Correction — August 2026. An earlier version of this article said SB 432 would expand judges’ power to seal courtrooms and records, and that advocates could face felony charges for discussing closed cases. Both statements were inaccurate. SB 432 repealed the statute that required closure and made family law proceedings presumptively open. The felony it created covers posting another person’s protected personal identifying information — not discussing a case. This article has been rewritten against the enrolled bill text.
If you are a father with a custody case in Clark County, Nevada SB 432 changed the room you walk into. As of October 1, 2025, your hearing is presumptively open — and that cuts in your favor more often than not.
Here is what changed, and what it means for you.
The old rule shut the door. The new one does not.
Nevada used to have a statute, NRS 125.080, that required courts to close certain family law proceedings. Another, NRS 125.110, governed sealing divorce records. SB 432 repealed both.
What replaced them: family law proceedings are open unless a judge makes a specific written finding that closing the hearing is necessary to serve a compelling interest — a child’s safety, for example. The judge has to consider whether something less than full closure would work, and keep any closure narrow.
For fathers who have felt that decisions about their kids get made behind a door they cannot see through, that is the direction you wanted this to move.
Why open hearings matter for fathers
You can bring support. A friend, a family member, or a mentor can sit in the gallery. For a father walking into a hearing alone against represented counsel, that matters.
Decisions happen on the record, in the open. Accountability runs both ways, but visibility generally helps the party with less power in the room.
Patterns become visible. When proceedings are closed by default, systemic problems stay invisible. Open hearings make them documentable.
What stays private — and that is a good thing
Open does not mean everything about your family is public. SB 432 keeps these confidential without you having to ask:
- Financial disclosure forms
- Documents already filed under seal
- Confidential exhibits
- Child custody evaluations
- Medical, psychiatric, and psychological evaluations
Your income, your evaluation, and your medical history are not on display. If you want something else sealed, you have to ask, and show a compelling interest that outweighs public access.
The felony provision — read this carefully
SB 432 created a new crime. Willfully and intentionally posting another person’s personal identifying information in public, without consent, when the law requires it be kept private, is a category D felony. Under NRS 193.130 that means one to four years and up to $5,000.
This is a doxxing law. It does not make it a crime to talk about your case. You can tell your story. You can criticize how you were treated. You can advocate.
What you cannot do is publish the other parent’s protected personal information. And the line is not always obvious when you are angry and posting at 11 p.m. If you are thinking about going public with case documents or details, talk to an attorney first — before you post, not after.
What to do with this
Prepare like the room is open, because it is. Dress for it. Bring your documents organized. Assume people are listening.
Bring someone. You are allowed to now, by default.
If you need it closed, ask early and give the judge a reason. It will not happen on its own.
Keep your posting clean. Your frustration is legitimate. A felony charge would not help your custody case.
Frequently asked questions
Can my ex keep my custody hearing closed to the public?
Not automatically. Since SB 432 took effect, a party has to request closure and the judge must make a written finding that closure serves a compelling interest and is narrowly tailored.
Can I bring a friend or family member to my hearing?
Family law proceedings are presumptively open, so generally yes. Individual courtroom rules and any closure order still apply, so check with the court before your date.
Can I be prosecuted for posting about my custody case?
Discussing your own case is not what the law criminalizes. The felony covers willfully posting another person’s protected personal identifying information without consent. Ask an attorney before publishing case documents.
Did SB 432 change how custody is decided in Nevada?
No. It does not touch custody presumptions, child support calculations, or interim order deadlines. Those come from other statutes, mainly NRS Chapter 125C.
Read the full breakdown of the law at Equal Rights for Divorced Fathers, or see what open hearings mean for your court date.
You don’t have to fight for your kids alone.
The Fathers Rights Help Line of Las Vegas offers peer support, advocacy, and resource referrals for fathers navigating Nevada family court. Call (702) 609-3688.
Fathers Rights Help Line of Las Vegas provides peer support, advocacy, and resource referrals. We are not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or therapy, and nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Consult a licensed Nevada attorney about your specific case.
Source
Nevada Legislature — Senate Bill 432, 83rd Session (2025), enrolled text. Signed June 10, 2025; effective October 1, 2025.