Clark County Courts

Home to a population of about 2.4 million, Clark County is the most populous county in Nevada. The county accounts for approximately 70% of the state's total population, and its administrative center is in Las Vegas. Annually, courts in Clark County handle more than 525,800 case filings and 496,400 dispositions. These include about 95,372 criminal matters, 154,274 civil cases, 53,570 domestic relations cases, and 6,194 juvenile matters filings.

Clark County is served by various types of courts, depending on the type of case and the court's jurisdiction.

• Clark County District Court has jurisdiction over criminal, family law, juvenile, and civil cases involving amounts exceeding $10,000.
• Boulder City, Bunkerville, Goodsprings, Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Mesquite, Moapa, North Las Vegas, and Searchlight Justice Courts handle traffic infractions, small claims, misdemeanors, and civil cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $15,000.

There are also five municipal courts serving towns and cities in Clark County. These courts also exercise a similar limited jurisdiction over misdemeanors and preliminary hearings in criminal cases, as does the Justice Court.

How To Access Clark County Court Records

Chapter 239 of the Nevada Revised Statutesgrants people the right to inspect or copy public records, which include those of the Clark County courts. While the public is permitted to view these records, there are restrictions on certain court records. Juvenile records, medical records, sealed records, and records containing criminal investigative reports are generally restricted from public disclosure.

Individuals interested in looking up Clark County Court records must have the case numbers and a valid government-issued photo ID. They may access the court records through any of the following methods:

Online

To access Clark County court records online, individuals may use the District Court Portal, the Justice Court Portal (traffic/misdemeanors), the Clark County Courts Record Inquiry Portal, or the Justice Partner Portal. Individuals may find court records by using the offender's name, case number, and citation number (for Justice Court cases) as the search criteria on the portal. Justice court portal

Record seekers may also search Clark County court records through CourtCaseFinder. Online access to court records containing federal cases in Clark County is available on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. Individuals must register for a free PACER account and pay the required fees to access federal court records maintained in the database.

In-Person

Individuals may access Clark County court records by visiting the appropriate Clerk of Court's office. Every court has a clerk who maintains the court records; hence, interested persons may visit the court to obtain these records. They may either submit a written request or complete a designated request form to obtain copies of the court records.

Records seekers may print copies of court records filed from 2002 onward using the computer terminals located in the clerk's office. Users must pay $0.50 to copy a page and an extra $3 fee for certification of the document.

Old and Archived Court Records

The Nevada State Library, Archives & Public Records preserves and provides access to historical records containing court files and related information, including those from Clark County. Individuals may contact an Archivist to access the court records at:

Generally, interested persons may find records before 1990 at the Clark County Clerk of Court Archives Facility.

How To File a Case in Clark County

Before filing a case in Clark County, an individual must determine the appropriate court and division responsible for that type of case. After this, the case must be filed in a court where the defendant resides or where the incident occurred. The clerk of the court will review the filing to ensure it complies with the court rules on the proper format of every legal document.

You can file and send documents online using the Odyssey File & Serve service offered by the Clerk of the Court. This service helps you find your case by using the case number or the names of the parties involved. Once you find your case, you can start the filing process easily.

The Clerk of the Court allows individuals to file and serve documents online through the Odyssey File & Serve service. The Nevada Supreme Court also provides the eFlex Service, which enables interested individuals or attorneys to file cases electronically in the county. They must request an account before using this service.

The Eighth Judicial District Court provides the public with instructions on filing cases, as well as the current filing fees.To file a case in the Justice Courts, individuals may check the Justice Courts page for more information. To file a court case in person, identify the appropriate court and prepare all necessary forms and documents. Afterward, proceed to pay the filing fee or apply for a waiver as an indigent litigant, as outlined in NRS 12.015.

To submit a fee waiver application, individuals must prepare the appropriate application form and submit it to the court clerk. The court clerk will forward the application to the judge for review and consideration. Upon approval by the judge, the clerk will file the documents submitted by the individual.

There is also an automated interview for applicants filing out the District Court Waiver. Applicants may start a new filing interviewand select the "Clark County District Court" option. After completing the interview, the applicant must print the form, sign it, and submit it for filing. Summarily, parties interested in filing a case in Clark County may follow these steps:

• Know the appropriate court that can handle the case they intend to file.
• Prepare the required documents, including case details, affidavits, evidence, and any other necessary documents.
• Complete any specific court-approved form available on the court website or take the automated interview.
• Pay your filing fees or apply for a waiver.
• File the case electronically or in person with the clerk of the relevant court.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Generally, state agencies cannot serve as personal attorneys or provide legal advice to individuals. In Clark County, individuals who cannot afford legal representation for lawsuits may access free legal assistance offered by various local legal aid societies, county courthouses, and local bar association pro bono panels.

Legal help and self-help resources offered to people who do not have enough money for legal representation in the county include the following:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Neighborhood Legal Services
• Southern Nevada Senior Law Program (assists people with immigration, housing, and family law matters)
• Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans
• American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral Service
• Clark County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

Additional legal aid services and self-help resources are available for residents of Clark County, including:

• Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN) - Provides support for various types of legal matters
• Civil Law Self-Help Center (CLSHC) - Free legal help and resources for civil cases, including evictions, name changes, small claims, and family law matters.
• Eighth Judicial District Court Self-Help Resources - Offers a free guide and information for filing out common court forms in the District and Justice Court.
• Nevada Legal Self-Help Center (Statewide) - Provides information on guides and standard legal procedures.
• Clark County Law Library - Allows people to access and understand the legal processes within the county.

Types of Courts in Clark County, Nevada

Residents of Clark County may seek justice at the District Court, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The county also has some federal courts. The jurisdiction of each court and contact information are listed below:

Clark County District Court (Civil/Criminal Division)

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - civil cases involving amounts more than $10,000, criminal, juvenile, family matters, jury trials, and appeals from Justice and Municipal Courts.
• Address and Contact Information -

Clark County District Court (Family Division)

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - family law cases, including divorce, protection orders, and juvenile cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

Clark County Justice Courts

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - jurisdiction over small claims, misdemeanors, preliminary hearings of felonies, traffic infractions, and various civil cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $15,000.
• The Justice Court locations in Clark County are listed below:

Boulder City Justice Court

Bunkerville Justice Court

Goodsprings Justice Court

Henderson Justice Court

Las Vegas Justice Court

Laughlin Justice Court

Mesquite Justice Court

Moapa Justice Court

Moapa Valley Justice Court

North Las Vegas Justice Court

Searchlight Justice Court

Clark County Municipal Courts

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - traffic infractions, misdemeanor cases, and violation of city ordinances.
• The Municipal Court locations in Clark County are listed below:

Boulder City Municipal Court

Henderson Municipal Court

Las Vegas Municipal Court

Mesquite Municipal Court

North Las Vegas Municipal Court

Federal Courts in Clark County

The following are the federal courts in the county:

United States District Court District of Nevada

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Matters that raise a federal question involving the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Government, and other federal laws. These generally include civil and criminal cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court District of Nevada

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Clark County Courts

These are the commonly asked questions about Clark County courts in Nevada: