Who may serve a summons and complaint in Nevada?

The sheriff or a deputy sheriff of the county where the defendant is found, or any person who is at least 18 years old and not a party to the action, under NRCP 4(c)(3). A party to the case cannot serve their own summons.

Can I serve my own summons in a Nevada lawsuit?

No. NRCP 4(c)(3) requires the server to be at least 18 and not a party to the action, so a plaintiff or defendant cannot serve their own summons. Someone else who meets the age and non-party requirement must do it.

Do I need a license to serve a Nevada summons for someone else?

Not always. A natural person who serves without pay, for a litigant who is a natural person and not a business entity, and not more than 3 times a calendar year, is exempt from process-server licensing under NRS 648.063(2). Anyone serving more often, for pay, or for a business-entity litigant must be licensed under NRS 648.060, and a licensed server must be at least 21 with at least 2 years of experience as a process server, or the equivalent as determined by the Board (NRS 648.110(1)(a), (2)(d)).

How long do I have to serve a summons in Nevada?

The summons and complaint must be served no later than 120 days after the complaint is filed, unless the court grants an extension. If the 120 days lapses without a timely extension motion, the court must dismiss the action without prejudice (NRCP 4(e)(1)-(2)).

When must proof of service be filed in a Nevada case?

NRCP 4(d) requires proof of service to be filed no later than the time permitted for the defendant to respond to the summons, generally the 21-day answer window under NRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i). Failing to file proof does not by itself invalidate the service already made (NRCP 4(d)(5)).

How do I prove service of a motion or other later paper in a Nevada case?

Later papers are served under NRCP 5(b) on the attorney of record if the party has one, otherwise on the party. Proof may be made by certificate, acknowledgment, or other proof satisfactory to the court, a looser standard than the affidavit NRCP 4(d) requires for the summons, and failure to make proof does not affect the validity of the service.

Does this Nevada proof of service cover federal court, service abroad, or a government defendant?

No. Service in federal court under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, service in a foreign country, and service on a government entity follow separate rules not covered on this page.

Nevada Proof of Service

Q: Is there an official Nevada proof-of-service form?

No mandatory statewide form exists. NRCP 84 authorizes the Appendix of Forms for use in Nevada courts, but that appendix does not include a proof-of-service form. The Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County) Civil Law Self-Help Center's AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY is a non-mandatory Clark County template, and other courts may have their own templates.

Q: Is ordinary mail alone enough to serve a Nevada summons?

No. NRCP 4.2(a) gives a domestic individual defendant no plain-mail service option at all; only personal delivery, substituted service at the dwelling, or service on an authorized agent will do. Mail is available only as a court-ordered supplement to alternative service or publication.

Nevada lets a sheriff, a deputy sheriff, or any non-party at least 18 serve a summons, has no mandatory statewide proof-of-service form, and gives a domestic individual defendant no mail-only option, only personal delivery, substituted service at the dwelling, or service on an authorized agent.

Find out where you stand in Nevada

Where are you with service?

DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.

Introduction

Nevada lets the sheriff or a deputy sheriff, or any person at least 18 and not a party, serve a summons; a party cannot serve their own summons (NRCP 4(c)(3)). A commercial or repeat process server must be licensed under NRS 648.060, but a natural person serving without pay for a litigant who is a natural person and not a business entity, not more than 3 times a calendar year, is exempt (NRS 648.063(2)). Nevada has no mandatory statewide proof-of-service form; NRCP 84's Appendix of Forms has none, and the Eighth Judicial District (Clark County) Civil Law Self-Help Center's AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE template is not mandatory. NRCP 4(d)(1) calls the proof an affidavit, but NRS 53.045 lets the server sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury instead, so no notary is needed. NRCP 4.2(a) allows personal delivery (4.2(a)(1)), leaving a copy at the dwelling with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there and is not an adverse party (4.2(a)(2)), or delivery to an authorized agent (4.2(a)(3)). Ordinary mail alone does not serve a summons on a domestic individual; mail applies only as a court-ordered adjunct to alternative service or publication. Serve within 120 days after filing, absent an extension; file proof by the time to respond, generally the 21-day answer window (NRCP 4(e), 4(d), 12(a)(1)(A)(i)). Later papers are served under NRCP 5(b), proved by certificate or other proof satisfactory to the court. Federal, out-of-country, and government-entity service follow separate rules not covered here. Attorney review is available before you file.

