Family Courts and Services Center

Ugh… sad place to go.

They don’t have anything in order. Information desk screwed me and my paperwork up so I had to return and refile. Then they decline a request that should have never been declined. I drive all the way across town multiple times when it should have been one visit and done. Thank god I won’t ever have to do this again!

I recently had my first encounter with the Clark County Court System when I went to the Family Courts and Services Center to file a civil case. I’m trying to think of an appropriate word to describe this place… since these reviews are read by the public I won’t use profanity, but a word starting with «cluster…» is the most appropriate word to describe this facility.
Parking: You can call on Lady Luck to be a winner on the Strip or on Fremont Street, but she will forget you even exist when it comes to trying to find parking here. Be prepared to walk, or illegally park across the street.
Security: As a former Federal contractor I’ve went through my share of security checkpoints. Take off your shoes, belt, and empty your pockets. I know the drill and was prepared. Yet they seemed to not take their duties seriously. I won’t spell out the specifics of what was overlooked, but their security did not inspire confidence. And after you get through the checkpoint they leave you no place to put on your shoes or and limited space to place your trays to get reorganized. Also while I was inside the facility there was an incident where someone got belligerent and security was called. I don’t want to be too specific with what I observed but let’s just say my lack of confidence in their skillsets didn’t improve.
Signage: It seriously sucks and I sincerely hope someone files an ADA lawsuit over it. Trying to find where you need to go is difficult due to a mix and match of signage that left several people wandering around like a bunch of open range cattle. When you get called to go to a window, good luck trying to find #18 and #19. If it wasn’t for one helpful security officer I would have been lost for hours. And if you speak any other language besides English and Spanish, you’re out of luck.
Waiting Areas: Dirty, dingy… yes this place sees a lot of people. Yes the court budget is tight. But they don’t have enough seating and what they have needs to see some Clorox wipes run across them. I don’t expect it to be nice, but I expect it to be clean and functional.
The Self-​Help center is a bright spot in the Family Court experience. The staff at the Self-​Help Center are unsung heroes, and they helped me catch some errors that the other staff members missed 3 different times. I could drone on and on, instead here’s some tips.
Tip: Do NOT ever go here if you are pressed for time. If you think something will take an hour to do, triple that time and you’ll be closer to what you’ll experience.
Tip: Do NOT trust the staff to file your paperwork correctly. Doublecheck everything. Then check it again. I have ZERO confidence in the staff to file paperwork correctly.
Tip: Bring 2 – 3 copies of everything. Have backup blank copies of your forms so you can fill them out and make changes if necessary. and it most likely will be necessary.
Tip: Eat before you go as you’re going to be here a while. This is not a place to get hangry with 50 law enforcement officers standing around.
Tip: Wear comfortable and easy to remove shoes. And empty your pockets of everything but your keys, phone, and anything that you absolutely can’t be without.
Tip: Lock your car and make sure nothing of value is visible. All the cops are inside the facility. The parking lot seems to be an afterthought for them to pay much attention to.
Tip: Make sure your cell phone is 100% charged, and bring a battery to recharge it. Just make sure it’s easy to get out when you have to run it through security.
I could go on and on but even if you’re going here for positive reasons this will not be a pleasant experience. But if you’ve read this review you can be prepared and it will suck just a little bit less.
1 Star: Even the awesomeness of the Self-​Help center can’t help this place earn another star.

Filed a divorce for some family friends and couldn’t be more disappointed with how nontransparent this government agency is. The husband and wife are both unemployed and both on some levels of public assistance so neither could afford to pay the $ 289 filing fee for a non-​contested divorce. So they filled out a fee waiver to submit with their petition and, of course, it was denied. When we read the reasons why, Sara Dayani, the judge’s clerk (Nevada Bar #11 099), not only misread the application (ie, reading 10,000 when the figure was 1,000), but also citied her denial by inquiring about information not relevant to the application (ie, information on who an applicant lives with when it clearly asks for «personal income» and has no entry for total household income).
When we brought this to her attention, we were given some lame excuse and told to pay the fee to proceed with the divorce. I don’t know what her exact definition is of someone who needs a fee waiver, but the husband and wife were unable to pay the filing fee, and to this day, still are unable. I had to pay out of my own pocket even though I am a third party to this case. Maybe if you live in a cardboard box, she’ll grant you a fee waiver. But then again, you probably have more important things to worry about than filing a divorce. Sara Deyani, «please read:» stop selfishly denying services to people who need them!
Anyways, two weeks later we received the response: a form listing checked-​off requirements and the original paperwork we submitted. There was nothing regarding confirmation or denial. So about two months later, I called the court to follow-​up, and this is the worst part: you actually have to go to court with that document to file it, which I suppose moving a document from one floor to another is too much to ask for if you’re only paying $ 289. I’m also sure that the court house is further breaking even on that money with the attorney who took a total of three minutes confirming the check list and a minute for the judge to sign the papers. Or maybe that Sara Dayani received a total of $ 89,809.99 in salary & benefits in 2013 and the 20 judges each received an average of $ 236,808.99 in salaries and benefits in the same year — $ 4.7 million total — has something to do with it; not sure at this point.
Went back to court, filed it, and paid another $ 3 for a «certified copy.»
Just absurdly ridiculous. And I will also add that there are no public stairways to the third floor of the building, but only elevators. So if the building catches fire, try to either be on the first or second floor so you don’t have to jump three stories.

Not a place I want to frequent, and sadly, it’s a place that is necessary. I’ve been here 2 times and both times were efficient and quick. You have to go through security first, and then it’s pretty easy navigate where you are going. Depending on what you need to do, the lines move pretty quick. I was in and out both times in less than an hour! There is plenty of parking too.

Parking is ATROCIOUS! I had to go across the street to the grocery store and McDonalds to park although they had signs that they would tow your car and this is under surveillance and so forth. The monitors are good inside to tell you where your case should be, but when you get to the court room, you don’t know if your case is being heard or someone else’s. The bailiffs all are nasty though and not helpful if you ask them anything.

Best divorce I ever got! Watch out for crack heads! I really do hate this place. but if you can’t afford an attorney the self help center is very helpful. remember though nobody there can give legal advice so to all the idiots who can’t see the signs quit asking it will make the filing process much faster… and trust me save your sob story for the judge nobody really cares at the Windows they are just trying to get through their day… Lol now that I think of it I feel sorry for their employees