How to Appeal a Small Claims Court Judgment in Nevada

You lost your small claims case in Nevada and you think the judge got it wrong. You have the right to appeal — but the window is narrow. Under JCRCP Rule 98, you must file your notice of appeal within 7 calendar days after service of the judgment. NRS 73.050 sets the prevailing party's attorney fee on appeal at no more than $15; it does not set the appeal deadline. Miss the deadline, and the judgment is final.

The 7-Calendar-Day Deadline

This is the most critical fact about Nevada small claims appeals. You have 7 calendar days from service of the judgment. The day of service is excluded, but weekends and holidays count; if the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, JCRCP Rule 6 extends the deadline to the next non-holiday weekday.

Start counting the day after service of the judgment. JCRCP Rule 98 does not require a separate formal notice of entry.

What You Need to File

An appeal from small claims court goes to the district court. You'll need:

1. Notice of Appeal — filed with the justice court that heard your case. This is the document that preserves your appeal rights within the 7-calendar-day window.
2. Appeal bond — under JCRCP Rule 100, a judgment debtor's bond covers the judgment plus interest, $100 for appeal costs, and $15 for the respondent's attorney fee if awarded. Las Vegas Justice Court also sets a $250 appeal-cost bond unless the court fixes a different amount; a bond to stay execution there covers the full judgment plus that cost-bond amount.
3. Filing fee — for an appeal to the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, the district court filing fee is $47 under EDCR 9.03, plus any fees charged by the justice court. Fees in other courts differ.

The combined cost of the appeal bond and filing fees means appealing a small judgment may not make financial sense. If you owe $500, compare the required bond and court fees with the judgment before deciding.

What Happens in District Court

A small claims appeal is not automatically a new trial. In Las Vegas, LVJCLRP Rule 5.15(d) provides for the justice court record to be sent to district court without a transcript; the applicable appeal rules govern review in other courts.

An appeal gives the district court a chance to review the judgment under the applicable appeal rules; do not assume you can present the case again from scratch.

Can You Appeal a Default Judgment?

If you lost by default (because you didn't show up), you generally have two paths:

1. File a motion to set aside the default in the justice court under JCRCP 60(b). For excusable neglect, mistake, newly discovered evidence, or fraud, the motion must be made within a reasonable time and no more than six months after the later of the proceeding or service of written notice of entry. If granted, you get a new hearing in small claims court.
2. File an appeal to district court within 7 calendar days after service of the judgment. This is faster but more expensive because of the bond requirement.

For most defendants, the set-aside motion is the better first step — it's cheaper and keeps the case in the simpler small claims forum.

When an Appeal Makes Sense

Consider appealing when the judgment amount is significant (closer to the $10,000 cap) or you have a strong basis for district-court review. Weigh the bond and filing fees against the judgment amount before deciding.

The Nevada Small Claims Response Guide covers both the appeal process and the default set-aside motion, with timeline worksheets for each path.

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