Walton's Gardnerville is a funeral home in Gardnerville with a chapel, a reception room and an arrangement room, open Monday to Friday with weekends by appointment. It is one of six Walton's locations in the Reno-Carson area, which state that they offer cremation services, take pre-planning forms and complete the paperwork for military death and burial benefits.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Douglas County, Nevada
How probate works in Douglas County: the Ninth Judicial District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Douglas County Ninth Judicial District Court
Douglas County · 9th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1038 Buckeye Road, 2nd Floor, Minden, NV 89423
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys must e-file through the court's own portal, and fees are paid in full there before a filing is submitted. The clerk also takes PDF filings at dcclerk@douglas.nv.gov; that address is for filings only, not correspondence. A filing sent after 5:00 p.m. or on a weekend or holiday is reviewed the next business day and, if approved, is stamped with the time it was sent. On paper: An original will, a bond or an original deed is filed on paper; Original documents a statute requires to be lodged with the court are filed on paper; Self-represented filers may file on paper.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe clerk's counter takes filings in person during office hours, and papers may also be mailed or faxed.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe court's self-help page links the State of Nevada Self-Help Center and Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans. The clerk gives no legal advice.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.Payments are payable to the District Court Clerks Office. By mail the court takes cashier's checks and money orders; personal checks are taken only in person with photo identification. Card payments, in person, by phone or online through Point and Pay, carry a 3% fee with a $2.00 minimum.
Hearing schedule
- Probate is heard at 1:30 p.m. on law and motion days: Department 1 on Tuesdays and Department 2 on Mondays.
Self-help center
- Douglas County Public Library, 1625 Library Lane, MindenThe Douglas County Law Library, with a Westlaw terminal, is in the public library and keeps the library's hours.
County forms
- Instructions for Personal RepresentativeFiled, certified, by the personal representative before letters issue; available from the clerk
P.O. Box 218
Minden, NV 89423
Fax
1-775-782-9954
Departments
- Department I judicial executive assistant1-775-782-9961
- Department II judicial executive assistant1-775-782-9951
About the court
- Probate papers are filed with the District Court Clerks Office on the second floor of 1038 Buckeye Road in Minden.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Douglas 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 Douglas County, probate runs through the Ninth Judicial District Court at 1038 Buckeye Road, 2nd Floor, Minden. The court sits in the 9th 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. Creditors have 3 monthsNRS 147.040, NRS 147.070, NRS 147.130, NRS 147.195, NRS 155.020Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Douglas County
What probate costs in Douglas 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 Ninth Judicial District Court at 1038 Buckeye Road, 2nd Floor, Minden. The court is part of the 9th Judicial District.
The Ninth Judicial District Court charges $0 - $426 (based on estate value)NRS 19.013(1), NRS 19.020(2), NRS 19.0302(1)(c)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. 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; on the value of the estate, 4% on first $100K, 3% next $100K, 2% next $800K, 1% next $9M, 0.5% next $15M; hourly billing also permitted)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%NRS 150.060 (reasonable compensation; on the value of the estate, 4% on first $100K, 3% next $100K, 2% next $800K, 1% next $9M, 0.5% next $15M; hourly billing also permitted)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Nevada sets executor compensation by statute — about $11,150 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.2%NRS 150.020 (statutory percentage: 4% on first $15K, 3% next $85K, 2% above $100K); NRS 150.020(4) (further fees the court deems just and reasonable); NRS 150.030 (extraordinary services)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Nevada requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Probate in Nevada typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Ninth Judicial District Court
Probate cases in Douglas County, Nevada are filed at the Ninth Judicial District Court. The court sits in the 9th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Department I judicial executive assistant and Department II judicial executive assistant.
The Douglas County Law Library, with a Westlaw terminal, is in the public library and keeps the library's hours.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Nevada has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableNRS 143.340; NRS 155.020 (appointment is by court petition and hearing — no registrar/informal track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Douglas County Self-Filing Assessment.
Douglas County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Document Requirements
Instructions for Personal Representative before letters
The personal representative files the clerk's certified Instructions for Personal Representative before the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration.
SourceCourt Appearances
No appearance needed at an uncontested probate hearing
Nobody need appear at an uncontested probate hearing when the verified petition and exhibits and a certified death certificate are in the record, any bond is described, the proposed order and the proof of mailing and publication reach the clerk by noon the Friday before, and the court has written notice of a phone number to reach between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. on the hearing day. The rule does not cover contested matters or sale confirmations where overbids may be taken.
SourceSummary estates and set-asides decided on the papers
A summary administration or a petition to set aside an estate may be decided on the pleadings without counsel present.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Ninth Judicial District Court: Copy of the death certificate, attached to the initial petition as an exhibit with the decedent's Social Security number redacted (an uncertified copy suffices; Washoe accepts "some other evidence of death"); Original will and any codicils, delivered to the clerk of the district court within 30 days after knowledge of the death (NRS 136.050(1)-(2))NRS ch. 136 (probate of wills & petitions for letters); NRS 136.090 (petition contents); NRS ch. 138-139 (appointment & priority); NRS ch. 141 (letters)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Douglas County
In Douglas County certified copies of the death certificate come from Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health - Office of Vital Records; the Local Health Department files the certificate and issues no copies to the public.
