Nevada Small Claims Court: How to File and Win (2026)
Nevada small claims court handles money disputes up to $10,000. You file an Affidavit of Complaint at the justice court in the defendant's township. The filing fee runs $66 to $196. Your trial date lands within about 90 days. No lawyer needed. Most people who send a strong demand first never see the courtroom at all. About 70% of disputes settle before trial.
This guide covers the whole process. The limit. The real fees. The demand step Nevada courts expect. How Las Vegas and Reno differ. And what to do after you win.
Nevada small claims court at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Maximum claim | $10,000 (NRS 73.010) |
| Where you file | Justice court in the right township |
| Filing fee | $66 to $196, based on claim size |
| Time to trial | Within 90 days of filing |
| Lawyer needed? | No. Attorney fees aren't even awarded |
| Appeal deadline | 7 calendar days |
How much can you sue for in Nevada small claims court?
The Nevada small claims limit is $10,000. That's set by NRS 73.010, and it covers claims for money only. You can't use small claims to force someone to return property or finish a job. You can only ask for dollars.
One trap to know: you can't split a big claim into smaller ones. Say someone owes you $14,000. To stay in small claims, Nevada court rules make you combine the debts and waive anything over $10,000. Filing two $7,000 cases against the same person for the same debt isn't allowed under Justice Court Rule 88.
Property damage claims follow the same $10,000 cap. We break that down in our guide to Nevada small claims court limits. And if you want to see how Nevada compares to other states, check the small claims limit in all 50 states.
The demand step: Nevada courts expect you to ask first
Here's something most guides get wrong. Nevada courts want proof that you asked for your money before you filed.
The rules vary by township:
- Las Vegas Justice Court says you don't need a formal letter, but you must have made a demand first. A text, an email, or a letter all count. You should attach a copy of your demand to the complaint when you file.
- Henderson Justice Court goes further. It wants a formal demand letter, and you wait 15 days after mailing it before you file.
- Most other Clark County townships expect a demand letter sent by certified mail before you file, according to the Civil Law Self-Help Center.
So the demand isn't just a nice first step in Nevada. In some courts, it's the price of admission.
A written demand with a deadline also just works. It shows you're serious, and it creates the paper trail the judge wants to see. Here's how to write a demand letter that gets taken seriously, and the data on whether demand letters work. Short version: most disputes end here.
How to file a small claims case in Nevada: 7 steps
Step 1: Make your demand
Send a written demand for the exact amount owed. Give a clear deadline. Send it certified mail so you have proof. Keep a copy, because the court may want it attached to your complaint.
Step 2: Gather your evidence
Contracts, texts, emails, invoices, photos, receipts, estimates. Nevada small claims trials are informal, and formal discovery isn't allowed under Rule 96. What you bring on trial day is what the judge sees. Three copies of everything: one for you, one for the judge, one for the other side.
Step 3: Pick the right township court
Nevada runs small claims through its justice courts, and each one covers a township. Under NRS 73.010, you file where the defendant lives, works, or does business. You can also file where the harm happened. Or where a contract was supposed to be carried out.
Get this wrong and your case gets tossed on venue. If your defendant lives in Henderson, Las Vegas Justice Court is the wrong building.
Step 4: Fill out the Affidavit of Complaint
Nevada small claims starts with an Affidavit of Complaint, not a regular lawsuit complaint. It states who owes you money, how much, and why. You'll also fill out a civil cover sheet. Both forms are free on your justice court's website.
Name the defendant exactly right. Sue a business under its registered legal name, not the sign on the door. More on that below.
Step 5: File and pay the fee
File in person at the courthouse or online. Nevada's statewide e-filing portal, eFileNV, accepts small claims filings. Las Vegas adds a $2.50 e-file fee. When you file, the clerk sets your trial date right on the order. In Reno, it's a mediation date instead.
Step 6: Serve the defendant
You can't serve the papers yourself. Use the sheriff, a constable, a licensed process server, or any adult who isn't part of the case. The defendant must be served at least 14 days before trial. In Reno, it's at least 20 days before the mediation date.
File your proof of service with the court right away. If a defendant dodges service, you can ask the judge to allow service by certified mail. And don't sit on it: a case that stays unserved for a year gets dismissed. Here's the full playbook on serving court papers.
Step 7: Show up and win
Trials are short and informal. No jury, no formal rules of evidence, just you, the other side, and a judge who hears these cases all day. Tell your story in order, hand over your proof, and keep it under five minutes. Our guide on preparing for small claims court covers exactly what to say.
