Nevada executor and estate paperwork checklist

This is an organizer, not legal advice. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation.

The first 30 days

Work down the list; nothing you tick is saved or sent. The steps are general, the dates come from the official pages.

1. Get several certified copies of the death certificateThe funeral home can usually order them, or the vital records office can. Each bank, insurer and pension plan may ask for its own.
2. Make sure Social Security knowsFuneral homes generally report the death. If not, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). A surviving spouse, or some children if there's no spouse, may get a one-time $255 payment.
3. Find the original willLook for the signed original and any codicils (later changes). Keep the original safe and unaltered; make copies for yourself.
4. Check the will for a self-proving affidavitLook for a notarized statement by the witnesses attached to the will; this state allows one (see below).
5. Protect the propertyChange locks if keys are out, keep insurance paid, and have the mail forwarded so bills and statements reach you.
6. Don't pay bills or hand out belongings yetFirst learn which route fits and who is allowed to act; ask the probate office or an attorney about anything urgent.
7. Know that a power of attorney has endedA power of attorney ends when the principal dies; the agent's authority stops there.
8. Write down every asset and debtFor each, record whose name it's in and whether a beneficiary or co-owner is listed; those usually go straight to that person.
9. Check the total against $25,000The official page's small estate figure. Leave out anything the page says isn't counted.
10. Count 40 days from the deathThat's when the official page says the small estate paperwork can be used.
11. Open a simple money logOne line per payment or deposit, with the date, who, how much and the receipt. It makes the final accounting easy.
12. Once you have authority: EIN and an estate accountThe IRS says you need an EIN before filing the estate's Form 1041, which is due if the estate has more than $600 of gross income in a year.

Sources for the federal steps: Social Security Administration: When someone dies · IRS: Deceased taxpayers, filing the estate income tax return (Form 1041) · power of attorney: Power of attorney at a real estate closing.

The small estate route

• ConfirmedSmall estate limit

  Less than $25,000 for other relatives (vehicles not included), or less than $150,000 for a surviving spouse. The person can't have owned real property (land, homes, timeshares).

  "less than $25,000 (value of vehicles is not included)"

  • With a surviving spouse, as the page describes: up to $150,000.
  • Vehicles aren't counted toward this limit; they're handled separately.

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedReal estate

  Real estate in the person's name alone takes the estate out of this procedure.

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWaiting period after the death

  40 days. At least 40 days after the death.

  "At least 40 days have passed since the person died"

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedNotary or oath

  Signed before a notary. Sign only in front of a notary.

  "Do not sign the Affidavit of Entitlement until you are in the presence of a notary."

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWhere the paperwork goes

  Handed to the bank or other holder. Nothing is filed in court; present it to whoever holds the property.

  "Present the Affidavit of Entitlement to the entity holding the property."

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedOfficial form

  Affidavit of Entitlement (NRS 146.080). The Self-Help Center's fillable form.

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedSimplified court procedure

  Petition for direct transfer (ex parte petition for transfer of property): A court petition when a holder won't transfer on the affidavit.

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

• ConfirmedSurviving spouse

  A surviving spouse can use the affidavit when the estate is under $150,000.

  "the value of the estate is less than $150,000"

  Source: Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement, checked November 2026

The will at probate

Signing rules for wills, as they bear on getting the will accepted.

• ConfirmedWitnesses the will needed

  Two witnesses, who sign the will in the testator's presence.

  "attested by at least two competent witnesses who subscribe their names to the will in the presence of the testator"

  Source: NRS Chapter 133, Wills (Nevada Legislature), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedSelf-proving affidavit

  Allowed. Witnesses sign an affidavit before anyone authorized to administer oaths, or a declaration under penalty of perjury instead.

  "an affidavit before any person authorized to administer oaths"

  Source: NRS Chapter 133, Wills (Nevada Legislature), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedIf the will is handwritten

  Recognized, with the same effect as a formally signed and witnessed will.

  "Such wills are valid and have the same force and effect as if formally executed."

  Source: NRS Chapter 133, Wills (Nevada Legislature), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedA witness who inherits

  A gift to a witness is void unless two other competent witnesses also signed the will.

  "All devises in a will to a subscribing witness are void unless there are two other competent subscribing witnesses"

  Source: NRS Chapter 133, Wills (Nevada Legislature), checked November 2026

Documents to gather

• Vehicle titles and registrations
• Recent bank, brokerage and retirement statements
• Life insurance policies and annuities
• The last few years of tax returns
• Recent bills, loan and credit card statements
• Pension, Social Security and benefit letters
• Safe deposit box location and keys
• Certified death certificates
• The original will and any codicils
• Deeds and mortgage statements
• The official small estate form: Affidavit of Entitlement (NRS 146.080)

Who to notify

Life insurance companies, Utilities and phone, Landlord or mortgage servicer, Credit card companies, Pension or employer, Social Security (if the funeral home hasn't), Banks and credit unions, Brokerage and retirement accounts. Write once to each, enclose a death certificate copy, and record the reply.

Documents needed abroad

• ConfirmedA death certificate needed abroad

  Apostilles for this state's documents come from the Secretary of State. $20 per apostille (Secretary of State fee schedule, revised 8/1/2023).

  Source: Secretary of State, checked November 2026

Where to ask

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Official pages for Nevada:

• Nevada Courts Self-Help Center: Affidavit of entitlement

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Facts checked November 2026.

Common questions

Related: Executor guide by state · Small estate affidavit details · Will signing requirements · Estate paperwork help