Hello. My name is Michael Gowdey.
I have been a lawyer for over 30 years right here in Nevada. My team and I have won multiple awards, but the real reward is helping families navigate the legal system when their future is on the line. We represent good people in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas who are facing complex legal battles—whether it is criminal defense or high-stakes family law.
If you are a parent going through a custody battle, you know the fear. You worry about your child’s safety. You worry about the court making the wrong decision. On July 1, 2025, everything changed.
A new law called Senate Bill 275 (SB 275) went into effect. It completely rewrites the playbook for how Nevada courts handle allegations of abuse, domestic violence, and a controversial practice called “reunification therapy.”
I wrote this guide to help you. I want to cut through the legal jargon and talk to you like a neighbor. I want you to understand exactly what this new law says and how our firm can help you protect your children under these strict new rules.
Key Takeaways
- Ban on Forced “Reunification”: Courts can no longer order “reunification treatments” that cut a child off from their safe parent or use threats to force a bond with an estranged parent.
- Safety First: The law prioritizes the child’s safety over the right of a parent to have “frequent associations” if abuse is alleged.
- New Expert Rules: Not just anyone can be an expert witness now. Experts in abuse cases must have clinical experience, not just “forensic” (court) experience.
- Addressing the Parent’s Behavior: If a child resists seeing a parent, the court must focus on fixing that parent’s behavior first, rather than forcing the child to “get over it.”
- We Can Help: Whether you are the one protecting a child or the one fighting false allegations, we know how to navigate this new landscape.
Why Did Nevada Pass SB 275?
For years, there was a problem in family courts across America, including here in Clark County. Sometimes, when a child refused to see a parent because of fear or abuse allegations, the court would blame the other parent. They would call it “Parental Alienation.”
Judges would sometimes order the child to attend “Reunification Camps” or therapy programs. These programs often forced the child to stay with the accused parent and cut off all contact with the “safe” parent.
SB 275 ends this practice. Based on similar laws like “Piqui’s Law” in California, Nevada lawmakers decided that forcing a traumatized child to bond with an alleged abuser is dangerous. The new law says: We must believe safety is more important than “reunification at all costs.”
How Does SB 275 Change “Reunification Therapy” in Nevada?
This is the biggest change in the law. Before July 1, 2025, a judge could order a family to attend expensive therapy to “fix” the relationship between a child and a rejected parent.
Now, under SB 275, the court is prohibited from ordering “reunification treatment” if:
- It requires cutting off contact between the child and their primary/safe parent (often called “no contact” orders).
- It requires the child to be removed from their home and sent to a camp or hotel program.
- It uses threats of force or coercion to make the child participate.
What does this mean for you? If the other parent is asking the judge to send your child to a “reunification camp” because your child refuses to see them, we can now object citing SB 275. The law assumes these treatments are harmful unless proven otherwise by scientific evidence—which is very hard to do.
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What Are the New Rules for Expert Witnesses in Custody Cases?
In the past, “custody evaluators” would come into court and give their opinions. Sometimes, these experts spent all their time in courtrooms and no time actually treating patients.
SB 275 changes who can testify. If there are allegations of domestic violence or child abuse, the court can only admit expert evidence from a professional who has:
- Demonstrated Expertise: They must know the specific dynamics of abuse.
- Substantial Clinical Experience: This is the key. Their experience cannot be “primarily of a forensic nature.”
Why this matters: This stops “hired guns”—experts who make a living solely by testifying for abusers—from dominating the courtroom. If the other side hires an expert who hasn’t treated a real patient in 10 years, our lawyers can move to strike their testimony. We demand experts who actually understand trauma.
How Will Abuse Allegations Be Handled Differently After July 1, 2025?
This is critical if you are involved in a Domestic Violence case. Our firm handles both Criminal Defense and Family Law. We see how a domestic battery arrest (criminal) impacts your custody case (civil).
Under SB 275, if a parent is alleged to have committed domestic violence or child abuse, the court must consider all relevant evidence of past abuse. But here is the new rule: The Court cannot order the child to “get over” their fear.
Specifically, the court cannot issue an order to “remediate the resistance” of a child to see a parent unless:
- The order primarily addresses the behavior of the abusive parent.
- The abusive parent must take action to change before the child is forced to change.
Example: In the past, a judge might say, “The child is resisting visitation. Mom, you need to drive the child to therapy to fix this.” Now, the judge must say, “Dad, the child is resisting you because of your behavior. You must complete batterer’s intervention and anger management before we ask the child to do anything.”
What If I Am Being Falsely Accused of “Alienation”?
