How to Sue a Contractor in Nevada Small Claims Court

When Small Claims Court Is the Right Move

You hired a contractor, paid a deposit, and the work is unfinished, defective, or never started. If the amount you're out — the deposit minus the value of whatever work was actually done, plus the cost to hire someone else to finish — is $10,000 or less, small claims court is built for this.

Nevada small claims courts award money only. The judge can order the contractor to pay you back, but cannot force them to finish the job. If you need the work completed, you're looking at the general civil division. If you need money back, small claims is faster and cheaper.

Step 1: Document Everything

Before you contact a lawyer or the court, build your evidence file.

The contract. Whatever you signed — a written agreement, a proposal, even a text message thread where you agreed on scope and price. If there was no written contract, gather every communication where the terms were discussed.

Photos of the work. Before, during, and after. Date-stamped photos of unfinished framing, botched tile work, or a half-demolished kitchen tell a clear story. If the contractor left materials on site, photograph those too.

An independent repair estimate. Hire a licensed contractor to inspect the work and provide a written estimate for completion or correction. This gives the judge a concrete number. Two or three estimates are even better.

Payment records. Bank statements, checks, Venmo receipts, or credit card records showing what you paid. The judge will want to see the total paid versus the value of work delivered.

A State Contractors Board complaint (optional but helpful). Filing a complaint with the Nevada State Contractors Board is a separate regulatory process — it doesn't replace small claims court and won't get your money back directly. A Board complaint creates a separate administrative record.

Step 2: Identify the Right Legal Entity

This is where contractor cases get complicated. You need to sue the correct legal entity — not just the name on the truck.

Sole proprietor: Sue the individual owner by name, adding "dba [Business Name]."

LLC or corporation: Look up the exact legal name on the Nevada Secretary of State's SilverFlume portal. Use that name in your complaint — not a nickname or trade name. You'll also need the registered agent's name and physical address for service of process.

Unlicensed contractor: If the contractor doesn't have a Nevada license, check whether they're operating as an individual or under a business name. Some repair or maintenance work valued at less than $1,000, including labor and materials, may be exempt from licensure only if it does not require a building permit and is not plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating, or air-conditioning work. Check with the Nevada State Contractors Board before relying on an exemption. Work that requires a license but is performed without one can be reported to the Board.

Step 3: Calculate Your Damages

The judge wants a specific dollar amount, not an estimate of frustration.

Deposit paid minus value of work completed is the simplest formula. If you paid $8,000 and the contractor did $3,000 worth of work before disappearing, your damages are $5,000.

Cost to repair defective work is another common measure. If the contractor finished the job but did it wrong, and another contractor quoted $4,200 to fix it, that's your number.

Don't include speculative damages like "lost time" or "stress." Small claims courts in Nevada award monetary damages tied to actual financial losses. Stick to what you can prove with receipts and estimates.

Step 4: Send the Demand Letter

Clark County courts require it. Washoe County and rural courts expect it. Send a formal demand via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt. State the exact amount, the factual basis, and a deadline for payment.

Step 5: File and Serve

File in the township where the work was performed, where the contract was made (unless a special contract specifies otherwise), or where the contractor resides, works, or does business. Filing fees range from $66 to $196 in the major Clark County and Washoe County Justice Courts.

Serve the contractor through the township Constable, a licensed process server, or any disinterested adult over 18, subject to local rules. For an LLC, serve the registered agent on file with the Secretary of State. Service must be completed 14 business days before trial in Clark County. In Reno, serve at least 20 calendar days before mediation; in Sparks, file proof of service at least 7 days before mediation and use a licensed process server or sheriff unless the judge approves another method.

At the Hearing

Bring your evidence binder — three copies. Walk the judge through the timeline: what was agreed, what was paid, what was done (or not done), what you had to spend to fix it. Reference your exhibits by number. If the contractor doesn't show, ask for a default judgment.

The Nevada Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full filing process for contractor disputes, including the entity identification walkthrough, forms, and hearing preparation for your specific Justice Court.

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