Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Pyramid Lake Tribal Court
PO Box 257
211 Nixon HWY 447
Nixon, Nevada, 89424

Phone: (775) 574-1094
Fax: (775) 574-1096

Email: tribalcourt@plpt.nsn.us

See the Calendar here: PLTC Court Business Hours and Court Schedule

 Filings may be accepted Monday-Thursdays, from 8:00 am to 4:30 p.m. in person, by mail, by fax, or email.

Filings may be accepted Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in person, by mail, by fax, or email. 

Pyramid Lake Tribal Court Staff

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Chief Judge: Aaron Mouritsen
Associate Judge: Ryan Bellows
Associate Judge: Jack Duran
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Prosecutor: Anne Laughlin
Ph: (775) 671-2414

Defense Advocate: Charlene Dressler
Ph: (775) 342-8836

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Court Administrator: Mekala Montoya
Email: tcadmin@plpt.nsn.us 
Ph: (775) 574-1094 Ext. 1801

Court Clerk II: Jenny Cortez
Email: tribalcourt@plpt.nsn.us 
Ph: (775) 574-1094 Ext. 1800

Probation OfficerVACANT
Court Victim AdvocateVACANT
Court Clerk IVACANT
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2024 Advocate & Attorney List

Please note: Not all admitted Attorneys/Advocates may appear on this list as they have declined publication.

For more information on how a Criminal Caseflow is managed, see Criminal Caseflow PDF here: Criminal Caseflow

Court Docket Gallery

Petitions :

Petition for Waiver of FeesDocument to request wavier of fees attributed to filing and service fees for action, proceeding or appeal.
Petition for Temporary Guardianship of Minor Children: Document to request Temporary Guardianship for Minor Children
Petition to Transfer Title of Home: Document to file for Title Transfer. Please remember to include all information necessary to this document.
Petition for Uncontested Divorce: Document for filing for an uncontested divorce.
Petition for Contested Divorce: Document for filing for a contested divorce.
Petition for Grandparent Visitation
Document for filing for Court Ordered Visitation of minor child(ren).
Petition for Name Change: Document for filing for Name Change
Petition for Permanent Minor Guardianship: Document to file for petition the Court for Order of Permanent Guardianship for named minor child(ren).
Petition for Permanent Adult Guardianship: Document to file for Permanent Guardianship of an adult over the age of Eighteen (18) years old
Petition for Child Custody, Support, & Visitation:
 Documents to file for Child Custody/Support.
Petition for Probate – Document to file for petition to serve as special administrator of a decedent’s estate.
Petition for Eviction– Document to file for petition for eviction. Please be advised: the Pyramid Lake Tribal Court cannot and will not look into the Court management system to locate an address, as it is *your* responsibility.

Administrative Orders

Citation Warrants – 1. All citations have a one (1) time opportunity to pay a fifty ($50.00} quash warrant fee once a warrant is issued.
Fine to Community Service Conversion Rates– The conversion rate for fines to community service shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per hour.
Fine to Jail Conversion– The conversion for fines to jail time shall be $100.00 per day.
Electronic & E-Filing – occasionally parties and persons directly involved in a case as a party, advocate or attorney for a party, witness for a hearing, elects to file electronically or fax file documents, then the Court orders as follows: during any emergency closure of the Court building, electronic filings shall be used for ALL filings/service/notices; Fax filings are NOT accepted if the Court building is closed due to an emergency, a fire, or comparable closure situation; otherwise fax filings are permitted.
Title Transfer Process – 1) Petitioner shall submit the following documents when submitting a Petition to Transfer Title:
a) Letter of Land Assignment approval from the Tribal Secretary;
b) Tribal Resolution showing verification of assignment by Tribal Council;
c) Land Assignment documents (Optional)
Zoom & Telephonic Appearances – occasionally patties and persons directly involved in a case as a party, advocate or attorney for a party, witness for a hearing, cannot appear in person for a hearing or trial, then the Court orders as follows (open PDF for details.) 

Applications:

Application for Temporary Restraining Order: Document for a Temporary Restraining Order.

Application for Order for Protection Against Domestic Violence Document to file for protection against Domestic Violence
Application to Practice Law 2023: Document to practice Law before the Pyramid Lake Tribal Court. Application fee: $75 annually or $10 per case.
Application for Temporary Restraining Order: Document for application for a Temporary and/or Extended Order for Protection against Domestic Violence.
Application for Revocable Driver License: Document for Application and Affidavit for Revocable Driver’s License.

Motions:

Motion for Continuance  Document to file for Motion for Continuance.

Motion – Document to file a Motion in matter of party versus party.

Motion to Modify Custody, Support and or Visitation Document to file a Motion in matter of minor child(ren).

Miscellaneous Documents:

Acknowledgement of Paternity  Document for filing for acknowledgment of father by paternity.
Affidavit – Document to file affidavit.
Answer and or Response – Document to address the type of complaint you are responding to.
Civil Complaint – Document to file a civil complaint. This document abides to the statue of limitations within the Pyramid Lake Law and Order Code which references a time limit to file a complaint.
Marriage License – Once the Certificate of Indian Tribal Marriage is submitted to Washoe County Recorders Officer, parties MUST return a copy of the Certificate of Indian Tribal Marriage and Acknowledgement of Indian Tribal Marriage from Washoe County to the Pyramid Lake Tribal Court to complete the official record.
Notice of Appeal – Document is for Appeal in a party versus party case.
Non Court Ordered Temp Guardianship  Document for appointing temporary guardianship of minor child(ren). 
Request for Information Form Document to request Pyramid Lake Tribal Court Record. Matters involving minor children, personnel of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, sealed cases due to non-disclosure agreements, or cases that cannot be disseminated per court order will not be released.
Schedule of Fees – Document with total list of cost for filing fees regarding all matters.
Transcript Request Form – Document for requesting transcripts. Must be a party to the case. Cash deposit required. Deposit is not refundable unless the final cost of producing the transcript is less than deposit.