How to Search Washoe County Court Records
The Second Judicial District Court runs the public case portal at caseinfo.washoecourts.com. The portal home page offers two main paths. Case Search returns information about a single case. Calendar Search returns hearings, dockets, and event entries across the court. The About the Portal page states that data is for general use and that the court does not warranty the completeness or accuracy of any single result.
You need one anchor to start a search. The portal lists three: case number, party last name, or company name. A case number is the fastest path. A last name combined with a first name or a filing date works when you do not have the number. The image below shows the Case Search form as it appears on the live portal.
The form keeps the same anchors and adds optional filters for the attorney, the cross-reference number, the department, and the filing date range.
- Open caseinfo.washoecourts.com and pick Case Search.
- Enter your anchor: case number, party last name, or company name.
- Add a first name or filing date range if your first hit list is long.
- Pick a department such as Probate or Domestic Violence when the case type is known.
- Open a case to view docket events, hearings, and orders.
- Email Records Request at recordreq@washoecourts.us for certified copies, or visit 75 Court Street with a copy request.
Court FAQ confirms the portal scope at washoecourts.com/Main/CourtFAQs. The portal does not cover Reno Justice Court traffic citations. For those, use Washoe County traffic court records.
Washoe County Court Records Search Fields
The portal exposes each field with an operator dropdown next to it. The operators are database-style and let you fine-tune broad searches. "Equals" gives an exact match. "Starts with" handles partial input. "Contains" is useful for company names with extra words. "Soundex" matches names that sound alike but spell differently. The table below covers each field on the Case Search form.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party Last Name | Text + operator | One anchor required | Pair with First Name or Filed date to narrow results. |
| Party First Name | Text + operator | Optional | Same operator list as last name. |
| Attorney Last Name | Text + operator | Optional | Useful when you know the firm. |
| Attorney First Name | Text + operator | Optional | Same operator list. |
| Company Name | Text + operator | One anchor required | Use "contains" for names with LLC, Inc., or extra words. |
| Case Number | Text + operator | One anchor required | Fastest method when known. |
| Filed | Date / range | Optional | Shortcuts include Last 7 days, This month, This year. |
| Department | Multi-select | Optional | Departments 1–16, plus Probate, UIFSA, Domestic Violence, Dependency, Delinquency, Arbitration. |
| Cross Reference Number | Text + operator | Optional | Used to tie related filings. |
Departments 1 through 16 line up with judicial departments. The labeled filters cover function: probate, family support, juvenile dependency, and arbitration each have their own filter.
Types of Washoe County Court Records
The Second Judicial District Court holds the broadest set of files. Civil cases include suits over $15,000, writs, and arbitration references. Criminal cases include felonies and gross misdemeanors. Family cases include divorce, paternity, custody, UIFSA support, and adoption. Probate cases cover wills, estates, trusts, guardianship, and conservatorship. The portal lists Delinquency and Dependency as juvenile categories with closed public access.
The lower courts hold a different set of files. Reno Justice Court and Sparks Justice Court handle misdemeanors, traffic, evictions, small claims, and civil cases under $15,000. Reno Municipal Court and Sparks Municipal Court handle city ordinance and traffic citation cases.
- Civil case files: motions, pleadings, judgments, writs, arbitration references.
- Criminal case files: charging documents, plea entries, sentencing orders, post-conviction motions.
- Family case files: divorce decrees, custody orders, paternity findings, adoption files (sealed).
- Probate case files: petitions for letters, inventories, accountings, distributions.
- Juvenile case files: delinquency and dependency, with sharp public-access limits.
- Search warrant case files: present in calendar search; some sealed during active investigation.
- Specialty court files: Adult Drug Court, Veterans Court, Mental Health Court, Competency Court, MAT Court.
