Small claims in Nevada.
Nevada's small claims courts offer a streamlined process for disputes up to $10,000, with hearings typically scheduled within 30 to 60 days.
- Most you can sue for$10,000Same cap for individuals and businesses
- Filing fee$30-$50Varies by claim amount
- CourtJustice Court
- Lawyers at trialAllowedPermitted but not required
- Appeal window5 business daysTrial de novo in District Court
- Recent change—No major changes in the last 3 years
Find your situation.
Nevada small claims handles money disputes up to $10,000 (or $10,000 if you're a business). Browse 7 categories and 39 specific claim types below.
Nevada allows you to file claims for breaches of contract and money owed up to $10,000. The statute of limitations varies: 6 years for written contracts and 4 years for oral contracts.
Wrong court for these13 situations small claims can’t handle
Eviction (unlawful detainer)
Small claims courts in Nevada do not handle eviction cases; these must be filed in Justice Court under standard civil procedures.
Try instead: Justice Court
Title to real estate
Disputes involving the title to real property are beyond the jurisdiction of small claims courts.
Try instead: District Court
Defamation
Claims involving defamation, libel, or slander are not suitable for small claims court due to their complexity.
Try instead: District Court
Malpractice
Professional malpractice claims require expert testimony and are not handled in small claims court.
Try instead: District Court
Family law matters
Issues such as divorce, child custody, and support are outside the jurisdiction of small claims courts.
Try instead: Family Court
Probate matters
Disputes involving wills, estates, and trusts are not handled in small claims court.
Try instead: Probate Court
Claims against the federal government
Small claims courts do not have jurisdiction over cases against federal agencies.
Try instead: Federal Court
Class actions
Class action lawsuits are complex and exceed the procedural scope of small claims courts.
Try instead: District Court
Injunctions and specific performance
Small claims courts cannot issue injunctions or orders for specific performance.
Try instead: District Court
Workers' compensation claims
Disputes over workers' compensation benefits are handled by the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.
Try instead: Nevada Department of Business and Industry
Bankruptcy proceedings
Bankruptcy cases are under federal jurisdiction and not handled in small claims court.
Try instead: Federal Bankruptcy Court
Mandatory arbitration disputes
Disputes subject to mandatory arbitration clauses are not suitable for small claims court.
Try instead: Arbitration
Suing a deceased person
Claims against deceased individuals must be filed against their estate in probate court.
Try instead: Probate Court
From owed to paid in 6 steps.
Send a demand letter
Not required, but always do it. While not required, sending a demand letter can often resolve disputes without court intervention and serves as evidence of your attempt to settle.
Check your deadline
Every claim has a deadline by which you have to sue (the legal name is the “statute of limitations”). Miss it by a day and your case is dead.
The discovery rule applies to fraud claims, starting the statute of limitations when the fraud is discovered.
File your case
File at the Justice Court. Most cases go in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened.
If you win, filing fee and reasonable service costs are added to the judgment.
E-filing in Nevada: Availability of e-filing depends on the specific Justice Court; check with the local court for options.
Serve the defendant
The defendant has to receive official notice of the lawsuit (lawyers call this being “served”) at least 10 days before the hearing (in the same county) or 20 days (out of county). You can’t hand them the papers yourself.
Allowed methods
- Sheriff personal service. Sheriff or constable personally hands the papers to the defendant.
- Private process server. A licensed individual delivers the papers to the defendant.
File the proof of service () at least 5 days before the hearing.
What if you can’t find the defendant?
If the defendant cannot be located, you may request permission for alternative service methods, such as publication.
If the defendant is evading service, document your attempts and seek court approval for alternative service.
Show up to the hearing
Bench trial with relaxed rules of evidence; each party presents their case directly to the judge.
Lawyers at trial: Allowed. Parties may choose to be represented by an attorney, but it is not required.
When you’ll get the decision: On the spot or mailed within a few weeks
What to bring
- Contracts
- Receipts
- Photographs
- Witness statements
If the defendant doesn’t show up
If the defendant fails to appear, the court may grant a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
You still have to prove your case. Even if the defendant defaults, the plaintiff must provide evidence to support the claim and amount sought.
If you’re the defendant being sued
Defendants are not required to file a written answer but must appear at the hearing; failure to appear may result in a default judgment.
Counter-suing the plaintiff: Allowed using (Defendant's Counterclaim). Serve the plaintiff at least 10 days before trial (same county) or 20 days (out of county).
