NRS: CHAPTER 123 - RIGHTS OF MARRIED COUPLES

[Rev. 6/29/2024 3:03:21 PM--2023]

CHAPTER 123 - RIGHTS OF MARRIED COUPLES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

NRS 123.010 Property rights of a married couple governed by chapter; exceptions; rights vested before March 10, 1873, not affected.

NRS 123.020 Curtesy and dower not allowed.

NRS 123.030 How a married couple may hold property.

NRS 123.050 Spouse not liable for debts of other incurred before marriage.

NRS 123.060 No interests in property of other.

NRS 123.070 Spouses may make contracts.

NRS 123.080 Contract altering legal relations: Separation agreement; consideration; introduction in evidence in divorce action.

NRS 123.090 Necessaries provided to neglected spouse when neglecting spouse neglects to provide; recovery of value.

NRS 123.100 Abandoned spouse not liable for support of abandoning spouse.

NRS 123.110 When spouse must support other spouse.

NRS 123.121 Segregation of damage awards when spouses sue jointly.

NRS 123.125 Character of property transferred into trust.

SEPARATE PROPERTY

NRS 123.130 Separate property of each spouse.

NRS 123.140 Inventory of separate property: Execution; recording; supplemental inventory.

NRS 123.150 Recording of inventory is notice and evidence of title.

NRS 123.160 Effect of failure to record inventory.

NRS 123.170 Each spouse controls own separate property.

NRS 123.180 Property and earnings of minor children.

NRS 123.190 Earnings of either spouse appropriated to own use pursuant to written authorization of other spouse deemed gift.

COMMUNITY PROPERTY

NRS 123.220 Community property defined.

NRS 123.225 Interests of each spouse in community property are present, existing and equal interests.

NRS 123.230 Control of community property.

NRS 123.240 Payments or refunds under benefit or savings plans to employees, beneficiaries or estates: Discharge of employer, trustee or insurance company from adverse claims; notice.

NRS 123.250 Ownership of survivor upon death of spouse; disposal by will of decedent.

NRS 123.259 Division of income and resources of married couple: Manner; conditions; restrictions.

MARRIAGE CONTRACTS OR SETTLEMENTS

NRS 123.270 Contracts or settlements to be written and acknowledged.

NRS 123.280 Recording in counties where real property situated.

NRS 123.290 Record of contract to impart notice.

NRS 123.300 Effect of not recording contract or settlement.

NRS 123.310 Minors may make marriage contracts or settlements.

_________

GENERAL PROVISIONS

NRS 123.010 Property rights of a married couple governed by chapter; exceptions; rights vested before March 10, 1873, not affected.

1. The property rights of a married couple are governed by this chapter, unless there is:

(a) A premarital agreement which is enforceable pursuant to chapter 123A of NRS; or

(b) A marriage contract or settlement,

Ê containing stipulations contrary thereto.

2. Chapter 76, Statutes of Nevada 1865, is repealed, but no rights vested or proceedings taken before March 10, 1873, shall be affected by anything contained in this chapter of NRS.

[26:119:1873; B § 176; BH § 524; C § 535; RL § 2180; NCL § 3380] + [35:119:1873; B § 185; BH § 533; C § 544; RL § 2189; NCL § 3389]—(NRS A 1989, 1004; 2017, 760)

NRS 123.020 Curtesy and dower not allowed. No estate is allowed one spouse as tenant by curtesy upon the death of his or her spouse, nor is any estate in dower allotted to the other spouse upon the death of his or her spouse.

[7:119:1873; B § 157; BH § 505; C § 516; RL § 2161; NCL § 3361]—(NRS A 2017, 761)

NRS 123.030 How a married couple may hold property. A married couple may hold real or personal property as joint tenants, tenants in common, or as community property.

[8:119:1873; B § 158; BH § 506; C § 517; RL § 2162; NCL § 3362]—(NRS A 1959, 408; 2017, 761)

NRS 123.050 Spouse not liable for debts of other incurred before marriage. Neither the separate property of a spouse nor the spouse’s share of the community property is liable for the debts of the other spouse contracted before the marriage.

[17 1/2:119:1873; added 1933, 118; 1931 NCL § 3371.01]—(NRS A 1975, 558)

NRS 123.060 No interests in property of other. Except as mentioned in NRS 123.070, neither spouse has any interest in the property of the other spouse.

