Nevada · Debt collection rights · Updated Oct 2026

Debt collectors in Nevada: your rights

What debt collectors can and can't do in Nevada, how long they have to sue, how much of your pay and bank account is protected, collector licensing, where to complain and what to do if you are sued, in plain English from official sources.

6 yearsto sue on a written contract
18–25%wage garnishment limit
Yescollector license required
Yesstate debt collection law
21 daysto answer a debt lawsuit

Your federal rights

These federal rules apply in Nevada and every other state. Nevada's own law, below, can add more.

  • Who the federal law covers. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) covers debt collectors who collect for someone else and companies that buy debts, not usually the original creditor collecting its own debt (15 U.S.C. 1692a(6)). Some state laws also cover original creditors.
  • A validation notice. A collector must give you a validation notice, in its first message or within 5 days after it, with the amount, the creditor and how to dispute (15 U.S.C. 1692g(a); 12 CFR 1006.34).
  • Your right to dispute. If you dispute the debt in writing within the validation period (30 days after you get the notice), the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification (15 U.S.C. 1692g(b); 12 CFR 1006.38).
  • When collectors can contact you. No calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your time, or at work if your employer doesn't allow it (15 U.S.C. 1692c(a)). More than 7 calls in 7 days about one debt is presumed to break the law (12 CFR 1006.14(b)(2)).
  • Telling a collector to stop. If you tell a collector in writing to stop contacting you, it must stop, except to tell you it is ending collection or will take a specific step such as a lawsuit (15 U.S.C. 1692c(c)).
  • What collectors can't do. No threats, obscene language, false statements (for example pretending to be a lawyer or the government, or threatening arrest) and no unfair practices such as collecting fees your contract doesn't allow (15 U.S.C. 1692d, 1692e, 1692f). A collector generally can't discuss your debt with your family, neighbors or employer (15 U.S.C. 1692c(b)).

Read how to dispute a debt or stop collector calls.

Nevada law and extra protections

State law
Nevada collection agency law (NRS Chapter 649, Collection Agencies)
Law
NRS Chapter 649
Covers original creditors
No
Extra protections
  • A violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act counts as a violation of Nevada's collection agency law too, so the state regulator can act on it (NRS 649.370).
  • A collection agency may not sue you on a debt when it knows or should know the time limit for suing has passed (NRS 649.375(1)(j)).
  • Medical debt: at least 60 days before trying to collect, a collection agency must mail you a notice. The notice must name the provider and give the service date and the principal amount. During that time it may not report the debt to credit bureaus (NRS 649.366, 649.367).
  • Medical debt: a collection agency may not file a regular lawsuit on a medical debt smaller than the small claims limit (it may still use small claims court). It can't charge collection or attorney fees above 5% of the debt or take a confession of judgment (NRS 649.368; NRS 73.010).
  • A collection agency may not use fake legal papers or letters that look like they come from a court, government office or attorney, and may not harass your employer (NRS 649.375(1)(a), (e)).
Official text
Read the law

Old debts in Nevada

Written contracts
6 years
Open accounts and unwritten agreements
4 years
Does a payment restart the clock?
No, not once the time limit has passed. Any payment, affirmation or other action on a debt after the period in NRS 11.190 has expired does not revive it (NRS 11.200(2), added 2023). A payment made before the period runs out restarts the clock from that payment (NRS 11.200(1)).
Must collectors say a debt is too old?
No general disclosure rule found. For hospital claims, a collection agency must tell you that paying or agreeing to pay may count as acknowledging the claim, but does not waive the time limit (NRS 649.332(2)). Collection agencies may not sue on a debt they know or should know is time-barred (NRS 649.375(1)(j)).
Law
NRS 11.190(1)(b) (written contract, 6 years); NRS 11.190(2)(a)-(c) (open account, store account or unwritten contract, 4 years); NRS 11.200
Official text
Read the law

The time limit is the statute of limitations. Once it runs out, the debt is “time-barred”: a collector must not sue or threaten to sue you, but the debt still exists. Read more about time-barred debt.

Is my debt too old? Check Nevada's time limit

Every state limits how long a creditor or collector has to sue you over a debt. This is the statute of limitations. Choose your state, the type of debt and the date of your last payment to see the limit and an estimated end date. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Credit cards count as written contracts in some states and as open accounts in others. If you are not sure, try both.

Or the date you first missed a payment, if you never paid.

Nevada: 6 years for a written contractEnter the date of your last payment to see when the time limit ends.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Your state's law and your account records decide the exact start date and the type of debt.

Wage garnishment and bank accounts in Nevada

Wage limit
Stricter than federal. A creditor can take the lesser of: 18% of your weekly disposable earnings if your gross weekly pay is $770 or less (25% if more), or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 50 times the federal minimum hourly wage.
Bank account
If federal benefits such as Social Security were deposited electronically in the last 45 days, $2,000 (or the whole balance, if less) stays available to you automatically. Otherwise $400 (or the whole balance, if less) is protected automatically (NRS 21.105). You can also claim up to $10,000 in other personal property, including money in the bank, as exempt (NRS 21.090(1)(z)).
Law
NRS 31.295(2); NRS 21.105; NRS 21.090(1)(z)

Federal benefits such as Social Security, SSI and VA benefits that were directly deposited are protected in your bank account up to two months' worth (31 CFR 212.6). A creditor usually needs a court judgment before it can garnish your wages or bank account.

