Practice Areas

Divorce - Contested
When spouses disagree on at least one item related to their divorce, the matter is termed contested. Many matters that start out contested, end up settling or otherwise resolving prior to trial.

Being prepared for a trial, while still pursuing alternate dispute resolution options, is essential to achieving a comprehensive and meaningful settlement. It is also important to be prepared in the event that your matter does not resolve through settlement and ends up before the Court.

Preparing a case involves financial discovery, a process by which the parties obtain and verify fincial information concerning community assets, income and debts. If your matter also involves children, discovery is often conducted on issues that impact the children and the eventual custodial arrnagment desired by the litigants. Trial preparation also includes brief, legal research and the application of the rules of evidence to the facts of each individual case.

Ms. Rau is an experienced domestic trial attorney and oral advocate.

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Divorce - Uncontested
When spouses agree on the disposition of all community assets and debts as well as the specific terms of custody, visitation and support, if applicable, they can obtain an uncontested divorce.

Assuming the jurisdictional requirements have been met (in Nevada, residence for at least six [6] weeks), counsel can prepare uncontested documents for the parties to sign. These documents are then filed with the Court to accomplish the divorce.

Ms. Rau represents one of the parties in the preparation and explanation of the documents. The other party is encouraged to have the documents reviewed and explained by other counsel of their choice. Usually uncontested divorces are handled on a flat fee basis. Fees will vary based on the complexity of the documents required to accomplish a comprehensive resolution. It pays to do it right the first time and save the possibility of future litigation that is often necessary with incomplete or ambiguous documents.

To determine if an uncontested divorce is right for you, please contact the office for a consultation.

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Alimony
Alimony is a complicated and multi-faceted area of the law in Nevada. Each alimony case is different and an alimony outcome depends on a number of factors particular to each case including the length of the marriage, the age of the spouses, and the income history of the parties during the marriage. A variety of other factors also play a role in negotiating and litigating alimony.

There is a difference between temporary spousal support and ongoing (post-divorce) alimony. In order to explore the support issues that are specific to your case, please contact the office to set a consultation.

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Business Valuations
When a spouse owns or manages a business, it should be valued incident to a divorce. Valuation occurs with the involvement of an experienced domestic valuation expert as valuation for the purposes of divorce is very different than the valuation that might occur in the event of a sale of the business to a third party. It is important that you choose experienced counsel to help guide you through and direct the valuation process.

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Custody
We understand that family is first. Representation in issues of custody — whether related to a divorce or determinations of paternity or post-divorce modifications — involve a compassionate understanding of the rights and needs of everyone involved, most importantly the children. There are many ways that the impact of the stress and anxiety associated with custody cases can be minimized for children. They include adherence to a few steadfast rules:

• Do not involve the children in the case. This includes sharing any information regarding the substance of the case with the children as this will often cause children to feel conflicted and confused. Remember, the relationship between you and your spouse (or your co-parent) is an adult relationship and as such, does not involve the children.
• Do not speak badly about your spouse or co-parent in front of the children.
• Do not ask a child to “take sides”. Conduct yourself with the same level of maturity and respect with which you would want to be treated.
• Do remember that matters of custody focus primarily on the best interests and needs of the children, not the adults.
• Do not let your anger or hostility for the other parent impact your actions regarding the children.

Sometimes the parents cannot agree on what is in the child’s best interests and that is when the benefit of experienced custody counsel is particularly important. Ms. Rau will help guide you through the mediation, settlement and/or litigation process of your custody matter to help you achive the best outcome possible for you and your kids.

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Child Support
Nevada uses statutory child support guidelines in order to determine which party should pay child support and what the amount of child support should be. There are a number of factors that may impact the final child support order. These factors include the custodial schedule, the gross income of each parent, and other costs associated with the children such as health insurance and other necessaries as well as any related travel expenses associated with visitation or custodial transfers.

In order to make a determination regarding the appropriate child support in your individual case, please contact the office for a consultation.

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Relocation cases
As our society has become more and more mobile, custodial relocation has become much more common. In order to leave the jurisdiction with the children, after an order of custody and visitation has issued, the relocating parent must obtain the permission of the other parent or of the Court in order to move with the children. Relocation cases are among the most difficult and taxing to handle as there is usually very little “middle ground” between the parties. Either the requested move is allowed or it is not.

There are a number of factors that the Court will examine in order to grant or deny a move request.

Even in cases where the moving parent is not seeking to take the children, the involvement of experienced counsel may be necessary to establish new visitation orders, holiday schedules and orders of support.

If you are the party requesting the move or opposing it, your choice of counsel may have an important impact on the outcome. Ms. Rau has handled many relocation cases and will bring her advanced level of experience to your case.

In order to examine the legal issues involved in your relocation matter, please contact the office to set a consultation.

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Domestic Mediation
In addition to providing professional advocacy services, Ms. Rau is also a trained domestic mediator. If you and the other party to your matter desire to try to work together to reach a middle ground in your dispute, Ms. Rau can serve as facilitator.

When serving as mediator, Ms. Rau does not represent either party, but rather serves as a independent facilitator to explore the various resolves that may be available to end your conflict. Ms. Rau can also represent you in a mediation meeting, providing you valuable information and guidance through the mediation process.

