What to Do When Someone Dies in Churchill County, Nevada

Probate in Churchill County runs through the Tenth Judicial District Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.

When someone dies in Churchill County, settling their estate runs through the Tenth Judicial District Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.

Probate Court Record

Tenth Judicial District Court

Churchill County · 10th Judicial District

Address

73 N Maine Street, Suite BFallon, NV 89406

Fax

775-423-8578

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Filing window: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, closed 12:00-1:00 PM)
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableSelf-filing allowed

Accepted paymentCheck, Money order. Cashier's checks or money orders only; credit and debit cards not accepted. Documents must be printed single-sided.

County forms

Churchill County probate court records refer to case documents from the District Court Probate Division. The District Court handles probate matters including estates and wills. Phone hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Filing window hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. E-filing portal: efiling-nv.com/portal/ (powered by Tybera).

Verified July 4, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Churchill County

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Churchill County, probate runs through the Tenth Judicial District Court at 73 N Maine Street, Suite B, Fallon. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District.

The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Nevada intestacy law when there is no will.

Most Nevada estates take 6 months to 9 months to move through this process. The 3 monthsNRS 147.040Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.

What Probate Costs in Churchill County

What probate costs in Churchill County, Nevada comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Tenth Judicial District Court at 73 N Maine Street, Suite B, Fallon. The court is part of the 10th Judicial District.

Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Inventory due 60 days from appointment; First accounting due 6 months from appointment. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.

Nevada charges $0 - $426 (based on estate value)NRS 19.013(1), NRS 19.020(2), NRS 19.0302(1)(c)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.

Estimate the costs for this estate:

Attorney fees in Nevada are negotiated, typically 1%NRS 150.060 (reasonable compensation; if computed on the value of the estate the court allows 4% on first $100K, 3% next $100K, 2% next $800K, 1% next $9M, 0.5% next $15M — hourly billing also permitted, fee fixed by written agreement and approved by the court)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%NRS 150.060 (reasonable compensation; if computed on the value of the estate the court allows 4% on first $100K, 3% next $100K, 2% next $800K, 1% next $9M, 0.5% next $15M — hourly billing also permitted, fee fixed by written agreement and approved by the court)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.

Executor compensation is also statutory in Nevada. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.

Nevada requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.

Probate in Nevada typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.

How to File Probate at the Tenth Judicial District Court

Probate cases in Churchill County are filed at the Tenth Judicial District Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District.

How to File Your Documents

Paper Filing Available

You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.

Can You File Without an Attorney?

Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Tenth Judicial District Court is realistic.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Churchill County Self-Filing Assessment.

Churchill County Filing Requirements

These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.

Before You File

E-filing available via e-flex system (optional)

Questions about e-filing: districtcourt@churchillcourts.org. For account setup, contact Tybera via portal. Filing window hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

Source

Will lodging required within 30 days of death

Filing fee: $18.

Source: NRS 136

Service Requirements

Creditor notice publication required 3 times

At least 10 days between first and last publication. 90-day (general) or 60-day (summary) claim period.

Source: NRS 155.020

Churchill County Forms

This county uses specific forms in addition to state-standard forms. Using the correct forms helps avoid delays or rejected filings.

Affidavit of Entitlement

Download

Small estate collection of personal property; not filed with the court

Before You Go

Accepted payment

Check, Money order. Cashier's checks or money orders only; credit and debit cards not accepted. Documents must be printed single-sided.

What to Bring

To file at the Tenth Judicial District Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.

Transferring Property in Churchill County

Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.

Deeds and other real property documents for Churchill County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Tasha Hessey, at 155 North Taylor Street, Suite 131, Fallon, NV 89406. Phone: 775-423-6001. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

The County Recorder charges $43 flat, regardless of page count.

Churchill County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Churchill County · County Recorder · Tasha Hessey

Address

155 North Taylor Street, Suite 131Fallon, NV 89406

Fax

775-423-8933

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

E-recording

Available via Simplifile
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$43
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

NRS 247.305

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Churchill County

Nevada uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Churchill County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.

Nevada uses a presumed-reasonable fee schedule for probate attorneys — the percentages are a starting point that can be negotiated, especially for simple estates. Churchill County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.

A probate attorney files the petition with the Tenth Judicial District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.

Solo PracticeReno, NV

J. Douglas Clark Attorney at Law, Ltd.

Since 1979 · Serves 6 counties

Reno sole practice devoted exclusively to the trusts and estates field for over 36 years. J. Douglas Clark is the founding president of the Probate Bar Association of Washoe County and past president of the Estate Planning Council of Northern Nevada.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrust LitigationAlternative Dispute Resolutionand 2 more

Office
510 West Plumb Lane, Suite BReno, NV 89509
Free consultation

FirmYerington, NV

Johnston Law Offices, P.C.

Serves 4 counties

Yerington general-practice firm founded by Brad M. Johnston, a former Ninth Circuit clerk and former Holland & Hart partner. Returned to private practice in Lyon County in 2014 after serving as general counsel of a large Nevada agricultural company. Associate LeAnn Schumann handles estate planning, family law, and indigent defense across Lyon, Churchill, Douglas, and Mineral counties.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawCivil Litigationand 4 more

Office
22 State Route 208Yerington, NV 89447

FirmDayton, NV

Walther Law Offices, PLLC

Serves 5 counties

Dayton-based firm serving Lyon County, Carson City, and Northern Nevada from offices in Dayton, Yerington, and Fernley. Handles estate planning, wills, trusts, probate and estate administration, and powers of attorney for families and agricultural clients. A multi-generational ranching background gives the firm practical standing in farm and ranch estate transfers.

PracticesEstate PlanningAgriculture LawBusiness LitigationReal Estate Law

Office
15 Main StreetDayton, NV 89403

Serves Washoe, Carson City, and Douglas counties from Damonte Ranch in Reno, with a second office in Minden. Handles trust and probate administration for surviving families alongside wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special-needs trusts, and retirement-account trusts. Runs free public estate planning workshops; consultations are not advertised as free.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
500 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Suite 860Reno, NV 89521

FirmReno, NV

Carlson & Work

Since 2018

Carlson & Work serves Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Washoe County from its California Avenue office, handling revocable and irrevocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and living wills. Launched in 2018 by former prosecutor Mathew Work, the firm pairs estate planning with family law and criminal defense.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateCriminal DefenseTrustsWills

Office
1100 California Avenue, Suite 200Reno, NV 89509

Reno firm in the south-meadows district serving northern Nevada, the Lake Tahoe basin, and Las Vegas in estate planning, trust administration, probate, and asset protection. Handles revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and life insurance trusts at published flat fees. Attorney Tyson Cross is licensed in Nevada and California. Free consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningAsset Protection

Office
611 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite BReno, NV 89511
Free consultation
See all 26 firms serving Churchill County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Nevada statutes and official state code. How we research.