To get a restraining order in Nevada, you file a free application at the court that handles your type of case, a judge reviews it the same day or the next judicial day, and if the judge finds enough evidence of a threat, a temporary protection order is issued immediately and a hearing is set to decide whether to extend it for up to two years.1State of Nevada Self-Help Center. Domestic Violence Protection Orders You do not need a lawyer, and the applicant pays nothing to file.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 33.050 – Assessment of Court Costs and Fees
Pick the Right Type of Order
Nevada issues different protection orders depending on who is threatening you and what they have done. Filing the right type in the right court matters, because the eligibility rules and the courthouse are not the same.
- A domestic violence order covers threats or violence by a current or former spouse, a blood or marriage relative, a current or former dating partner, someone you share a child with, or a custodian or guardian of the abuser’s minor child. These are generally filed in the District Court’s Family Division.3Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 33.018 – Acts Which Constitute Domestic Violence
- A stalking or harassment order covers repeated, unwanted conduct that causes fear. No prior relationship with the person is required. These are typically filed in Justice Court.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 200.575 – Stalking
- A sexual assault order is available to anyone who has been sexually assaulted, regardless of the relationship. You must be at least 18 to file on your own behalf; a parent or guardian can file for a minor.
- A workplace harassment order is filed by an employer for an employee who is being harassed, stalked, or threatened at work.
If someone you have never met is following, threatening, or has assaulted you, a stalking, harassment, or sexual assault order is the route — the domestic violence statute will not apply.5Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 200.591 – Court May Impose Temporary or Extended Order to Restrict Conduct
What to Gather Before You File
The application asks you to describe what happened in your own words. Specific facts carry your case: the dates and times of each incident, where it happened, exactly what the person said or did, whether weapons were involved, and who else was present. Vague statements like “he is always threatening me” are weaker than a dated account of a specific threat.
You also need identifying information about the person you want protection from: full legal name, home or work address, a physical description including height, weight, and any tattoos or scars, and vehicle details such as make, model, color, and plate if you know them. This information helps law enforcement locate and serve the order. It goes on a separate Confidential Information Sheet that is filed with the court but not shared with the other party.
Bring evidence with you when you can. Screenshots of threatening texts, voicemails, emails, and social media posts often make a difference. In stalking cases, evidence may include GPS tracking data, surveillance video, or records showing the person bought tracking software. Save backup copies somewhere the other party cannot reach, such as a trusted friend’s device or a cloud account with a new password. Print copies for the hearing, because judges often prefer paper exhibits.
File the Application
You can get the forms from a Nevada Family Law Self-Help Center, the court clerk’s office, or the Nevada courts website. Some courts accept electronic filing; you can also file in person during business hours.
Nevada law requires filing costs to be deferred for the applicant, so you pay nothing when you submit your paperwork.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 33.050 – Assessment of Court Costs and Fees After the case is resolved, the court may assess those costs against the other party, reduce them, or waive them entirely. The clerk’s office also cannot charge you for a certified copy of your order.
Judge Review and the Temporary Order
A judge reviews your application without the other party present. This happens within one business day of filing; if you file after hours, the review takes place the next judicial day.1State of Nevada Self-Help Center. Domestic Violence Protection Orders The judge may ask you to appear briefly to answer questions.
If the judge finds enough evidence of a threat, a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) is issued. A TPO lasts up to 45 days and takes effect immediately.6State of Nevada Self-Help Center. Protection Order Overview You receive copies listing the exact restrictions, along with the date for a hearing on whether the order should be extended.
Get the Other Party Served
A protection order is not enforceable until the other party has been formally served. In most cases, the local sheriff’s office handles service at no cost. A licensed private process server is also an option, though private servers charge a fee that varies by location. The server must physically hand the documents to the other party; leaving them at a doorstep or mailing them does not count.
Once service is completed, the server files proof with the court. From that point, law enforcement can arrest the other party for any violation. If the other party cannot be located and served before the hearing date, you may need to ask the court for additional time.
The Extended Order Hearing
The hearing gives both sides a chance to present evidence and testimony. Bring any witnesses, police reports, medical records, photographs, and printed digital evidence that supports your case. The other party has the right to attend, present their own evidence, and argue against the extension.
If the judge grants the extended order, it can last up to two years.7Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 33 – Injunctions; Protection Orders The court can also convert a TPO directly into an extended order at this hearing. Do not miss the hearing. If you do not attend, the judge cannot extend your order, and the TPO will expire.1State of Nevada Self-Help Center. Domestic Violence Protection Orders
What the Order Can Require
Nevada courts can impose a range of restrictions. Common provisions include:
- No contact with you by phone, text, email, or through a third party.5Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 200.591 – Court May Impose Temporary or Extended Order to Restrict Conduct
- Stay-away distance from your home, workplace, school, and other named locations.
- Temporary custody of minor children in domestic violence cases.
- Custody of a household pet, with orders for the other party to stay away from the animal. Injuring or killing a pet as part of a pattern of harassment qualifies as domestic violence and can support your application on its own.3Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 33.018 – Acts Which Constitute Domestic Violence
- Surrender, sale, or transfer of firearms as part of an extended order. A separate federal law also prohibits firearm possession by a person subject to a qualifying protection order.8Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 33.031 – Extended Order May Prohibit Possession of Firearm by Adverse Party9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts
The judge can add any other restriction considered necessary to keep you safe.
If the Order Is Violated
Intentionally violating any term of a protection order is a crime. Penalties escalate with repeat violations:7Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 33 – Injunctions; Protection Orders
- Violating a temporary order: misdemeanor.
- First violation of an extended order: misdemeanor.
- Second violation of an extended order: gross misdemeanor.
- Third or subsequent violation of an extended order: category D felony.
Each separate act can be charged as its own violation. If the other party violates the order, call law enforcement immediately. Keep a copy of the order with you at all times so responding officers can see the terms.
Changing, Ending, or Renewing the Order
While an extended order is in effect, either party can ask the court to modify it or dissolve it by filing a motion.7Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 33 – Injunctions; Protection Orders The court decides whether to hold a hearing. Only a judge can change or end a protection order; the parties cannot agree between themselves to ignore it.
Nevada’s domestic violence statutes do not include an explicit renewal procedure for extended orders. If your order is nearing its expiration date and you still feel unsafe, ask the clerk or a self-help center about filing a new application based on continued or renewed threatening behavior.
If You Leave Nevada
A valid Nevada protection order remains enforceable if you move or if the other party crosses state lines. Under the federal Violence Against Women Act, every state must honor and enforce a protection order issued by another state’s court.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 2265 – Full Faith and Credit Given to Protection Orders You do not have to register the order in your new state for it to be valid, though carrying a certified copy makes it easier for out-of-state officers to verify quickly.
Free Help If You Need It
Nevada’s Family Law Self-Help Centers, located in courthouses across the state, provide free guidance on filling out forms and understanding the process. The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada offers a Family Justice Project that assists domestic violence victims with civil legal matters. Outside the Las Vegas area, contact your local court clerk to ask about legal aid organizations or domestic violence advocacy groups in your county. Representation is not required, but it can make a real difference at the extended order hearing, particularly if the other party hires a lawyer.