Mediation can be a cost effective and efficient way to resolve a dispute as the civil justice system is usually very expensive and time consuming. Both parties must be willing to sit down together and participate in the mediation process.

If you are interested in Ms. Rau serving as a mediator in your dispute, or representing you in an upcoming mediation, please contact the office for information or a consultation.

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Forensic Accountants
Forensic accountants can be an important part of a divorce case when one spouse suspects marital waste, hidden assets or simply does not have the necessary level of insight regarding the financial actions of the other spouse during the marriage. Sometimes hidden assets that should have been included in a divorce are discovered after a divorce is complete.

Having experienced counsel to help you choose a qualified forensic accountant and work with that individual on the accounting and asset identification issues in your case is invaluable.

In order to discuss the role a forensic accountant might play in your divorce or hidden asset case, please contact the office to set a consultation.

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Grandparents’ rights
There is law in Nevada that gives third parties (individuals other than natural parents) the standing to request contact with minor children. This law is commonly referred to as “grandparents’ rights”, although it does not apply to only grandparents. The Court looks at a number of factors in making orders when a third party visitation request is made. In order to determine your rights in this area you should schedule a consultation.

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Guardianships (Adult & Minor)
If you are experiencing a situation involving guardianship of a minor child or of a disabled or aging adult it is important that you have experienced counsel to help you though the process. Ms. Rau has represented clients in all facets of guardianship including guardians, individuals seeking appointment as guardians, individuals opposing the appointment of a guardian, wards (children and adults) and has also served as Guardian Ad Litem (an investigative or fact finding position by appointment of the Guardianship Court).

Guardianship issues are among the most emotional and difficult a personal can experience. It is important to have experienced and compassionate counsel to help with guardianship matters.

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Legal Fees
There are both statutory and case law which addresses the issues of attorney fee responsibility in Nevada as related to divorce, support, contempt and judgment collection.

Each client is responsible for the fees to be paid to their lawyer but, in certain cases, requests that the fees you pay be reimbursed — in whole or in part by the opposing party— are appropriate.

To explore the specifics of the role of a request for attorney’s fees in your particular case, please contact the office to set a consultation.

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Legal Separation
There can be any number of reasons that individuals may want to stay legally married while choosing not to live together. In order to determine if a legal separation is the option for you, please contact the office to set up a consultation

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Modifications
There can be any number of reasons that individuals may want to stay legally married while choosing not to live together. In order to determine if a legal separation is the option for you, please contact the office to set up a consultation.

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Name Changes
The process of legal name change in Nevada is relatively common. Ms. Rau handles most name changes for a flat fee. If you are interested in a legal name change, please call the office for a consultation.

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Paternity
When people have a child, and are not married, the issues involving their child are addressed in paternity actions. Paternity actions include determinations of paternity, custody and child support.

Ms. Rau has handled many paternity cases in her career and understands the often sensitive nature of the facts that may be applicable to paternity cases.

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Other
Ms. Rau is an experienced civil litigator and while her focus is on domestic relations work, she also handles other matters in the civil litigation arena. Additionally Ms. Rau does some estate planning and criminal defense.

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Pre-Nuptial/Post-Nuptial agreements
Future spouses often desire to define certain property and support rights prior to getting married. Pre-nuptial agreements can address limited financial issues between the soon to be spouses or they can address many possible financial situations that would arise in a community property jurisdiction. This sort of planning is always a good idea and when done with the aid of an experienced domestic practitioner, can end up saving thousands of dollars in the event of divorce or the death of a spouse.

Pre-nuptials are also a helpful device when one or the other future spouse has children from a previous relationship.

Although more challenging, spouses can also choose to define various property rights after they get married (post-nuptial).

In order to discuss the unique facts and objectives involved in your pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement, or to determine if such an agreement is right for you, please contact the office to set up a consultation.

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Property Division
When individuals divorce, they need to determine what the division of the marital property and debt will be. Property division addresses bank and investment accounts, real property, pensions and retirement accounts, vehicles, debts, personal property and other various property and ownership rights.

Property division can also involve the identification and valuation of hidden assets and closely held business interests.

It is important that all property items are identified, values and divided in a divorce so as to minimize the chances that the matter comes back before the Court.

If you desire to discuss the property issues involved in your divorce or legal separation, please contact the office for a consultation.

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Protective Orders
Whether you are in need of an Order for protection from domestic violence or have been wrongfully accused of committing an act of domestic violence, we can help.

Please contact the office to set up a consultation so that the specific facts of your case can be discussed.

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Temporary Orders
Often at the beginning of a case there are certain issues that need to be decided in the short term. These matters can include: Who will pay the monthly bills of the household? Where will the children be on what days? Who will be responsible for certain community obligations? Will one party pay the other for attorney’s fees? Who will live in the marital residence?

In order to determine if your case requires the request for temporary orders, please set up a consultation with the office.

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• Divorce - Contested
• Divorce - Uncontested
  
• Alimony/Spousal Support
• Business Valuations
• Custody
• Child Support
• Relocation Cases
• Domestic Mediation
• Forensic Accountants/
  Hidden Assets
• Grandparents’ rights
• Guardianships (Adult & Minor)
• Legal Fees
• Legal Separation
• Modifications
• Name Changes
• Paternity
• Other
• Prenuptial/Postnuptial agreements
• Property Division
• Protective Orders
• Temporary Orders