Key Things to Know

1
The sheriff or a deputy sheriff of the county where the defendant is found, or any person who is at least 18 and not a party, may serve a summons and complaint; a party cannot serve their own summons (NRCP 4(c)(3)). Nevada has no mandatory statewide proof-of-service form; the Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County) Civil Law Self-Help Center's AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY template is not mandatory, and other courts may have their own templates.
2
A commercial or repeat process server must be licensed by Nevada's Private Investigators Licensing Board under NRS 648.060, and a licensed server must be at least 21 with at least 2 years of experience as a process server, or the equivalent as determined by the Board (NRS 648.110(1)(a), (2)(d)). A natural person who serves without pay, for a litigant who is a natural person and not a business entity, and not more than 3 times a calendar year, is exempt from that license (NRS 648.063(2)).
3
NRCP 4(d)(1) calls the proof an affidavit, but NRS 53.045 lets the server instead sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury with the same legal effect, so no notary is required.
4
Ordinary mail alone does not serve a summons on a domestic individual in Nevada. NRCP 4.2(a) allows only personal delivery, substituted service at the dwelling, or service on an authorized agent; mail is available only as a court-ordered supplement to alternative service (NRCP 4.4(b)(3)(B)) or to publication (NRCP 4.4(c)(4)(B)).
5
NRCP 4.2(a)(2) allows leaving a copy at the individual's dwelling or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there and is not an adverse party; the rule text itself does not require a separate mailing.
6
The summons and complaint must be served within 120 days after the complaint is filed, or the court must dismiss the action without prejudice absent a timely extension (NRCP 4(e)(1)-(2)). Proof of service must be filed no later than the time permitted for the defendant to respond to the summons, generally the 21-day answer window under NRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i); failing to file proof does not by itself invalidate service (NRCP 4(d), 4(d)(5)).
7
Later papers such as motions are served on the attorney of record, or the party if unrepresented, under NRCP 5(b); proof may be made by certificate, acknowledgment, or other proof satisfactory to the court, a looser standard than the affidavit NRCP 4(d) requires for the summons, and failure to make proof does not affect the validity of service (NRCP 5(b)(4)).

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Proof of Service in Nevada, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Proof of Service guide walks through them.

Open the Proof of Service guide

Customize your Proof of Service Template with DocDraft

PROOF OF SERVICE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY

Nevada has no mandatory statewide proof-of-service form. The Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County) Civil Law Self-Help Center publishes a non-mandatory AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY template referencing NRCP 4.2; other courts may have their own templates.

[COURT NAME] COURT, [COUNTY] COUNTY, NEVADA

[PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff, v. Case No. [CASE NUMBER]

[DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

I am at least 18 years of age and not a party to this action.
I received the following papers for service: [LIST OF PAPERS SERVED, INCLUDING THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT], on [DATE PAPERS RECEIVED FOR SERVICE].
I served [NAME OF DEFENDANT] with the papers listed above on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [TIME OF SERVICE], at [ADDRESS OR OTHER PLACE OF SERVICE], by the method checked below.

[ ] PERSONAL DELIVERY. I personally delivered the papers to [NAME OF DEFENDANT] at the place and time above, under NRCP 4.2(a)(1).

[ ] SUBSTITUTED SERVICE AT THE DWELLING. I left the papers at the defendant's dwelling or usual place of abode with [NAME OF PERSON SERVED], a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there and is not an adverse party to the defendant, under NRCP 4.2(a)(2).

[ ] SERVICE ON AN AUTHORIZED AGENT. I delivered the papers to [NAME AND TITLE OF AGENT], an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process for the defendant, under NRCP 4.2(a)(3).

[ ] COURT-ORDERED ALTERNATIVE SERVICE. Under the order of [COURT] dated [DATE OF ORDER], on a showing of due diligence, I served the defendant by [DESCRIPTION OF COURT-AUTHORIZED METHOD], under NRCP 4.4(b), (d), and I also mailed a copy to the defendant's last-known address, [ADDRESS], on [DATE OF MAILING], under NRCP 4.4(b)(3)(B).

[ ] SERVICE BY PUBLICATION. Under the order of [COURT] dated [DATE OF ORDER], the summons was published in [NAME OF NEWSPAPER] at least once a week for four weeks, beginning [DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION] and ending [DATE OF LAST PUBLICATION], under NRCP 4.4(c). A copy of the publication is attached.