[18:119:1873; B § 168; BH § 516; C § 527; RL § 2172; NCL § 3372]—(NRS A 2017, 761)

NRS 123.070 Spouses may make contracts. Either spouse may enter into any contract, engagement or transaction with the other spouse, or with any other person respecting property, which either might enter into if unmarried, subject in any contract, engagement or transaction between themselves, to the general rules which control the actions of persons occupying relations of confidence and trust toward each other.

[19:119:1873; B § 169; BH § 517; C § 528; RL § 2173; NCL § 3373]—(NRS A 2017, 761)

NRS 123.080 Contract altering legal relations: Separation agreement; consideration; introduction in evidence in divorce action.

1. A married couple cannot by any contract with each other alter their legal relations except as to property, and except that they may agree to an immediate separation and may make provision for the support of either of them and of their children during such separation.

2. The mutual consent of the parties is a sufficient consideration for such an agreement as is mentioned in subsection 1.

3. In the event that a suit for divorce is pending or immediately contemplated by one of the spouses against the other, the validity of such agreement shall not be affected by a provision therein that the agreement is made for the purpose of removing the subject matter thereof from the field of litigation, and that in the event of a divorce being granted to either party, the agreement shall become effective and not otherwise.

4. If a contract executed by a married couple, or a copy thereof, be introduced in evidence as an exhibit in any divorce action, and the court shall by decree or judgment ratify or adopt or approve the contract by reference thereto, the decree or judgment shall have the same force and effect and legal consequences as though the contract were copied into the decree, or attached thereto.

[20:119:1873; A 1935, 194; 1953, 235] + [21:119:1873; B § 171; BH § 519; C § 530; RL § 2175; NCL § 3375]—(NRS A 2017, 761)

NRS 123.090 Necessaries provided to neglected spouse when neglecting spouse neglects to provide; recovery of value. If a spouse neglects to make adequate provision for the support of his or her spouse, any other person may in good faith supply the neglected spouse with articles necessary for his or her support, and recover the reasonable value thereof from the neglecting spouse. The separate property of the neglecting spouse is liable for the cost of such necessities if the community property of the spouses is not sufficient to satisfy such debt.

[22:119:1873; B § 172; BH § 520; C § 531; RL § 2176; NCL § 3376]—(NRS A 1975, 558; 2017, 761)

NRS 123.100 Abandoned spouse not liable for support of abandoning spouse. A spouse abandoned by his or her spouse is not liable for the support of the abandoning spouse until such spouse offers to return unless the misconduct of the abandoned spouse justified the abandonment.

[23:119:1873; B § 173; BH § 521; C § 532; RL § 2177; NCL § 3377]—(NRS A 1975, 558; 2017, 761)

NRS 123.110 When spouse must support other spouse. A spouse must support his or her spouse out of his or her separate property when the spouse has no separate property and they have no community property and the spouse, from infirmity, is not able or competent to support himself or herself.

[24:119:1873; B § 174; BH § 522; C § 533; RL § 2178; NCL § 3378]—(NRS A 2017, 762)

NRS 123.121 Segregation of damage awards when spouses sue jointly. When spouses sue jointly, any damages awarded shall be segregated as follows:

1. If the action is for personal injuries, damages assessed for:

(a) Personal injuries and pain and suffering, to the injured spouse as his or her separate property.

(b) Loss of comfort and society, to the spouse who suffers such loss.

2. If the action is for injury to property, damages shall be awarded according to the character of the injured property. Damages to separate property shall be awarded to the spouse owning such property, and damages to community property shall be awarded to the spouses as community property.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 558; A 2017, 762)

NRS 123.125 Character of property transferred into trust.

1. A trust instrument may provide that community property or separate property transferred into an irrevocable trust of which both spouses are distribution beneficiaries, as defined in NRS 163.415, remains community property or separate property, as applicable, during the marriage. Any community property or separate property, including, without limitation, any income, appreciation and proceeds thereof, that is distributed or withdrawn from a trust instrument containing such a provision remains community property or separate property, as applicable.

2. A spouse or other party in a case must establish by clear and convincing evidence the transmutation of community property or separate property that is transferred into a trust from, as applicable:

(a) Community property to separate property; or

(b) Separate property to community property.

3. The provisions of this section do not affect the character of community property or separate property that is transferred into a trust in any manner other than as described in this section.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 1669; A 2019, 1852)

SEPARATE PROPERTY

NRS 123.130 Separate property of each spouse. All property of a spouse owned by him or her before marriage, and that was acquired by him or her afterwards by gift, bequest, devise, descent or by an award for personal injury damages, with the rents, issues and profits thereof, is his or her separate property.

