1. One or more adults may petition the district court of any county in this state for leave to adopt a child. Each prospective adopting adult and each consenting legal parent seeking to retain his or her parental rights must be a joint petitioner.
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, a married person not lawfully separated from his or her spouse may not adopt a child without the consent of his or her spouse, if such spouse is capable of giving such consent.
3. If a spouse consents to an adoption as described in subsection 2, such consent does not establish any parental rights or responsibilities on the part of the spouse unless he or she:
(a) Has, in a writing filed with the court, specifically consented to:
(1) Adopting the child; and
(2) Establishing parental rights and responsibilities; and
(b) Is named as an adoptive parent in the order or decree of adoption.
4. The court shall not name a spouse who consents to an adoption as described in subsection 2 as an adoptive parent in an order or decree of adoption unless:
(a) The spouse has filed a writing with the court as described in paragraph (a) of subsection 3; and
(b) The home of the spouse is suitable for the child as determined by an investigation conducted pursuant to NRS 127.120 or 127.2805.
5. The court may dispense with the requirement for the consent of a spouse who cannot be located after a diligent search or who is determined by the court to lack the capacity to consent. A spouse for whom the requirement was dispensed pursuant to this subsection must not be named as an adoptive parent in an order or decree of adoption.
6. If a person who petitions for the adoption of a child pursuant to this section is related to the child within the third degree of consanguinity, the court may, in its discretion, waive the hearing on the petition.
7. The court may determine that a child has a legal relationship with more than two persons who petition for the adoption of the child pursuant to this section.
[3:332:1953]—(NRS A 2015, 420; 2021, 3404)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 127 - Adoption of Children and Adults
NRS 127.007 - State Register for Adoptions: Establishment; contents; release of information.
NRS 127.008 - State Register of Children with Special Needs.
NRS 127.010 - Jurisdiction of district courts.
NRS 127.013 - Transfer of proceedings to Indian tribe.
NRS 127.018 - Court order required if home state of child is Nevada; exception.
NRS 127.020 - Adoption of minor children; ages and consent.
NRS 127.043 - Consent to adoption required before placement in adoptive home; exception.
NRS 127.052 - Agency to determine whether child is Indian child; notification of child’s tribe.
NRS 127.053 - Consent to adoption: Requisites.
NRS 127.060 - Adoption of two or more children.
NRS 127.070 - Validity of releases for and consents to adoption.
NRS 127.090 - When consent unnecessary.
NRS 127.100 - Entitlement of petitions, reports and orders.
NRS 127.123 - Notice of filing of petition to be provided to custodians or guardians of child.
NRS 127.127 - Affidavit setting forth fees, donations and expenses required to be filed; waiver.
NRS 127.130 - Confidentiality of reports; petitioner may rebut adverse report.
NRS 127.140 - Confidentiality of hearings, files and records.
NRS 127.145 - Attendance of prospective adoptive parents at hearing by telephone.
NRS 127.155 - Validation of certain orders and decrees.
NRS 127.157 - Report of adoption, amendment or annulment of adoption to State Registrar.
NRS 127.160 - Rights and duties of adopted child and adoptive parents.
NRS 127.171 - Right to visitation of child by sibling and other relatives; limitations.
NRS 127.180 - Appeals from orders, judgments or decrees.
NRS 127.1875 - Notice of agreement to court.
NRS 127.1885 - Petitions to court by natural parents and adoptive parents: Requirements.
NRS 127.189 - Failure to comply; action to enforce terms.
NRS 127.1895 - Modification or termination: Conditions; presumptions and considerations; scope.
NRS 127.190 - Adoption of adults: Ages; agreement of adoption.
NRS 127.200 - Adoption of adults: Consent required.
NRS 127.240 - License: Requirement; exceptions.
NRS 127.250 - License: Application; issuance; renewal.
NRS 127.270 - License: Refusal to issue or renew; notice and hearing; appeals.
NRS 127.275 - Fees for services provided by agency which provides child welfare services.
NRS 127.2805 - Investigation of prospective adoptive parents.
NRS 127.281 - Search for criminal record of prospective adoptive parent.
NRS 127.283 - Publication or broadcast of information concerning child.
NRS 127.288 - Penalty for unlawful payment to or acceptance by natural parent of compensation.
NRS 127.290 - Acceptance of fees or compensation for placing or arranging placement of child.
NRS 127.310 - Unlawful placement or advertising; penalty.
NRS 127.330 - Text of compact.
NRS 127.350 - Supplementary agreements.