Washoe County operates a three-tier court system — Washoe County District Court (Second Judicial District), two justice court townships (Reno and Sparks), and the Incline Village Justice Court for the Lake Tahoe area. Each court has distinct filing requirements, monetary thresholds, and proof of service formatting standards.
Second Judicial District — Reno, Nevada
Civil matters above $15,000 · Family law · Probate · Felony criminal
Primary trial court for Washoe County. All major civil litigation, divorce, custody, and guardianship proceedings. NRCP Rule 4 governs service on all District Court matters.
Reno Township · Washoe County
Civil under $15,000 · Small claims under $10,000 · Evictions · Misdemeanors
Handles the majority of landlord-tenant disputes and small civil matters for the Reno Township precinct. Proof of service must be formatted specifically for Reno Township.
Sparks Township · Washoe County
Civil under $15,000 · Small claims under $10,000 · Evictions · Misdemeanors
Covers the Sparks city area and east Reno Metro. Distinct from Reno Justice Court — filing a Sparks-area proof at Reno Justice Court causes rejection.
Lake Tahoe Township · Washoe County
Civil under $15,000 · Small claims · Evictions — North Lake Tahoe area
Serves the north Lake Tahoe communities including Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Seasonal population variation and remote addressing require specialized access protocols.
Filing proof of service at the wrong Washoe County court — even the adjacent one — causes outright rejection. Every assignment is precinct-confirmed before deployment.
Claims under $10,000 → justice court small claims. Claims $10,001–$15,000 → justice court civil. Claims above $15,000 → District Court. Wrong court = dismissed filing.
Washoe County eviction proceedings move quickly. The 3-day, 7-day, or 30-day notice must be properly served before filing. Defective notice service voids the entire eviction.
Every Washoe County court requires: exact date/time, full address, identity and description of person served, method of service, and server certification under penalty of perjury.
Township-formatted affidavits. Filed before your hearing date in the correct court.
Call: (725) 277-8059