Most Nevada criminal records can be sealed so they no longer appear on the person's background checks. The waiting period to become eligible for a record seal increases with the severity of the offense:
Nevada conviction |
Record seal waiting period (after the case closes) |
Dismissed or acquitted charges (no conviction) |
Immediately |
Misdemeanors (except: DUI, battery domestic violence, battery, harassment, stalking, and violation of a protection order) |
1 year |
Misdemeanor battery Misdemeanor harassment Misdemeanor stalking Misdemeanor violation of a protection order |
2 years |
Category D felonies (except crimes of violence) Category C felonies (except crimes of violence) Category B felonies (except crimes of violence) |
5 years |
Misdemeanor DUI Misdemeanor battery domestic violence |
7 years |
Burglary of a residence Felony crimes of violence |
10 years |
Sex crimes Crimes against children |
never |
Three types of Nevada criminal convictions can never be sealed: (1) crimes against a child, (2) sex offenses, or (3) felony DUIs. But any charge that results in a dismissal or acquittal can get sealed right away.
People with criminal histories in Nevada are advised to pursue a record seal as soon as they are eligible. Having a criminal record greatly increases their risk of getting fired from their current jobs and rejected by prospective employers. People with criminal records may also be disqualified from renting property and taking out loans.
Nevada criminal record sealing is a multi-step, detail-heavy process that takes several weeks and varies with each court. Experienced Nevada record seal attorneys can handle the entire procedure for them.
In this article our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys answer frequently-asked-questions about Nevada criminal record seals including time frames, fees, application processes, juvenile records, and pardons. Click on a topic to go directly to that section:
- 1. What is a record seal in Las Vegas, NV?
- 2. When can I get my Nevada criminal record sealed?
- 3. Can I get only part of my Nevada criminal record sealed?
- 4. How long does it take to get a Nevada criminal record sealed?
- 5. How much does it cost to get a Nevada criminal record sealed?
- 6. Where do I apply for a Nevada criminal record seal?
- 7. How do I seal my Nevada criminal records?
- 8. What if the court rejects my record seal petition?
- 9. Can sealed Nevada records be reopened?
- 10. Can I seal my juvenile records in Nevada?
- 11. Can I get my federal case sealed?
- 12. Are pardons the same as record seals in Nevada?
- 13. Can a Nevada record seal give me back my gun rights?

1. What is a record seal in Las Vegas, Nevada?
Criminal records are public. Anyone may search for people's past arrests and convictions in government databases. But there is a process to make criminal records private...
A record seal is when a court orders that a person's criminal records be removed from government databases. This way, the general public no longer can find the criminal record in a background search.
1.1. Benefits of record seals
People with criminal records in Nevada are at a significant disadvantage. This is especially true during times of economic recession and high jobless rates.
Many employers will not hire you. Many landlords will not lease to you. Many creditors will not loan to you. By having your criminal record sealed, it will not come up in a background checks. Therefore, you will face less discrimination.
Another benefit to having your record sealed is that you do not have to tell anyone that you had a criminal record. If anyone asks you whether you have a criminal record, you can deny it. You can even deny having a criminal record while you are under oath. (Learn more in our article about denying having a Nevada criminal record.)
Finally, getting a record seal restores the person's rights to vote, serve on a jury or hold office in Nevada.1
1.2. Sealing versus expungements

