Court records of Washoe County, Nevada, are maintained by the Clerk of the District Court and are available through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court clerk's office. WashoeCourt.us is a convenient resource for starting a search for publicly accessible court case information. Additionally, you can use the Nevada Judiciary portal, the appellate court case search system, and the court clerk's office in person. Below is a complete guide to the county's court system.
Washoe Court System Overview
Washoe County is part of the Second Judicial District of Nevada. The District Court of general jurisdiction handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The court is located in Reno and exclusively serves Washoe County, one of the most populous in the state.
Washoe County District Court operates at:
The Magistrate Division operates within the same district court structure and handles limited jurisdiction cases: small claims, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. The connection between the divisions is close — cases move from the magistrate to the district judge after preliminary hearings or appeals.
Courts Serving Washoe
District Court
Justice Court
Municipal Court
U.S. District Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
What Types of Cases Washoe Courts Hear
The county courts cover a wide range of cases. Here's a brief list:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Civil claims — from small to large
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony
- Probate cases, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile and child protection cases
- Adoption
- DUI (driving under the influence)
Each type of case goes to a specific court depending on jurisdiction and claim amount. More details are in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Washoe
The Washoe District Court handles the most serious categories of cases. Criminal felony cases are brought here after preliminary hearings in the Justice Court, where the magistrate determines the sufficiency of evidence for bindover. Civil claims exceeding the jurisdictional limit of the Justice Court (over $15,000) are also filed directly with the district court.
Additionally, district judges hear appeals from Justice Court decisions, consider post-conviction relief motions, and handle cases related to election law, major property disputes, and complex family proceedings. Cases are assigned among judges through an internal rotation system. A district judge, elected or appointed according to Nevada law, always presides.
Magistrate Court Cases in Washoe
In Nevada, the functions of the magistrate court within Washoe County are performed by the Justice Courts — specifically Reno Justice Court and Sparks Justice Court. They handle:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $15,000
- Small claims up to $10,000
- Traffic violations and DUI hearings
A Justice Court judge can conduct arrests, set bail, and decide if there is enough basis to transfer a case to the district court. If the amount of a civil dispute exceeds $15,000, the plaintiff must file directly with the District Court. The caseload in Reno Justice Court is significant — some judges specialize in specific categories, such as DUI or small claims.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Washoe
Family Law. Divorce, custody establishment, alimony determination, protective orders from domestic violence, paternity establishment, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Family Division of the Washoe District Court. Applications are filed through the clerk's office, and the court usually requires mandatory mediation before custody dispute hearings.
Probate Cases. The district court also conducts probate proceedings: estate administration, appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust-related cases. These cases go to the Probate Division.
Juvenile Matters. The Juvenile Division handles cases under the Juvenile Justice Act and Child Protective Act. Juvenile case records are confidential according to NRS 62H. For information on child protection cases, contact the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.
How Cases Move Through the Washoe Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment; a civil case starts with a complaint; a family or probate case begins with a petition.
- Judge Assignment. The clerk's office assigns the case to a specific judge through a rotation system.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea bargaining is possible.
- Case Resolution. A jury or judge delivers a verdict; a civil case may end with a settlement or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Criminal conviction — sentencing; civil — judgment enforcement. Any party may appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Washoe
The Administrative District Judge of the Second Judicial District is responsible for the overall management of the courts. The Trial Court Administrator coordinates day-to-day operations and can be contacted at (775) 328-3110.
Local rules of the Second Judicial District are published on the Washoe County District Court website. They govern document filing deadlines, motion formats, and hearing procedures.
Public Access. Under NRS Chapter 239 (Nevada Public Records Act), most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed cases, certain family proceedings, and records closed by court order. Hearings are generally open to the public.
You can attend sessions in person at the courthouse. Some hearings are held remotely via video conference — check with the specific judge's clerk's office to see if this option is available for your case.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Washoe
- Appellate Court Case Search. The Find a Case Portal allows searching for Nevada Supreme Court cases by party name or case number.
- District Court Case Search. Washoe County District Court records are available through the court's website portal. You can also start your search using WashoeCourt.us.
- Hearing Calendar. The schedule of sessions is published on the district court's website; you can verify a specific hearing date by calling the clerk's office.
- Forms and Self-Help Resources. The Nevada Judiciary website contains standard court forms, instructions for self-represented individuals, and links to self-help centers.
- Clerk's Office. Requests for copies of court documents are submitted to the Clerk of Court at 75 Court Street, Reno. Certified copies require payment of a set fee.
- Inmate Search. The Nevada Department of Corrections provides an online inmate search. For information on recent arrests in Washoe County, contact the Washoe County Detention Facility.
- Criminal History. A request for a criminal history check is submitted through the Nevada State Police Records Division. The procedure requires fingerprinting.
- Crime Statistics. The Records Bureau at Nevada State Police collects crime data, including domestic violence statistics.
- DPS Public Records. Copies of traffic accident reports and other records can be requested through the Department of Public Safety request form.
- Sex Offender Registry. The Nevada state registry is available online through the Nevada State Police website and allows searches by county, including Washoe.