Working with you to create solutions for divorce, custody, paternity, and other domestic relations matters.

We understand that divorce, custody, and other domestic relations issues are very personal and emotional matters. To our clients, their case can preoccupy their life-especially when children's lives are involved. Andrade & Magaña Law Group aims to resolve difficult family situations by mitigating the level of confrontation to the extent possible. We handle our cases with care as we work with integrity and professionalism.

We believe in providing personal attention to every client. Thus, to ensure quality representation, we limit the number of cases we accept. We strive to maintain competitive fees without compromising the caliber of representation. Our attorneys and counselors of law stay current of practices and procedures by networking with various organizations in the field of law and participating in continuing legal education classes.

At Andrade & Magaña Law Group, we value ethical representation. We advocate for our clients' rights with diligence and dedication. Family is our business. Let us take care of you.

Annulments

Annulment is the legal procedure whereby a marriage is declared void. In an annulment, the marriage is treated as never having occurred. An annulment is only available in certain circumstances as established under the law. For example, a marriage that is incestuous or bigamous is never valid. Other grounds for declaring a marriage void are fraud, duress, physical impairment, or mental incapacity. Annulments may require a hearing with a judge.

Child Custody

Custody is determined by the court based on a standard called "the best interests of the child." Various factors help to define this "best interests" standard.

Child Support

Every parent has the legal obligation to financially support his/her children. The amount of child support is established by statute. However, the court can deviate from that amount under special circumstances.

Divorces

Every divorce case that is filed in the state of Nevada must declare the grounds in which the divorce is to be granted. Incompatibility is one of the three grounds for divorce in Nevada. The other two grounds are:

  1. Insanity existing for two years prior to commencement of the action, and
  2. When the husband and wife have lived separate and apart for one year without cohabitation.

You do not need your spouse's permission/agreement to seek a divorce. Nevada is a "no fault" divorce state. This means that you do not need to make nor prove allegations of adultery, mental cruelty, etc. to obtain a divorce.

Residency Requirement

Before filing a divorce suit, our state requires six weeks of residency. You must provide a witness who lives in Nevada who can testify from his/her personal knowledge that you have lived in Nevada for at least six weeks.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce

A contested divorce is where the two parties cannot come to an agreement on the terms of the divorce (ie. division of assets, allocation of debts, alimony, or child support).

An uncontested divorce is where both parties agree to all the terms of the divorce. This kind of divorce is usually less complicated and can therefore be resolved more quickly; it is less expensive than a contested divorce because a settlement out of court will often be reached.

Property Division

Nevada is a "community property" state. Generally, this means that property acquired during the marriage belongs to the community (husband and wife). Such "community property" is divided equally to the extent practicable.

Separate property, on the other hand, is everything a husband and wife own separately. Separate property is usually property acquired before marriage, but other things such as gifts can also be considered separate property. It does not need to be divided between the spouses. The court will make a determination of what property is separate property.

Spousal Support/Alimony

Alimony is an amount of money the court will order one spouse to pay the other for support and maintenance. Historically, the husband was ordered to pay the wife alimony. However, either husband or wife can be awarded alimony depending on the factual circumstances of the marriage.

Modification of Child Support/Custody

No order for custody or support is permanent. A Child Support Order can be reviewed every three years, or sooner, if a material change in circumstance is shown. Likewise, a parent can ask the court for a modification in child custody. To modify an order which granted one parent primary custody, the noncustodial parent will have to show that there has been a substantial change in circumstances in the child's life and that the best interest of the child would be served by the modification. To modify an order granting joint custody, a parent will have to show that a change in custody is in the best interest of the child.

Name Change

A person may want to change her name for a variety of reasons. However, before a name change can become effective, there are certain legal requirements. For example, notice must be given to the public. Once a name change is complete, it is important to follow through and notify the proper government agencies.

Paternity

An action for paternity establishes the legal father of a child. Once paternity has been established, the father acquires all rights and obligations of fatherhood as established by law.

Temporary Protection Orders (TPO)

TPO's are granted to protect those who are victims of domestic violence. They prevent one person from initiating contact with the victim of domestic violence under threat of criminal penalty. Once served, TPO's are valid for thirty days and can be extended up to one year upon a showing of good cause.