Sealing a criminal record makes it invisible. The record still exists, but most people can never find it.
In contrast, "expunging" a criminal record physically destroys it so there is no trace left.
Some states such as California offer record expungments, but Nevada does not. Certainly expunging is preferable to sealing, but there is little practical difference.2
2. When can I get my Nevada criminal record sealed?
It depends on the case, and some offenses may never be sealed.
Note that people who are currently being prosecuted for a crime are automatically ineligible for a record seal. Depending on how the matter resolves, they may be eligible for a seal afterwards.3
2.1. Dismissals and acquittals
Defendants may petition the court for a record seal immediately in either of the following situations:
- The charge was dismissed, or
- The defendant was acquitted (found "not guilty") of the charges at trial
Therefore, Nevada law requires no waiting period to get matters dismissed when there was no conviction.4
2.2. Sealable convictions
Defendants convicted of a Nevada crime can usually get a seal after a statutorily-determined waiting period. The more serious the offense, the lengthier the wait:
Nevada crime |
Waiting period to get record sealed |
Misdemeanor convictions other than DUI, battery domestic violence, battery, harassment, stalking, and violation of a protection order |
1 year after case closes |
Misdemeanor battery convictions |
2 years after case closes |
Misdemeanor harassment convictions |
2 years after case closes |
Misdemeanor stalking conviction |
2 years after case closes |
Misdemeanor convictions of violation of a protection order |
2 years after case closes |
Gross misdemeanor convictions |
2 years after case closes |
Category E felonies |
2 years after case closes |
Category D felonies (excluding crimes of violence) |
5 years after case closes |
Category C felonies (excluding crimes of violence) |
5 years after case closes |
Category B felonies (excluding crimes of violence) |
5 years after case closes |
Misdemeanor battery domestic violence convictions |
7 years after case closes |
Misdemeanor DUI convictions |
7 years after case closes |
Crimes of violence felony convictions |
10 years after case closes |
Burglary of a residence convictions |
10 years after case closes |
Category A felonies convictions |
10 years after case closes |
The waiting period begins only after the case closes. A case is considered "closed" in Nevada when the defendant has completed all terms of the sentence. This includes paying all fines, completing any required classes, serving jail time, and/or completing probation.5
People who completed a program for reentry through the Nevada Department of Corrections may be eligible for a record seal usually after four (4) years.6
Victims of sex trafficking or involuntary servitude who were convicted of trespass, loitering or prostitution should be able to get their convictions sealed.
And both people who have been honorably or dishonorably discharged from probation may be eligible for a record seal. There is a rebuttable presumption that the records should be sealed if the applicant satisfies all statutory requirements for the sealing of the records. But such a presumption does not apply to a defendant who is given a dishonorable discharge from probation and applies to the court for the sealing of records relating to the conviction. (Nevada AB 243 (2017))
2.3. Unsealable convictions
The following types of Nevada offenses may never get sealed.
- Crime against children (under 18)
- Sex crimes
- Felony charges of drunk driving (DUI) or drugged driving (DUID)
Below is a nearly complete list of all the Nevada crimes currently ineligible for record seals:
Category of Nevada crimes ineligible for record seals |
Examples of Nevada crimes ineligible for record seals |
Crimes against children (under 18) |
Kidnapping (unless the defendant is the child's parent or guardian) False imprisonment (unless the defendant is the child's parent or guardian) Involuntary servitude (unless the defendant is the child's parent or guardian) Any attempt to commit the above crimes |
Sex crimes |
Open or gross lewdness (felony) Indecent exposure (felony) Statutory sexual seduction (felony) Battery with intent to commit sexual assault 1st degree murder if perpetrated during sexual assault, sexual abuse, or sexual molestation of a child less than 14. Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child Sexual penetration of a human corpse Sexual conduct between teachers or school employees Luring a child or mentally ill person (felony) Administering drugs to a person to enable one of the aforementioned crimes Any attempt to commit the above crimes |
Felony DUIs |
Note that a person charged with an unsealable offense that then gets dismissed may have the record sealed right away. Any Nevada charge that does not result in a conviction is eligible for immediate sealing, no matter how serious the charge.7
3. Can I get only part of my Nevada criminal record sealed?
No. Nevada courts will either seal a person's entire record or seal nothing at all. For example if a person has been convicted of both drug possession (a sealable offense) and felony DUI (an unsealable offense), the person may not get the drug case sealed. Even though drug possession is normally sealable, having the felony DUI conviction disqualifies the persons' entire record from being sealed.8

