Nevada § 200.359 - Detention, concealment or removal of child from person having lawful custody or from jurisdiction of court and relocation of child by parent without written consent of other parent or court permission: Penalties; limitation on issuance of arrest warrant; restitution; exceptions

Full text of Nevada Nevada Revised Statutes § 200.359 — Detention, concealment or removal of child from person having lawful custody or from jurisdiction of court and relocation of child by parent without written consent of other parent or court permission: Penalties; limitation on issuance of arrest warrant; restitution; exceptions, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 200.359. Detention, concealment or removal of child from person having lawful custody or from jurisdiction of court and relocation of child by parent without written consent of other parent or court permission: Penalties; limitation on issuance of arrest warrant; restitution; exceptions

1. A person having a limited right of custody to a child by operation of law or pursuant

to an order, judgment or decree of any court, including a judgment or decree which

grants another person rights to custody or visitation of the child, or any parent

having no right of custody to the child, who: (a) In violation of an order, judgment or decree of any court willfully detains, conceals

or removes the child from a parent, guardian or other person having lawful custody

or a right of visitation of the child; or (b) In the case of an order, judgment or decree of any court that does not specify

when the right to physical custody or visitation is to be exercised, removes the child

from the jurisdiction of the court without the consent of either the court or all

persons who have the right to custody or visitation, is guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130 . 2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a parent who has joint legal and

physical custody of a child pursuant to NRS 125C.0015 shall not willfully conceal or remove the child from the custody of the other parent

with the specific intent to frustrate the efforts of the other parent to establish

or maintain a meaningful relationship with the child. A person who violates this subsection shall be punished as provided in subsection

1 unless the person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court that he or she violated

this subsection to protect the child or himself or herself from an act that constitutes

domestic violence pursuant to NRS 33.018 . 3. If the mother of a child has primary physical custody pursuant to subsection 2

of NRS 125C.003 , the father of the child shall not willfully conceal or remove the child from the

physical custody of the mother. If the father of a child has primary physical custody pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 125C.003 , the mother of the child shall not willfully conceal or remove the child from the

physical custody of the father. A person who violates this subsection shall be punished as provided in subsection

1. 4. A parent who has joint physical custody of a child pursuant to an order, judgment

or decree of a court shall not relocate with the child pursuant to NRS 125C.0065 without the written consent of the non-relocating parent or before the court enters

an order granting the parent primary physical custody of the child and permission

to relocate with the child, as applicable. A person who violates this subsection shall be punished as provided in subsection

1. 5. A parent who has primary physical custody of a child pursuant to an order, judgment

or decree of a court shall not relocate with the child pursuant to NRS 125C.006 without the written consent of the non-relocating parent or the permission of the

court. A person who violates this subsection shall be punished as provided in subsection

1. 6. Before an arrest warrant may be issued for a violation of this section, the court

must find that: (a) This is the home state of the child, as defined in NRS 125A.085 ; and (b) There is cause to believe that the entry of a court order in a civil proceeding

brought pursuant to chapter 125, 125A or 125C of NRS will not be effective to enforce

the rights of the parties and would not be in the best interests of the child. 7. Upon conviction for a violation of this section, the court shall order the defendant

to pay restitution for any expenses incurred in locating or recovering the child. 8. The prosecuting attorney may recommend to the judge that the defendant be sentenced

as for a misdemeanor and the judge may impose such a sentence if the judge finds that: (a) The defendant has no prior conviction for this offense and the child has suffered

no substantial harm as a result of the offense; or (b) The interests of justice require that the defendant be punished as for a misdemeanor. 9. A person who aids or abets any other person to violate this section shall be punished

as provided in subsection 1. 10. In addition to the exemption set forth in subsection 11, subsections 4 and 5 do

not apply to a person who demonstrates a compelling excuse, to the satisfaction of

the court, for relocating with a child in violation of NRS 125C.006 or 125C.0065 . 11. This section does not apply to a person who detains, conceals, removes or relocates

with a child to protect the child from the imminent danger of abuse or neglect or

to protect himself or herself from imminent physical harm, and reported the detention,

concealment, removal or relocation to a law enforcement agency or an agency which

provides child welfare services within 24 hours after detaining, concealing, removing

or relocating with the child, or as soon as the circumstances allowed. As used in this subsection: (a) “ Abuse or neglect ” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (a) of subsection 4 of NRS 200.508 . (b) “ Agency which provides child welfare services ” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 432B.030 .

Source: official Nevada text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada § 200.359

What does Nevada Revised Statutes § 200.359 cover?

Section 200.359 ("Detention, concealment or removal of child from person having lawful custody or from jurisdiction of court and relocation of child by parent without written consent of other parent or court permission: Penalties; limitation on issuance of arrest warrant; restitution; exceptions") is part of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Nevada. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Nevada § 200.359?

A common citation format is "Nevada Revised Statutes § 200.359" (Nevada). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Nevada law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Nevada official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Nevada attorney.

How does Nevada § 200.359 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Nevada can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Nevada.