Current through 82nd (2023) Legislative Session Chapter 535 and 34th (2023) Special Session Chapter 1 and 35th (2023) Special Session Chapter 1
Section 40.2545 - Unlawful detainer: Sealing of eviction case court file under certain circumstances; notice to surrender must not be made available for public inspection1. If a court grants an action for summary eviction pursuant to NRS 40.253 during the COVID-19 emergency, the court shall automatically seal the eviction case court file.2. In addition to the provisions for the automatic sealing of an eviction case court file pursuant to subsection 1, in any action for summary eviction pursuant to NRS 40.253, 40.254 or 40.2542, the eviction case court file is sealed automatically and not open to inspection: (a) Upon the entry of a court order which dismisses the action for summary eviction;(b) Ten judicial days after the entry of a court order which denies the action for summary eviction; or(c) Thirty-one days after the tenant has filed an affidavit described in subsection 3 of NRS 40.253 or subsection 3 of NRS 40.2542, if the landlord has failed to file an affidavit of complaint pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 40.253 or subsection 5 of NRS 40.2542 within 30 days after the tenant filed the affidavit.3. In addition to the provisions for the automatic sealing of an eviction case court file pursuant to subsections 1 and 2, the court may order the sealing of an eviction case court file for an action for summary eviction pursuant to NRS 40.253, 40.254 or 40.2542: (a) Upon the filing of a written stipulation by the landlord and the tenant to set aside the order of eviction and seal the eviction case court file; or(b) Upon motion of the tenant and decision by the court if the court finds that: (1) The eviction should be set aside pursuant to Rule 60 of the Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure; or(2) Sealing the eviction case court file is in the interests of justice and those interests are not outweighed by the public's interest in knowing about the contents of the eviction case court file, after considering, without limitation, the following factors: (I) Circumstances beyond the control of the tenant that led to the eviction;(II) Other extenuating circumstances under which the order of eviction was granted; and(III) The amount of time that has elapsed between the granting of the order of eviction and the filing of the motion to seal the eviction case court file.4. If the court orders the eviction case court file sealed pursuant to this section, all proceedings recounted in the eviction case court file shall be deemed never to have occurred.5. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a notice to surrender must not be made available for public inspection by any person or governmental entity, including, without limitation, by a sheriff or constable. This subsection does not: (a) Apply to a notice to surrender which has been filed with a court and which is part of an eviction case court file that has not been sealed pursuant to this section.(b) Prohibit the service of a notice to surrender pursuant to NRS 40.280, and such service of a notice to surrender shall be deemed not to constitute making the notice to surrender available for public inspection as described in this subsection.6. As used in this section: (a) "COVID-19 emergency" means the period of time:(1) Beginning on March 12, 2020, the date on which the Governor issued the Declaration of Emergency for COVID-19; and(2) Ending on the date on which the Governor terminates the emergency described in the Declaration [May 20, 2022].(b) "Eviction case court file" means all records relating to an action for summary eviction which are maintained by the court, including, without limitation, the affidavit of complaint and any other pleadings, proof of service, findings of the court, any order made on motion as provided in Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure, Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure and local rules of practice and all other papers, records, proceedings and evidence, including exhibits and transcript of the testimony.Added to NRS by 2017, 207; A 2019, 268, 3916; 2021, 507Amended by 2021, Ch. 121,§2, eff. 5/27/2021.Amended by 2019, Ch. 600,§2.5, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by 2019, Ch. 55,§1, eff. 7/1/2019.Added by 2017, Ch. 52,§1, eff. applicable to all actions pending or filed on or after 10/1/2017.