NRS: CHAPTER 14 - COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIONS

[Rev. 6/29/2024 2:47:25 PM--2023]

CHAPTER 14 - COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIONS

NRS 14.010 Notice of pendency of actions affecting real property: Recording.

NRS 14.015 Notice of pendency of actions affecting real property: Hearing; cancellation; bond.

NRS 14.017 Notice of pendency of actions affecting real property: Transferability of property after withdrawal or cancellation.

NRS 14.020 Artificial persons doing business in this State to appoint registered agents; service of process, demand or notice; fine for failure to staff street address of registered agent.

NRS 14.025 Certain requirements for proof of service of process filed with court.

NRS 14.027 Effect of filing service of process by unlicensed process server.

NRS 14.030 Service of process when artificial person fails to appoint registered agent or when street address of registered agent is not staffed.

NRS 14.040 Service by publication on unknown heirs; plaintiff to file affidavit before entry of judgment.

NRS 14.050 Service by publication on unknown parties generally.

NRS 14.060 Proceedings where there are several defendants and part only are served.

NRS 14.065 Exercise of jurisdiction on any basis consistent with State and Federal Constitutions; service of summons to confer jurisdiction.

NRS 14.070 Service of process on operator of motor vehicle involved in crash.

NRS 14.075 Service of process on short-term lessor of vehicles where short-term lessee not United States resident.

NRS 14.080 Service of process on foreign manufacturers, producers and suppliers of products.

NRS 14.090 Service of process at residence accessible only through gate.

_________

NRS 14.010 Notice of pendency of actions affecting real property: Recording.

1. In an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage upon real property, or affecting the title or possession of real property, the plaintiff, at the time of filing the complaint, and the defendant, at the time of filing his or her answer, if affirmative relief is claimed in the answer, shall record with the recorder of each county in which the property, or any part thereof, is situated, a notice of the pendency of the action, containing the names of the parties, the object of the action and a description of the property in that county affected thereby, and the defendant shall also in the notice state the nature and extent of the relief claimed in the answer.

2. A notice of an action affecting real property which is pending in any United States District Court for the District of Nevada may be recorded and indexed in the same manner and in the same place as provided with respect to actions pending in courts of this state.

3. From the time of recording only, except as otherwise provided in NRS 14.017, the pendency of the action is constructive notice to a purchaser or encumbrancer of the property affected thereby. In case of the foreclosure of the mortgage, all purchasers or encumbrancers, by unrecorded deed or other instrument in writing made before the recording of the notice, and after the date of the mortgage, shall be deemed purchasers or encumbrancers after the recording of the notice, and subject thereto, unless NRS 14.017 is applicable or they can show that, at the time of recording the notice, the plaintiff had actual notice of the purchase or encumbrance.

[1911 CPA § 79; RL § 5021; NCL § 8577]—(NRS A 1969, 22; 1983, 1849; 1987, 637; 2001, 1747; 2023, 598)

NRS 14.015 Notice of pendency of actions affecting real property: Hearing; cancellation; bond.

1. After a notice of pendency of an action has been recorded, the defendant or, if affirmative relief is claimed in the answer, the plaintiff, may request that the court hold a hearing on the notice, and such a hearing must be set as soon as is practicable, taking precedence over all other civil matters except a motion for a preliminary injunction.

2. Upon 15 days’ notice, the party who recorded the notice of pendency of the action must appear at the hearing and, through affidavits and other evidence which the court may permit, establish to the satisfaction of the court that:

(a) The action is for the foreclosure of a mortgage upon the real property described in the notice or affects the title or possession of the real property described in the notice;

(b) The action was not brought in bad faith or for an improper motive;

(c) The party who recorded the notice will be able to perform any conditions precedent to the relief sought in the action insofar as it affects the title or possession of the real property; and

(d) The party who recorded the notice would be injured by any transfer of an interest in the property before the action is concluded.

3. In addition to the matters enumerated in subsection 2, the party who recorded the notice must establish to the satisfaction of the court either:

(a) That the party who recorded the notice is likely to prevail in the action; or

(b) That the party who recorded the notice has a fair chance of success on the merits in the action and the injury described in paragraph (d) of subsection 2 would be sufficiently serious that the hardship on him or her in the event of a transfer would be greater than the hardship on the defendant resulting from the notice of pendency,

Ê and that if the party who recorded the notice prevails he or she will be entitled to relief affecting the title or possession of the real property.

