Nev. R. Civ. P. 4.2

As amended through October 9, 2024

Rule 4.2 - Service Within Nevada

(a)Serving an Individual. Unless otherwise provided by these rules, service may be made on an individual:

(1) by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the individual personally;

(2) by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the individual's dwelling or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who currently resides therein and is not an adverse party to the individual being served; or

(3) by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process.

(b)Serving Minors and Incapacitated Persons.

(1)Minors.A minor must be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint:

(A) if the minor is 14 years of age or older, to the minor; and

(B) to one of the following persons:

(i) if a guardian or similar fiduciary has been appointed for the minor, to the fiduciary under Rule 4.2(a), (c), or (d), as appropriate for the type of fiduciary;

(ii) if a fiduciary has not been appointed, to the minor's parent under Rule 4.2(a); or

(iii) if neither a fiduciary nor a parent can be found with reasonable diligence:

(a) to an adult having the care or control of the minor under Rule 4.2(a); or

(b) to a person of suitable age and discretion with whom the minor resides.

(2)Incapacitated Persons. An incapacitated person must be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint:

(A) to the incapacitated person; and

(B) to one of the following persons:

(i) if a guardian or similar fiduciary has been appointed for the incapacitated person, to the fiduciary under Rule 4.2(a), (c), or (d), as appropriate for the type of fiduciary; or

(ii) if a fiduciary has not been appointed:

(a) to a person of suitable age and discretion with whom the incapacitated person resides;

(b) if the incapacitated person is living in a facility, to the facility under Rule 4.2, as appropriate for the type of facility; or

(c) to another person as provided by court order.

(c)Serving Entities and Associations.

(1)Entities and Associations in Nevada.

(A) An entity or association that is formed under the laws of this state, is registered to do business in this state, or has appointed a registered agent in this state, may be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to:

(i) the registered agent of the entity or association;

(ii) any officer or director of a corporation;

(iii) any partner of a general partnership;

(iv) any general partner of a limited partnership;

(v) any member of a member-managed limited-liability company;

(vi) any manager of a manager-managed limited-liability company;

(vii) any trustee of a business trust;

(viii) any officer or director of a miscellaneous organization mentioned in NRS Chapter 81;

(ix) any managing or general agent of any entity or association; or

(x) any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process.

(B) If an agent is one authorized by statute and the statute so requires, a copy of the summons and complaint must also be mailed to the defendant entity or association at its last-known address.

(2)Other Foreign Entities and Associations. A foreign entity or association that cannot be served under Rule 4.2(c)(1) may be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to any officer, director, partner, member, manager, trustee, or agent identified in Rule 4.2(c)(1) that is located within this state.

(3)Service via the Nevada Secretary of State.

(A) If, for any reason, service on an entity or association required to appoint a registered agent in this state or to register to do business in this state cannot be made under Rule 4.2(c)(1) or (2), then the plaintiff may seek leave of court to serve the Nevada Secretary of State in the entity's or association's stead by filing with the court an affidavit:

(i) setting forth the facts demonstrating the plaintiffs good faith attempts to locate and serve the entity or association;

(ii) explaining the reasons why service on the entity or association cannot be made; and

(iii) stating the last-known address of the entity or association or of any person listed in Rule 4.2(c)(1), if any.

(B) Upon court approval, service may be made by:

(i) delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the Nevada Secretary of State or his or her deputy; and

(ii) posting a copy of the summons and complaint in the office of the clerk of the court in which such action is brought or pending.

(C) If the plaintiff is aware of the last-known address of any person listed in Rule 4.2(c)(1), the plaintiff must also mail a copy of the summons and complaint to each such person at the person's last-known address by registered or certified mail. The court may also order additional notice to be sent under Rule 4.4(d) if the plaintiff is aware of other contact information of the entity or association or of any person listed in Rule 4.2(c)(1).

(D) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, service under Rule 4.2(c)(3) may not be used as a substitute in place of serving, under Rule 4.3(a), an entity or association through a person listed in Rule 4.2(c)(1) whose address is known but who lives outside this state.

(E) The defendant entity or association must serve a responsive pleading within 21 days after the later of:

(i) the date of service on the Nevada Secretary of State and posting with the clerk of the court; or

(ii) the date of the first mailing of the summons and complaint to the last-known address of any person listed in Rule 4.2(c)(1).

