Episode Summary: In this episode of *Building Families, Bridging Differences: A Family Law Journey* Shelly Booth-Cooley sheds light on how community property functions in Nevada divorce cases. Highlighting the nuances of community property laws, Shelly provides valuable insights into asset division, separate property, debts, retirement accounts, and business valuation during divorce proceedings.

Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:30 – Definition of Community Property in Nevada 03:15 – Determining Marital Assets and Debts 05:45 – Understanding Separate Property 07:20 – Impact of Commingling Separate and Marital Funds 09:10 – Division of Retirement Accounts in Divorce 11:30 – Factors Considered in Home Equity Division 13:45 – Handling Debts as Community Obligations 15:30 – Valuing Businesses in Divorce Settlements 18:00 – Organizing Financials for Divorce Preparation

About the Show: *Building Families, Bridging Differences: A Family Law Journey* delves into the complexities of family law, offering expert guidance on various legal aspects concerning families. Led by attorney Shelly Booth-Cooley, this series aims to educate and empower individuals navigating family law matters.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, certified family law specialist Shelly Booth-Cooley discusses the importance of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements in today's marriages. She explains the key differences between the two types of agreements, the issues they address, and why couples should consider them. Shelly emphasizes the need for open communication and planning to ensure a healthy and transparent financial future for both parties.

Key Timestamps:

- 00:00 – Introduction

- 01:30 – Definition and purpose of prenuptial agreements

- 03:45 – Addressable issues in a prenuptial agreement under Nevada law

- 05:20 – Ideal timing for discussing and signing a prenup

- 07:10 – Importance of full disclosure in prenuptial agreements

- 09:05 – Understanding postnuptial agreements and their purposes

- 11:15 – Common mistakes in drafting agreements without legal expertise

- 13:20 – Healthy ways to start the prenup conversation with a partner

About the Show:

*Building Family's Bridging Differences* is a podcast series hosted by Shelly Booth-Cooley, a renowned family law attorney based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show focuses on providing insights and guidance on navigating family law matters such as divorce, custody, and adoption, offering valuable resources for families in need.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of *Building Families Bridging Differences*, family law expert Shelly Booth-Cooley delves into the complexities of child relocation laws in Nevada. From legal requirements to factors considered by the court, listeners gain valuable insights into the challenges and considerations involved in relocation decisions, offering clarity for families facing this critical issue.

Key Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:15 – Legal requirements for parental relocation

02:30 – Factors considered by the court in relocation cases

04:10 – Balancing parental rights and maintaining relationships

05:45 – Consequences of relocating without proper approval

07:20 – Approaching the relocation conversation with the other parent

08:40 – Court-approved alternatives post-relocation

10:00 – Advice for parents facing a relocation request

11:30 – Steps to take before deciding on a relocation

About the Show:

*Building Families Bridging Differences* is a podcast series hosted by Shelly Booth-Cooley, a certified family law specialist known for her compassionate and straightforward approach to family law matters. Each episode explores a range of family law topics, offering guidance and expertise to listeners navigating legal challenges.

In this episode, Attorney Shelly Cooley, Certified Family Law Specialist and founder of Cooley Law Firm, explains how LGBTQ+ families in Nevada can legally build and protect their families. She covers adoption, surrogacy, donor agreements, and how intent-based parentage ensures that every parent is fully recognized under the law. Shelly also shares tips for avoiding common legal pitfalls and securing parental rights with clarity and confidence.

00:00 – Legal pathways for LGBTQ+ families in Nevada 01:00 – How Nevada laws protect all families 02:30 – Why formal legal documentation matters 04:30 – Establishing parentage and protecting rights 06:30 – Post-birth contact and agreements 08:30 – How Nevada supports LGBTQ+ families uniquely 10:00 – Differences in process and legal recognition 12:00 – How to navigate family formation without being overwhelmed 14:00 – Steps for securing parental rights and family stability

Building Families, Bridging Differences: A Family Law Journey explores the legal and emotional aspects of modern family law. Each episode features Attorney Shelly Cooley sharing actionable guidance, compassionate insights, and practical steps for building and protecting families through adoption, custody, and assisted reproduction.