4. The party opposing the notice of the pendency of an action may submit counter-affidavits and other evidence which the court permits.

5. If the court finds that the party who recorded the notice of pendency of the action has failed to establish any of the matters required by subsection 2, the court shall order the cancellation of the notice of pendency and shall order the party who recorded the notice to record with the recorder of each county in which the notice was recorded a copy of the order of cancellation. The order must state that the cancellation has the same effect as an expungement of the original notice.

6. If the court finds that the party who recorded the notice of pendency of the action has established the matters required by subsection 2, the party opposing the notice may request the court to determine whether a bond in an amount to be determined by the court would provide adequate security for any damages which the party who recorded the notice might incur if the notice were so cancelled and the party opposing the notice did not prevail in the action. If the court determines that a bond would provide adequate security, the party opposing the notice may post a bond or other security in the amount determined by the court. The court shall then order the cancellation of the notice of pendency and shall order the party opposing the notice to record with the recorder of each county in which the notice was recorded a copy of the order of cancellation. The order must state that the cancellation has the same effect as an expungement of the original notice.

(Added to NRS by 1979, 982; A 1981, 1891; 1987, 638; 2023, 599)

NRS 14.017 Notice of pendency of actions affecting real property: Transferability of property after withdrawal or cancellation.

1. Upon the withdrawal of a notice of the pendency of an action affecting real property, or upon the recordation of a certified copy of a court order for the cancellation of a notice of the pendency of such an action with the recorder of each county in which the notice was recorded, each person who thereafter acquires an interest in the property as a purchaser, transferee, mortgagee or other encumbrancer for a valuable consideration, except a party to the action who is not designated by a fictitious name at the time of the withdrawal or order of cancellation, shall be deemed to be without knowledge of the action or of any matter, claim or allegation contained therein, irrespective of whether the person has or at any time had actual knowledge of the action or of any matter, claim or allegation contained therein.

2. The purpose of this section is to provide for the absolute and complete transferability of real property after the withdrawal or cancellation of a notice of the pendency of an action affecting the property.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 637; A 2023, 600)

NRS 14.020 Artificial persons doing business in this State to appoint registered agents; service of process, demand or notice; fine for failure to staff street address of registered agent.

1. Every corporation, miscellaneous organization described in chapter 81 of NRS, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust and municipal corporation created and existing under the laws of this State, any other state, territory or foreign government, or the Government of the United States, doing business in this State shall appoint and keep in this State a registered agent who resides or is located in this State, upon whom all legal process and any demand or notice authorized by law to be served upon it may be served in the manner provided in subsection 2. A statement of change of registered agent must be filed in the manner provided in NRS 77.340 if the corporation, miscellaneous organization, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust or municipal corporation desires to change its registered agent. A registered agent must file a statement of change in the manner provided in NRS 77.350 or 77.360 if the registered agent changes its name or address.

2. All legal process and any demand or notice authorized by law to be served upon the corporation, miscellaneous organization, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust or municipal corporation may be served upon the registered agent listed as the registered agent of the entity in the records of the Secretary of State, personally or by leaving a true copy thereof with a person of suitable age and discretion at the most recent street address of the registered agent shown on the information filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to chapter 77 of NRS. Service of legal process or any demand or notice pursuant to this subsection is valid regardless of whether the status of the entity in the records of the Secretary of State is in default or is revoked and regardless of any debts or disputes between the entity and its registered agent if such process is served within 3 years after the entity’s date of default.

3. Unless the street address of the registered agent is the home residence of the registered agent, the street address of the registered agent of a corporation, miscellaneous organization, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust or municipal corporation must be staffed during normal business hours by:

(a) The registered agent; or

(b) One or more natural persons who are:

(1) Of suitable age and discretion to receive service of legal process and any demand or notice authorized by law to be served upon the corporation, miscellaneous organization, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust or municipal corporation; and

(2) Authorized by the registered agent to receive service of legal process and any demand or notice authorized by law to be served upon the corporation, miscellaneous organization, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust or municipal corporation.

4. A corporation, miscellaneous organization, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, business trust or municipal corporation that fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of subsection 3 is subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each day of such failure or refusal to comply with the requirements of subsection 3, to be recovered with costs by the State, before any court of competent jurisdiction, by action at law prosecuted by the Attorney General or by the district attorney of the county in which the action or proceeding to recover the fine is prosecuted.

5. Subsection 2 provides an additional mode and manner of serving process, demand or notice and does not affect the validity of any other service authorized by law.

