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.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Building Families, Bridging Differences, certified family law specialist Shelly Booth Cooley addresses a challenging but common situation: navigating divorce while still living under the same roof. Shelly explains Nevada’s divorce laws, why some couples choose to remain in the same household, and what boundaries or ground rules can make the process healthier. She also covers the impact on children, custody arrangements, shared expenses, and when it may be necessary to seek court intervention. With her compassionate and straightforward guidance, Shelly provides clarity for couples facing one of life’s most complex transitions.

00:01 – Show introduction and welcome 01:10 – Can couples in Nevada file for divorce while living together? 02:05 – Reasons couples choose to stay in the same home during divorce 03:00 – Emotional challenges and the importance of setting boundaries 04:15 – Whether divorcing couples should use the same attorney 06:20 – How living together impacts child custody and co-parenting 08:05 – Should couples wait to file until one spouse moves out? 09:30 – When a judge may grant exclusive possession of the home 11:00 – Shared expenses and joint preliminary injunctions explained 13:10 – Signs it may be time to stop living together despite financial challenges 15:20 – Shelly’s advice for divorcing couples still sharing a home 16:30 – Closing thoughts and call to action

Building Families, Bridging Differences is a family law podcast hosted by Shelly Cooley, founder of the Cooley Law Firm in Las Vegas. The show provides compassionate, practical guidance on divorce, custody, adoption, and assisted reproduction. With decades of experience, Shelly helps individuals and families navigate complex legal situations with clarity and confidence

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode, Shelley Booth Cooley discusses the legal aspects of surrogacy and assisted reproduction. She shares insights about the surrogacy journey, essential contract elements, and the importance of working with specialized attorneys. The episode covers the complexities of state laws, the role of surrogacy agencies, and the beautiful relationships that can develop between surrogates and intended parents.

Key Timestamps:

00:06 - Introduction and episode overview

00:33 - Why Shelley chose to focus on surrogacy law

02:13 - The typical surrogacy journey explained

05:50 - Common challenges in surrogacy, including state law variations

07:56 - Legal protection for intended parents

09:47 - Essential elements of surrogacy agreements

12:59 - Psychological screening and emotional aspects

15:36 - When to involve a surrogacy attorney

About the Show:

"Building Families, Bridging Differences: A Family Law Journey" is a podcast that explores various aspects of family law with expert insights from Shelley Booth Cooley. The show aims to educate and inform listeners about complex legal matters in family building and law.