Property you can keep in Nevada

Homestead: up to $605,000 of equity in your home (NRS 115.010(2)). Vehicle: one vehicle if your equity is $15,000 or less (NRS 21.090(1)(f)). Wildcard: up to $10,000 of other personal property you choose, including bank deposits (NRS 21.090(1)(z)).

Collector licensing in Nevada

License required
Yes
Who licenses
Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division (FID), through NMLS (NRS 649.075)
Check a license
Official license lookup

Medical debt in Nevada

Since 2021, collection agencies must mail you a notice at least 60 days before trying to collect a medical debt, and may not report it to credit bureaus during that time. A voluntary payment during that period does not extend the time limit and is not an admission (NRS 649.366, 649.367). They can't file a regular lawsuit on a medical debt below the small claims limit (small claims court is still allowed). Fees are capped at 5% (NRS 649.368). "Medical debt" includes third-party financing used only for medical care (NRS 649.036).

If you are sued in Nevada

Time to answer
21 days after you are served with the summons and complaint (Justice Court, JCRCP 12(a)). District Court uses the same 21 days (NRCP 12(a)).
If you don't answer
If you don't answer in time, the creditor can ask the court for a default judgment against you. That can lead to wage garnishment or a bank levy.
Court self-help
Nevada court self-help (official)

Don't ignore court papers. Read what to do if a debt collector sues you.

Where to complain in Nevada

Free help in Nevada

Good to know in Nevada

  • Since 2023, making a payment on a debt that is already time-barred does not restart the clock in Nevada (NRS 11.200(2)).
  • Nevada protects more of your pay than federal law: 18% is the cap if your gross pay is $770 a week or less (NRS 31.295(2)(a)).

Changes in 2024–2026

The 2025 Legislature added an information-security duty for licensees (NRS 649.340, Stats. 2025 p. 247). The 2023 changes (no revival of time-barred debt by payment, NRS 11.200(2); remote work rules; SB 276 and SB 355) took effect before 2024.

Free letters to send a collector

Dispute a debt and ask for proof (validation letter)

Within 30 days of the collector's validation notice.

Tell a collector to stop or limit contact

Stop all contact, writing only, or no calls at work.

Questions about debt collection in Nevada

What is the statute of limitations on debt in Nevada?

6 years for written contracts and 4 years for open accounts and unwritten agreements (NRS 11.190(1)(b) (written contract, 6 years); NRS 11.190(2)(a)-(c) (open account, store account or unwritten contract, 4 years); NRS 11.200).

Does paying on an old debt restart the clock in Nevada?

No, not once the time limit has passed. Any payment, affirmation or other action on a debt after the period in NRS 11.190 has expired does not revive it (NRS 11.200(2), added 2023). A payment made before the period runs out restarts the clock from that payment (NRS 11.200(1)).

Must a collector tell me a debt is too old to sue on in Nevada?

No general disclosure rule found. For hospital claims, a collection agency must tell you that paying or agreeing to pay may count as acknowledging the claim, but does not waive the time limit (NRS 649.332(2)). Collection agencies may not sue on a debt they know or should know is time-barred (NRS 649.375(1)(j)).

How much of my paycheck can be garnished in Nevada?

Stricter than federal. A creditor can take the lesser of: 18% of your weekly disposable earnings if your gross weekly pay is $770 or less (25% if more), or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 50 times the federal minimum hourly wage.

How much money in a bank account is protected in Nevada?

If federal benefits such as Social Security were deposited electronically in the last 45 days, $2,000 (or the whole balance, if less) stays available to you automatically. Otherwise $400 (or the whole balance, if less) is protected automatically (NRS 21.105). You can also claim up to $10,000 in other personal property, including money in the bank, as exempt (NRS 21.090(1)(z)).

Do debt collectors need a license in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division (FID), through NMLS (NRS 649.075)

Does Nevada have its own debt collection law?

Yes: the Nevada collection agency law (NRS Chapter 649, Collection Agencies) (NRS Chapter 649). It does not cover original creditors collecting their own debts.

How long do I have to answer a debt lawsuit in Nevada?

21 days after you are served with the summons and complaint (Justice Court, JCRCP 12(a)). District Court uses the same 21 days (NRCP 12(a)).

Does Nevada protect people with medical debt?

Since 2021, collection agencies must mail you a notice at least 60 days before trying to collect a medical debt, and may not report it to credit bureaus during that time. A voluntary payment during that period does not extend the time limit and is not an admission (NRS 649.366, 649.367). They can't file a regular lawsuit on a medical debt below the small claims limit (small claims court is still allowed). Fees are capped at 5% (NRS 649.368). "Medical debt" includes third-party financing used only for medical care (NRS 649.036).

Where can I complain about a debt collector in Nevada?

Nevada Financial Institutions Division (for collection agencies): https://fid.nv.gov/resources/resources-and-complaints/ · 702-486-4120

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources

Other states