4. How long does it take to get a Nevada criminal record sealed?
A few weeks to a few months depending on the case. The reason for the long wait is that the Nevada Criminal History Repository in Carson City takes several weeks to comply with a court's order to seal. Unfortunately, there is no way to expedite this process.
5. How much does it cost to get a Nevada criminal record sealed?
It depends on the court presiding over the record seal. In Las Vegas Justice Court, defendants who attempt to get a record seal without an attorney can expect to pay about $150. The breakdown of fees is as follows:
Nevada record sealing task |
Fee (keyed to Las Vegas Justice Court) |
Obtaining criminal history (“SCOPE”) from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department |
$10 |
Obtaining criminal history from Nevada Department of Public Safety |
$23.50 |
Fingerprinting service |
About $25 |
Filing Petition and Order to Seal Records with Las Vegas Justice Court |
$74 |
Obtaining four certified copies of signed Order to Seal (more or less may be needed) |
$12 ($3 per copy) |
Postage for mailing out order to seal to various government agencies |
$3.57 ($1.19 per envelope) |
6. Where do I apply for a Nevada criminal record seal?
In general, the court that presided over the criminal case is the one that may seal the record. For example if a person gets a trespass conviction in Henderson Municipal Court, that person would petition the Henderson Municipal Court for a record seal.
Depending on the situation, a person may be able to petition just one court even if he/she has cases in several different courts. For example, Eighth Judicial District Court is comprised of several lower township courts like North Las Vegas Justice Court and Laughlin Justice Court. If a person has criminal records in both North Las Vegas and Laughlin, he/she may be able to file just one record seal petition with the Eighth Judicial District Court.9
7. How do I seal my Nevada criminal records?
The procedure differs in every Nevada court. It typically involves (1) obtaining your criminal records, (2) submitting a petition to seal to the prosecutor and a judge, and then (3) mailing the order to seal to various government agencies.
The following is the general step-by-step process in Clark County:
7.1. Clark County record seals procedure
Step 1:
The first step is to obtain a current, verified copy of your criminal history for the purpose of sealing your record. Contact Las Vegas Metro at (702) 828-3475 for current instructions and fee information.
If your charges resulted in a conviction, you must also obtain a "judgment of conviction and discharge." You can obtain discharge papers from the District Court Clerk at 200 Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155.

Step 2:
The second step is to type up (not handwrite) a stipulation, petition, affidavit and order. (Sample forms can be found at the Clark County District Attorney's website.)
Both the petition and the order must include:
- all your arrests you wish to be sealed
- which police agency arrested you
- the date of the arrest(s)
- the criminal charge(s)
- the final disposition of each arrest (whether you were convicted, acquitted or if the case was dismissed).
If your Nevada criminal history (from step 1) does not include a final disposition, you must obtain documentation of the final disposition from either the law enforcement agency that arrested you or the court where the arrest was filed.
The petition and order must also list all the agencies that have copies of your criminal record, such as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County District Attorney.
You must sign and date the stipulation, petition, affidavit and order. Then make three (3) copies of the signed stipulation, three (3) copies of the signed petition and signed affidavit, and three (3) copies of the signed order.
Step 3:
The third step is to mail (or drop off) all your paperwork to the District Attorney's office at 200 Lewis Avenue, Room 3303, P.O. Box 552212, Las Vegas, NV 89155. The package should include:
- the criminal history printout
- the judgment of conviction and discharge (if applicable)
- your original stipulation plus the three (3) copies
- your original petition and affidavit plus the three (3) copies
- your original order plus the three (3) copies.
It will take several weeks for the Clark County District Attorney's office to review your petition. They will keep one copy of everything you send, and they will eventually mail back your originals and excess copies. If they sign your order, they agree that your criminal record should be sealed. If they do not sign your order, they believe your criminal record should not be sealed.
Step 4:

