Debt collectors in Nevada

Credit cards: No Nevada appellate decision classifying credit card debt was found (search budget ran out). NRS 11.190(1)(b) gives 6 years for obligations 'founded upon an instrument in writing'; NRS 11.190(2) gives 4 years for open accounts for goods sold, store accounts, and obligations 'not founded upon an instrument in writing.' A bank card with a provable written cardholder agreement points to 6 years; without one, 4 years. Secondary sources agree it is fact-dependent, so the longer period is used.

Payments and acknowledgments: (a) Before expiry: NRS 11.200(1) dates the period from the last transaction, last item charged, or last credit given, and restarts it from any payment of principal or interest made after the debt is due. A signed written acknowledgment or promise is also needed for a new or continuing contract (NRS 11.390). (b) After expiry: NRS 11.200(2) says that 'notwithstanding any other provision of law' any payment, affirmation, or other activity on a debt after the NRS 11.190 period has expired 'does not revive the applicable limitation.' The text covers all debts and all creditors, not only consumer debt or debt buyers.

Judgments: Yes. NRS 11.190(1)(a): 6 years on a judgment 'or the renewal thereof.' Renew by filing an Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment within 90 days before the judgment expires (NRS 17.214). If the judgment was recorded, record the affidavit within 3 days, and mail it to the debtor by certified mail within 3 days. Successive renewals are allowed within 90 days before each renewal expires; each renewal runs another 6 years. Nevada courts have enforced these deadlines strictly.

Other rules: The suit ban (NRS 649.375(1)(j)) binds licensed collection agencies, their compliance managers, agents, and employees, and debt buyers are included by definition. It does not reach creditors suing on claims they originated, banks and credit unions, or Nevada attorneys collecting for clients (NRS 649.020(2)). It bars filing suit but does not expressly bar threats; federal Reg F, 12 CFR 1006.26(b), covers threats by FDCPA collectors. The enactment year and bill for NRS 11.200(2) and 649.375(1)(j) were not confirmed; they appear to be 2019-era amendments. The official NRS site (leg.state.nv.us) blocked automated access (Cloudflare 403), so the text came from the FindLaw mirror (current to Jan. 1, 2025) and 2025-session changes are unconfirmed. A secondary source cites Riff v. Kowal (Nev. 1960) on payment not reviving a barred debt, and NRS 11.020 as Nevada's borrowing statute; neither was read.

• open account: NRS 11.190(1)(b) (6 yrs written) vs NRS 11.190(2)(a)-(c) (4 yrs open account/store account/unwritten)
• written contract: NRS 11.190(1)(b)
• oral contract: NRS 11.190(2)(c)
• promissory note: NRS 104.3118(1)
• judgment: NRS 11.190(1)(a); NRS 17.214
• payment restarts: NRS 11.200(1)-(2); NRS 11.390
• other: NRS 649.375(1)(j) (collection agency may not 'file a civil action to collect a debt' when it knows or should know the limitation period has expired); NRS 649.020(3)(b) (collection agency includes 'a debt buyer'); NRS 649.020(2)(i) (excludes persons collecting in their own name on claims they originated); NRS 649.332(2) (hospital-debt notice that payment does not waive the SOL, per NRS 11.200)

Sources: codes.findlaw.com · codes.findlaw.com · codes.findlaw.com