(d)Serving the State of Nevada, Its Public Entities and Political Subdivisions, and Their Officers and Employees.

(1)The State and Its Public Entities. The State and any public entity of the State must be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to:

(A) the Attorney General, or a person designated by the Attorney General to receive service of process, at the Office of the Attorney General in Carson City; and

(B) the person serving in the office of administrative head of the named public entity, or an agent designated by the administrative head to receive service of process.

(2)State Officers and Employees. Any current or former public officer or employee of the State who is sued in his or her official capacity or his or her individual capacity for an act or omission relating to his or her public duties or employment must be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to:

(A) the Attorney General, or a person designated by the Attorney General to receive service of process, at the Office of the Attorney General in Carson City; and

(B) the current or former public officer or employee, or an agent designated by him or her to receive service of process.

(3)Political Subdivisions and Their Public Entities. Any county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the State, and any public entity of such a political subdivision, must be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the presiding officer of the governing body of the political subdivision, or an agent designated by the presiding officer to receive service of process.

(4)Local Officers and Employees. Any current or former public officer or employee of any county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the State, or any public entity of such a political subdivision, who is sued in his or her official capacity or his or her individual capacity for an act or omission relating to his or her public duties or employment must be served by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the current of former public officer or employee, or an agent designated by him or her to receive service of process.

(5)Statutory Requirements. A party suing the State, its public entities or political subdivisions, or their current or former officers and employees must also comply with any statutory requirements for service of the summons and complaint.

(6)Extending Time. The court must allow a party a reasonable time to cure its failure to:

(A) serve a person required to be served under Rule 4.2(d)(1) or (2), if the party has served the Attorney General; or

(B) serve the Attorney General under Rule 4.2(d)(1) or (2), if the party has served the required person.

Nev. R. Civ. P. 4.2

Adopted effective 3/1/2019.

Advisory Committee Note-2019 Amendment Subsection (a). Rule 4.2(a) restyles NRCP 4(d)(6) to track FRCP 4(e)(2). Rule 4.2(a)(2) specifies that a summons and complaint may not be delivered to a person of suitable age and discretion who resides with the individual being served if the person is a party to the litigation adverse to the individual being served. This makes unavailing the practice of having a plaintiff in a divorce action accept service on behalf of the spouse with whom he or she still resides.

Subsection (b). Rule 4.2(b) amends former NRCP 4(d)(3) and (4) for service on minors and incapacitated persons. NRS Chapter 129 generally defines a "minor" to be a person under 18 years of age unless emancipated. To serve a minor who is 14 years of age or older, Rule 4.2(b)(1)(A) requires personal service of the summons and complaint on the minor and, also, service on the person designated by Rule 4.2(b)(1)(B).

Rule 4.2(b)(2) similarly amends the procedure for serving an incapacitated person. The rule requires personal service of the summons and

complaint on the incapacitated person and, in addition, service of the summons and complaint on the incapacitated person's guardian or fiduciary, if one has been appointed, or other person specified in the rule. Rule 4.2(b)(2) only applies when the person being served has already been declared incapacitated under applicable law; service on a person not yet declared incapacitated should be made under Rule 4.2(a). The change in terminology from "incompetent" to "incapacitated" is stylistic, not substantive.

Subsection (c). The amendments to Rule 4.2(c) encompass all business entities, associations, and other organizations. Rule 4.2(c)(1) generally restates former NRCP 4(d)(1), but also incorporates provisions from FRCP 4(h)(1)(B). Rule 4.2(c)(1) applies to any Nevada entity or association and any foreign entity or association that has registered to do business in Nevada or has appointed a registered agent in Nevada. Rule 4.2(c)(2) applies to foreign entities or associations generally.

Rule 4.2(c)(3) revises the second half of former NRCP 4(d)(1) and governs service on the Nevada Secretary of State when an entity or association cannot otherwise be served. Secretary of State service only applies when a Nevada or foreign entity or association is required by law to appoint a registered agent in Nevada or to register to do business in Nevada. Service on the Nevada Secretary of State now requires court approval and incorporates new alternative notice provisions in Rule 4.4(d).

Subsection (d). Rule 4.2(d) amends former NRCP 4(d)(5) and addresses service on government entities and their officers and employees. Waiver of service under Rule 4.1 does not apply to government entities and persons subject to service under Rule 4.2(d).