Nevada · Unpaid personal loan
Unpaid personal loan in Nevada small claims
Friend or family owes you money? Recover it in small claims.
Lending money to a friend or family member without repayment can lead to a small claims case. You do not need a formal promissory note to sue, but having written evidence of the loan — even text messages or emails confirming the amount and a promise to repay — dramatically strengthens your case. The key elements are proving the loan was made, the amount, and that repayment was due.
In Nevada, small-claims cases are heard in the Justice Court (small claims division) and you can sue for up to $10,000.
Good to know: Nevada has no statewide small claims court; claims are heard by the justice of the peace in the local Justice Court for the township (NRS 73.010). Each township (Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and others) publishes its own forms, so some steps vary by court.
Unpaid personal loan: steps that matter
- Gather all evidence of the loan: bank transfers, cash-withdrawal records, texts, emails, or any written note agreeing to repay.
- Calculate the amount owed including any agreed interest, and confirm when repayment was supposed to occur.
- Send a written demand for repayment with a clear deadline and keep proof you sent it.
- Confirm you are within the statute of limitations below before filing — the clock may have started from the repayment due date.
- File in the court where the defendant lives or where the loan was agreed to.
Filing your Affidavit of Complaint in Nevada
- Confirm the right court and that your claim is $10,000 or less. Small claims handle money-only disputes up to $10,000. File in the Justice Court for the township where the defendant lives, works, or does business, or where the events occurred.
- Make a demand for payment. Most townships require a demand first. North Las Vegas requires a certified-mail demand and a 15-day wait before filing; Las Vegas requires only that a demand was previously made. Check your township's rule.
- Complete and file the Affidavit of Complaint. Fill out the Affidavit of Complaint, make the required copies, and file it with the court with any demand-letter proof and the fee. The court sets a hearing date and issues a Summons and Order to Appear.
- Serve the defendant. A file-stamped copy of the Affidavit and Summons must be served on each defendant by the constable, sheriff, a licensed process server, or any uninvolved adult over 18. North Las Vegas requires service at least 15 days before the court date.
- File the Affidavit of Service and prepare for the hearing. File the Affidavit of Service (North Las Vegas requires it at least 10 days before the court date) and bring your evidence and witnesses. There is no written answer; the dispute is decided at the hearing.
Filing fees: Filing fees are set by each Justice Court and scale with the claim, so there is no single statewide figure. North Las Vegas's 2025 schedule runs from $66 (claims up to $1,000) to $196 (claims up to $10,000). Fee waivers are available; verify with your court.
Deadline that applies to your unpaid personal loan
A personal loan is a contract or debt claim — you lent money on a promise to repay. If you have a written loan agreement, the written-contract statute of limitations typically applies. If the loan was only a verbal agreement, the oral-contract or debt period usually governs. The limitations clock generally starts from the date repayment was due or the last payment made.
Written contract: 6 years (NRS 11.190(1)(b))
Answering a lawsuit: No written answer is required. The defendant is ordered to appear at a court-set trial date (North Las Vegas requires service at least 15 days before); failing to appear can result in a default judgment.
Serving the defendant: A file-stamped copy of the Affidavit of Complaint and Summons and Order to Appear must be served on each defendant by the constable, sheriff, a licensed process server, or any uninvolved adult over 18. In North Las Vegas, service is due at least 15 days before the court date and the Affidavit of Service at least 10 days before.
Appeals: Either party may appeal to the District Court; deadlines are set by each Justice Court (the Las Vegas Justice Court allows 5 judicial days from entry of judgment). A typed transcript is required, so confirm with the court that ruled.
All Nevada small-claims deadlines
The table below lists the filing deadlines Justice Court (small claims division) applies by claim category. Confirm the exact rule that applies to your unpaid personal loan claim with your court before relying on any figure.
| Claim type | Filing deadline |
|---|---|
| Written contract (NRS 11.190(1)(b)) | 6 years |
| Oral / unwritten contract (NRS 11.190(2)(c)) | 4 years |
| Debt / open account for goods sold and delivered (NRS 11.190(2)(a)) | 4 years |
| Property damage (taking, detaining or injuring personal property) (NRS 11.190(3)(c)) | 3 years |
| Personal injury (NRS 11.190(4)(e)) | 2 years |
Nevada small-claims forms for your unpaid personal loan case
These forms are published by the Justice Court (small claims division). Download and complete them before filing.
- North Las Vegas Justice Court Small Claims Packet (information sheet, Affidavit of Complaint, Affidavit of Service, fee schedule): Official combined packet that explains the small claims process and contains the Affidavit of Complaint (Small Claims), the Affidavit of Service (Small Claims), the Summons & Order to Appear, and the filing-fee schedule by claim amount.
- North Las Vegas Justice Court Small Claims Packet (Spanish): Spanish-language version of the small claims packet and forms.
- Henderson Justice Court Affidavit of Complaint (Small Claims): Standalone Affidavit of Complaint form used to start a small claims case (Henderson Township version).
This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Nevada Administrative Office of the Courts: Small Claims Court. Last reviewed 2026-06-24.