6. As used in this section:

(a) “Registered agent” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 77.230.

(b) “Street address” means the actual physical location in this State at which a registered agent is available for service of process.

[1911 CPA § 82; A 1933, 191; 1939, 66; 1931 NCL § 8580]—(NRS A 1969, 570; 1989, 952; 1991, 1309; 1993, 556; 1999, 1631; 2003, 20th Special Session, 128; 2005, 2205; 2007, 2705; 2015, 1320)

NRS 14.025 Certain requirements for proof of service of process filed with court.

1. In addition to any other requirements set forth by law, a proof of service of process filed with a court of competent jurisdiction in Nevada must include:

(a) The name, residential or business address and telephone number of the person who performed the service of process;

(b) The date and time that the legal process was served;

(d) If practicable, the name of the person who was personally served or a physical description of that person; and

(e) A notation of:

(1) The license number of the process server or the registration number of the employee of a licensed process server who performed the service of process; or

(2) The reason why the person who performed the service of process was not required to be licensed under chapter 648 of NRS or another provision of law.

2. A proof of service that does not include the information required by subsection 1 may be construed as legally insufficient by a court of competent jurisdiction.

3. As used in this section, “process server” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 648.014.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 130)

NRS 14.027 Effect of filing service of process by unlicensed process server.

1. If a person who is not licensed as a process server pursuant to chapter 648 of NRS files a proof of service of process with a court of competent jurisdiction in violation of NRS 648.1655, the proof of service of process must be treated as legally insufficient by the court and any resulting judgment based upon the proof of service of process is void.

2. As used in this section, “process server” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 648.014.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 130)

NRS 14.030 Service of process when artificial person fails to appoint registered agent or when street address of registered agent is not staffed.

1. If any artificial person described in NRS 14.020 fails to appoint a registered agent, or fails to file a statement of change of registered agent pursuant to NRS 77.340 before the effective date of a vacancy in the agency pursuant to NRS 77.330 or 77.370, on the production of a certificate of the Secretary of State showing either fact, which is conclusive evidence of the fact so certified to be made a part of the return of service, or if the street address of the registered agent of the artificial person is not staffed as required pursuant to NRS 14.020, which fact is to be made part of the return of service, the artificial person may be served with any and all legal process, or a demand or notice described in NRS 14.020, by delivering a copy to the Secretary of State or, in the absence of the Secretary of State, to any deputy secretary of state, and such service is valid to all intents and purposes. The copy must:

(a) Include a specific citation to the provisions of this section. The Secretary of State may refuse to accept such service if the proper citation is not included.

(b) Be accompanied by a fee of $10.

Ê The Secretary of State shall keep a copy of the legal process received pursuant to this section in the Office of the Secretary of State for at least 1 year after receipt thereof and shall make those records available for public inspection during normal business hours.

2. In all cases of such service, the defendant has 40 days, exclusive of the day of service, within which to answer or plead.

3. Before such service is authorized, the plaintiff shall make or cause to be made and filed an affidavit setting forth the facts, showing that due diligence has been used to ascertain the whereabouts of the officers of the artificial person to be served, and the facts showing that direct or personal service on, or notice to, the artificial person cannot be had.

4. If it appears from the affidavit that there is a last known address of the artificial person or any known officers thereof, the plaintiff shall, in addition to and after such service on the Secretary of State, mail or cause to be mailed to the artificial person or to the known officer, at such address, by registered or certified mail, a copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint, and in all such cases the defendant has 40 days after the date of the mailing within which to appear in the action.

5. This section provides an additional manner of serving process, and does not affect the validity of any other valid service.

[1911 CPA § 83; A 1921, 107; 1939, 66; 1931 NCL § 8581]—(NRS A 1960, 226; 1969, 17, 95; 1997, 472; 1999, 404, 1632; 2005, 2206; 2007, 2707)

NRS 14.040 Service by publication on unknown heirs; plaintiff to file affidavit before entry of judgment.

1. When it appears to the satisfaction of the court or the judge thereof from the verified complaint or from an affidavit in behalf of the plaintiff or plaintiffs in any action that any heir or heirs of a deceased person is or are necessary or proper party or parties defendant, that a cause of action in favor of the plaintiff or plaintiffs exists against such heir or heirs, and that due diligence to ascertain the name or names and the place or places of residence of such heir or heirs has been unsuccessfully exercised by or in behalf of the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the court or judge may grant an order for the service of the summons in such action on such unknown heir or heirs by publication in like manner and for the period of time prescribed by the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure for the publication of summons in other actions.

