Nevada Small Claims Filing Fees: 2026 Fee Schedule and Fee Waiver Guide

The 2026 Fee Schedule

Nevada's small claims filing fees are set by NRS 4.060 plus mandatory local surcharges for dispute resolution, legal libraries, and court technology. The published fee tiers in major Clark County and Washoe County Justice Courts are:

Within those courts, the fee tier depends on the amount claimed, not whether you file electronically or on paper. Confirm the fee schedule with a rural court before filing. Older sources citing $45–$76 are quoting the base statutory fee before local surcharges — the numbers above are what you actually pay in the courts covered here.

Additional Costs Beyond the Filing Fee

eFileNV surcharge: $2.50 per document submitted through the Odyssey portal (Las Vegas mandatory e-filing).

Copy and certification fees: Reno Justice Court charges $0.50 per page for copies and $3.00 for certified copies. Check the fee schedule for the court handling your case.

Service of process: The township Constable, County Sheriff, or a licensed private process server charges separately. This cost varies by township and provider.

Counterclaim filing fee: If the defendant files a counterclaim, the fee is $71 at Las Vegas Justice Court. Other courts charge the same tiered rates as a new complaint.

Appeal costs: An appeal to District Court requires a transcript or audio recording of the hearing — $35 for a digital audio copy in Washoe County — plus a separate filing fee and potentially an appeal bond.

How to Apply for a Fee Waiver (In Forma Pauperis)

If you can't afford the filing fee, Nevada law lets you request a complete waiver through an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis under NRS Chapter 12.

What you file: The Application along with a detailed financial affidavit. The affidavit must list your income, assets, debts, and any public assistance benefits you receive. Each court has its own version of the form — Las Vegas Justice Court publishes a downloadable PDF, and the Civil Law Self-Help Center can help you fill it out.

How it's decided: A Justice of the Peace reviews your application without a hearing (ex parte review). You won't need to appear in court just for the fee waiver decision.

What a granted waiver covers: Court filing fees and official service fees when the township Constable or County Sheriff serves the defendant. Those two expenses disappear entirely.

What it doesn't cover: Private process servers, expert witness fees, or appeal bonds. If you use a private server instead of the Constable, you pay out of pocket regardless of the waiver.

If your application is denied: You must pay the full filing fee by 5:00 p.m. on the second judicial day after the court contacts you. Miss that deadline and your complaint is returned unfiled.

Choosing Your Claim Amount Strategically

Since fees jump at each tier, it can make sense to consider the thresholds. A claim for $2,500 costs $86 to file. A claim for $2,501 costs $106 — a $20 jump for $1 more in claimed damages. If your actual damages are close to a tier boundary, calculate whether the extra filing cost is worth it.

That said, don't understate your damages to save on filing fees. File for what you're actually owed. The goal is to recover the money, and a judge won't award more than you ask for.

Can You Recover Filing Fees?

The judge can add court costs, including your filing fee, to the judgment amount. If you win, you may get the filing fee back as part of the judgment. But collection is a separate step — winning a judgment doesn't automatically put money in your hand.

Next Steps

Filing fees are one piece of the cost picture. The Nevada Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full financial picture alongside every procedural step — which forms to use, how to serve the defendant, and how to prepare for the hearing.

See more Nevada guides →