Understanding Civil Court Records in Nevada

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    Civil court records in Nevada are legal documents that contain pertinent information about the judicial proceedings in civil actions handled by a local court. Civil actions are non-criminal court cases that aim to resolve conflicts between two or more individuals or entities, such as businesses. These conflicts are usually over money.

    Nevada civil court records are subject to the Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA), detailed in NRS Chapter 239. The Act permits public access to information about government activities, including information and records about court cases heard in local courts, with certain exceptions. As a result, most civil court records in Nevada are considered public.

    Civil Court Record Statistics Reported by Nevada Courts

    Between 2020 and 2024, the total number of incoming civil cases in Nevada courts increased by over 47% from 103,581 cases in 2020 to 212,389 in 2024. Of the 2024 total, cases related to contract disputes accounted for 70,285 filings, which represented approximately 33% of the civil case load that year. Other notable types of civil cases and their respective 2024 statistics include mental health cases (15,298), tort cases (11,233), real property cases (1,158), small claims (6,461), probate or estate matters (9,355).

    How Civil Records Differ from Criminal Records in Nevada

    Civil records in Nevada provide information about civil cases. These cases involve disagreements between individuals or entities, where the plaintiff (the person who files the case) seeks to compel the defendant (the person against whom the case is filed) to do something, like paying an overdue debt, or refrain from doing something, such as stopping foreclosure proceedings. Meanwhile, criminal records contain information about criminal cases. The government initiates these cases to enforce the provisions of state law and maintain law and order by prosecuting individuals alleged to have committed a crime.

    Category

    Civil Record

    Criminal Record

    Legal Focus

    Resolving conflicts between people or entities

    Prosecuting individuals for violating state laws.

    Case Titles

    Plaintiff(s) vs. Defendant(s)

    State of Nevada vs Defendant

    Potential Outcome

    Monterey damages, injunctions

    Community service, fines, probation, prison

    Public Access

    Presumed public, but are subject to exemptions established in NRS 239.0105

    Structure of the Civil Court System in Nevada

    Five (5) types of courts make up Nevada's Judiciary: three trial courts (District, Justice, and Municipal courts) and two appellate courts (Supreme Court of Nevada and Court of Appeals). Generally, civil cases fall under the jurisdiction of a Justice or District Court, depending on the case's specifics. Justice courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear specific types of civil cases. In contrast, district courts are courts of general jurisdiction that have the authority to handle a wide range of civil cases.

    The following table outlines the exact types of civil cases that the relevant courts in Nevada handle.

    Court

    Type of Civil Cases

    Nevada District Courts

    Has general jurisdiction over civil cases involving disputes of over $15,000, family cases, and juvenile matters.

    Nevada Justice Court

    Can hear small claims disputes and other civil cases involving disputes of less than $15,000.

    It is worth noting that Nevada's current court system was established under Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution, which delineates the judicial authority vested in each type of court within Nevada's court system.

    Public Access to Civil Court Documents in Nevada

    Civil court documents in Nevada are public per the Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA). The act grants members of the public the right to access information and records concerning government activities, including court cases. Thus, most civil court documents are presumptively public.

    However, civil court records may contain documents or information that are exempt from public access under the NPRA's exemptions (NRS€‚239.0105) or other relevant state or federal statutes. For instance, court records and files related to adoption proceedings and juvenile justice information are confidential per NRS 127.140 and NRS 62H.025, respectively.

    How to Lookup Nevada Civil Court Records

    Nevada does not have a central repository that interested individuals may use to access civil court records. Instead, each court independently maintains and provides access to court records of civil cases it handles. Therefore, individuals who wish to look up Nevada civil court records must ascertain the court (usually a Nevada district or justice court) where the applicable case was filed.

    Each court's procedures or methods for allowing the public access to the civil court records that its clerk maintains may differ. One of the following options is typically provided or accepted: an in-person request, an email request, a mail request, or online access.

    In-person requests

    Most courts accept this method of request. Generally, interested persons may visit the clerk's office of local courts during regular working hours to request copies of civil court records. They must bring along identifiable information about the sought-after record and required fees.