2. Such service when made shall as to such unknown heir or heirs be sufficient to confer on the court jurisdiction to hear and determine the issues in such action, and the judgment of the court based on such service and duly made and entered in such action shall bind each and every one of the heirs of such deceased person whose name or names and place or places of residence were so, as aforesaid, unknown to the plaintiff or plaintiffs with like effect as if the name or names of such heir or heirs had been inserted in the complaint and published summons, regardless of whether such heir or heirs shall subsequently appear to have been residents or nonresidents of this state at the time of such publication.

3. Before final judgment in favor of the plaintiff or plaintiffs and against any such unknown heir or heirs shall be entered in any such action, every such plaintiff shall make and file with the clerk of the court in which the action is pending an affidavit showing that since the commencement of the action the plaintiff has neither learned the name or names of any such heir or heirs nor received any information indicating a line of search or inquiry which if properly pursued might lead to the discovery of such name or names and that the same still remains or remain unknown to such plaintiff; or, if the plaintiff has received such information, such affidavit shall so state and show that diligent search and inquiry along the lines indicated had been made by or in behalf of such plaintiff and resulted in failure to learn such name or names and that the same are still unknown to such plaintiff.

[1911 CPA § 86; RL § 5028; NCL § 8584] + [1911 CPA § 87; RL § 5029; NCL § 8585]

NRS 14.050 Service by publication on unknown parties generally. If any plaintiff shall allege that there are, or that the plaintiff verily believes that there are, persons, other than heirs, interested in the subject matter of the complaint, whose names the plaintiff cannot insert therein because they are unknown to the plaintiff, and shall describe the interest of such persons and how derived, so far as the plaintiff’s knowledge extends, the court or the judge thereof shall make an order for the publication of summons, reciting, moreover, the substance of the allegations of the complaint in relation to the interest of such unknown parties; and, after the completion of service by such publication, the court shall have jurisdiction of such persons, and any judgment or decree rendered in the action shall apply to and conclude such persons with respect to such interest in the subject matter of the action.

[1911 CPA § 88; RL § 5030; NCL § 8586]

NRS 14.060 Proceedings where there are several defendants and part only are served. Where the action is against two or more defendants, and the summons is served on one or more but not on all of them, the plaintiff may proceed as follows:

1. If the action be against the defendants jointly indebted upon a contract, the plaintiff may proceed against the defendant served, unless the court otherwise directs; and if the plaintiff recover judgment, it may be entered against all the defendants thus jointly indebted, so far only as that it may be enforced against the joint property of all and the separate property of the defendant served; or

2. If the action be against defendants severally liable, the plaintiff may proceed against the defendants served in the same manner as if they were the only defendants.

[1911 CPA § 89; RL § 5031; NCL § 8587]

NRS 14.065 Exercise of jurisdiction on any basis consistent with State and Federal Constitutions; service of summons to confer jurisdiction.

1. A court of this state may exercise jurisdiction over a party to a civil action on any basis not inconsistent with the Constitution of this state or the Constitution of the United States.

2. Personal service of summons upon a party outside this state is sufficient to confer upon a court of this state jurisdiction over the party so served if the service is made by delivering a copy of the summons, together with a copy of the complaint, to the party served in the manner provided by statute or rule of court for service upon a person of like kind within this state.

3. The method of service provided in this section is cumulative, and may be utilized with, after or independently of other methods of service.

(Added to NRS by 1969, 845; A 1983, 1503; 1993, 865; 1995, 1041)

NRS 14.070 Service of process on operator of motor vehicle involved in crash.

1. The use and operation of a motor vehicle over the public roads, streets or highways, or in any other area open to the public and commonly used by motor vehicles, in the State of Nevada by any person, either as principal, master, agent or servant, shall be deemed an appointment by the operator, on behalf of the operator and the operator’s principal, master, executor, administrator or personal representative, of the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles to be his or her true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against the operator or the operator’s principal, master, executor, administrator or personal representative, growing out of such use or resulting in damage or loss to person or property, and the use or operation signifies his or her agreement that any process against him or her which is so served has the same legal force and validity as though served upon him or her personally within the State of Nevada.

