. 

Read each section carefully - every case is different and there are different forms you will need depending on what happened in your case. Your divorce is not final until the judge signs and files a Decree of Divorce!

 How a Divorce is granted

You are responsible for preparing the final Decree to finish your case.  There are three different ways that a final divorce decree can be granted:

• By Default: If the Defendant was served with the summons and complaint for divorce but did not file any paperwork within 21 days, the Plaintiff can ask the court to enter a default and grant a final divorce. The Plaintiff will typically get a Decree of Divorce that includes everything asked for in the complaint. Fill out all of the forms below to finalize your case this way.

• By Agreement: If both parties reach an agreement on all terms of the divorce after the case has been filed, they can prepare a final Decree of Divorce with their full agreement included. The Defendant must file an Answer and pay the filing fee to do this.  Both parties must sign the Decree of Divorce, and can usually submit the Decree to the judge for approval without a hearing.  Start at form 2 below to finalize your case this way. 

• Granted at a Trial or Hearing: When the judge grants a divorce at a trial or a hearing, the judge will decide all of the final orders. However, the divorce is not final until the written Decree of Divorce is signed by the judge. Usually, the judge tells one party to “prepare the decree.” Start at form 4 or 5 below to finalize your case this way. 

Follow these steps to get the final Decree approved: 

 1. Fill out the forms.  There are several forms you have to fill out to get the judge to finalize your case.

 2. File the forms. File the completed forms by mail or efiling. 

 3. Submit the Divorce Decree to the Judge. Turn in a proposed Divorce Decree to the judge to sign. 

 4. File the Notice of Entry of Order and serve the other party.  You have to serve the other party with a copy of the final order.

Learn more about each step below.  

 1. Fill out the forms

All of the possible forms to get a final Divorce Decree are below.  You may need to fill out some or all of the forms; read about each form carefully and fill out the ones that apply to you.  

1. Default - required if Defendant did not file an answer within 21 days of being served.

   The Plaintiff must complete the default form and submit it to the Clerk’s Office for approval.  If you do not get a default against the Defendant, he or she can still file papers past the 21 day deadline.  After the 21 days is up, it us usually a matter of who gets their paperwork turned in first.  
   
   Enter the date the Defendant was served on this form (check the Affidavit of Service for the date if you do not remember).  If Defendant was served by publication, the date of service is usually the last date listed under the publication dates on the Affidavit of Publication.

   Default (pdf)  Default (pdf fillable)
   
   

   FYI!

   If Defendant made an appearance in the case (in some way that would indicate Defendant planned to participate in the case, such as signing a Waiver), you must send the Defendant a final notice after you get your default approved by the clerk.  The notice tells Defendant you will get a final default order if Defendant does not file anything in 7 days.  Complete the form, file it, and mail a copy to the Defendant.  
   

   Notice of Intent to Take Default Judgment (pdf)

   Notice of Intent to Take Default Judgment (pdf fillable)

   After mailing, wait 3 business days for the mail to reach the Defendant, and another 7 days for the Defendant to file something to stop the final decree from being approved.  If Defendant still does not file anything after those deadlines, you can turn in the final papers to get a final decree.

2. Summary Disposition Request - required if you do not want a hearing.  This asks the judge to approve of the Decree without a hearing.  Plaintiff usually completes this.
   
   Request for Summary Disposition (pdf fillable) 
    

3. Affidavit in Support of Summary Disposition - required if you do not want a hearing.  This form provides some detail about the orders you want the judge to approve.  Plaintiff usually completes this.   

   With Children: Affidavit in Support of Summary Disposition - With Kids (pdf fillable)
   
   No Children: Affidavit in Support of Summary Disposition - No Kids (pdf fillable)
   
   

4. Affidavit of Resident Witness - required if you do not want a hearing or if the judge did not establish residency at a hearing.   One spouse must be a Nevada resident to get divorced in Nevada. This form is the proof that one of the spouses lived in Nevada for at least 6 weeks before filing for divorce and intends to remain here. Ask a friend, coworker, or family member who sees the Nevada resident spouse 3-4 times per week to complete this form.

