Consolidation of lawsuits may be ordered by a court when two or more lawsuits involving the same or similar parties (plaintiff and defendant), legal issues, and factual issues are pending in the same court or in different courts in the same jurisdiction (state court system or federal court system). If the lawsuits are pending in different courts one case may be transferred to the other court, and the cases consolidated there.

Laws and rules regarding the consolidation—or transfer and consolidation—of lawsuits vary from state to state and in the federal court system.

In Nevada, courts have the authority to consolidate lawsuits when they involve common questions of law or fact to promote efficiency and avoid inconsistent judgments. This is in line with Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure (NRCP), particularly Rule 42(a), which allows for consolidation when actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court. The decision to consolidate is at the discretion of the court and is typically considered when the cases are so similar that hearing them together would save time and resources and not prejudice the rights of any party involved. If the lawsuits are in different courts but within the same jurisdiction, a transfer may be ordered to consolidate the cases in one court. The process and criteria for consolidation may vary slightly between state and federal courts, but the underlying principles of judicial efficiency and consistency in judgments guide the decision in both systems.