Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Nevada?
In Nevada, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees on a statutory schedule presumed reasonableNRS 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
In Nevada, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees on a statutory schedule presumed reasonableNRS 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee. The trust also distributes assets faster than the 4 months to 6 months probate timeline a simple estate takes.
Probate in Nevada runs about $24,726NRS 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 on a $500,000 estate in combined attorney, executor, and court fees. A revocable trust has a one-time setup cost and no probate fees. See a detailed breakdown with the Nevada probate calculator.
No. A will must go through probate in Nevada. A small estate may qualify for a simplified route: In Nevada, estates with personal property of $25,000NRS 146.080Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Affidavit of EntitlementNRS 146.080Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 40 daysNRS 146.080Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death. The Affidavit of Entitlement is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court.
Simple estates in Nevada typically take 4 months to 6 months through probate; average estates 6 months to 9 months, and contested estates longer. A funded revocable trust avoids probate entirely; distributions follow the trustee's administration rather than a court timeline.
Yes. A will becomes a public court record once it enters probate in Nevada: the will, the inventory, the beneficiaries and the distributions. A revocable trust is a private document that does not go through probate, so the terms, beneficiaries, and asset details remain confidential.
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Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate in Nevada
Free forms for planning your estate in Nevada: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
In Nevada, a will is signed before 2NRS 133.040Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyNRS 133.040Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Pour-Over Will
In Nevada, a pour-over will is signed before 2NRS 133.040Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Nevada allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2NRS 162A.855, 162A.865, 162A.870Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Financial Power of Attorney
Nevada treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultNRS § 162A.200-660Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementNRS § 162A.200-660Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.
Transfer on Death Deed
In Nevada, a deed upon death is signed before a notaryNRS 111.655 to 111.699Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathNRS 111.655 to 111.699Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Living Will
In Nevada, the living will is the DeclarationNRS 449A.400-449A.481 (Uniform Act on Rights of the Terminally Ill); registry NRS 449A.700-449A.739; power of attorney for health care NRS 162A.700-162A.870Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Nevada
Free tools for planning your estate in Nevada: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Nevada runs $4,680Estimate: 10 hours at $468, Clio's Nevada Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $7,020Estimate: 15 hours at $468, Clio's Nevada Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in Nevada runs $1,386Estimate: 3 hours at $462, Clio's Nevada Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,772Estimate: 6 hours at $462, Clio's Nevada Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $24,726NRS 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.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
In Nevada, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingNRS 159A.062, 159A.061(8)(a), 159A.0753Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18NRS 129.010Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Nevada takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees on a statutory schedule presumed reasonableNRS 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Nevada runs $4,680Estimate: 10 hours at $468, Clio's Nevada Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $7,020Estimate: 15 hours at $468, Clio's Nevada Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,386Estimate: 3 hours at $462, Clio's Nevada Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,772Estimate: 6 hours at $462, Clio's Nevada Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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Nevada Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Nevada probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.