If the Clark County District Attorney's office does not sign the order to seal, they will mail you a short explanation as to why. If it is just because you neglected to fill out the forms correctly, you can fix the problem and resend the corrected paperwork to them. Otherwise, you may try to bypass the District Attorney's office and ask for a judicial hearing to argue for a seal. But the judge will probably not grant it without the D.A.'s approval.
If the D.A.'s office mails back a signed order to seal, take all the paperwork to the court clerk for filing instructions. The judge will probably agree to the order to seal because the D.A. already approved it.
After the judge signs the order to seal, the forms will be returned to you. Then you will be responsible for distributing signed copies of the order to all the agencies that have copies of your criminal records.
7.2. Other Nevada courts
Some Nevada courts have posted online their record seal instruction manuals:
- Clark County (Eighth Judicial) District Court and Justice Court record seals (includes the Justice Courts of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Laughlin, Mesquite, Goodsprings, Searchlight, Bunkerville, Moapa, and Moapa Valley)
- Las Vegas Municipal Court record seals
- Henderson Municipal Court record seals
- Mesquite Municipal Court record seals
- Washoe County (Second Judicial) District Court record seals
- Reno Municipal Court record seals
- Douglas County (Ninth Judicial) District Court record seals
Note that a person can file a petition for the sealing of records in district court if he/she wishes to have more than one record sealed and would otherwise need to file a petition in more than one court. (Nevada AB 327 (2017))
8. What if the court rejects my record seal?
If the court rejects a petition to seal, the person must wait two (2) years before trying again. A person may not petition a Nevada court more than two (2) times to seal a criminal record.
Note that even if a person qualifies for a record seal, the court may still choose to deny the petition. The sealing of criminal records is always a matter of discretion with the court. But in practices, courts almost always grant eligible record seals.
It is strongly suggested that people hire a Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer to petition to seal their criminal record for them. Having an experienced Nevada criminal attorney at the helm will significantly raise the odds of the court granting the petition on the first try.10
9. Can sealed Nevada records be reopened?
Once a person's criminal record is sealed, some prosecutors and agencies may still view it under very limited circumstances:
- If the person's charges were dismissed, a prosecutor may reopen his/her criminal record if the person is subsequently arrested for the same or a similar offense.
- If the person was convicted, a prosecutor or other criminal defendant may apply to reopen his/her criminal record in order to find information about other people involved in the crime.
- Some agencies may inspect criminal record for specific purposes. For instance, the Gaming Control Board may view a person's criminal record to determine his/her fitness to hold a gaming license.
And of course, a person may petition the court to inspect his/her own sealed criminal records.11

10. Can I seal my juvenile records in Nevada?
Many juveniles get their records sealed automatically upon turning twenty-one (21). This includes juveniles who:
- have not been convicted of a crime that would have been a felony had an adult committed it, and
- who have not been convicted of any other crime involving violence or lewdness with a minor.
Otherwise, the person may try to petition the court to seal his/her Nevada juvenile criminal record upon turning thirty (30) years old.
Nevada juvenile courts usually grant record seals as long as:
- The person has not since been convicted of any felonies or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude, AND
- The person has been rehabilitated
For juvenile cases in Clark County, the Juvenile Records Division at (702) 455-5220 can provide record sealing instructions.12
11. Can I get my federal case sealed?
Federal law does permit expungements for first-time drug offenders convicted of simple drug possession while under 21.
Otherwise, federal seals or expungements are very rare. A Nevada record seal attorney would need to research whether a federal court would entertain a motion to seal.13
12. Are pardons the same as record seals in Nevada?
No. Pardons are a government-issued "forgiveness" of a person's past crime. Pardons do not erase the record from public view like sealing does.
Note that pardons are another way of reinstating the right to vote and serve on a jury. And pardons are the only possible way to reinstate gun rights.14
13. Can a Nevada record seal give me back my gun rights?
No. People who lost their firearm rights because of a felony or battery domestic violence conviction cannot regain their gun rights through a record seal. Nevada pardons are the only vehicle to possibly reinstating gun rights. (See the previous question.)

Call a Las Vegas, Nevada record seal lawyer...
If you have Nevada arrests or convictions on your record, contact our Las Vegas record seal attorneys at 702-DEFENSE (702-333-3673) to schedule a free consultation. We may be able to get your entire criminal history sealed and vastly improve your job, housing and credit prospects.
¿Habla español? Más información sobre sellado de antecedentes penales en Nevada.
To learn about California expungements, go to our article on California expungements.
To learn about Colorado record seals, go to our article on Colorado record seals.
Legal References:
- NRS 179.285.
- California Penal Code § 1203.4.
- NRS 179.245.
- NRS 179.255.
- NRS 179.259.
- NRS 179.245(5).
- NRS 179.245.
- See Id.
- NRS 179.265.
- NRS 179.295.
- NRS 62H.130.
- Same.
- 18 USC § 3607(c).
- Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners.