Sheriff's Office

Civil Service Procedures

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Civil Section
911 Parr Boulevard
Reno, Nevada 89512
 
EVICTION PROCEDURES
For any questions regarding the initial eviction process including notices to be served, please contact the court of jurisdiction:
Reno Justice Court: 775-325-6501
Sparks Justice Court: 775-353-7603
Incline Justice Court: 775-832-4100
 
To begin the Eviction Notice procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • Three copies of the Eviction Notice
• All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• Proof of service will be available for pick up 3 business days after delivery to the Sheriff’s Office.  To check on the status of your service please call 775-328-3310.

 
To begin the Lockout Eviction procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered in-person to the Civil Section:
  • S-198 Civil Instructions for Eviction.
  • A court-filed copy of the Affidavit of Landlord.
  • All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• A phone number will be obtained from the point of contact. This point of contact, either the landlord or their representative, will be contacted by a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputy prior to the execution of the Lockout Order. 

The Civil Section will process the eviction paperwork as soon as the signed Lockout Order is received directly from the court.  Within 24 hours of the receipt of the order, a sheriff’s office deputy will post the order at the listed location. A deputy will call the point of contact, 24-36 hours after the Lockout Order has been posted to provide additional information and instructions.

To ensure this process is executed in a timely manner, as dictated by NRS Chapter 118A, the point of contact must be available to be reached by phone between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Upon being contacted by the deputy, the point of contact must:

• Be able to meet with the deputies within 30 minutes of being contacted.
• Be prepared to wait in the event that the deputies are delayed due to additional law enforcement duties.
• Provide entry (key, locksmith, etc.) to the listed location for the deputies to execute the Lockout Order. 
• If deputies are unable to reach the point of contact or if the point of contact is not present upon the arrival of the deputies, the deputies will not be able to execute the Lockout Order. The process will need to be repeated, including payment of all fees and a new Lockout Order will need to be issued by the court.
• No refunds will be issued for the cancelation of service.
• The deputies will remove every person on the premises in accordance with the order. 
• The removal of a tenant’s personal property must be arranged between the tenant and landlord. Deputies cannot stand by for property to be removed by the tenant at the time of eviction.
• If there are any animals inhabiting the property it is the landlord's responsibility to care for the animals or to contact animal control.
• If the property is trespassed upon after the execution of the Lockout Order, the landlord is encouraged to call the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction for which the property is located.
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

 
PROTECTION ORDER PROCEDURES
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will serve any court-issued protection orders upon a person that can be located within Washoe County.  Service of all protection orders are exempt from all fees.  All protection orders will be serviced in accordance with NRS Chapter 33.

For Washoe County residents that want to apply or have any questions regarding the initial protection order process please contact:

Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Second Judicial District Court
Protection Order Help Center
775-328-3127

You can request a protection order if you and the adverse party are:

• Closely related by blood or marriage (parent, child, grandmother/father, in-law, stepparent)
  • This does not include a sibling or cousin unless there is a custodial or guardianship relationship between you and that sibling or cousin.
• Married or registered domestic partners
• Divorced or separated
• Dating or used to date (“frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affection or sexual involvement.” The term does not include a causal relationship)
• Parents of a child in common

Stalking & Harassment Protection Orders
Reno Justice Court: 775-325-6501
Sparks Justice Court: 775-353-7600
Incline Justice Court: 775-832-4100

You can request a Stalking and Harassment Order in the Reno, Sparks or Incline Townships if you and the adverse party are:

• NOT in a dating relationship, or have never been in a dating relationship
  • This includes neighbors, roommates, friends, etc.
• Specific blood relations
  • This is limited to Siblings or Cousins

 
To begin the Protection Order procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • One copy of all applicable court-filed documents for service
  • Completed Instructions for Service
    • Note: This is a confidential document and will not be distributed.
• Upon completion of service, a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy will attempt to notify the plaintiff.
• Service will be attempted until one business day prior to the hearing OR the date of expiration.
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

 
EXECUTION PROCEDURES
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will serve any Nevada court-issued Writ of Execution (wage garnishment, bank levy, sheriff’s sale, till tap, etc.)  The business, bank, and/or employer being served must be located within Washoe County.  All Writs of Execution will be serviced in accordance with NRS Chapter 21.

Wage Garnishments
To begin the Execution procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • One original/certified court-issued Execution
  • Three copies of the court-issued Execution
  • One copy of the court-filed stamped judgement 
  • Completed Instructions for Execution
    • The last known address of the defendant must be provided.
    • Note: This is a confidential document and will not be distributed.
  • A check, money order, cashier’s check, or cash in the amount of $5 made payable to the business, and/or employer being served.
• All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• Wage Garnishments will be processed and service will be attempted within 60 days of receipt by the Civil Section.
• Wage Garnishments expire 180 days from the date of service.
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
• Once served, the business/employer has 20 days to respond to the Interrogatories (questions) regarding the Defendant's information.  We forward all information received from the business/employer directly to the Plaintiff or their counsel, as indicated on the documents received.
• Any funds received following the service of the Wage Garnishment will be processed through our Accounting Department and a check will be issued to the Plaintiff or their counsel.
  • For any questions regarding payments received, please contact Accounting at 775-328-3018.

