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Vegas Support Center
Clark County, Nevada
Courts

I got sued for money

If you were handed a summons and complaint, you usually have 21 days to file a written answer with the court. If you do nothing, the person suing you can get a default judgment for everything they asked for, and then garnish your wages or take money from your bank account.

What to do first

1. Find your deadline today. In both justice court and district court you must answer within 21 days after you were served with the summons and complaint (JCRCP 12(a)(1); NRCP 12(a)(1)). Don't count the day you were served. Count every day after it, weekends included. If day 21 lands on a weekend or court holiday, the deadline moves to the next court day (JCRCP 6(a); NRCP 6(a)). Some cases have a shorter deadline, so read the summons itself. The deadline calculator can help.
2. Look at the top of the papers to see which court. The caption names the court. A justice court (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and other townships) hears money cases up to $15,000 (NRS 4.370(1)). Bigger cases are in the Eighth Judicial District Court. Small claims is a separate, simpler process: see small claims court. If it is an eviction, see I got an eviction notice instead, because those deadlines are much shorter.
3. Talking to them does not stop the clock. You can try to settle with the plaintiff or their lawyer at any time, but keep working toward your answer while you do. If you want a lawyer, contact one right away so there is time to file.
4. Pick your response. Most people file an answer, which responds to each statement in the complaint and lists your defenses. You can instead file a motion to dismiss (for example, the court has no jurisdiction over you, you weren't properly served, or the complaint doesn't state a legal claim) or a motion for a more definite statement if the complaint is too vague to answer. A motion pauses your answer deadline; if the court denies it, you have 14 days after notice of that ruling to answer (JCRCP 12(a)(3); NRCP 12(a)(3)).
5. Raise every defense and any counterclaim now. Defenses must go in your answer (JCRCP 12(b); NRCP 12(b)). If you have your own claim against the plaintiff that comes from the same deal or events, file it as a counterclaim with your answer, or you may lose it (JCRCP 13; NRCP 13). A claim about something unrelated can be its own lawsuit.
6. Fill out the right answer packet. Use the form below that matches your court and your kind of case: a consumer debt or loan, a car that was repossessed and sold, a payday or title loan, or the general packet for everything else. Each packet has instructions.
7. File it with the same court. File in the court and case number on your summons. Your first filing has a fee. If you can't pay it, file a fee waiver application (an Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis) with your answer. Las Vegas Justice Court and the District Court both take electronic filing; the Self-Help Center's filing fees page lists current amounts.
8. Send a copy to the other side. Mail or hand a copy of everything you file to the plaintiff, or to their lawyer if they have one (JCRCP 5; NRCP 5). Sign and file the Certificate of Service at the end of the form to prove you did. Keep your address current with the court: if you move, file a Notice of Change of Address and send the other side a copy.

If you don't answer

Default. If you don't answer or otherwise defend, the clerk enters your default (JCRCP 55(a); NRCP 55(a)). If the claim is for a fixed amount, like a debt balance, the clerk can then enter a judgment for that amount plus costs with no hearing (JCRCP 55(b)(1); NRCP 55(b)(1)).
Collection. With a judgment, the plaintiff can garnish your paycheck, levy your bank account or put a lien on property. Some money is protected, and you have only a short time to claim it. See My paycheck or bank is being garnished.
Undoing a default. The court may set aside an entry of default for good cause and may set aside a default judgment under Rule 60(b) (JCRCP 55(c); NRCP 55(c)). A motion based on mistake, surprise, excusable neglect, new evidence or fraud must be filed within a reasonable time and no later than 6 months after the judgment or the service of written notice of its entry, whichever is later (JCRCP 60(c)(1); NRCP 60(c)(1)). If you were never served at all, say so; the forms below include a motion to set aside for that.

Deadlines

WhatDeadlineSource
Answer the summons and complaint (justice or district court)21 days after you were served, unless your summons gives a shorter timeJCRCP 12(a)(1); NRCP 12(a)(1)
Answer after the court denies your motion to dismiss14 days after notice of the rulingJCRCP 12(a)(3); NRCP 12(a)(3)
Answer after a more definite statement is served on you14 days after it is servedJCRCP 12(a)(3); NRCP 12(a)(3)
Plaintiff answers your counterclaim21 days after being served with itJCRCP 12(a)(1); NRCP 12(a)(1)
Notice to you of a default judgment hearing, if you already appearedAt least 7 days before the hearingJCRCP 55(b)(2); NRCP 55(b)(2)
Motion to set aside a judgment for mistake, excusable neglect, new evidence or fraudWithin a reasonable time, and no more than 6 monthsJCRCP 60(c)(1); NRCP 60(c)(1)
Appeal a justice court judgment to district court21 days after written notice of entry is served, unless a statute sets another timeJCRCP 72B(a)

Read 2026-10-27 from the Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure (JCRCP), the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure (NRCP) and NRS 4.370 as posted by the Nevada Legislature, and from the Civil Law Self-Help Center's Lawsuits for Money pages. Justice court cases follow the JCRCP; district court cases follow the NRCP.

Forms

Free PDFs from the Civil Law Self-Help Center. Its forms are approved for use in every court in Clark County.

If your case is in a justice court

If your case is in district court

Where to go

Eighth Judicial District Court Clerk — Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave, 3rd floor, for civil cases. Open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, except holidays. E-filing details are on the court's electronic filing page.
Your justice court — file your answer at the justice court named on your summons. Las Vegas Justice Court is also at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave. For the others, see the Self-Help Center's find my court page, or use court case lookup to find your case.

Free help

Civil Law Self-Help Center — Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave, 1st floor. Free answer forms and help filling them out. Staff can't give legal advice. Responding to a complaint.
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — free legal help for people who qualify. lacsn.org. More options, including free Ask-A-Lawyer sessions, are on Free legal help in Las Vegas.

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