What Washoe County Court Records Show
A live case in the portal returns a structured page with fields below. The values are pulled from the court's case-management system, so the same labels you see on the search form drive the result. Sealed cases may show only the docket caption with no body. Old paper cases may show abbreviated data and route copy requests through Records Request.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court's tag, often a prefix plus a sequence. |
| Filing Date | The date the case opened on the docket. |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, or respondent names. |
| Attorneys | Counsel of record for each party. |
| Department | Judge's department or the functional filter such as Probate. |
| Case Type | Civil, Criminal, Divorce, Probate, Guardianship, Search Warrant, or specialty court. |
| Events | Hearings, motions, change of plea, trial settings, sentencing. |
| Result / Disposition | Codes such as AGR, D110 Admit, Bench Warrant Issued, or Continued. |
| Documents | Filed PDFs may need a paid eFlex subscription account. |
The portal's calendar search uses the same event vocabulary: arraignment, bail hearings, change of plea, motion hearings, review hearings, sentencing, TRO hearings, jury trial, non-jury trial, writ of habeas corpus, and warrant entries.
Public Access Framework for Washoe County Court Records
Nevada law starts with a presumption of access. The Nevada Public Records Act at NRS Chapter 239 says public records are open unless a statute, court rule, or court order closes them. The core right is at NRS 239.010. Courts publish their own rules on top of that. The Nevada Supreme Court Rules Governing Sealing and Redacting Court Records, at leg.state.nv.us/courtrules, define a court record to include indexes, dockets, calendars, orders, judgments, minutes, and case-management data.
Anyone can search the public portal. There is no ID rule for online viewing. For certified copies, the court asks for a written request with the case number, party names, and the requester's contact information. The image below is the official Nevada Public Records Act page.
It sets the statutory basis for any written records request you send to the court or to a county office.
Note: A custodian who denies a public records request must cite the statute or rule that closes the file, under NRS 239.010.
Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Washoe County
Several record types stay closed by state law or by court order. Juvenile delinquency and dependency files sit under NRS Chapter 62H. Adoption files are confidential under NRS Chapter 127. Adult criminal records may be sealed under NRS Chapter 179 after a waiting period and a successful petition. Mental health and competency files sit under NRS Chapter 433A. Civil files may be sealed only when a judge makes written findings of a compelling privacy or safety interest that outweighs public access.
To view a sealed file, a person with standing files a motion in the court that issued the seal. The court holds a hearing and rules. The image below is the official Nevada criminal record sealing chapter.
It sets the eligibility periods and the petition process used in the Second Judicial District Court.
The court's sealing and redacting rules are at leg.state.nv.us/courtrules. They cover dockets and case-management entries, not only filed PDFs.
The rules require the court to identify the privacy or safety basis on the record. A general preference for privacy is not enough in a civil case.
In-Person Court Record Requests
The historic courthouse holds the filing center, the records request desk, and the law library. Visitors are screened by the sheriff at the door. Weapons, glass bottles, scissors, knitting needles, and crochet hooks are not allowed. Bring a copy of the case number or the party names and a method of payment for any certified copy fee.
Second Judicial District Court
75 Court Street
Reno, NV 89501
(775) 328-3110
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Records Request (Email)
Second Judicial District Court
75 Court Street
Reno, NV 89501
recordreq@washoecourts.us
Washoe County Court Records Fees
State statute and the court's fee schedule control copy charges. Plain copy and certification fees are listed by the county clerk. A search of court files by name and year carries a small statutory fee in both the district court and the justice court.
| Service | Amount |
|---|---|
| District Court records search, per name per year | $0.50 |
| Reno Justice Court records research, per name per year (NRS 4.060) | $1.00 |
| Plain copy per page (County Clerk) | $0.50 |
| Certification | $6.00 |
| Certificate of Search | $6.00 |
| Other filed documents | $5.00 |
Pay by cash, credit card, money order, cashier's check, or traveler's check at the counter. A 2% plus $0.25 third-party processing fee may apply to credit-card transactions at the clerk's office.
eFlex and Document Access
The court runs an electronic filing system called eFlex. Probate and trust matters must be filed through eFlex. The court's media and electronic coverage page at washoecourts.com/AttendingCourt/MediaCoverage states that paid eFlex subscription accounts may also provide access to public documents in Second Judicial District public cases. Case-level data is free on the portal.
Public terminals at the courthouse let visitors view filed documents without a paid account. The clerk's staff can pull a paper file from the archive if the case is older than the digital index.