Bank Levies
To begin the Execution procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • One original/certified court-issued Execution
  • Three copies of the court-issued Execution
  • One copy of the court-filed stamped judgement 
  • Completed Instructions for Execution
    • The last known address of the defendant must be provided.
    • Note: This is a confidential document and will not be distributed.
  • A check, money order, cashier’s check, or cash in the amount of $5 made payable to the bank being served.
• All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• Bank Levies will be processed, and service will be attempted within 60 days of receipt by the Civil Section.
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
• Once served, the bank has 20 days to respond to the Interrogatories (questions) regarding the Defendant's information.  We forward all information received from the bank directly to the Plaintiff or their counsel, as indicated on the documents received.
• Any funds received following the service of a Bank Levy will be processed through our Accounting Department and a check will be issued to the Plaintiff or their counsel.
  • For any questions regarding payments received, please contact Accounting at 775-328-3018.

Till Taps
To begin the Execution procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • One original/certified court-issued Execution
  • Three copies of the court-issued Execution
  • One copy of the court-filed stamped judgement 
  • Completed Instructions for Execution
    • The last known address of the defendant must be provided.
    • Note: This is a confidential document and will not be distributed.
• All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• Till Taps will be processed, and service will be attempted within 60 days of receipt by the Civil Section.
  • Till Taps can only be executed once per Writ of Execution
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
• Any funds received following the service of a Till Tap will be processed through our Accounting Department and a check will be issued to the Plaintiff or their counsel.
  • For any questions regarding payments received, please contact Accounting at 775-328-3018.

Property Sales
To begin the Execution procedure:

The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:

• An instruction letter, this letter must include the following:

  • The full name of the party to be served,
  • A list of documents to be served,
  • The full address of where the documents are to be served,
  • The parcel number/APN of the property,
  • The full legal description of the property,
  • The last known address of the defendant,
  • The names and addresses of the parties who will be sent, by certified mail, the Notice of Sale.
• The original or a certified copy of the Writ of Execution.  The original Writ of Execution must have original signatures and embossed or stamped with a seal from the issuing court.
• Three copies of the court issued Writ of Execution
• One copy of the court-filed stamped judgement 

All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Service Charge Schedule for a full list of fees

• Please call and confirm all fees
• The correct service fee is required. The service fee for a Writ of Execution is $32.00 + $2.00 per mile from the District courthouse at 75 Court Street to the service address. Please round up to the nearest mile. (No more than $52.00)
• A deposit of $800.00 is required for the newspaper publication of the Notice of Sale.
• A check in the amount of $45.00 for public posting (three conspicuous places at $15 each) is required for the public posting fee of the Notice of Sale if the property is located within Reno city limits.
• OR
• If the property is located outside Reno city limits, then posting must occur in six conspicuous places total. A check for $90.00 is required for the public posting fee if the property is located outside of Reno city limits.
• A check in the amount of Current Cost per USPS for each electronic certified mailing is required for the mailing of the Notice of Sale. 

SMALL CLAIMS PROCEDURES
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will serve any court-issued small claim actions upon a person or business that can be located within Washoe County.  All Small Claims actions will be serviced in accordance with NRS Chapter 73.

To begin the Small Claims procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • Two copies of the court-issued Affidavit and Order for each party to be served
  • Completed Instructions for Service
    • Note: This is a confidential document and will not be distributed.
• All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• Service attempts will be completed no later than 10 days prior to the hearing OR within 30 days of delivery, whichever is earlier.
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided at the time of delivery.

  
SUMMONS & COMPLAINTS/PETITIONS PROCEDURES
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will serve any court-issued Summons & Complaint/Petition upon a person or business that can be located within Washoe County. 

To begin the Summons & Complaint/Petition procedure:

• The following documents will need to be delivered or mailed to the Civil Section:
  • One original/certified court-issued Summons
  • One copy of the court-issued Summons
  • One copy of Complaint/Petition with all supporting documentation
  • Completed Instructions for Service
    • Note: This is a confidential document and will not be distributed.
• All fees will be due at the time of delivery; see Civil Charge Schedule for a list of fees.
• Service will be attempted for up to 30 days OR until the business day prior to the hearing, whichever is earlier.
• Declaration of Service/Non-Service will be filed with the court by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided at the time of delivery.

 
OTHER PROCEDURES
For information on the service procedures of any other civil document please contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Civil Section at 775-328-3310.