I represent many clients who are falsely accused. SB 275 makes it harder to use “Parental Alienation” as a weapon.
In the past, an abusive parent would say, “The kid only hates me because Mom brainwashed him!” (This is the alienation argument). Now, the court is required to look at the accused parent’s behavior first.
However, if you are a parent who truly is being alienated, this law makes your fight harder. You need a lawyer who can prove that the child’s resistance is not based on safety concerns, but on manipulation. Because we have 30+ years of experience, we know how to differentiate between a child who is “alienated” and a child who is legitimately protecting themselves.
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Does This Law Affect My Existing Custody Order?
SB 275 applies to proceedings happening on or after July 1, 2025. If you have an old custody order, it doesn’t automatically change overnight.
However: If you go back to court to modify custody, or if the other parent files a motion to enforce visitation, the new rules apply.
- If you have a strict “reunification” order from 2023 that violates this new law, we might be able to file a motion to modify it based on the new safety standards.
- If the other side tries to force a “camp” experience now, we can stop it.
Why Should I Hire a Local Las Vegas Attorney for SB 275 Cases?
You might think any lawyer can read a bill. But SB 275 requires a deep understanding of both the law and the psychology of abuse. Aline and I have been in business for over 30 years. We have seen the trends come and go.
Why Choose Us?
- Dual Experience: Because we defend the accused and represent families, we know exactly how a Domestic Violence charge affects these new SB 275 hearings.
- We Know the Experts: The law requires new standards for experts. We know which local psychologists qualify under the new rules and which ones don’t.
- We Fight for Safety: Whether you are protecting your child or fighting to clear your name, we know how to use this law to your advantage.
Internal Link: Contact us for a consultation today
Key Takeaways
- No More Camps: The era of forcing screaming children into transport vans for “reunification camps” is over in Nevada.
- Clinical vs. Forensic: Expert witnesses must be real doctors who treat real patients, not just professional witnesses.
- Fix the Parent First: The focus shifts from “fixing the child” to “fixing the parent” who caused the fear.
- Safety Over Contact: The court must prioritize the child’s physical and emotional safety over the other parent’s visitation rights.
- Experience Matters: This is a brand new law. You need a lawyer who understands it from day one.
10 Common Questions Asked to Lawyers in Las Vegas About SB 275
- Does SB 275 ban all therapy for families? No. It only bans “reunification treatments” that are predicated on cutting off the child from their safe parent or using coercion. Traditional family therapy where everyone is safe and willing is still allowed.
- Can I use this law to stop my ex from seeing our kids? Only if there are legitimate safety concerns or abuse allegations. SB 275 is a shield to protect children, not a sword to punish your ex. You still need evidence.
- What if my ex accuses me of “Parental Alienation”? SB 275 weakens that argument. The court now has to look at whether the child’s resistance is a natural reaction to abuse, rather than assuming it is “alienation.”
- I have a Domestic Violence conviction from 5 years ago. Will this affect me? Yes. SB 275 requires the court to consider all relevant evidence of past domestic violence. It doesn’t expire just because time passed.
- Can I ask for a new judge if mine ignores this law? If a judge makes an order that violates SB 275 (like ordering a prohibited camp), we can appeal that decision to the Nevada Supreme Court or Nevada Court of Appeals.
- Does this apply to unmarried parents? Yes. SB 275 applies to all child custody proceedings, whether you were married or not.
- What is “Forensic” experience? Forensic experience means work done specifically for legal cases (like writing custody evaluations). Clinical experience means actually treating patients for mental health issues. SB 275 prefers Clinical experience.
- Can a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) override this law? No. Even GALs and court-appointed attorneys must follow the statutes. In fact, SB 275 requires them to have specific training on domestic violence now.
- Will this make my divorce take longer? It might. Because the court has to make specific findings about safety and expert qualifications, hearings might be more detailed. But this is to ensure the right result.
- How much does it cost to fight a custody battle under SB 275? Custody battles are expensive, especially with experts involved. However, preventing your child from being traumatized by a dangerous reunification program is priceless. We offer clear pricing and fight for efficiency.
We Are Here to Protect Your Children
The laws have changed to keep children safe. Make sure you have a legal team that knows how to use them.
Contact The Law Offices of Michael I. Gowdey, Ltd. today. We have the experience you need and the reputation you can trust.
Visit us at https://gowdeylaw.com/
Sources:
- Nevada Senate Bill 275 (2025 Legislative Session) – Text of Enrolled Bill (Chapter 414).
- Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 125C – Custody and Visitation.
- “Piqui’s Law” (California SB 331) – Context for Reunification Bans.
- National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges – Judicial Training Standards.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.