Fathers’ Rights News: Las Vegas Elects 3 New Family Court Judges

Clark County voters have picked three new judges for the Family Court that hears custody cases in the Las Vegas area. Unofficial Family Court election results posted November 7 show new judges headed to Departments D, R and S. Sitting judges led or ran unopposed in the other four races on the ballot. That leads our fathers’ rights news for November 2 to 8, 2026.

Also this week, West Virginia’s highest court said protective order cases can decide support and property, not just contact. And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) moved to renew two child support tools. One covers voluntary acknowledgments of paternity. The other flags insurance payouts to people who owe past-due support. For the bigger changes of the summer and early fall, see our October fathers’ rights news roundup.

Key takeaways

• Nevada: Unofficial results show new Family Court judges coming to Departments D, R and S. In Department R, Marilyn A. Caston led Judge Bill Henderson, who has held the seat since 2008, 60.67% to 39.33%.
• Nevada: Sitting judges led in Departments E, N and P, and Department Z’s judge ran unopposed. The results are not final until the canvass.
• West Virginia: On November 5, the state’s top court said family courts must consider requests for support, a vehicle and property in protective order cases. They can’t just tell the petitioner to file for divorce.
• Federal: HHS asked to renew federal approval of the voluntary paternity acknowledgment process, with no changes to its required data elements. Comments are due December 4.
• Federal: HHS also proposed renewing the insurance match that helps states collect past-due support from insurance payouts. Comments are due January 4, 2027.

Who won the Clark County Family Court races?

Clark County’s Election Department last updated its unofficial results on Saturday, November 7, at 3:19 p.m. Seven Family Division departments were on the ballot, and six of them were contested.

These seats matter to fathers. Under NRS 3.223, Nevada’s family courts have original, exclusive jurisdiction over custody, parentage and child support cases, with limited exceptions.

Family Court election results by department

• Department D: Gwynneth Smith, 55.53%; Patricia A. Marr, 44.47%
• Department E: Judge Charles “Chuck” Hoskin, 69.54%; Timothy Treffinger, 30.46%
• Department N: Judge Kerri Jean Maxey, 64.02%; Michel Gaudet, 35.98%
• Department P: Judge Mary Perry, 51.77%; Jennifer Isso, 48.23%
• Department R: Marilyn A. Caston, 60.67%; Judge Bill Henderson, 39.33%
• Department S: Kristine Brewer, 55.46%; Randall Forman, 44.54%
• Department Z: Judge Michele “Shell” Mercer, unopposed

Department P was the closest race. Judge Perry led Jennifer Isso by 18,560 votes, 270,970 to 252,410.

Departments D and S get new judges either way, because the judges who held those seats were not on the ballot. In Department R, the leader would replace a judge who has served there since 2008, according to the court’s Department R page.

When are the results final?

Not yet. The deadline to fix mail ballot signature and ID problems was 5 p.m. on November 9. The county must finish its canvass by November 13. The Nevada Supreme Court’s canvass is set for November 24, according to the county’s 2026 election calendar.

Why it matters to fathers

Family Court judges decide custody, parenting time and child support for Clark County families. If your case is in Department D, R or S, ask your attorney how a change in judges could affect your next hearing.

New to Nevada custody law? Start with our overview of fathers’ legal rights under Nevada law.

West Virginia: a protective order can cover support and property

On November 5, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ruled in a protective order case (No. 25-44). It held that a family court was wrong to refuse to consider the petitioner’s requests for financial and property relief. Justice Trump wrote the opinion for the court.

What happened

In October 2024, a Wood County family court entered a domestic violence protective order against a husband, with his consent. His wife also asked for temporary use of his vehicle, temporary spousal support, money to hire a divorce lawyer and the return of personal property.

The family court would not consider those requests. It told her to file for divorce instead, and the circuit court agreed.

What the court decided

The Supreme Court held that “the terms of a protective order may include the relief set forth in West Virginia Code § 48-27-503.” When a petitioner asks for that relief, the family court must hear the evidence, use its discretion and make findings. “The scope of relief available to a petitioner under this legislation is broad,” the court wrote. It reversed the circuit court and sent the case back to the family court for a hearing.

The list in § 48-27-503 is long. Among other things, a protective order can:

• Award temporary custody of minor children or set temporary visitation
• Require third-party supervision of visits if needed to protect the petitioner or the children
• Give the petitioner possession of the home the parties shared
• Grant temporary possession of a vehicle owned by either party
• Order temporary support for the petitioner and children

Under § 48-27-505, an order generally lasts 90 or 180 days. The court must extend it another 90 days if the petitioner asks in writing before it expires.

Why it matters to fathers

The petitioner here was a wife, but the statute covers any petitioner, including fathers. In West Virginia, a protective order hearing can decide temporary custody, the family home, use of a vehicle and temporary support. Whichever side you are on, prepare for it the way you would prepare for a custody hearing.

