Hiring a Business Lawyer in Nevada
How to form an LLC in Nevada, the state fees and yearly filings, how to check a lawyer's license, and the state bar's fee rules. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Nevada: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Nevada Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c), a contingent fee agreement must be in writing, signed by the client, and must state in boldface type at least as large as the largest type in the agreement: how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal; whether expenses are deducted from the recovery and whether before or after the fee is calculated; whether the client owes expenses regardless of outcome; that if the client loses, the client may be liable for the opposing party's attorney fees and will be liable for its costs as required by law; and that a suit brought solely to harass or coerce a settlement may result in liability for malicious prosecution or abuse of process. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and any remittance. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. By statute (NRS 7.095), in actions for injury or death against a health care provider based on professional negligence, an attorney may not contract for or collect a contingent fee of more than 35 percent of the amount recovered (net of litigation costs), whether by settlement, arbitration or judgment. NRS 7.095: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-007.html |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Nevada's Fee Dispute program is free and voluntary, for disputes of at least $250. Most disputes go to mediation first; if mediation fails and both parties have agreed to binding arbitration, an arbitrator or panel holds a hearing and decides the fee owed. File the Petitioner's Agreement for Arbitration of Fee Dispute (online, or request a mailed copy) with supporting documents in PDF to the Fee Dispute Department. The committee cannot hear fees already fixed by a court, malpractice or misconduct claims, or a matter already filed in court unless a court directs it. |
Nevada rules to know first
| How to form an LLC | File Articles of Organization with the Nevada Secretary of State, together with the Initial List and State Business License form (the instructions say this is required) and payment. The articles give the LLC's name, registered agent (who signs a Certificate of Acceptance), management structure (managers or managing members) and their names and addresses, and the organizer's name, address and signature; a dissolution date is optional. You can file online at www.nvsos.gov, which the Secretary of State says may reduce processing time, or submit the form by mail or in person (Carson City, downtown Las Vegas, or south Las Vegas offices) with a check payable to "Nevada Secretary of State." The instructions read do not state a typical processing time. |
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| LLC filing fee | Filing Articles of Organization for a Nevada LLC costs $75.00. The Initial List of Managers or Members ($150.00) and the State Business License ($200.00), a total of $350.00, must be filed with the articles. |
| Registered agent | A Nevada LLC must have a registered agent with a street address for service of process in Nevada; that address is the LLC's registered office. The agent can be an individual at least 18 years old, an office or position within the business, or a commercial registered agent authorized to do business in Nevada, and must be available during normal business hours. A P.O. box may be used for mail but cannot replace the physical address. To change the agent, the LLC files a statement of change with the Secretary of State. |
| Annual report | Every Nevada LLC files an annual list of its managers or managing members with the Secretary of State on or before the last day of the month in which the anniversary of its organization falls; the fee is $150. The State Business License renewal fee of $200 is submitted with the annual list. A company that fails to file the list and pay the fee on time is in default, and a $75 penalty is added to the fee. The Secretary of State may allow an LLC to choose an alternative due date for its lists (NRS 86.263(12)). Source: NRS 86.263, 86.272, 76.130 |
| Operating agreement | Not required. Nevada law says an LLC may, but is not required to, adopt an operating agreement. If adopted, it must be adopted by unanimous vote or unanimous written consent of the members (or by the sole member). Source: NRS 86.286 |
| Closing an LLC | A Nevada LLC dissolves by filing articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State; the fee is $100. The articles state the LLC's name, that dissolution was approved or required, and the effective date and time (no more than 90 days after filing). Filing a certificate of cancellation also costs $100. Source: NRS 86.531, 86.561 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Nevada's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) refers callers to a private attorney who practices in the relevant area of law. Call 702-382-0504 or toll-free 1-800-789-5747 (800-789-LRIS), or use the online option. The referred attorney may charge a $45 non-refundable fee for a consultation of up to 30 minutes; after that, fees are negotiated directly with the attorney, and there is no obligation to hire the attorney. If you cannot afford regular fees, LRS may try to prequalify you for a reduced-fee attorney (no more than $25 for the initial consultation and no more than $75 per hour after that) or refer you to another legal services agency. LRS overview: https://nvbar.org/for-the-public/find-a-lawyer/lrs/ |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Nevada, a public corporation supervised by the Nevada Supreme Court, licenses Nevada lawyers. Its Bar Status page explains the license statuses (such as Active, Inactive, Administrative Suspension, Discipline Suspension and Disbarment), and the bar says it can tell you whether an attorney is licensed in Nevada and in good standing; call the Las Vegas office at 702-382-2200 or the Reno office at 775-329-4100. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The State Bar of Nevada's Office of Bar Counsel investigates complaints of attorney misconduct. File online with the complaint form, by U.S. mail, or in person at the Las Vegas office (3100 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102) or Reno office (9456 Double R Blvd., Suite B, Reno, NV 89521); filing is free. Include your contact information, the lawyer's name and firm, a detailed narrative with dates and copies of supporting documents, and file a separate complaint for each attorney. Steps are initial review (usually within 10 business days), a written response from the lawyer, investigation, screening panel review and, if warranted, a formal hearing; it can take one to six months or longer. Reprimands, suspensions and disbarments are public; dismissals and private admonitions are not. The bar issues a Certificate of Good Standing and Statement of Discipline History. FAQs: https://nvbar.org/for-the-public/attorney-discipline/faqs-attorney-discipline/ |
All legal help in Nevada · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.