What are Nevada Civil Court Records?

Nevada civil court records provide relevant information pertaining to civil court proceedings within the state’s jurisdiction. These documents include notices, orders, motions, docket entries, calendars, minutes, or other related information. Under the Nevada Court Administrative Policy (Part VII), court records are public records and may be accessed, viewed, and copied by the public upon request except where rendered confidential by statute or court rule.

Who can access Civil Court Records in the State of Nevada?

Members of the public may inspect, view, and copy most civil court records in the state. The clerk of the court serves as the official custodian of court records, tasked with responding to all case-related requests rendered within the court’s jurisdiction.

What information is contained in a Nevada Civil Court Record?

Most civil case records share similar index information such as:

• Name and personal information of parties involved
• Assigned Attorney(s) information
• Case information (court type, court location, case number, case type, case status)
• Case filing date
• Hearing dates, time, and location
• Events
• Claims and counterclaims
• Financial summary
• Findings/Sentence information
• Judge and division assigned to the case

Understanding the Nevada Court Structure

Nevada operates a court system organized into appellate courts, district courts, justice courts, municipal courts, as well as other specialty courts. The appellate court body includes the Supreme Court and the intermediate-level Court of Appeals. There are 11 judicial district courts, 42 justice courts, 18 municipal courts, and about 55 specialty courts running special programs on different matters arising in the state.

• Supreme Court: The Supreme Court is the court of last resort with ultimate authority over cases such as reserved questions of law from the district courts, municipal courts, and justice courts; application for a writ to judges and other public officials; as well as disciplinary action on attorneys and judges. There are 7 judges who sit in panels of three or en banc depending on the severity of the case being handled. Following an appeal, civil cases arising from the district court may be reviewed by the Supreme Court to determine whether the trial sitting judges made any significant error.
• Court of Appeals: Composed of three judges, the Nevada court of appeals was created in 2014 following a constitutional amendment to review appealed cases assigned by the Supreme Court rule and further quash the delay of justice threatened by the overwhelming pending caseload. However, litigants dissatisfied with the decision of the court of appeals may seek further review by the Supreme Court.
• District Courts: The eleven judicial district courts in the state constitute the trial courts of general jurisdiction over civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, and family matters. The civil division of these courts handles civil disputes (including Nevada lien enforcement and claim disputes) over $10,000. The courts also hear appeals for cases from the justice and municipal courts.
• Justice Courts: The justice courts are courts of limited jurisdiction over civil matters not greater than $15,000, minor criminal and traffic offenses, eviction, and small claims civil cases. The justice courts also determine the existence of sufficient reasons for felony and gross misdemeanors to be transferred to the district court for further trial.
• Municipal Courts: The municipal courts are city courts of limited jurisdiction exercising decisions over certain traffic and misdemeanor cases within the various courts’ geographical municipalities.

Are Nevada Civil Court Records Open to the Public?

Under the Nevada Administrative Policy, public civil court records are open for public examination and appraisal. However, access to sealed or redacted court records is limited to authorized individuals allowed by the special provisions of the law or court order. Submitted requests for civil court records may require related information such as:

• The case/docket number(s)
• The filing date of the case
• The names of the parties in the case
• The names of the attorney and the attending judge of the case
• The case type and cause of action
• The notation “case sealed”
• The order to seal and written account supporting the order
• The name of the person who filed the motion to seal

How to Find Civil Court Records in Nevada

Interested persons may access civil court record through the following means:

• By submitting a record request in person
• By searching the state’s online court website
• By requesting for records via mail

How to Obtain Nevada Civil Court Records Online

Nevada’s appellate courts maintain a case look-up portal that allows for searches using the case/docket number or party name. Also, participants may be searched by entering the full name (including middle name) of the sought person. Similarly, some justice courts maintain case search portals on their individual websites. Requesting parties are required to locate the appropriate court website to ascertain if the court of interest operates a case management system. In case of inquiries, requesters may contact the court clerk or the administrative officer in charge of the specific court’s record-keeping.

Publicly available records are also accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently without any ties to state governmental entities, these platforms offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability. Such sites may sometimes serve as a starting point when researching specific or multiple records. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties must provide:

• The name of someone involved, providing it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question such as a city, county, or state name

However, third party sites are not government sponsored websites. As such, the accuracy of results cannot be guaranteed.

How Do I Access Nevada Civil Court Records in Person?

Step 1. Identify the Court and gather Relevant Case Information

To request a civil record in person, the requesting party must first determine the specific court where the case was filed. At least one case-specific information such as the case number, complete names of the parties in the case, as well as the year the civil action was filed should be provided to narrow the search and expedite the processing of the record.

Step 2. Visit the Courthouse and Request for Records of Interest

Depending on the local court provisions, requesters may be able to conduct a search by utilizing the self-help public access computer at the courthouse where the case was filed. Searches may be done using the case number or any other relevant case information. In instances where the case number is not known, a request for assistance may be made to the court custodian who may require a search fee before the request is processed.

Step 3. Pay the Required Fees and Obtain Copies of Records

Persons who wish to obtain copies of civil records may be required to pay a reasonable amount for this service. The payment method and requirement varies from court to court and may depend on the number of pages intended to be copied. Note that additional fees may apply if certified copies are also requested.

How Do I Obtain Nevada Civil Court Records by Mail?

To obtain a civil record request by mail, the requesting party must first confirm that the court of interest offers mail-in request services. Some courts offer additional emailing services which is an easier method for email-friendly requesters. The clerk of court generally provides the mailing/emailing address and outlines specific steps required for obtaining records. 

Requesters are required to send a written request which must include the case number, first name, last name, date of birth of one of the parties to the case, the specific document needed, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a phone number to the court where the case was filed. Some courts may provide a downloadable form that can be printed, completed and mailed to the court.

Are all Nevada Civil Court Records Online?

Online availability of court records depends on the court in question and how long ago the case was filed/concluded. The appellate courts maintain a unified C-Track case management system while only Clarke county district court maintains a smart case search portal on their website.