Counterclaim bigger than the cap? If the counterclaim exceeds $10,000, the case may be transferred to District Court. NRS 73.050
If you win, collect
This is where most people stop and lose. The court doesn’t collect for you. The loser has 30 days to pay. Judgments accrue 5.25% interest per year while unpaid.
Wage garnishment
Have a portion of debtor's wages withheld until the judgment is paid.
How it works
File a writ of garnishment with the court, serve the employer, and the employer withholds a portion of the debtor's wages to satisfy the judgment.
Cost: $30-50 plus sheriff fees
Notes: Most effective when debtor is W-2 employed at a stable job.
What’s protected:
- 75% of disposable earnings (federal CCPA floor)
Bank levy
Seize funds from debtor's bank account to satisfy the judgment.
How it works
Obtain a writ of execution, serve the bank, and the bank freezes and transfers funds to the court.
Cost: $30-50 plus sheriff fees
Notes: Effective if debtor maintains sufficient funds in bank accounts.
What’s protected:
- $2,000 in bank account is exempt
Property lien
Place a lien on debtor's real property, preventing sale or refinancing until judgment is paid.
How it works
Record the judgment with the county recorder's office to create a lien on the debtor's property.
Cost: $20-30 recording fee
Notes: Effective if debtor owns real property; lien must be satisfied before property can be sold or refinanced.
What’s protected:
- Homestead exemption up to $605,000
Writ of execution
Authorize the sheriff to seize and sell debtor's non-exempt property to satisfy the judgment.
How it works
Obtain a writ from the court, and the sheriff seizes and sells debtor's property at auction.
Cost: $30-50 plus sheriff fees
Notes: Effective if debtor owns valuable non-exempt personal property.
What’s protected:
- Various personal property exemptions apply
Multiple creditors? Priority rules.
Priority among multiple judgment creditors is generally determined by the order of recording or service.
Can you appeal if you lose?
either
- Deadline: 5 days from the judgment notice.
- Filing fee: $200.
- Form: Notice of Appeal.
- Type: Trial de novo — the case is heard fresh in the higher court.
The District Court conducts a new trial as if the small claims trial had not occurred.
Filing the appeal automatically pauses any collection efforts until the appeal is resolved.
Default judgment? Different rules.
A default judgment cannot be appealed; the defendant must first file a motion to vacate the judgment.
Motion to vacate: file within 10 days of the judgment notice. If you never received notice, you have up to 180 days.
If the motion is denied, you have 5 days to appeal the denial. If the motion to vacate is denied, the defendant may appeal the denial within 5 business days.
Why cases get dismissed.
Exceeding the monetary limit
What goes wrong: If your claim exceeds $10,000, the case may be dismissed or you may be required to waive the excess amount.
How to avoid it: Ensure your claim, including damages and costs, does not exceed the $10,000 limit for small claims court.
Improper service of process
What goes wrong: Failure to properly serve the defendant can result in delays or dismissal of your case.
How to avoid it: Follow Nevada's rules for service of process carefully, using authorized methods and ensuring timely service.
Missing the statute of limitations
What goes wrong: Filing a claim after the statute of limitations has expired will lead to dismissal.
How to avoid it: Be aware of the specific statute of limitations for your claim type and file within the allowed time frame.
Insufficient evidence
What goes wrong: Lack of evidence can result in losing your case, even if your claim is valid.
How to avoid it: Gather all relevant documents, photos, and witness statements to support your claim.
Ignoring counterclaims
What goes wrong: If the defendant files a counterclaim and you are unprepared, you could lose more than you anticipated.
How to avoid it: Be prepared to address potential counterclaims by understanding the defendant's possible arguments.
Failing to collect judgment
What goes wrong: Winning a judgment does not guarantee payment; you may need to take additional steps to collect.
How to avoid it: Familiarize yourself with Nevada's collection methods and be prepared to pursue them if necessary.
Common questions.
Do I need a lawyer?
How long does it take?
What's the maximum I can sue for?
What happens if the defendant doesn't show up?
Can I appeal?
How long is a judgment good for?
Sources11 citations and statutes
- Nevada Judiciary — Small Claims Court
- Nevada Self-Help — Small Claims
- Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 73 (Small Claims)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 11 (Statute of Limitations)
- Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4 (Service)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 21 (Execution and Supplementary Proceedings)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 598 (Deceptive Trade Practices)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. § 41.620 (Bad Check Civil Action)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 (Security Deposit)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. § 608.020 (Final Wages)
- Nev. Rev. Stat. § 17.130 (Judgment Interest)
This is not legal advice. CivilCase is not a law firm. Court rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify against the cited authority before filing. Last researched and updated: April 28, 2026.