If the defendant doesn't show, you can win by default. If you don't show, your case is gone.
What it costs to file
Las Vegas and Reno both charge the same tiers in 2026:
| Claim amount | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,000 | $66 |
| $1,000 to $2,500 | $86 |
| $2,500 to $5,000 | $106 |
| $5,000 to $7,500 | $146 |
| $7,500 to $10,000 | $196 |
Service costs extra. Figure $30 to $75, depending on who serves and how far they travel. If you win, the court adds those costs to the judgment under NRS 73.030. The loser pays, not you.
Two more numbers worth knowing. Defendants pay nothing to show up and fight a small claims case in Nevada. And nobody collects attorney fees here. NRS 73.040 bans fee awards. That's why lawyers are rare in these courtrooms. Here's the bigger picture on what it costs to sue someone.
Mediation: mandatory in Reno, optional in Las Vegas
This is the biggest difference between Nevada's two busiest courts.
In Reno, mediation is mandatory. When you file, the clerk sets a mediation hearing, not a trial. You and the defendant meet with a neutral mediator first. If you reach a deal, the judge signs it and it becomes a binding order. No deal? The clerk sets a trial date.
In Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, mediation is optional. It's free through the Neighborhood Justice Center (702-455-3898), and you can use it any time before judgment. Nobody makes you.
Treat mediation as a chance to get paid faster. A mediated deal signed by a judge counts the same as a trial win. And you skip the wait.
Filing in Las Vegas (Clark County)
Las Vegas Justice Court sits in the Regional Justice Center at 200 Lewis Avenue. File there in person or through eFileNV. Remember the demand rule: the court wants proof you already asked for the money, in any written form, attached to your complaint.
Clark County has many townships, each with its own justice court. Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and several rural courts. Check which township covers the defendant's address before you file. Henderson is the strict one, with its formal letter plus 15 day wait.
Filing in Reno (Washoe County)
Reno Justice Court covers Reno Township. That means the city of Reno plus Stead, Cold Springs, Lemmon Valley, Verdi, Washoe Valley, and nearby areas. Sparks has its own justice court.
Your mediation date lands about two months after filing. Serve the defendant at least 20 days before it. Suing a local business? The Reno City License Bureau (775-334-2090) or the Washoe County License Division can tell you the legal name on the license.
Suing a business in Nevada small claims
Businesses get sued in Nevada small claims all the time. Contractors, landlords, repair shops, gyms. The key is naming them right.
Look up the exact entity name on SilverFlume, the Nevada Secretary of State's business search. "Joe's Auto" might legally be "JL Enterprises LLC." Sue the LLC, and serve its registered agent, which the same search shows you.
One Nevada perk: under NRS 73.012, a business can send a director, officer, or employee to defend itself. So expect the shop manager, not a lawyer, on the other side of the courtroom. Here's our full guide to suing a corporation in small claims.
How long do you have to sue? Nevada deadlines
Nevada's statutes of limitations come from NRS 11.190:
| Claim type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral contract or open account | 4 years |
| Property damage | 3 years |
| Fraud | 3 years from discovery |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
Two details worth flagging. The fraud clock starts when you discover the fraud, not when it happened. And deceptive trade practice claims get 4 years, also counted from discovery. But don't cut it close. Only filing stops the clock. A demand letter doesn't.
Security deposit cases: Nevada's double penalty
Deposit disputes are the bread and butter of Nevada small claims, so know your leverage.
Under NRS 118A.242, your landlord has 30 days after you move out to return your deposit. It must come with an itemized list of any deductions. Miss that deadline, and the landlord owes you the whole deposit back. The court can then add a penalty of up to the deposit amount again. A withheld $1,500 deposit can become a $3,000 judgment.
Also good to know: Nevada caps deposits at 3 months' rent, and any lease clause calling your deposit "nonrefundable" is void. Here's how to get your security deposit back, step by step.
You won. Now collect.
The court doesn't collect for you. Rule 97 says the defendant must pay right away or on a schedule the judge sets. If they don't, Nevada hands you real tools:
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Writ of execution ($25) | Lets the sheriff take money or property |
| Wage garnishment | Takes up to 18% to 25% of paychecks |
| Judgment interest | 8.75% per year in 2026 |
| Renewal | Judgment lasts 6 years, renewable |
On garnishment: Nevada protects 82% of take-home pay for workers grossing $770 a week or less. Above that, 75% is protected. Either way, a chunk of every paycheck can flow to you until the debt clears.
