What to Do When Someone Dies in Nye County, Nevada

Probate in Nye County runs through the Fifth 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 Nye County, settling their estate runs through the Fifth 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

Fifth Judicial District Court

Nye County · 5th Judicial District

Address

101 Radar RoadTonopah, NV 89049Mailing: 1520 E. Basin Ave. #108, Pahrump, NV 89060

Fax

775-482-7345

Hours

Dept 1: Monday - Thursday, 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM (Closed 12:00-12:30 PM, Closed Fridays); Dept 2: Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed 12:00-1:00 PM), Friday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableE-filing optional

Departments

  • Pahrump - Department 1775-751-6365
  • Pahrump - Department 2775-751-4213

Nye County has two locations. Both judges hear criminal, civil, probate, and family cases. The Nye County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Fifth Judicial District Court and maintains probate matters among other court records. Pahrump (main office) clerk line: 775-751-7040, fax 775-751-4218. Tonopah mailing address: P.O. Box 153, Tonopah, NV 89049; Tonopah admin email nyeadmin@nyecountynv.gov. Dept 1 chambers: 775-751-6365; Dept 2 chambers: 775-751-4213. Tonopah Admin Office: Mon-Thu 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM. Clerk of Court line: 775-751-6387.

Verified July 4, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Nye 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 Nye County, probate runs through the Fifth Judicial District Court at 101 Radar Road, Tonopah. 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. 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 Nye County

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 101 Radar Road, Tonopah. The court is part of the 5th Judicial District.

Probate matters are handled through Pahrump - Department 1 and Pahrump - Department 2. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.

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.

The Fifth Judicial District Court accepts e-filing (https://nevada.tylertech.cloud/ofsweb). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.

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 Fifth Judicial District Court

Probate documents in Nye County can be filed in person at the Fifth Judicial District Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 5th Judicial District.

Filings here are routed through Pahrump - Department 1 and Pahrump - Department 2. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.

How to File Your Documents

Paper Filing Available

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

E-Filing Also Available

If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.

View E-Filing Information

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 Fifth Judicial District Court is realistic.

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

Nye 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

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

What to Bring

To file at the Fifth 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 Nye 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 Nye County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Deborah Beatty, at 101 Radar Road, Tonopah, NV 89049. Phone: 775-482-8116. Hours: Monday - Thursday, 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM (closed 12:00 - 12:30 PM for lunch; closed Friday).

Documents submitted by mail go to PO 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 / Hopdox.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Nye County · County Recorder · Deborah Beatty

Address

101 Radar RoadTonopah, NV 89049Mailing: PO Box 1111, Tonopah, NV 89049-1111

Fax

775-482-8111

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM (closed 12:00 - 12:30 PM for lunch; closed Friday)

E-recording

Available via Indecomm / CSC / Simplifile / HopdoxE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$37
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

NRS 247.305

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Nye County

Nevada uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Nye 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. 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

Clear Counsel Law Group

Since 2013 · Serves 3 counties

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

Office
1671 W Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 200Henderson, NV 89012
Free consultation

FirmLas Vegas, NV

JK Nelson Law

Serves 2 counties

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

Office
7220 S. Cimarron Road, Suite 205Las Vegas, NV 89113
Free consultation

Solo PracticePahrump, NV

Law Office of Robin M. Holseth, LLC

Serves 1 county

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

Office
2360 Commercial DrivePahrump, NV 89048
Free consultation

FirmLas Vegas, NV

Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson

Since 1963 · Serves 3 counties

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

Office
1160 North Town Center Drive, Suite 140Las Vegas, NV 89144
Free consultation

Solo PracticePahrump, NV

Louis Minicozzi Attorney at Law

Since 1997 · Serves 2 counties

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

Office
3250 S. Nevada Highway 160, Suite 2Pahrump, NV 89048

Solo PracticePahrump, NV

Roland Law Firm

Since 1997 · Serves 2 counties

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

Office
3340 S Nevada Highway 160, Suite 201Pahrump, NV 89048
See all 46 firms serving Nye 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.