Reference
Family court and therapy come with a lot of unfamiliar terms. Here are clear definitions of the words you’ll encounter — no jargon, no judgment.
The guiding legal standard Nevada courts use when making custody and visitation decisions, focused on the child’s safety, stability, and wellbeing.
A narrowly-scoped, neutral evaluation that answers a specific question for the court — faster and more focused than a full custody evaluation.
A directive issued by a judge. Supervised visitation and exchanges are often arranged to comply with a custody or visitation order.
A comprehensive assessment of a family used to inform custody decisions. A BFA is a shorter, more targeted alternative.
The Clark County agency responsible for child welfare. We frequently coordinate with DFS on referrals and consents.
A person appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interests during proceedings.
A custody situation marked by ongoing, intense disagreement between parents — often where reunification or supervised services help.
The initial paperwork, consents, and orientation completed before services begin.
Legal custody is the right to make major decisions for a child; physical custody is where the child lives. Both can be sole or joint.
A trained, neutral staff member present during a supervised visit to ensure safety and document the session.
An evidence-based therapy in which a clinician coaches a caregiver live to strengthen the relationship and improve behavior.
The schedule of time a child spends with each parent, sometimes facilitated through supervised visitation or safe exchange.
A structured, therapeutic process to rebuild a disrupted or estranged parent–child relationship at a pace that protects the child.
Short-term care that gives foster and kinship caregivers a trusted break from the demands of caregiving.
A conflict-free transfer of a child between parents for parenting time, using staggered arrivals and departures.
Parent–child visits conducted with a trained monitor present to ensure safety and provide objective documentation.
Supervised visitation in which a licensed therapist actively guides and coaches the visit to rebuild healthy interaction.
Ask us — we’re glad to explain anything about the process in plain language.
