Money owed to you
Someone owes me money and a court agrees
Winning the case and getting paid are two different jobs. A judgment is just
paper until you collect on it. Here's how Nevada lets you do that, and how long it stays good.
What to do first
1. If you haven't sued yet and the amount is $10,000 or less, file in Small
Claims at the justice court for the township where the person lives, works, or where the debt
arose (NRS 73.010). No lawyer required, low filing fee, simpler process than district court.
2. Once you have a judgment, record it to get a lien. Get a certified copy of
the judgment. For a Justice Court or small claims judgment, first file an Abstract of Judgment
with the court and get a certified copy of that. Record it with the Clark County Recorder
together with the required Affidavit of Judgment. It then becomes a lien on the debtor's
non-exempt real property in Clark County, both what they own now and what they buy before the
lien expires (NRS 17.150(2), (4)).
3. If they won't pay voluntarily, use a writ. A writ of execution lets the
sheriff or constable levy on non-exempt property. A writ of garnishment, served together with a
writ of execution through the constable or sheriff, lets you reach wages, bank accounts, or
money a third party owes the debtor (NRS 31.450).
4. Know what you can't touch. Nevada exempts a long list of property from
collection — most household goods up to $12,000, one vehicle up to $15,000 equity, tools of
the trade up to $10,000, and wages: generally 82% of disposable weekly earnings
is protected if gross pay is $770/week or less, 75% if it's more — or 50 times
the federal minimum wage, whichever protects the debtor more (NRS 21.090(1)(b), (d), (f), (g)).
5. Track the clock — a judgment lien doesn't last forever. A recorded judgment
lien runs 6 years from docketing (NRS 17.150(2)). The judgment and its lien can be renewed by
filing an Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment with the court clerk in the 90 days before the 6
years run out (NRS 17.214). Use the
deadline calculator with your docketing date to see when
it runs out.
Quick facts
| Small Claims limit | $10,000 |
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| Judgment lien duration | 6 years from docketing, renewable (NRS 17.150) |
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| Wage exemption, lower earners | 82% of disposable weekly earnings if gross pay ≤ $770/week |
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| Wage exemption, higher earners | 75% of disposable weekly earnings if gross pay > $770/week |
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| Household goods exemption | up to $12,000 |
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| Vehicle equity exemption | up to $15,000 |
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Programs and help that apply
Civil Law Self-Help Center — Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis
Ave, 1st floor. Small claims forms, writ of execution and writ of garnishment help, free.
Clark County Recorder's Office — where you record a judgment
to create a lien.
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — if the debtor is
contesting or hiding assets.
Good to know
Before you spend money on a writ, ask the debtor (or search public record) whether they even
have non-exempt property or wages to collect from — a "judgment-proof" debtor with nothing but
exempt property and no job means collection costs more than it recovers.
Renewing doesn't take a new lawsuit, but it isn't just re-recording. In the 90 days before the
judgment's 6 years run out, file an Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment with the clerk of the court
that entered it. Within 3 days, record it with the County Recorder if the judgment was recorded,
and mail a copy to the debtor by certified mail, return receipt requested (NRS 17.214).