What to Do When Someone Dies in Storey County, Nevada

Probate in Storey County runs through the First 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.

What probate costsHow to fileTransferring propertyLocal attorneys

When someone dies in Storey County, settling their estate runs through the First 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

First Judicial District Court

Storey County · 1st Judicial District

Address

26 South B Street, Drawer DVirginia City, NV 89440

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Visit court website →
Paper filing available

Mailing address: PO Box 176, Virginia City, NV 89440. Fax: 775-847-0921. Civil settings scheduled each Wednesday at 9:00 AM. If you have a case filed in Storey County and want to set a hearing date, contact the Judges Chambers in Carson City.

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Verified July 4, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Storey 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 Storey County, probate runs through the First Judicial District Court at 26 South B Street, Drawer D, Virginia City. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District. The same 1st Judicial District also serves Carson City.

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 Storey County

What probate costs in Storey 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 First Judicial District Court at 26 South B Street, Drawer D, Virginia City. The court is part of the 1st 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 First Judicial District Court

Probate cases in Storey County are filed at the First Judicial District Court. File in person during business hours or by mail. The court sits in the 1st 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 First Judicial District Court is realistic.

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

Storey 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

Court Appearances

Law and Motion Days only on 3rd Friday of each month

All probate hearings 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Contact Judges Chambers in Carson City to set hearing.

Source

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

Before You Go

Hearing schedule

District Court Judges hear all criminal, probate, and civil matters on Law and Motion Days on the 3rd Friday of each month from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

What to Bring

To file at the First 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 Storey 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 Storey County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by County Recorder Dru McPherson, at 26 South B Street, Virginia City, NV 89440. Phone: 775-847-0967. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (closed for lunch).

Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 493, Virginia City, NV 89440.

The County Recorder charges $37 flat, regardless of page count.

Storey County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Storey County · County Recorder · Dru McPherson

Address

26 South B StreetVirginia City, NV 89440Mailing: PO Box 493, Virginia City, NV 89440

Fax

775-847-1009

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (closed for lunch)

E-recording

Available via Simplifile
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

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

NRS 247.305

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Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Storey County

Nevada uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Storey 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. Storey County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.

A probate attorney files the petition with the First 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.

FirmCarson City, NV

Allison MacKenzie, Ltd.

Since 1968 · Serves 5 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipBusiness LawReal Estate Law

Office
402 N. Division StreetCarson City, NV 89703

Solo PracticeCarson City, NV

Handelin Law, LTD

Since 2011 · Serves 5 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionBusiness Formationand 2 more

Office
1100 South Carson StreetCarson City, NV 89701

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

Solo PracticeCarson City, NV

Mahe Law, Ltd.

Serves 5 counties

Carson City estate planning and probate firm serving Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe counties in Northern Nevada. Jennifer M. Mahe handles wills, trusts, probate administration, trust administration, probate litigation, and will contests before Nevada District Courts. Admitted to the Nevada State Bar since 2005.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation

Office
707 N Minnesota Street, Suite DCarson City, NV 89703

FirmCarson City, NV

Prunty Law

Serves 5 counties

Downtown Carson City boutique on West Telegraph Street, practicing before the First Judicial District Court. Walks personal representatives and trustees through administration deadlines, and represents them in court-supervised probate and in disputes among beneficiaries, fiduciaries, or creditors. Jessica C. Prunty focuses on estate planning and estate and trust administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more

Office
111 W. Telegraph Street, Suite 202Carson City, NV 89703

FirmReno, NV

Anderson, Dorn & Rader, Ltd.

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
See all 26 firms serving Storey 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.

Notify Banks & Financial Institutions

Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.

America First logo

Credit Union serving the West and Southwest

America First

BMO logo

Bank serving the West, Midwest, and more

BMO

Cathay Bank logo

Bank serving the Northeast, West, and more

Cathay Bank

Citibank logo

Bank serving the Northeast, West, and more

Citibank

City National logo

Bank serving the Southeast, West, and more

City National

Columbia Bank logo

Bank serving the West and Southwest

Columbia Bank

CommunityAmerica logo

Credit Union serving the Midwest, Southeast, and more

CommunityAmerica

COUNTRY Financial logo

Insurance Company serving the Midwest, West, and more

COUNTRY Financial

CSAA Insurance logo

Insurance Company serving the West, Northeast, and more

CSAA Insurance

Customers Bank logo

Bank serving the Northeast, West, and more

Customers Bank

D.A. Davidson logo

Brokerage serving the West, Midwest, and more

D.A. Davidson

East West Bank logo

Bank serving the West, Northeast, and more

East West Bank

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