2. Service of process must be made by leaving a copy of the process with a fee of $5 in the hands of the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles or in the office of the Director, and the service shall be deemed sufficient upon the operator if notice of service and a copy of the process is sent by registered or certified mail by the plaintiff to the defendant at the address supplied by the defendant in the defendant’s crash report, if any, and if not, at the best address available to the plaintiff, and a return receipt signed by the defendant or a return of the United States Postal Service stating that the defendant refused to accept delivery or could not be located, or that the address was insufficient, and the plaintiff’s affidavit of compliance therewith are attached to the original process and returned and filed in the action in which it was issued. Personal service of notice and a copy of the process upon the defendant, wherever found outside of this state, by any person qualified to serve like process in the State of Nevada is the equivalent of mailing, and may be proved by the affidavit of the person making the personal service appended to the original process and returned and filed in the action in which it was issued.

3. The court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend the action.

4. The fee of $5 paid by the plaintiff to the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of the service must be taxed in the plaintiff’s costs if the plaintiff prevails in the suit. The Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall keep a record of all service of process, including the day and hour of service.

5. The foregoing provisions of this section with reference to the service of process upon an operator defendant are not exclusive, except if the operator defendant is found within the State of Nevada, the operator defendant must be served with process in the State of Nevada.

6. The provisions of this section apply to nonresident motorists and to resident motorists who have left the State or cannot be found within the State following a crash which is the subject of an action for which process is served pursuant to this section.

[1:275:1953; A 1955, 453] + [2:275:1953] + [3:275:1953] + [4:275:1953] + [5:275:1953]—(NRS A 1957, 628; 1961, 155; 1963, 800; 1969, 95, 611; 1981, 1591; 1985, 1971; 2001, 2554; 2015, 1656)

NRS 14.075 Service of process on short-term lessor of vehicles where short-term lessee not United States resident.

1. When a short-term lessor enters into a lease with a short-term lessee who is not a resident of the United States and, as part of or associated with the lease, the short-term lessee purchases liability insurance from the short-term lessor in its capacity as an agent for an authorized insurer, the short-term lessor is authorized to accept and, if served, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents on behalf of the short-term lessee for any crash resulting from the operation of the vehicle within this State during the lease. If the short-term lessor has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process must be served on the registered agent of the short-term lessor, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.

2. Not later than 30 days after acceptance of service of process, the short-term lessor shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other documents served on the short-term lessor to the short-term lessee by first-class mail, return receipt requested.

3. Notwithstanding the requirements of NRS 14.070, service of process in compliance with subsection 1 shall be deemed a valid and effective service.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, acceptance of service of process pursuant to subsection 1 does not create any duty, obligation or agency relationship other than that provided in subsection 1.

5. As used in this section:

(a) “Lease,” “short-term lessee” and “short-term lessor” have the meanings ascribed to them in NRS 482.053.

(b) “Liability insurance” means insurance, including, without limitation, uninsured motorist coverage, whether offered separately or in combination with any other insurance, that provides coverage to a short-term lessee and any authorized driver pursuant to a lease and is nonduplicative of any standard liability coverage or self-insurance limits provided by the short-term lessor in its lease, for liability arising from the negligent operation of the vehicle during the lease.

(Added to NRS by 2021, 505)

NRS 14.080 Service of process on foreign manufacturers, producers and suppliers of products.

1. Any company, firm, partnership, corporation or association created and existing under the laws of any other state, territory, foreign government or the Government of the United States, which manufactures, produces, makes, markets or otherwise supplies directly or indirectly any product for distribution, sale or use in this state may be lawfully served with any legal process in any action to recover damages for an injury to a person or property resulting from such distribution, sale or use in this state by mailing to the last known address of the company, firm, partnership, corporation or association, by registered or certified mail return receipt requested, a copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint.

2. In all cases of such service, the defendant has 40 days, exclusive of the day of service, within which to answer or plead.

3. This section provides an additional manner of serving process and does not invalidate any other service.

(Added to NRS by 1961, 57; A 1969, 18, 95; 1997, 473)

NRS 14.090 Service of process at residence accessible only through gate.

1. A person who resides at a location to which access is not reasonably available except through a gate may be lawfully served with any legal process in the manner provided in this section. If there is:

(a) A guard posted at the gate and the guard denies access to the residence for service of process, service of process is effective upon leaving a copy thereof with the guard.

(b) No guard posted at the gate and entry through the gate is not reasonably available, the court may, if it is satisfied by affidavit that those facts are true, allow service of process by mailing a copy thereof to the residence by certified or registered mail.

2. The manner of service authorized by this section is supplemental to and does not affect the validity of any other manner of service authorized by law.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 1378)