Interest is the quiet pressure. Nevada judgments earn the prime rate plus 2%, reset every January and July under NRS 17.130. With prime at 6.75% in January 2026, judgments are earning 8.75%. Every month they stall, the bill grows.
And the debt doesn't expire quickly. A Nevada judgment lasts 6 years. You can renew it by filing an affidavit within 90 days before it expires (NRS 17.214). As many times as it takes. Here's the full guide to collecting a small claims judgment.
If you lose: the 7 day appeal window
Nevada gives small claims parties 7 calendar days from service of the judgment to file a notice of appeal. Calendar days, not business days. Miss it and the judgment is final.
Appeals aren't free. A losing defendant who appeals must post a bond covering the judgment plus interest, plus $100 in costs, plus $15 for attorney fees. Yes, $15. Nevada caps the attorney fee award on small claims appeals at fifteen dollars. That number hasn't moved since 1923. Add a $25 filing fee at the justice court and a $47 district court fee in Las Vegas.
If you're the one who got sued, start here: what to do if someone sues you.
Common mistakes in Nevada small claims
- Filing in the wrong township. Venue follows the defendant, not you.
- Skipping the demand. Several Clark County courts expect proof you asked first. Henderson makes you wait 15 days after a formal letter.
- Suing the wrong name. Check SilverFlume before you sue a business.
- Serving too late. 14 days before trial, 20 days before mediation in Reno. Cutting it close means a reset or a dismissal.
- Splitting claims. You can't turn one $14,000 debt into two cases. Combine and waive the excess, or file a regular civil case.
- Missing the appeal window. 7 calendar days goes by fast.
- Winning and walking away. A judgment is a tool, not a check. Use the writ, the garnishment, and the 8.75% interest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the small claims limit in Nevada?
$10,000. Nevada justice courts can hear money claims up to that amount under NRS 73.010. Claims over $10,000 go to a regular civil case, or you can waive the excess to stay in small claims.
How much does it cost to file small claims in Nevada?
Between $66 and $196, based on your claim size. Claims under $1,000 cost $66, and claims from $7,500 to $10,000 cost $196. Service adds about $30 to $75. If you win, the loser pays your costs back.
Do I need a lawyer for Nevada small claims?
No. The process is built for regular people, and trials are informal. Nevada doesn't award attorney fees in small claims, so hiring a lawyer usually costs more than it gains. Businesses can send an officer or employee instead of counsel.
Do I have to send a demand letter before filing in Nevada?
In most Clark County townships, yes, or at least show you demanded payment. Las Vegas accepts any written demand, like a text or email, attached to your complaint. Henderson requires a formal demand letter and a 15 day wait before filing.
Can I file Nevada small claims online?
Yes. Nevada's statewide portal, eFileNV, accepts small claims filings. The big courts like Las Vegas and Reno support it. Las Vegas charges a $2.50 e-file fee. You can also file in person at the courthouse.
How long does a Nevada small claims case take?
The trial must be set within 90 days of filing under court rules. Reno sets a mediation date about two months out. Trial comes after that, and only if mediation fails. Many cases end sooner because the parties settle.
How long do I have to file a claim in Nevada?
Written contracts get 6 years. Oral contracts and open accounts get 4. Property damage and fraud get 3, and personal injury gets 2, all under NRS 11.190. The clock only stops when you file.
Can I sue a business in Nevada small claims court?
Yes. Look up the exact legal name and registered agent on SilverFlume, the Secretary of State's free business search. Then name the business correctly on your Affidavit of Complaint.
What happens if the defendant doesn't pay the judgment?
You can get a $25 writ of execution and garnish wages or bank accounts. The judgment earns 8.75% interest in 2026. It lasts 6 years, and you can renew it before it expires. Nevada does the enforcing, but you have to start it.
Can I appeal a Nevada small claims decision?
Yes, within 7 calendar days of being served with the judgment. Appeals go to district court and need a bond. For a losing defendant, that bond covers the full judgment plus interest plus costs.
Don't let it slide
Nevada gives you a $10,000 court built for regular people, a demand process that resolves most disputes before trial, and collection tools with real teeth. The only losing move is doing nothing.
PettyLawsuit turns that process into a few clicks. Tell us what happened, and our Resolution Engine takes over. A certified demand letter sent instantly. Follow-up phone calls. A Final Notice. Court filing prep if they still won't budge. Over 5,000 cases handled, and about 70% resolve without anyone seeing a courtroom. Start your case and let the engine do the chasing.
This article is for general information only and isn't legal advice. Court rules and fees change. Verify details with your local justice court before filing.