[1:119:1873; B § 151; BH § 499; C § 510; RL § 2155; NCL § 3355]—(NRS A 1975, 558; 2017, 762)

NRS 123.140 Inventory of separate property: Execution; recording; supplemental inventory.

1. A full and complete inventory of the separate property of a married person, exclusive of money, may be made out and signed by such person, acknowledged or proved in the manner required for the acknowledgment or proof of a conveyance of real property, and may be recorded, if such person is a resident of this State, in the office of the recorder of the county in which such person resides. If any real property lying in another county is included in a recorded inventory, then the inventory shall be also recorded in the office of the recorder of such other county.

2. If the married person is not a resident of this state, a recorded inventory shall be recorded in the office of the recorder of each county where any portion of the property, real or personal, is situated, located or used.

3. From time to time thereafter, a further and supplemental inventory may be made out, signed, acknowledged or proved, and recorded in like manner, of all other separate property afterward acquired by such married person, excepting money, and the rents, issues and profits of such person’s separate property, included in the original or any subsequent inventory, if the same be in money.

[3:119:1873; B § 153; BH § 501; C § 512; RL § 2157; NCL § 3357]—(NRS A 1959, 9; 1975, 559)

NRS 123.150 Recording of inventory is notice and evidence of title.

1. If a married person is a resident of this state, the recording of the inventory of the person’s separate property in the office of the recorder of the county in which the person resides is notice of the person’s title to the separate property, except as to any real property situate in another county, and as to that real property, the recording of the inventory thereof in the office of the recorder of the county where the same is situate, is notice of the person’s title thereto.

2. If a married person is not a resident of this state, the recording of the inventory of the person’s separate property in the office of the recorder of the county where any portion of the property, real or personal, included in the inventory is situate, located or used, is notice of the person’s title as to all that property situate, located or used in that county.

[4:119:1873; B § 154; BH § 502; C § 513; RL § 2158; NCL § 3358]—(NRS A 1975, 559; 2001, 1755; 2003, 75)

NRS 123.160 Effect of failure to record inventory.

1. When a married person is a resident of this state, the failure to file for record an inventory of such person’s separate property in the office of the recorder of the county of residence, or the omission from the inventory, filed for record in such office, of any part of such property, except as to real property situate in another county, is prima facie evidence, as between such married person and purchasers in good faith and for a valuable consideration from the other spouse, that the property of which no inventory has been so filed, or which has been omitted from the inventory, is not the separate property of such person. As to any real property situate in another county, the failure to file for record an inventory thereof in the office of the recorder of the county where the same is situate, or the omission from the inventory, filed for record in such office, of any part of such real property, is prima facie evidence, as between the married person and such purchasers as aforesaid, that such real property of which no inventory has been so filed, or which has been omitted from the inventory, is not such person’s separate property.

2. When a married person is not a resident of this state, the failure to file for record an inventory of such person’s separate property in the office of the recorder of the county where any portion of such property is situate, located or used, or the omission from the inventory, filed in such office, of any part of such property, is, as to all such property situate, located or used in that county, of which no inventory has been so filed, or which has been omitted from the inventory, prima facie evidence, as between the married person and such purchasers as aforesaid, that the same is not such person’s separate property.

3. The provisions of NRS 123.140, 123.150 and this section do not preclude the introduction of other evidence to show the separate or community character of the property of the spouses.

[5:119:1873; B § 155; BH § 503; C § 514; RL § 2159; NCL § 3359]—(NRS A 1975, 559)

NRS 123.170 Each spouse controls own separate property. Either spouse may, without the consent of the other spouse, convey, charge, encumber or otherwise in any manner dispose of his or her separate property.

[9:119:1873; B § 159; BH § 507; C § 518; RL § 2163; NCL § 3363]—(NRS A 1975, 560)

NRS 123.180 Property and earnings of minor children.

1. Any property acquired by a child by gift, bequest, devise or descent, with the rents, issues and profits thereof, is the child’s own property, and neither parent is entitled to any interest therein.

2. The earnings and accumulations of earnings of a minor child are the community property of his or her parents unless relinquished to the child. Such relinquishment may be shown by written instrument, proof of a specific oral gift, or proof of a course of conduct.

3. When a married couple is living separate and apart the earnings and accumulations of earnings of their minor children, unless relinquished, are the separate property of the spouse who has their custody or, if no custody award has been made, then the separate property of the spouse with whom such children are living.