    Mail-in or email requests

    Courts that accept these methods of requests usually provide a dedicated record request form that record seekers may use to facilitate their request. Examples of these forms include the Clark County District Court's search request form and the Churchill County District Court's request for court records form. These forms are usually provided on a court official's website. They may be completed and submitted by mail or email, along with the appropriate fee, to the court clerk's office to request civil court records. The clerk's mailing and email addresses are usually provided in the form. Depending on the court, requests may take up to two weeks to process.

    Online access

    Some courts provide online resources that individuals may use to access information about civil and other types of cases whose records are in their custody. A good example is the Clark County District Court portal. These resources are typically hosted on a court's official website, accessible for free, and searchable by record number or case party name. However, information about older cases is usually not available through these online resources.

    According to NRS 19.013, courts are authorized to charge requesters $0.50 per name or year for searches of court records. Additionally, requesters are charged $0.50 for photocopies of court documents and $3 for certification.

    Types of Civil Cases Filed in Nevada Courts

    Various types of civil cases may be filed in Nevada courts. Each seeks to resolve specific legal issues, and some of the most common types of civil cases include:

    • Family Cases: These involve issues that directly affect parents, spouses, and children. Some examples include paternity and child custody, name changes, termination of parental rights, emancipation, adoptions, marriage dissolution, guardianship, and underage marriage approval. These cases fall under the jurisdiction of district courts. Some counties' district courts may have a dedicated family division that handles these cases. One example is the Clark County District Court Family Division.
    • Breach of contract: These cases stem from a valid contract between parties, where one party breaches or fails to fulfill the agreed-upon contractual obligations, and the other party is damaged as a result
    • Landlord and tenant disputes: These cases typically arise when tenants violate the terms and conditions of their lease or rental arrangements, or when a tenant is deprived of their right to a safe and habitable dwelling by their landlord
    • Small claims: These are civil lawsuits involving disputes of less than $10,000. These cases are governed by NRS 73.010.
    • Torts: These cases involve one party seeking compensation from another for injuries or other forms of damages they suffered as a result of the other party's action or negligence.

    Information Captured in Nevada Civil Court Files

    Generally, basic details about a civil case are found in Nevada civil court files. These include the case title, parties' names, date filed, and case type. Civil court files are also composed of different legal documents. These include, but are not limited to:

    • Orders
    • Exhibits
    • Motions
    • Pleadings
    • Summons
    • Complaint
    • Deposition
    • Judgement
    • Court minutes
    • Correspondence
    • Transcripts and deposition

    In Nevada, the clerk's office of the court (typically a justice court or district court) that hears a civil case is the primary custodian of the case's court files. In addition to the information mentioned above, civil court records may contain sensitive information that is considered confidential and protected from public disclosure. This confidential information is subject to redaction before the record is made public.

    Retention and Archiving of Civil Court Records in Nevada

    According to the Nevada Courts Minimum Records Retention Schedule for Adjudicatory Records, district court civil case files are permanently retained. Similarly, family relation case files are also permanently retained. Meanwhile, justice court civil case files are retained for 7 years after the case is closed. Formal civil evictions are treated differently and retained for 6 years after the case closes or the last activity was recorded in the case.

    The retention period for exhibits in civil actions depends on whether an appeal was taken. In cases where an appeal was not taken, the exhibit may be retained for two (2) years after the time for filing an appeal expires. If an appeal is filed, the exhibit may be retained for 2 years after any of the conditions outlined in NRS 3.307(2) is met, including but not limited to:

    • A motion for a new trial is granted, or a motion for setting up a trial was not filed within the aforementioned 2 years.
    • The appeal was dismissed

    The Nevada Courts Minimum Records Retention Schedule for Adjudicatory Records applies to both digital records and paper files. The schedule also permits the destruction of records after their applicable retention period has expired. Paper files are destroyed pursuant to NRS 239.110, while the Nevada Electronic Filing and Conversion Rules govern the destruction of digital records.

    References and Official Resources

    The following public offices and agencies are responsible for maintaining civil court records in Nevada, as well as the online resources they provide: