Blog: Laws

Prenuptial agreements (a.k.a. premarital agreements in Nevada) are contracts where engaged couples agree to terms of the divorce in advance of getting married. The point of prenups is to have an ironclad contract to follow in the event of divorce. But there are at least five factors that could invalidate a Nevada prenup: The prenup …

Petit larceny in Nevada is stealing less than $1,200 worth of property. Grand larceny (a.k.a. grand theft) in Nevada is stealing $1,200 or more worth of property. Definition of larceny in Nevada (NRS 205.220; NRS 205.240) Larceny (a.k.a. theft) in Nevada is when someone intentionally steals, takes and carries away, leads away or drives away …

Yes, if the other person has not given permission to the person making the charge. Since Nevada has so many hotels and is a travel mecca, it is no surprise the state has a specific fraud statute – NRS 205.455 – outlawing this and similar behavior. Depending on the case, the defendant may also face …

Parole in Nevada is when an inmate gets released from prison early. In contrast, defendants on probation may be able to avoid going to jail or prison at all. Otherwise, parole and probation are very similar because they both require the defendant to remain under strict supervision while they are out of custody. Parole in …

Not for a first-time or second-time offense as long as the joint amounts to only one ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana. Possessing up to 1 oz. of pot in Nevada is a misdemeanor. A first-time offense carries: up to $600 in fines, and perhaps rehab Meanwhile, a second-time offense is also a misdemeanor …

  The involuntary civil commitment process in Colorado allows police or medical professionals to detain someone in certain situations. The goal of this emergency detention is to protect someone who is suffering from mental problems. The detention can last for up to 72 hours. It can turn into a longer treatment after a court hearing. People cannot be held in jail …

Yes. Dumpster diving is unlawful both in the City of Las Vegas and throughout Clark County. Rummaging through other people’s trash is prosecuted as a misdemeanor, carrying a maximum punishment of: $1,000 in fines, and/or 6 months in jail The legal term for dumpster diving is “interference with or removal of containers.”1 What is dumpster …

COVID-19 UPDATE: Inmates may be able to get their sentences modified due to coronavirus being so easily contagious in jails and prisons. Vulnerable inmates with asthma or diabetes or who are elderly are particularly at risk. Judges may agree to release certain inmates from custody early, especially if their sentence ends soon. Or else judges …

Victims of police misconduct in Nevada can always file a complaint against the officer. Common grievances are that the police either: used excessive force against the victim, wrongfully confiscated the victim’s property, and/or damaged the victim’s property Once victims file a complaint, the police department’s review board will conduct an investigation. If the board finds …

SR-22 insurance in Nevada is required for three (3) years. And if the person’s SR-22 lapses before the three years are up, then the three-year requirement begins all over again. 1. What is SR-22 insurance in Nevada? An SR-22 is a “proof of financial responsibility” issued by the driver’s car insurance company. An SR-22 verifies …

People who are legally allowed to possess firearms may open carry handguns in a vehicle in Nevada. No permit or registration is required. The carrier just needs to make sure the vehicle is in a location where guns are permitted. The carrier also needs to make sure the gun remains visible to others. In order …

Las Vegas police must read Miranda warnings to suspects in “custodial interrogation.” This is when the suspect is not free to leave (usually after an arrest), and the police are questioning the suspect. What is the purpose of Miranda warnings? Miranda warnings inform arrestees of their rights. Specifically, they have the right to not say …

Playlist: Castle Doctrine in NevadaWatch this playlist on YouTube   Yes. Under the castle doctrine (NRS 200.120), people in Nevada have the right to the use of deadly force to protect their occupied home or occupied vehicle from assault by a third party. They have no duty to retreat: Example: Tom walks back to his …

Are you in Las Vegas? Refer to our detailed article on how to file a restraining order in Las Vegas. 1. Complete the proper application Victims must fill out an application for a temporary protective order (TPO). These applications ask for the name of the “adverse party.” They also ask for the reasons why a …

Open carry in Nevada even if they do not live in-state. What qualifies as open carry? Like it sounds, open carry is carrying a gun so it is visible to other people. Examples of open carry are: Carrying a gun in a holster on a belt that is not covered by other clothing; Carrying a …

Yes, people may purchase and possess silencers in Nevada if the following five conditions are true: You are a resident of Nevada or of another state where silencers are legal; You are at least twenty-one (21) years of age; You are legally allowed to purchase and possess a firearm; You pass a background check by …

As of July 1, 2019, people driving below the speed limit in the leftmost lane of a Nevada highway may be cited for going too slow. Nevada’s new left lane law Under Nevada Assembly Bill 334 (2019), drivers must exit the leftmost lane if the drivers know – or reasonably should know – that: they …

Nevada requires people to have a Class M license in order to drive motorcycles. You can get a license either by taking a test or completing a course. Alternatively, you can get a permit to practice driving motorcycles before getting a license. And people with out-of-state licenses can usually have their license transferred to Nevada. …

A TPO hearing in Nevada is where a purported victim asks a judge or commissioner to grant a TPO (temporary protective order) against someone else, typically an abusive ex or family member. TPOs usually last 45 days. What TPOs are in Las Vegas A TPO is short for temporary protective order against domestic violence. TPOs …

21 years of age. Bartenders and waiters must be age 21 or older in order to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. But children age 16 and older can work in grocery or convenience stores that sell alcohol as long as the alcohol containers remain sealed and the minors are supervised by an adult employee. …

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) under 15 U.S.C. § 1681 provides rules that employers throughout the U.S. must abide by when requesting background information (including credit reports and criminal records) on prospective employees. And as of 2015, Nevada background checks may now include conviction information that is more than seven (7) years old. (NRS 598C.150; …

Yes, NRS 200.200 allows you to kill someone in self-defense in Nevada if the following two conditions are true:       1.  The danger was so urgent and pressing that, in order to save the person’s own life, or to prevent the person from receiving great bodily harm, the killing of the other was absolutely necessary; and …

Yes. There are four degrees of the Nevada crime of arson (NRS 205.010 – 205.025), which is deliberately and unlawfully setting property on fire. First-degree is the most serious, and fourth-degree is the least. Whenever the purpose behind the arson was to defraud an insurer, the defendant faces an additional category B felony under NRS …