How to read the numbers here
Nevada's bad check law, Nev. Rev. Stat. Section 205.130, makes writing a check with insufficient funds a misdemeanor or a category D felony depending on the total amount and prior convictions. NRS 205.132 gives a short window after notice of refusal to pay in full and avoid a presumption of fraud. Separately, NRS 41.620 lets a payee sue for the check amount plus treble damages if a certified mail demand goes unpaid for 30 days. The Financial Institutions Division oversees lenders in the state, and Nevada Legal Services, the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection and your local community help line can help with a bounced check.
What counts as a bad check in Nevada
Under Nev. Rev. Stat. Section 205.130, it is a crime to willfully pass a check or draft with intent to defraud when the account does not have enough money or credit to cover it. The statute treats a single check and a series of checks passed within Nevada over a 90 day period the same way for purposes of adding up the total amount involved, which matters for deciding how serious the charge becomes. The law applies whether someone writes one check that bounces or several smaller checks in a short span that add up to a larger total.
Misdemeanor or felony, depending on the amount
Nevada law splits bad check cases into two tiers. A smaller total amount, or a first offense below a threshold the statute sets, is charged as a misdemeanor. Once the check or series of checks reaches that threshold, or once someone has three prior convictions for the same or a similar offense in any state or federal court, the charge becomes a category D felony. The amount shown in the Key facts section on this page is the threshold the statute uses. Prior convictions anywhere, not just in Nevada, can push a later case into felony territory even if the current amount alone would not.
How a notice can prevent charges
Under NRS 205.132, Nevada law gives the person who wrote the check a chance to avoid a presumption of intent to defraud. If the check is refused and the writer receives notice of the refusal, paying the holder the full amount due plus any handling charges within 5 days after that notice removes the presumption that the writer intended to defraud. This does not erase a check that bounced, but it can be the difference between a case moving forward and one that stops before charges are filed. Acting quickly once notice arrives matters.
Civil liability separate from any criminal case
Writing a bad check can also expose someone to a civil claim under NRS 41.620, which runs separately from any criminal charge. If a check is written on an account with insufficient funds, the person who wrote it can be liable to the payee for the amount of the check plus treble damages, calculated as three times the amount of the check, subject to a floor and ceiling the statute sets. That civil liability applies only if payment is not made within 30 days after the payee sends a written demand by certified mail. Paying what is owed before that 30 day window closes can avoid the added damages.
Where to get help in Nevada
If you received a demand letter about a bad check, or you are worried about a check you wrote, Nevada Legal Services offers legal help for people who qualify, and your local community help line can point you toward food, housing or other support while you sort out the debt. The Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division regulates lenders in the state and can tell you whether a business you dealt with is authorized to operate. The Bureau of Consumer Protection within the Nevada Attorney General's office handles consumer complaints, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau takes complaints about financial products as well. Nonprofit credit counseling through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling agency finder can help if bounced checks are part of a larger budget problem, and Access Nevada can connect you to state benefits if money is tight right now.
Key facts
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Felony threshold amount[1] | $1,200Year 2026 |
| Notice period[2] | 30 daysYear 2026 |
| Treble damages[2] | 3 timesYear 2026 |
- Civil damages ruleUnder NRS 41.620, a person who issues a check on an account with insufficient funds is liable to the payee for the amount of the check plus damages equal to three times the amount, but not less than 100 dollars nor more than 500 dollars, if payment is not made within 30 days after a written demand sent by certified mail.[2]
- Misdemeanor penaltyUnder Nevada law, willfully passing a check with intent to defraud and insufficient funds is a misdemeanor when the check, or a series of checks passed in the state within 90 days, totals under 1,200 dollars, and a category D felony at 1,200 dollars or more or after three prior convictions for the same or a similar offense in any state or federal court.[1]
- Prosecution notice requirementUnder NRS 205.132, the presumption of intent to defraud does not arise from a refused check if the writer pays the holder the full amount due plus any handling charges within 5 days after receiving notice of the refusal.[3]
- Statute citationNev. Rev. Stat. Section 205.130[1]
Lending rules in Nevada: Nevada lending laws.
Related loan rules: Payday loans in Nevada.
Common questions
Does Nevada treat several small bad checks differently than one large check
No. Under Nev. Rev. Stat. Section 205.130, a series of checks passed in Nevada within 90 days is added together for purposes of the total amount involved, so several smaller checks can reach the same threshold as one larger check.
Can paying back a bounced check stop a criminal charge in Nevada
Under NRS 205.132, paying the holder the full amount due plus any handling charges within 5 days after receiving notice of the refusal removes the presumption of intent to defraud, which can prevent a case from moving forward, though it is not a guarantee.
Is the civil claim under NRS 41.620 the same as a criminal bad check charge
No, they are separate. NRS 41.620 lets a payee sue for the check amount plus treble damages if payment is not made within 30 days of a written demand sent by certified mail, regardless of whether a prosecutor also files criminal charges under NRS 205.130.
Who enforces Nevada's bad check and lending rules
The Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division licenses and oversees lenders operating under chapters such as NRS Chapter 604A and NRS Chapter 675, while the Bureau of Consumer Protection handles broader consumer complaints.
Sources
- Nevada Legislature. NRS 205.130 - Issuance of check or draft without sufficient money or credit: Penalties.
- Nevada Legislature. NRS 41.620 - Liability for issuance on nonexistent account or drawing on insufficient money.
- Nevada Legislature. NRS 205.132 - Issuance of check or draft without sufficient money or credit: Presumptions.