[ ] A copy was also mailed to the defendant's last-known address, [ADDRESS], on [DATE OF MAILING], under NRCP 4.4(c)(4)(B).

Server information. Name: [SERVER NAME] Address: [SERVER ADDRESS]

[ ] I am licensed by Nevada's Private Investigators Licensing Board as a process server, license number [LICENSE NUMBER].

[ ] I am the sheriff, or a deputy sheriff, of [COUNTY] County, Nevada.

DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

[ ] Executed outside Nevada: I declare under penalty of perjury under the law of the State of Nevada that the foregoing is true and correct.

Date: [DATE] Executed at [CITY AND STATE].

[SIGNATURE] [SERVER NAME]

[ ] NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT IN PLACE OF A DECLARATION

State of [STATE] County of [COUNTY]

Subscribed and sworn to before me on [DATE] by [SERVER NAME].

[SIGNATURE OF NOTARY PUBLIC] Notary Public My commission expires: [DATE]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE OF LATER PAPERS

[ ] On [DATE], I served a copy of [TITLE OF LATER PAPER] on [NAME OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD, OR THE PARTY IF UNREPRESENTED], by [METHOD OF SERVICE ALLOWED UNDER NRCP 5(b)(2)], at [ADDRESS OR ELECTRONIC ADDRESS], under NRCP 5(b).

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Date: [DATE]

[SIGNATURE] [NAME OF PERSON WHO SERVED]

Nevada Requirements for Proof of Service

Non-Party Server Age 18 or Older
A summons and complaint may be served by the sheriff or a deputy sheriff, or any person who is at least 18 years old and not a party; a party cannot serve their own summons (NRCP 4(c)(3)).
Process Server Licensing Exemption for Occasional Unpaid Service
A commercial or repeat process server must be licensed under NRS 648.060, and a licensed server must be at least 21 with at least 2 years of experience as a process server, or the equivalent as determined by the Board (NRS 648.110(1)(a), (2)(d)). A natural person who serves without pay, for a litigant who is a natural person and not a business entity, and not more than 3 times a calendar year, is exempt (NRS 648.063(2)).
No Mandatory Statewide Proof-of-Service Form
NRCP 84 authorizes the Appendix of Forms for use in Nevada courts, but that appendix has no proof-of-service form; the Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County) Civil Law Self-Help Center's AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY template is not mandatory, and other courts may have their own templates.
Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury Allowed Instead of an Affidavit
NRCP 4(d)(1) calls the proof an affidavit, but NRS 53.045 lets the server sign an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury instead, with the same legal effect, so no notary is required.
No Mail-Only Service for a Domestic Individual
NRCP 4.2(a) allows only personal delivery, substituted service at the dwelling, or service on an authorized agent for a domestic individual defendant; mail is available only as a court-ordered adjunct to alternative service or publication.
120-Day Deadline to Serve the Summons
The summons and complaint must be served no later than 120 days after the complaint is filed, unless the court grants an extension; if the deadline lapses without a timely extension motion, the court must dismiss the action without prejudice (NRCP 4(e)(1)-(2)).
Proof of Service Filing Tied to the Answer Window
Proof of service must be filed no later than the time permitted for the defendant to respond to the summons, generally the 21-day answer window under NRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i); failing to file proof does not by itself invalidate the service already made (NRCP 4(d), 4(d)(5)).
Substituted Service at the Dwelling
A copy may be left at the individual's dwelling or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there and is not an adverse party (NRCP 4.2(a)(2)).
Certificate of Service for Later Papers
Later papers are served under NRCP 5(b) on the attorney of record or the party; proof may be made by certificate, acknowledgment, or other proof satisfactory to the court, and failure to make proof does not affect the validity of the service (NRCP 5(b)(4)).

Find out where you stand in Nevada

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Proof of Service Template with DocDraft

Nevada Requirements for Proof of Service

Non-Party Server Age 18 or Older

Process Server Licensing Exemption for Occasional Unpaid Service

No Mandatory Statewide Proof-of-Service Form

Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury Allowed Instead of an Affidavit

No Mail-Only Service for a Domestic Individual

120-Day Deadline to Serve the Summons

Proof of Service Filing Tied to the Answer Window

Substituted Service at the Dwelling

Certificate of Service for Later Papers

Frequently Asked Questions