If you disagree with the decision made in your case, what you do next will depend on whether our case was heard by a referee or a judge. If a referee heard your case, as is typical in the Las Vegas Justice Court, you may file a formal objection. If a Justice of the Peace heard your case, you must file an appeal.

Formal Objections

If your small claims case was heard by a referee, which is likely the case only in the Las Vegas Justice Court, any party who disagrees with the decision may file a Notice of Formal Objection with the justice court within 5 days of receiving the judgment. No bond is required and the case will be set for hearing before an elected Justice of the Peace. The court will review the case “de novo”, meaning that the parties have an entirely new hearing.

If a timely objection is not filed, the Court will automatically accept the referee’s findings, and the referee’s decision will become a judgment. At that time, copies of the final judgment can be obtained at the Justice Court Clerk’s Office.

Appeals

If your small claims case was heard by a judge, which is typical in every justice court other than the Las Vegas Justice Court, any party who disagrees with the judgment may file an appeal to the district court by filing a Notice of Appeal and paying the required filing fees of $71.00.

The notice of appeal must be filed within 5 days from the entry of the judgment (for cases heard by referees, the notice of appeal must be filed within 5 days after the 5 day objection period lapsed or 5 days after a justice of the peace affirmed/reversed the referee’s recommendations). JCRCP 98

A bond of at least $250 must be posted unless the court orders otherwise. If the defendant is appealing and wants to stay execution of the judgment, he must post the judgment amount, including costs and interest, unless the court orders otherwise.