Court Forms & How to File

Learn how to find and fill out legal forms, how to create your own legal documents, and how to file documents with the court.

All of the forms on this website have been approved for use in Clark County Family Court, Nevada.  

If you can't find a form here, there are other places where you might be able to find legal forms.  If you cannot find a form, you may have to create a form using a sample, an outline, or instructions from a variety of resources. Your local law library will be a terrific resource. Visit our Law Libraries page to learn more.

 Tips for filling out legal forms
 Creating your own legal documents
 Filing documents with the court

 Tips for filling out legal forms

• Make sure you have the most current version of the form. 
• Only use one side of the paper. The court only accepts single-sided copies. Making double-sided copies can result in future copying mistakes.
• Read the entire form and any instructions that came with it BEFORE you start filling out the form. This will give you a better idea of the form’s purpose and what information you will need to provide. 
• Make sure your completed forms are easy to read. Type them up online if possible, or use dark ink if printing by hand.
• You always need to fill out the "caption" on the first page. The caption contains your name, address, phone number, and e-mail. If you want your home address to stay private, you can use another address where you receive mail.  The caption also lists the name of the plaintiff, the name of the defendant, the case number, and the department number.

• If you do not have a lawyer, write "self-represented" anywhere the form asks for the name of your attorney. 
• Fill out the forms completely. If something does not apply to you, write "N/A" (meaning "not applicable"). If the answer to a question is "none," write "none." If you do not know the answer to a question, write "unknown." Try not to leave blanks in your forms. 
• Sign your forms in each place that requires your signature. Use dark ink only. Many court forms you are signing "under penalty of perjury."  That means when you sign the form you are declaring that what is on the form is true and correct. Take this seriously!  There are both civil and criminal penalties for perjury. 
• If you need legal advice before filling out your forms, you may need to talk to a private attorney (visit Lawyers and Legal Help), a volunteer attorney at one of the Ask-A-Lawyer programs, or an attorney at one of the free legal classes if your question relates to one of the class topics. You can also go to your local law library and ask a librarian for books and resources to help you complete your forms. 
• Keep the originals of every form you file. Keep your legal documents in a safe place for your records. Take your entire document file with you every time you go to the courthouse. 

 Creating your own legal documents

If you cannot find a pre-printed, fill-in-the-blank form you need, you can create the legal document yourself.

Try to find a good example to work from. Your local Law Library might have a sample to show you and may be able to help with creating a form.  Below is blank pleading paper in Microsoft Word that you can use to start building your form. 

Blank Pleading Paper (word doc)

If you need to file documents with the court, you must attach a title page in the proper court format and give your filing a name.  You can download a blank title page below if you need a cover page to attach to documents you would like to file.

Blank Cover / Title Page (pdf fillable) - attach your documents after this page

 Filing documents with the court

Any document you want included in your case must be “filed.” There may be a filing fee for the documents you are trying to file, which is payable by cash, money order, and most major credit/debit cards. You can find a list of all the filing fees in the Clark County District Court on the Clerk's Filing Fee Chart. If you cannot afford the filing fee, visit Fee Waivers for information on how to ask the court to waive the filing fee.

There are three ways to file:

1. Online: You can file online through the court's e-filing system, eFileNV. There is a fee of $3.50 to upload your documents in addition to the regular filing fee. You must register for an account, you must provide a valid email address, and you must be able to scan and upload your documents as separate pdfs.  Do not upload one pdf with all of the forms included - this will significantly delay the processing.  Each form needs to be filed as its own pdf, but you can upload all of them in one submission.  Carefully follow the E-Filing Guide to avoid mistakes. 
   E-Filing Guide   Guía de Presentación Electrónica
   
   
2. In person at the Family Courthouse, 601 North Pecos Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89101.  In person filing is available Monday - Friday from 8am-4pm. 

3. By Mail: (mail takes about 6-8 weeks to process and is not suggested if you are under a deadline to file) Mail your forms and any filing fee (with check or money order made out to Clerk of Court) to:

   Family Courts and Services Center
   Attn: Clerk of Court
   601 North Pecos Road
   Las Vegas, NV 89101

Visit the Clerk of Court's website to learn more about filing in the district court.

After filing your documents, you usually need to serve a copy of the documents on the other party. The court does not serve the documents for you. Be sure you understand and follow the rules of service. If you do not, your case could be delayed or dismissed.