Federal: HHS moves to renew two child support tools

Paternity acknowledgment: no changes proposed

On November 4, HHS’s Office of Child Support Enforcement asked the Office of Management and Budget for a three-year extension (FR Doc. 2026-22462). It covers the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity and the data elements states must include in paternity affidavits. The notice says no changes to those data elements are proposed. Comments are due December 4.

A voluntary acknowledgment lets unmarried parents establish legal paternity by signing a form, including at the hospital. Under Section 466 of the Social Security Act, every state must offer a simple civil process for it. That includes a hospital-based program around the time of birth. Before signing, both parents must be told about the alternatives, the legal consequences and their rights and responsibilities. They get this notice in writing and also orally or by video or audio.

Signing has lasting effects. Federal law treats a signed acknowledgment as a legal finding of paternity. Either signer can rescind it within 60 days. The window closes sooner if the signer is a party to an earlier court or agency case about the child, such as a support case. After that, it can be challenged in court only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact, and the challenger must prove it. Child support duties continue during a challenge unless a court finds good cause.

Insurance match: fewer insurers reporting by hand

On November 5, the same office proposed renewing its insurance match for three years (FR Doc. 2026-22557). The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 authorized the match. HHS compares people who owe past-due child support with insurers’ records of claims, settlements, awards and payments. It sends the results to child support agencies daily, and they use the matches to collect past-due support from insurance proceeds.

The notice says 65 insurers now report by hand each day, down from 150. That cut the estimated paperwork burden by 43.25%. The current approval expires January 31, 2027, and comments are due January 4, 2027.

What it means for fathers: Neither notice changes any support order. But if you owe past-due support, an insurance claim, settlement or award can be flagged for collection.

What this means for divorced fathers

1. Know who may hear your case. In Clark County, Departments D, R and S are set to get new judges once the results are certified. Your case’s department is usually listed on your court papers.
2. Treat a protective order hearing like a custody hearing. In West Virginia, these orders can cover temporary custody, visitation, support and the family home. Bring organized records. Our guide to documenting custody issues shows how.
3. Read before you sign. A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity becomes a legal finding of paternity. You have 60 days at most to rescind it. If you are unsure, ask about your options, including genetic testing, before you sign.
4. Deal with arrears early. Insurance payouts can be flagged for past-due support. Learn the federal limits on child support wage garnishment.
5. Know your state’s starting point. Our shared parenting laws by state tracker shows the custody rule and statute in all 50 states and D.C.

Frequently asked questions

Who won the 2026 Clark County Family Court races?

Unofficial results updated November 7, 2026, show these leaders: Gwynneth Smith (D), Charles “Chuck” Hoskin (E), Kerri Jean Maxey (N), Mary Perry (P), Marilyn A. Caston (R) and Kristine Brewer (S). Michele “Shell” Mercer ran unopposed in Department Z. The county’s canvass deadline is November 13.

Can a protective order give temporary custody in West Virginia?

Yes. Under West Virginia Code § 48-27-503, a protective order can award temporary custody of minor children, set temporary visitation and require supervised visits. On November 5, 2026, the state’s top court ruled that family courts must consider requests for that relief when a petitioner asks. That includes support and property.

How long do you have to cancel an acknowledgment of paternity?

Under federal law, either signer can rescind a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity within 60 days. The window closes sooner if an earlier court or agency proceeding about the child, such as a support case, includes that signer. After that, the acknowledgment can be challenged in court only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact.

Can child support take an insurance settlement?

It can be flagged for collection. A federal insurance match compares people who owe past-due child support with insurers’ records of claims, settlements, awards and payments. Child support agencies receive the matches daily and use them to collect past-due support from insurance proceeds. HHS proposed renewing the program on November 5, 2026.

Sources

• Clark County Election Department, 2026 General Election unofficial results (updated Nov. 7, 2026, 3:19 p.m.) and Key Important Dates for the 2026 Elections
• Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division department pages: D, E, N, P, R, S and Z
• Nevada Revised Statutes, NRS 3.223
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, opinion in No. 25-44 (Nov. 5, 2026)
• West Virginia Code, § 48-27-503 and § 48-27-505
• Federal Register (via GovInfo), Administration for Children and Families, “Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity and Required Data Elements for Paternity Establishment Affidavits,” FR Doc. 2026-22462 (Nov. 4, 2026) and “Proposed Information Collection Activity; Information Comparison With Insurance Data,” FR Doc. 2026-22557, 91 FR 69851 (Nov. 5, 2026)
• Social Security Administration, Social Security Act § 466

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News and general information, not legal advice. For advice about your case, talk to a licensed family law attorney in your state.