Maricar Andrade

Attorney-at-Law

Practice Areas

  • Family Law and Domestic Relations

Education

  • Juris Doctor from William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, 1997
  • Minor in Asian American Studies

Bar Membership

  • State Bar of Nevada

Languages

  • Pilipino/Tagalog
  • Spanish

Biography

Maricar was born in the Philippines but has been in the United States since she was six years old. She comes from a family of five children. Her sister and three brothers live in California where they work as a psychologist, an assistant principal, a nurse, and a property manager. Her mother is a middle school math teacher.

While in law school, Maricar was a member of the Organization of Women Law Students (OWLS) and Vice President of the Minority Law Students Association (MLSA). She also worked as a student attorney in the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic on Child Welfare/Special Education cases. She did her externships with the domestic violence unit at Clark County Legal Services and with the Honorable Judge Jennifer Elliott in Family Court.

As a board member of the Las Vegas Chapter for National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), Maricar is dedicated to community service. She also loves spending time with her family. With one very bright son and two beautiful daughters, she is happily kept busy.

Giovanni Andrade

Attorney-at-Law

Practice Areas

  • Family Law and Domestic Relations

Education

  • Juris Doctor from William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Humboldt State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, 1999
  • Trained Mediator with the Institute for the Study of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Bar Membership

  • State Bar of Nevada

Biography

Giovanni was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. When not working, Giovanni is raising three children: an nine-year-old, four-year-old, and two-year-old. He is assistant coach for his step-son's All Stars basketball team, helping to develop skills training.

As a Latino, Giovanni was involved with the Minority Law Students Association (MLSA) at UNLV. He served as the Community Liason for the organization. He worked as a student attorney in the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic on Immigration cases and assisted in the Immigrant Workers Citizenship Project. Giovanni also travelled to Nicaragua to study Domestic Violence and the Judicial System. He did his externship with the City of Las Vegas Attorney's Office where he helped with criminal prosecutions and provided legal opinions to the City Attorney regarding civil litigation matters.

Giovanni was a sponsor of the Sports and Entertainment Law Association at his former law school. He is an avid hockey fan and enjoys travelling. He hopes to one day visit relatives who live at his father's birthplace of Ecuador.

Meetings are available by appointment only. We charge a small fee of $95.00 for a 45-minute initial consultation. If you decide to retain us, that amount will be credited back to your overall bill, essentially making the consultation FREE. We believe that your time is just as valuable as our time. When you choose to meet with our attorneys to talk about your case, you can feel confident that you are paying for quality legal advice.


Please call us at (702) 468-9591 to schedule a consultation.

We are located across from Green Valley High School and Nevada State Bank:
1489 W. Warm Springs Road, Suite 110
Henderson, NV 89014


Look for us on the south side of the street between Stephanie St. and Arroyo Grande Blvd.


LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The information on these pages is not an offer of legal representation nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship. None of these pages are to be construed as legal advice. You should consult an attorney if you have any questions regarding your specific situation. Contacting us does not establish an attorney-client relationship, so you should not disclose any confidential information to us until we enter into such an agreement. We reserve the right to decline your case and not reply to anyone who contacts us. If you wish to retain the Andrade & Magaña Law Group for legal services, you must first sign a retainer or client-fee agreement.

Criminal Defense Attorney - Jess Matsuda, Esq.    (702) 383-0506

If you have been arrested, charged, or if criminal charges are pending against you, it is imperative that you contact an attorney immediately. You have numerous rights, and only a skilled practitioner can guide you through the unsettling, confusing and sometimes horrifying criminal process.

   http://www.jesslaw.com

Clark County Family Law Self-Help Center

Search open cases, find over 100 court-approved self help forms, and much more.

http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/shc/

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

Provides free legal aid to those who qualify.

http://www.lacsn.org/

State Bar of Nevada

Offers lawyer referral service, attorney search, and legal articles.

http://www.nvbar.org/

William S. Boyd School of Law

Free legal education classes.

http://www.law.unlv.edu/communityService.html
Note: These websites and links are not intended to be, nor should they be construed as, legal advice. We are not responsible for their contents. We simply provide them for informational purposes.