Small claims court in Nevada (2026)
In Nevada you can sue for up to $10,000 in small claims. Court: Small claims in the Justice Court. Lawyers: allowed. Appeal: either side, 7 days. For a broken written agreement you generally have 6 years to sue. Last checked .
Nevada small claims at a glance
- Most you can sue for
- $10,000
- Court
- Small claims in the Justice Court
- Filing fee
- $45–$175
- Lawyers
- Allowed
- Appeal
- Either side, 7 days
- Ask for payment first
- Required
Can you sue in Nevada small claims?
Enter the amount and the date it happened. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Nevada small claims limit
$10,000
Enter the amount to compare it with the limit.
The rule: Money-only claims up to $10,000. The same limit applies to businesses. Debts owed by the same person to one creditor cannot be split to fit under the limit; any excess must be waived.
Deadline to sue (general rule)
6 years for this kind of claim in Nevada. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.
Written contracts: 6 years. Oral contracts and open accounts for goods: 4 years. Injury to personal property: 3 years. Personal injury: 2 years. Fraud: 3 years from discovery.
Lawyers: Lawyers may represent either side.
Before you file: The court complaint forms require a statement that you demanded payment and the defendant refused. Las Vegas Justice Court accepts a verbal, email, text or letter demand; North Las Vegas Justice Court requires a certified-mail demand letter and a 15-day wait before filing.
Appeal: A plaintiff or defendant may appeal to the district court by filing a notice of appeal in the justice court within 7 calendar days from service of the judgment, with an appeal bond ($100 costs plus $15 attorney fee; a defendant also bonds the judgment plus interest). The appeal is not a new trial and no new evidence is taken. If the judgment was mailed, 3 more days are added. The appeal filing fee is $97 (waived if the justice court waived your fees), but the bond is required and cannot be waived.
Filing fee: State law sets the filing fee by claim amount: $45 up to $1,000; $65 up to $2,500; $85 up to $5,000; $125 up to $7,500; $175 up to $10,000. Local courts add surcharges; for example North Las Vegas Justice Court charges $66 to $196. Defendants pay no fee to appear.
The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Where to file and how much
- Court. Justices of the peace hear small claims in each township's justice court. File in the township where the defendant lives, does business or is employed (when the claim arose or when filed), or where an injury happened, or where a contract was to be performed.
- Limit. Money-only claims up to $10,000. The same limit applies to businesses. Debts owed by the same person to one creditor cannot be split to fit under the limit; any excess must be waived.
- Filing fee. State law sets the filing fee by claim amount: $45 up to $1,000; $65 up to $2,500; $85 up to $5,000; $125 up to $7,500; $175 up to $10,000. Local courts add surcharges; for example North Las Vegas Justice Court charges $66 to $196. Defendants pay no fee to appear.
Who can sue and who can speak in court
- Parties may represent themselves or have an attorney; no one else may appear for an individual. A corporation, partnership, trust, association or other entity may be represented by its director, officer or employee. NRS chapter 73 and the small claims rules contain no bar on assigned claims. Attorney fees are generally not awarded in small claims.
- Before you file. The court complaint forms require a statement that you demanded payment and the defendant refused. Las Vegas Justice Court accepts a verbal, email, text or letter demand; North Las Vegas Justice Court requires a certified-mail demand letter and a 15-day wait before filing.
- Jury and moving the case. Small claims trials are informal and heard by the judge; the small claims rules have no jury procedure. If a counterclaim raises issues that cannot be handled as a small claim, the judge may split them off or reclassify the whole case as a regular justice court civil action or transfer it to district court.
How long you have to sue in Nevada
The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Written contracts: 6 years. Oral contracts and open accounts for goods: 4 years. Injury to personal property: 3 years. Personal injury: 2 years. Fraud: 3 years from discovery.
| Kind of claim | Time to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 4 years |
| Damage to property | 3 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
Law: NRS 11.190(1)(b), (2)(a),(c), (3)(c),(d), (4)(e)
After the hearing: appeals and collecting
- Who can appeal
- Either side can appeal.
- Kind of appeal
- Review of the record (no new trial)
- Deadline
- A plaintiff or defendant may appeal to the district court by filing a notice of appeal in the justice court within 7 calendar days from service of the judgment, with an appeal bond ($100 costs plus $15 attorney fee; a defendant also bonds the judgment plus interest). The appeal is not a new trial and no new evidence is taken. If the judgment was mailed, 3 more days are added. The appeal filing fee is $97 (waived if the justice court waived your fees), but the bond is required and cannot be waived.
- Collecting the money
- The winning party, not the court, collects. If the debtor does not pay, you may get a writ of execution, including garnishment in aid of execution, as in other justice court cases. An action on a judgment must be brought within 6 years.
Good to know in Nevada
- A justice court with a mandatory mediation program may order mediation before trial.
- Service must be made at least 14 days before trial; trial is set within 90 days of filing unless good cause.
- Formal discovery is not allowed.
- Some court handouts still show an older 5-judicial-day appeal deadline; the current rule (JCRCP 98) is 7 calendar days from service of the judgment.
- No attachment or garnishment before judgment.
Official help and forms
- Nevada courts: small claims self-help
- Nevada small claims forms
- Write a demand letter before you file (free, stays in your browser)
Sources
- NRS Chapter 73 - Small Claims (read October 18, 2026)
- NRS 4.060 - Justice court fees (read October 18, 2026)
- Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure (Rules 88-100, small claims) (read October 18, 2026)
- NRS 11.190 - Periods of limitation (read October 18, 2026)
- Civil Law Self-Help Center (Clark County) - Small Claims (read October 18, 2026)
- Civil Law Self-Help Center - Appealing a Small Claims Judgment (read October 18, 2026)
- Las Vegas Justice Court - Small Claims FAQ (read October 18, 2026)
- North Las Vegas Justice Court small claims packet 2025 (read October 18, 2026)
- Sparks Justice Court - How to Appeal a Small Claims Decision (read October 18, 2026)
Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.
More for Nevada
- Pay & local taxTake-home pay calculator2026 paycheck after: federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare
- BenefitsSNAP income limitsGross income limit: 200% of the federal poverty line
- RentingSecurity depositsDeposit back within: 30 days after the tenancy terminates
- RentingBreaking a leaseTenant notice (month-to-month): 30 days
- RentingEviction noticesUnpaid rent notice: 7 court days (pay or move out)
- RentingRepairsTime to repair: 14 days; urgent: 2 business days
- RentingRent increasesNotice before a rent increase: 30–60 days
- UnemploymentUnemployment benefitsWeekly benefit: $16–$657, up to 26 weeks
- Cost of livingChildcare costsCounties with prices: 17