Forms

Attorney Billing Overview

In general, the Department is tasked with reviewing requests for pre-authorization of experts, investigators, and mitigation specialists (“services”) and with reviewing requests for payment for services and of attorney fees.  How we complete these tasks is governed by a combination of statute, county plans for the provision of indigent defense services, and the Department’s billing processes and guidelines.
The Department’s current billing rate can be found here:

Memo: Hourly Appointment Rates for Indigent Defense Attorneys [doc]

The Department’s processes and procedures regarding attorney fees can be found here: 

DIDS Billing Process [doc]
DIDS Billing Guidelines [doc] 

The Department is currently refining procedures and developing policies regarding the pre-authorization and payment of services.  They will be sent out and posted here upon completion.
To request a second chair, use this form.  In non-capital cases, be sure to explain in detail the extraordinary circumstances that warrant appointment of a second chair.
Request for Additional Attorney [doc]
Which form to use depends on the type of case (funding source) and the county.  Please contact the Department if you are unsure as to the type of case you have.  Forms should be saved and submitted to didscontact@dids.nv.gov with any necessary documentation.  Please do not “print” the form to PDF.
Documents may, in the alternative, be mailed to the Department at 751 Basque Way, Carson City, NV 89706, but please note this may delay processing.  All billing is subject to the Department’s final review for reasonableness.  NRS 7.135(2) and NRS 7.145(3) provide the means to challenge the Department’s final review if you disagree with its determination.

Post-Conviction Habeas Cases

The cost of post-conviction habeas cases is a State expense, see NRS 34.750(2), and is processed by the Department, see NRS 7.155. 

All payees must be a registered vendor with the State of Nevada Controller's Office. To register as a vendor, please follow this link:  http://controller.nv.gov/Vendor/VendorServices.  Failure to register as a vendor will cause a delay in processing.

For cases arising out of Clark and Washoe Counties, all requests begin with the administrator of the county’s appointed counsel program.  See the Information by County tab on our website for their contact information.  Once they have finished their review of any request for payment, the request is submitted to the Department for a final review and then forwarded to the State’s Accounting Services Division for payment.

For cases arising out of all other counties, use the following forms to request payment.

• Request for Payment – PCR Attorney Fees (PCR-FEE)
• Request for Payment – PCR Expenses (PCR-EXP)

Prison Cases

A prison case  is one where the defendant is charged with  “escaping from, or breaking out of, the state prison, or attempting so to do, or for the commission of any crime while a prisoner therein, or [charged with] acting in concert with such a prisoner, whether as a principal or accessory.”  NRS 212.070(1).  The cost of defending prison cases is a State expense.  Id.

All payees must be a registered vendor with the State of Nevada Controller's Office. To register as a vendor, please follow this link:  http://controller.nv.gov/Vendor/VendorServices.  Failure to register as a vendor will cause a delay in processing.

For cases arising out of Clark County, all requests begin with the Office of Appointed Counsel.  See the Information by County tab on our website for the contact information. 

For all other counties, requests for pre-authorization of defense expenses and requests for payment of expenses and/or attorney fees must be submitted to the Department using one of these forms: 

• Request for Payment – Prison Attorney Fees (PRI-FEE)
• Request for Pre-Authorization - Prison (PRI-PA)
• Request for Payment – Prison Services (PRI-EXP)

Note that pre-authorization is not a guarantee of payment but rather an acknowledgment that what has been proposed in the form appears to be reasonably necessary.  All case-related expenses, whether or not they must be pre-authorized, are subject to the Department's review for reasonableness.

Other Cases

 Everything else within the Department’s purview that is not a post-conviction habeas or prison case falls under “Other.” 

For cases arising out of Clark and Washoe Counties, all requests must be submitted to the administrator of the county’s appointed counsel program.  See the Information by County tab on our website for their contact information.  Once they have finished their review of any request for payment, the request is submitted to the Department for a final review and then forwarded to the State’s Accounting Services Division for payment.

For cases arising out of Churchill County, please see that section below.

For all other counties, requests for pre-authorization of defense expenses and requests for payment of expenses and/or attorney fees must be submitted to the Department using one of these forms:

• Request for Payment – Other Attorney Fees (OTH-FEE)
• Request for Payment – Other Services (OTH-EXP)
• Request for Pre-Authorization – Other Defense (OTH-PA)

Nearly every county has a threshold below which counsel does not need to seek pre-authorization for services.  The county plans can be found in the Information by County tab on the Department’s website.

If the county’s plan requires you to obtain pre-authorization for services, submit a Request for Pre-Authorization form.  Once a service provider invoices you, submit the invoice for payment using the appropriate Request for Payment of Authorized Expenses form.  Note that pre-authorization is not a guarantee of payment but rather an acknowledgment that what has been proposed in the form appears to be reasonably necessary.  All case-related expenses, whether or not they must be pre-authorized, are subject to the Department's review for reasonableness. 

Payees must be a registered vendor with the governmental entity responsible for the payment.  Failing to register with the appropriate entity will cause a delay in payment processing, and unfortunately, the responsible entity may change over the course of the fiscal year as counties reach their maximum contribution limits.  Accordingly, we recommend attorneys and service providers register as a vendor as soon as possible with the Controller’s Office of the State of Nevada as well as with each county in which they accept a case.  To register for the State, visit http://controller.nv.gov/Vendor/VendorServices.  Please contact the individual counties for vendor registration information relevant to that county. 

Churchill County Forms

• Churchill County Billing Policy
• Request for Additional Attorney
• Request for Attorneys Fees
• Request for Case-Related Expense 
• Request for Payment of Authorized Expenses