Vital Records Office Record
Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health - Office of Vital Records
Douglas County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (except state holidays)
Office
4150 Technology Way, Suite 104, Carson City, NV 89706
Website
Certified copies
From Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health - Office of Vital Records; the Local Health Department files the certificate and issues no copies to the public
Office of Vital Records
4150 Technology Way
Suite 104
Carson City, NV 89706
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Douglas County · Douglas County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Division
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1038 Buckeye Road, Minden, NV 89423
Website
Mail and offices
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
P.O. Box 218
Minden, NV 89423
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Douglas County
4 funeral homes and crematories in Douglas County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Eastside Memorial Park in Minden was started in December 1985 and has an onsite crematory and cemetery on Buckeye Road. It states it can arrange a visitation or viewing before a cremation, and that its cemetery is the only one in Nevada certified by the Green Burial Council as a natural burial ground.
Eastside Memorial Funeral Home has served Minden since 2018 from a 150-seat chapel on Buckeye Road, beside an onsite cemetery and crematory. It handles funeral, cremation and cemetery plans and veterans services, and its cemetery states it is the only one in Nevada certified by the Green Burial Council as a natural burial ground.
FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home is in Minden, where it holds traditional religious ceremonies and funerals with military honors and can coordinate cremation. The business first opened in 1966 in Carson City and added a location in 1990 for families near Lake Tahoe, Glenbrook, Topaz Lake and Genoa. It is a member of the Dignity Memorial network.
Funeral homes by city: Gardnerville, Minden
Cremation Services in Douglas County
4 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Douglas County
3 listings
Burial Services in Douglas County
2 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Douglas County
2 listings
Green Burial in Douglas County
2 listings
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Douglas 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 Douglas County are recorded with the County Recorder at 1616 8th Street, Minden, NV 89423. Phone: 1-775-782-9025. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (public counter open through the lunch hour).
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 218, Minden, NV 89423.
The County Recorder charges $40 flat, regardless of page count.
Douglas County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Indecomm, Hopdox, ePN and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Douglas County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (public counter open through the lunch hour)
Office
1616 8th Street, Minden, NV 89423
Website
P.O. Box 218
Minden, NV 89423
Fax
1-775-783-6413
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $40 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
NRS 247.305
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Douglas County
Nevada allows independent administrationNRS 143.300Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Nevada uses a presumed-reasonable fee schedule for probate attorneys — the percentages are a starting point that can be negotiated, especially for simple estates. Douglas County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Ninth 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.
Carson City general-practice firm founded in 1968, serving Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe counties before the First Judicial District Court. Twelve attorneys handle wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, probate administration, and guardianships, with three focused specifically on probate. More than 50 years of continuous Nevada practice.
Estate planning firm serving the Lake Tahoe Basin and Northern Nevada with offices in Carson City, Lake Tahoe, and Gardnerville. Founder Justin Sinner is licensed in both Nevada and California, focusing on revocable living trusts, wills, probate, trust administration, and guardianships.
Carson City firm providing estate planning and business law services since 2011. Steven Handelin brings a direct, thoughtful approach to estate planning for clients across Carson City, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and surrounding communities. Licensed in both Nevada and California.
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.
Johnston Law Offices, P.C.
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.
Estate planning and personal injury firm in Minden serving Douglas County, Carson City, and the Carson Valley. Gene Kaufmann brings 25+ years of experience with particular expertise in will contests and undue influence claims. Licensed in Nevada, California, and Indiana.
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.
Legal Sources
(11)·
- NRS 143.300
- NRS 143.340; NRS 155.020 (appointment is by court petition and hearing — no registrar/informal track)
- NRS 147.040, NRS 147.070, NRS 147.130, NRS 147.195, NRS 155.020
- NRS 150.020 (statutory percentage: 4% on first $15K, 3% next $85K, 2% above $100K); NRS 150.020(4) (further fees the court deems just and reasonable); NRS 150.030 (extraordinary services)
- NRS 150.060 (reasonable compensation; on the value of the estate, 4% on first $100K, 3% next $100K, 2% next $800K, 1% next $9M, 0.5% next $15M; hourly billing also permitted)
- NRS 19.013(1), NRS 19.020(2), NRS 19.0302(1)(c)
- NRS ch. 136 (probate of wills & petitions for letters); NRS 136.090 (petition contents); NRS ch. 138-139 (appointment & priority); NRS ch. 141 (letters)
- NRS 247.305
- Douglas County Ninth Judicial District Court, official page
- Douglas County Recorder, official page
- Douglas County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Nevada statutes and official state code. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Nevada
Free tools for settling an estate in Nevada: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Nevada.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Nevada: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysNRS 144.010, NRS 144.090Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsNRS 147.040, NRS 147.070, NRS 147.130, NRS 147.195, NRS 155.020Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Nevada happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteNRS Chapter 163, 164, 165Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Nevada has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableNRS 143.340; NRS 155.020 (appointment is by court petition and hearing — no registrar/informal track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Get the Answer
Hire a Nevada Probate Attorney
Browse vetted Nevada attorneys handling probate matters.
Browse firms
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
