How probate works in Nye County: the Fifth Judicial District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Nye County · 5th Judicial District
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About the court
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
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 Nye County, probate runs through the Fifth Judicial District Court at 1520 East Basin Avenue, Suite 108, Pahrump. The court sits in the 5th Judicial District. The same 5th Judicial District also serves Esmeralda.
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 Nye 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 Fifth Judicial District Court at 1520 East Basin Avenue, Suite 108, Pahrump. The court is part of the 5th Judicial District.
The Fifth 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.
Probate cases in Nye County are filed at the Fifth Judicial District Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 5th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Department 1 chambers, Department 2 chambers, Clerk of the Court and Court Administrator, and Tonopah clerk's office.
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 Nye County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
No filing by fax without a court order
Only original documents are accepted for filing, and a faxed document is filed only when the court orders it.
SourceSingle-sided pages with ink signatures
Every document is printed single-sided and carries a handwritten signature; electronic signatures are not accepted. Every motion includes a notice of motion, or it is not placed on the calendar.
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Fifth 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.
In Nye 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
Nye County · State vital records office
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| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Nye County · Nye County Sheriff's Office
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Verified November 4, 2026 · Source
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 Nye County are recorded with the County Recorder at 101 Radar Road, Tonopah, NV 89049. Phone: 1-775-482-8116. Hours: Monday-Thursday 6:30 AM-noon and 12:30 PM-5:00 PM (closed Friday).
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 1111, Tonopah, NV 89049-1111.
The County Recorder charges $37 flat, regardless of page count.
Nye County accepts electronic recording through Indecomm, CSC, Simplifile and Hopdox.
Recording Office Record
Nye County
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| Flat fee (any length) | $37 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
NRS 247.305
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
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. Nye County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Fifth 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.
FirmHenderson, NV
Largest law firm in Henderson, formed in 2013 from the merger of Barlow/Flake and Richards and Associates. Has supervised more than 700 probate cases. Named 2020 Champions of Justice Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year for Southern Nevada.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust LitigationBusiness Law
FirmLas Vegas, NV
Full-service firm with four southern Nevada offices including a physical presence in Pahrump (Nye County), providing estate planning access to an underserved rural community. Voted Best of Las Vegas for Estate Planning/Probate.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateSpecial Needs PlanningAsset Protection
Solo PracticePahrump, NV
Client-focused law firm in Pahrump Valley providing estate planning, probate, and business formation services to Nye County residents. Offers free estate planning consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness Formation
FirmLas Vegas, NV
Las Vegas third-generation family firm founded in 1963, serving Clark County in estate planning, probate, and trust administration. The late Charles W. Johnson was an ACTEC Fellow and a pioneer of the living trust in Nevada; the firm continues to handle wills, trusts, and estate tax planning. Free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
Solo PracticePahrump, NV
Solo practitioner serving Nye County since 1997, providing legal services in both Nye and Clark counties. One of the few estate planning attorneys with a physical office in Pahrump, making legal services accessible to the remote Nye County community.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBankruptcyFamily Law
Solo PracticePahrump, NV
Estate planning and elder law firm with a physical office in Pahrump serving Nye and Clark counties since 1997. Harriet Roland has served as chair of the Elder Law section of the Nevada State Bar and on a legislative committee analyzing Nevada probate and trust laws.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 3 more
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.
Data sourced from Nevada statutes and official state code. How we research.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Browse vetted Nevada attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Nevada attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Nevada lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