In this episode, Attorney Shelly Cooley, Certified Family Law Specialist and founder of Cooley Law Firm, explains how custody and support orders can be modified in Nevada. She breaks down what qualifies as a “change in circumstances,” how income changes affect child or spousal support, and the steps parents should take to request or enforce modifications. Shelly also shares key advice for keeping agreements enforceable and approaching the process with clarity and cooperation.

00:00 – How custody and support orders can change over time 01:00 – When and why courts allow modifications 02:30 – Income changes and three-year reviews 04:00 – What counts as a material change in circumstances 05:00 – How courts decide what’s best for the child 07:00 – The importance of communication and stability 08:30 – How parents can modify orders through stipulations 10:00 – Why vague or informal changes lead to conflict 11:00 – What’s required for modifying support or alimony 12:00 – How to handle parents who ignore modified orders 13:00 – Steps to take before filing for modification

Building Families, Bridging Differences: A Family Law Journey helps listeners understand the legal and emotional sides of family law. Each episode features Attorney Shelly Cooley sharing practical insights and compassionate advice to help families navigate divorce, custody, and support issues with confidence.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Shelly Cooley breaks down what happens when Child Protective Services (CPS) gets involved in a case. She explains why CPS steps in, what parents should do if they’re contacted, and the difference between family court and dependency court. Shelly also shares one key piece of advice for parents to protect their rights and their children.

Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to CPS and its role 01:00 – What triggers CPS involvement 02:00 – What to do if you’re contacted by CPS 03:10 – How CPS handles reports and investigations 04:15 – Family court vs. dependency court explained 05:30 – Shelly’s key advice for parents facing CPS issues

About the Show: Building Families, Bridging Differences explores the real-world challenges of family law with attorney Shelly Cooley, founder of The Cooley Law Firm in Las Vegas. Each episode offers straightforward legal insights to help families navigate sensitive issues like custody, divorce, adoption, and child welfare.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Shelly Cooley explains the legal importance of donor agreements in assisted reproduction cases. She discusses how these agreements protect all parties involved—the donors, intended parents, and most importantly, the future child. Shelly also shares practical insight into how Nevada law treats known and anonymous donors, what happens when someone changes their mind, and why working with an assisted reproduction law expert is essential.

Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 02:30 What donor agreements are and why they’re vital in family building 02:31 – 05:00 Legal risks of skipping donor agreements or using unenforceable templates 05:01 – 07:30 Known vs. anonymous donors and how Nevada law treats them 07:31 – 10:00 Handling family or friend donors and setting clear compensation terms 10:01 – 12:30 Managing future contact and conversations with donor-conceived children 12:31 – 14:50 Final advice on working with an assisted reproduction law expert

Show Description: Building Families, Bridging Differences explores the legal and emotional sides of family law with attorney Shelly Cooley, founder of The Cooley Law Firm in Las Vegas. Each episode helps families understand their rights and options through real insights and practical guidance.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Building Families, Bridging Differences, certified family law specialist Shelly Booth Cooley talks about second parent and step parent adoptions in Nevada. Shelly explains the vital importance of legally formalizing parent-child relationships, the families who benefit most, and the groundbreaking rewrite of Nevada’s adoption statutes she helped author. From confirming parental rights in LGBTQ families to protecting step parents raising children, Shelly breaks down the adoption process, its impact on custody, inheritance, and medical decisions, and why adoption is critical to safeguarding children and families.

Key Timestamps: 00:01 – Show introduction 01:05 – What are second parent and step parent adoptions? 04:00 – Nevada’s adoption statute rewrite: modernizing and simplifying the law 09:10 – Why legally formalizing the parent-child relationship is so important 14:05 – Families who benefit most: step parents, same-sex couples, and blended families 18:20 – The confirmatory adoption process explained 22:15 – Rights and responsibilities adoptive parents gain after finalization 25:40 – Custody, inheritance, and medical decision-making for adoptive parents 28:30 – Attorney advice for non-legal parents raising children 31:00 – Closing thoughts and where to get legal help in Nevada

About the Show: Building Families, Bridging Differences is a podcast hosted by certified family law specialist Shelly Booth Cooley. Each episode explores critical issues in family law with clarity and compassion — from custody and divorce to adoption and assisted reproduction. Shelly brings decades of experience and a passion for advocacy to help families protect what matters most.