How it works in Nevada

  1. Get Fingerprinted

    Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken.

    Cost: $19.00 to $40.25 — depending on the provider (LVMPD low-end; Nevada DPS RCCD high-end per fees PDF dated April 2022 — verify current rate before paying)

  2. Request your Record

    Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Records, Communications & Compliance Division.

    Record request fee: $27.00

  3. Review your Record

    Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

  4. Request Certified Documents

    Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Certified copy fee: $4.00

  5. Verify the Final Documents

    Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

  6. Prepare your Petition

    Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Under NRS 179.245, certain misdemeanor convictions require a one-year or two-year waiting period and certain felony convictions require a seven-year or ten-year waiting period before you can file — confirm the applicable wait for your charge class before submitting.

  7. Finalize your Petition

    Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

  8. File your Expeal Request

    File the petition with the court that handled the case. If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the clerk about the financial-hardship waiver — Nevada courts may waive the fee on a showing of hardship.

    Filing fee: $270.00

  9. Work with the Court

    After the Nevada court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.

  10. Receive the Court's Order

    Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your petition. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered by the seal. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  11. Verify the Record is Sealed

    Under NRS 179.275, the court distributes the sealing order to the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History and to every agency named in the order, and each agency must comply. Under NRS 179.285, once your record is sealed the proceedings are deemed never to have occurred, your civil rights are restored, and you may answer related questions accordingly. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Official agencies

Court forms

Nevada record-clearing statutes

Last reviewed