   Affidavit of Resident Witness (pdf)  Affidavit of Resident Witness (pdf fillable)
   
   

5. Confidential Information Sheet - required. This form discloses both spouses' social security numbers (which is required for everyone filing for divorce) and helps parents with child support enforcement in the future if needed.
   
   Confidential Information Sheet - WITH CHILDREN (pdf fillable)
   
   Confidential Information Sheet - NO CHILDREN (pdf fillable)
   
   

6. Seminar for Separating Parents ("COPE") Certificate - only needed if the judge ordered you to do the class. You only have to do this step if the judge told you to complete the seminar for separating parents and file a certificate of completion. For information on providers, see Seminar for Separating Parents.
   
   

7. Decree of Divorce - required. The Decree of Divorce is the final order that includes all the terms of the divorce. How you fill out the Decree of Divorce will depend on how you are getting the final decree:

   • For a default Decree: Everything in your proposed Decree of Divorce should match everything you asked for in your complaint.
   • If both parties are signing the Decree: The Decree of Divorce must include all of the agreements between you and your spouse. You both must sign the Decree of Divorce.
   • If there was a hearing or trial: Everything in your proposed Decree of Divorce must match everything the judge ordered at your hearing. You should obtain a copy of the “minutes” from your hearing from the Court Records department. Make sure everything included in the minutes is included in the proposed Decree of Divorce.

   Decree of Divorce – No Children (pdf) 

   Decree of Divorce – No Children (pdf fillable)
   
   Decree of Divorce - No Children (word fillable) - you can add extra orders and findings.
   
   Decree of Divorce - With Children (pdf)
   
   Decree of Divorce - With Children (pdf fillable)  

  2. File the Forms

File all the documents above, except the Decree of Divorce, with the court.  Just like with your initial documents, you can file the papers in one of three ways:

• Online through eFileNV.   
• By mail (Family Court Clerk of Court, 601 North Pecos, Las Vegas, NV 89101).
• In person at the Family Courthouse (check our How to File page for hours and more information)

 3. Submit the Decree of Divorce to the Judge

Do not do this step until the documents above have been successfully filed with the court.  If you are efiling, wait to do this step until you receive confirmation that your efiled documents were successfully filed. 

You must turn in a decree to your assigned department to review.  If you do not know what department your case was assigned to, you can look it up here: https://www.clarkcountycourts.us/Portal/. 

If you did not already fill out a proposed Decree of Divorce with the rest of your forms, do so now: 

Decree of Divorce – No Children (pdf fillable)

Decree of Divorce - With Children (pdf fillable) 

Email your proposed decree in a pdf format to your assigned judge.  Check the Department Letter assigned to your case and email it to the correct email below:

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If you cannot email it, you can bring it to the court in person or you can mail it to 601 N. Pecos, Las Vegas, NV 89101 (mail takes 4-6 weeks to process).  

The judge will review the decree and sign it if approved.  You will receive it back by mail or through email if you registered for eservice in your efiling account. 

If there is a problem with the paperwork, you will receive a memo from the judge’s staff letting you know what needs to be fixed. You will have to fix the problem and resubmit the Decree.

 4. File a Notice of Entry of Order and serve the other party

You have to serve the other party with a copy of the final Decree by filling out a Notice of Entry of Order, filing it, and serving it.  The Notice of Entry of Order triggers the timelines for anyone to appeal. If this is not filed, the other party may be able to appeal the order months or years later!

After you get the signed and filed final Decree, fill out the Notice of Entry of Order and attach a copy of the Decree.  You will have to serve the other party with a copy the same day you file it, so be sure to fill out the Certificate of Mailing at the bottom.

File the Notice of Entry of Order (with a copy of the Decree attached). 

Notice of Entry of Order (pdf fillable) 

Make a copy of the Notice of Entry of Order (with the Decree attached) and mail it to the other party. You can mail it by regular mail.