Nevada Judgment Exemptions: What a Creditor Can and Can't Take

Why Exemptions Matter Before You Start Collecting

Nevada law protects specific debtor assets from post-judgment enforcement. If the debtor files a Claim of Exemption, the officer holds the affected property while the claim is resolved; the court decides whether the assets are exempt. Knowing the exemption limits before you choose an enforcement tool saves you from targeting property you can never reach.

The Full Exemption List Under NRS 21.090

Here's what Nevada protects from judgment execution:

Primary residence (homestead): Up to $605,000 in equity under NRS 115.010, if the debtor has recorded a homestead declaration. This is equity, not market value. Subtract all mortgages, tax liens and prior encumbrances first.

Wages: Senate Bill 142 expanded wage protections effective April 1, 2026, protecting up to $850 of weekly disposable earnings and increasing wage-protection percentages. The 25%/18% and 50-times-federal-minimum-wage figures are pre-update baselines, not the current calculation.

Personal bank accounts: $2,000–$5,000 is protected under NRS 21.105, depending on the account type and recent legislative updates. Federal benefit deposits (Social Security, SSI, VA) get automatic 2-month lookback protection — the bank shields those funds without the debtor filing anything.

Motor vehicles: Up to $15,000 in equity ($30,000 for married debtors) under NRS 21.090(1)(f). Vehicles modified for disability are fully exempt with no cap.

Household goods and appliances: $12,000 ($24,000 married). This covers furniture, clothing, electronics and kitchen appliances — basically everything in a normal home.

Books, art, jewelry and keepsakes: $5,000 ($10,000 married).

Tools of trade: $10,000 in professional tools, implements and equipment the debtor uses to earn a living.

Farm and mining equipment: $4,500.

Retirement accounts: Up to $1,000,000 in present value across all qualified plans — 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, SEP, and 529 education plans.

Personal injury compensation: $16,150.

Wildcard personal property: $10,000 ($20,000 married) in any personal property the debtor chooses. This is a catch-all the debtor can apply to anything that doesn't fit another category, except real estate.

How Exemption Claims Work

When a constable or sheriff levies on the debtor's property — seizing a bank account, garnishing wages, or taking physical property — the officer mails a Notice of Execution to the debtor. From the postmark date, the debtor has 10 days to file a Claim of Exemption with the Justice Court clerk.

Once a claim is filed, the officer must hold everything in trust. No funds get released to you until the claim is resolved.

If you disagree with the claim, you file an Objection to Claim of Exemption. The court schedules a hearing — typically within 14 days — where a judge decides whether the assets are legally protected.

If you don't file a timely objection, the officer releases everything back to the debtor automatically.

What This Means for Your Collection Strategy

Exemptions shape your enforcement choices:

• If the debtor's only asset is a home with a recorded homestead declaration and $300,000 in equity, that equity is below the $605,000 exemption cap; a lien won't produce immediate cash, though it can remain an encumbrance.
• If the debtor has $600 in weekly disposable earnings, those earnings are below the $850 protected amount under SB 142.
• If the debtor has a car worth $8,000 with no loan, it's fully exempt under the $15,000 vehicle cap. Seizing it wastes your money.
• A business debtor's operating bank account isn't protected by the personal account exemption. That's often the best levy target.

The Nevada Judgment Collection Guide includes an exemption-screening checklist that walks you through each asset category before you spend money on a writ, helping you target the assets most likely to produce a recovery.

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