[14:119:1873; B § 164; BH § 512; C § 523; RL § 2168; NCL § 3368]—(NRS A 1975, 560; 2017, 762)

NRS 123.190 Earnings of either spouse appropriated to own use pursuant to written authorization of other spouse deemed gift. When a spouse has given written authority to his or her spouse to appropriate to his or her own use the spouse’s earnings, the same, with the issues and profits thereof, is deemed a gift from one spouse to the other, and is, with such issues and profits, the latter spouse’s separate property.

[15:119:1873; B § 165; BH § 513; C § 524; RL § 2169; NCL § 3369]—(NRS A 1973, 1036; 2017, 762)

COMMUNITY PROPERTY

NRS 123.220 Community property defined. All property, other than that stated in NRS 123.130, acquired after marriage by either spouse or both spouses, is community property unless otherwise provided by:

1. An agreement in writing between the spouses.

2. A decree of separate maintenance issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

3. NRS 123.190.

4. A decree issued or agreement in writing entered pursuant to NRS 123.259.

[2:119:1873; B § 152; BH § 500; C § 511; RL § 2156; NCL § 3356]—(NRS A 1975, 560; 1987, 1016; 1989, 380; 2009, 1636; 2017, 763)

NRS 123.225 Interests of each spouse in community property are present, existing and equal interests.

1. The respective interests of each spouse in community property during continuance of the marriage relation are present, existing and equal interests, subject to the provisions of NRS 123.230.

2. The provisions of this section apply to all community property, whether the community property was acquired before, on or after March 26, 1959.

(Added to NRS by 1959, 408; A 1997, 1596; 2017, 763)

NRS 123.230 Control of community property. A spouse may, by written power of attorney, give to the other the complete power to sell, convey or encumber any property held as community property or either spouse, acting alone, may manage and control community property, whether the community property was acquired before, on or after July 1, 1975, with the same power of disposition as the acting spouse has over his or her separate property, except that:

1. Neither spouse may devise or bequeath more than one-half of the community property.

2. Neither spouse may make a gift of community property without the express or implied consent of the other.

3. Neither spouse may sell, convey or encumber the community real property unless both join in the execution of the deed or other instrument by which the real property is sold, conveyed or encumbered, and the deed or other instrument must be acknowledged by both.

4. Neither spouse may purchase or contract to purchase community real property unless both join in the transaction of purchase or in the execution of the contract to purchase.

5. Neither spouse may create a security interest, other than a purchase-money security interest as defined in NRS 104.9103, in, or sell, community household goods, furnishings or appliances unless both join in executing the security agreement or contract of sale, if any.

6. Neither spouse may acquire, purchase, sell, convey or encumber the assets, including real property and goodwill, of a business where both spouses participate in its management without the consent of the other. If only one spouse participates in management, he or she may, in the ordinary course of business, acquire, purchase, sell, convey or encumber the assets, including real property and goodwill, of the business without the consent of the nonparticipating spouse.

[6:119:1873; A 1897, 24; 1917, 121; 1919 RL § 2160; NCL § 3360]—(NRS A 1973, 1037; 1975, 560; 1977, 271; 1997, 1596; 1999, 391)

NRS 123.240 Payments or refunds under benefit or savings plans to employees, beneficiaries or estates: Discharge of employer, trustee or insurance company from adverse claims; notice. Notwithstanding the provisions of NRS 123.220 and 123.230, whenever payment or refund is made to an employee, former employee, or his or her beneficiary or estate pursuant to a written retirement, death or other employee benefit plan or savings plan, such payment or refund shall fully discharge the employer and any trustee or insurance company making such payment or refund from all adverse claims thereto, unless, before such payment or refund is made, the employer or former employer, where the payment is made by the employer or former employer, has received at its principal place of business within this state written notice by or on behalf of some other person that such other person claims to be entitled to such payment or refund or some part thereof or where a trustee or insurance company is making the payment, such notice has been received by the trustee or insurance company at its home office, but nothing contained in this section shall affect any claim or right to any such payment or refund or part thereof as between all persons other than the employee and the trustee or insurance company making such payment or refund.

[6.5:119:1873; added 1953, 337]

NRS 123.250 Ownership of survivor upon death of spouse; disposal by will of decedent.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, upon the death of either spouse:

(a) An undivided one-half interest in the community property is the property of the surviving spouse and his or her sole separate property.

(b) The remaining interest:

(1) Is subject to the testamentary disposition of the decedent or, in the absence of such a testamentary disposition, goes to the surviving spouse; and

(2) Is the only portion subject to administration under the provisions of title 12 of NRS.

2. The provisions of this section:

(a) Do not apply to the extent that they are inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 41B of NRS.

