Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure

Nevada's rules for serving a summons and complaint are in the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure (NRCP), mainly Rules 4 to 4.4. The current service rules took effect March 1, 2019.

Anyone in the business of serving process must hold a license from the Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) chapter 648.

Disclaimer: Laws change, and this page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Check the current rules on the Nevada Legislature's court rules page or ask an attorney before relying on it.

Nevada process servers

• Become a process server in Nevada
• Hire a process server in Nevada

Quick facts: process serving in Nevada

• Who can serve: The sheriff or a deputy of the county where the defendant is found, or any person 18 or older who isn't a party (NRCP 4(c)(3)).
• Licensing: Anyone in the business of serving process needs a process server license from the Private Investigators Licensing Board (NRS 648.060).
• Deadline to serve: Within 120 days after the complaint is filed, unless the court extends the time (NRCP 4(e)).
• Substituted service: Leave the papers at the person's home with someone of suitable age and discretion who lives there and isn't an adverse party (NRCP 4.2(a)(2)).
• Proof of service: The server's affidavit, filed by the date the defendant must respond (NRCP 4(d)).
• Time to respond: 21 days after service, or 45 days for the State and local governments (NRCP 12(a)).

Nevada process server licensing

Nevada licenses process servers. A process server is anyone, other than a Nevada peace officer, who is in the business of serving legal process in Nevada (NRS 648.014). You can't do that work or advertise it without a license from the Private Investigators Licensing Board (NRS 648.060).

To get a license, you'll need to:

• Be at least 21 and of good moral character, with no disqualifying convictions (NRS 648.110)
• Have at least 2 years of experience as a process server, or the equivalent as the Board decides. A year means 2,000 hours (NRS 648.110)
• Pass a written exam, and an oral exam if the Board requires one (NRS 648.100)
• Pay a $750 deposit toward the background investigation before the exam, and submit fingerprints (NRS 648.100, 648.080)
• Carry liability insurance of at least $200,000, or show proof of self-insurance (NRS 648.135)

Employees of a licensed process server must be registered with the Board. A person who serves papers without pay, for an individual (not a business), no more than three times a year isn't treated as a process server (NRS 648.063).

For a step-by-step guide, see Become a Process Server in Nevada.

Process-serving software: ServeManager

ServeManager is process-serving software used by agencies across Nevada. It tracks every attempt with date, time, GPS and photos, and generates affidavits of service from the job.

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How to serve a summons in Nevada

The summons must be served with a copy of the complaint. The methods in Rules 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 can be combined (NRCP 4(c)).

Personal service: NRCP 4.2(a)(1)

The server delivers a copy of the summons and complaint to the person.

Abode service: NRCP 4.2(a)(2)

The server leaves the papers at the person's dwelling or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion who lives there and isn't an adverse party.

Service on an agent: NRCP 4.2(a)(3)

The server delivers the papers to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to accept service for the person.

Waiver of service: NRCP 4.1

The plaintiff can mail a written request to waive service, with the complaint, two waiver forms and a prepaid way to return one. The defendant gets at least 30 days to respond. A defendant in the U.S. who refuses without good cause must pay the later costs of service.

Service outside Nevada: NRCP 4.3

Inside the U.S., a person can be served the same way as in Nevada or under the law of the place where service is made, by someone authorized to serve there. Outside the U.S., service can be made under an international agreement such as the Hague Service Convention, under the foreign country's law, or as the court orders.

Court-ordered alternative service: NRCP 4.4(b)

If the methods above are impracticable, the court can authorize another method. The motion must show due diligence, list the defendant's known contact information (which can include email addresses and social media accounts), and explain why the method satisfies due process. The plaintiff must also mail the papers and the order to the defendant's last known address.

Service by publication: NRCP 4.4(c)

Publication is allowed only if the defendant can't be found after due diligence, is hiding to avoid service, or is an absent or unknown person in certain property cases. The court orders publication at least once a week for four weeks. If the last known address is known, a copy must also be mailed. Service is complete four weeks after the later of the first publication or the mailing.

Serving businesses and other entities

• Corporations, LLCs, partnerships and associations (NRCP 4.2(c)): Serve the registered agent, or an officer, partner, manager or other agent, depending on the type of entity. Look up registered agents with the Nevada Secretary of State entity search.
• Service through the Secretary of State (NRCP 4.2(c)(3)): If good-faith efforts to serve an entity fail, the court can allow service on the Nevada Secretary of State. The plaintiff must also mail the papers by registered or certified mail to any known addresses.
• The State and state agencies (NRCP 4.2(d)(1)): Serve the Attorney General in Carson City and the head of the agency.
• Counties, cities and towns (NRCP 4.2(d)(3)): Serve the presiding officer of the governing body or a designee.

Serving a subpoena in Nevada

Any person 18 or older who isn't a party can serve a subpoena. The server delivers a copy to the person named. If the subpoena requires the person to attend, the server must also tender the fees for one day's attendance and the mileage allowed by law (NRCP 45(b)). Proof of service is filed with the clerk and states the date and manner of service.

Proof of service

Under NRCP 4(d), unless the defendant appears or waives service, the plaintiff must file proof stating the date, place and manner of service by the time the defendant must respond.

• Service in Nevada or elsewhere in the U.S.: An affidavit from the server.
• Service outside the U.S.: Proof as required by the treaty, or a signed receipt or other evidence the court accepts.
• Publication: A copy of the publication with an affidavit from the publisher, and an affidavit from the person who mailed the papers.

Proof of service can be amended. Failing to file it doesn't make the service invalid.

Hire a Nevada process server

Find licensed process servers in Nevada in the ServeNow Nevada directory.

More Nevada resources

• Become a Process Server in Nevada
• Courts in Nevada
• Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure (Nevada Legislature)
• NRS Chapter 648 (Nevada Legislature)
• Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board

This page is a general overview of Nevada law, not legal advice. Laws change. Check the current rules or talk to an attorney about your case.