(b) Do not apply to community property with right of survivorship.

3. As used in this section, “community property with right of survivorship” means community property in which a right of survivorship exists pursuant to NRS 111.064 or 115.060 or any other provision of law.

[1:198:1937; 1931 NCL § 3395.01]—(NRS A 1957, 359; 1959, 408; 1975, 561; 1981, 779; 1997, 1597; 1999, 1355; 2017, 763)

NRS 123.259 Division of income and resources of married couple: Manner; conditions; restrictions.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, a court of competent jurisdiction may, upon a proper petition filed by a spouse or the guardian of a spouse, enter a decree dividing the income and resources of a married couple pursuant to this section if one spouse is an institutionalized spouse and the other spouse is a community spouse.

2. The court shall not enter such a decree if the division is contrary to a premarital agreement between the spouses which is enforceable pursuant to chapter 123A of NRS.

3. Unless modified pursuant to subsection 4 or 5, the court may divide the income and resources:

(a) Equally between the spouses; or

(b) By protecting income for the community spouse through application of the maximum federal minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(d)(3)(C) and by permitting a transfer of resources to the community spouse an amount which does not exceed the amount set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(f)(2)(A)(ii).

4. If either spouse establishes that the community spouse needs income greater than that otherwise provided under paragraph (b) of subsection 3, upon finding exceptional circumstances resulting in significant financial duress and setting forth in writing the reasons for that finding, the court may enter an order for support against the institutionalized spouse for the support of the community spouse in an amount adequate to provide such additional income as is necessary.

5. If either spouse establishes that a transfer of resources to the community spouse pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 3, in relation to the amount of income generated by such a transfer, is inadequate to raise the income of the community spouse to the amount allowed under paragraph (b) of subsection 3 or an order for support issued pursuant to subsection 4, the court may substitute an amount of resources adequate to provide income to fund the amount so allowed or to fund the order for support.

6. A copy of a petition for relief under subsection 4 or 5 and any court order issued pursuant to such a petition must be served on the Administrator of the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services when any application for medical assistance is made by or on behalf of an institutionalized spouse. The Administrator may intervene no later than 45 days after receipt by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services of an application for medical assistance and a copy of the petition and any order entered pursuant to subsection 4 or 5, and may move to modify the order.

7. A person may enter into a written agreement with his or her spouse dividing their community income, assets and obligations into equal shares of separate income, assets and obligations of the spouses. Such an agreement is effective only if one spouse is an institutionalized spouse and the other spouse is a community spouse or a division of the income or resources would allow one spouse to qualify for services under NRS 427A.250 to 427A.280, inclusive.

8. An agreement entered into or decree entered pursuant to this section may not be binding on the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services in making determinations under the State Plan for Medicaid.

9. As used in this section, “community spouse” and “institutionalized spouse” have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(h).

(Added to NRS by 1987, 1016; A 1989, 380, 1005; 1993, 2412; 1997, 1248; 2009, 1257; 2017, 763)

MARRIAGE CONTRACTS OR SETTLEMENTS

NRS 123.270 Contracts or settlements to be written and acknowledged. All marriage contracts or settlements must be in writing, and executed and acknowledged or proved in like manner as a conveyance of land is required to be executed and acknowledged or proved.

[27:119:1873; B § 177; BH § 525; C § 536; RL § 2181; NCL § 3381]

NRS 123.280 Recording in counties where real property situated. When such marriage contract or settlement is acknowledged or proved, it must be recorded in the office of the recorder of every county in which any real property may be situated which is conveyed or affected by such contract.

[28:119:1873; B § 178; BH § 526; C § 537; RL § 2182; NCL § 3382]

NRS 123.290 Record of contract to impart notice. When such marriage contract or settlement is deposited in the recorder’s office for record, it shall, as to all property affected thereby in the county where the same is deposited, impart full notice to all persons of the contents thereof.

[29:119:1873; B § 179; BH § 527; C § 538; RL § 2183; NCL § 3383]

NRS 123.300 Effect of not recording contract or settlement. No such marriage contract or settlement shall be valid as to any real property, or affect the same, except as between the parties thereto, until it shall be deposited for record with the recorder of the county in which such real property is situate.

[30:119:1873; B § 180; BH § 528; C § 539; RL § 2184; NCL § 3384]

NRS 123.310 Minors may make marriage contracts or settlements. A minor capable of contracting marriage may make a valid marriage contract or settlement.

[31:119:1873; B § 181; BH § 529; C § 540; RL § 2185; NCL § 3385]