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Carson City, NV Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | First Judicial District Court, Carson City (serves Carson City and Storey County); no separate probate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the District Court, third floor at 885 East Musser Street |
| Courthouse | 885 East Musser Street, Suite 3031, Carson City, NV 89701-3031 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of the District Court, 885 East Musser Street, Suite 3031, Carson City, NV 89701-3031 |
| Phone | (775) 887-2082 |
| Fax | (775) 887-2177 (for correspondence only; faxed documents are not accepted for filing except by court order) |
| [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Mon-Fri 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; closed legal holidays |
| Filing fee | No fee where the stated estate value is $2,500 or less (NRS 19.013); $180.50 for estates of $2,501 to $20,000; $279.50 for $20,001 to $299,999; $532.50 at $300,000 or more, per the court's posted District Court Filing Fee Schedule (revised October 1, 2019; verified July 2026) |
| Local probate forms | No probate petition packet; Nevada has no statewide mandatory probate form set. The clerk's District Court forms page posts general forms, including a creditor's claim, a notice to creditors, and the notice to set, and directs self-represented filers to the Nevada Judiciary self-help forms |
| E-filing | Not available; filing is by paper, in person or by mail. Only original documents are accepted for filing |
| Online case search | Not available; there is no public docket portal for Carson City. The nvcourts.gov listing is a directory entry, not a case-search tool |
| Remote appearance | Not published for probate matters; confirm availability with the clerk when a hearing is set |
| Website | https://www.carsoncity.gov/government/departments-a-f/courts/district-court-clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Carson City, know exactly what is in the estate. The path you take depends entirely on whether there is a will and on the value and type of the assets, and Nevada offers several routes: an affidavit of entitlement for a qualifying small estate with no Nevada real property (NRS 146.080), a set-aside without administration (NRS 146.070), summary administration (NRS Chapter 145), and full general administration. The dollar thresholds that separate these paths are statewide and are explained on the Nevada state page; identify the estate first so you file the right petition once.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, and parcel of real property, along with every debt, before you go to the clerk. Whether the decedent owned real property in Nevada is decisive, because the affidavit path is unavailable if there is any Nevada real property. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The First Judicial District Court serves Carson City together with Storey County. For Carson City, the court's jurisdiction covers the whole of the consolidated municipality, and probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the District Court on the third floor of the courthouse at 885 East Musser Street. Storey County matters (Virginia City and the surrounding area) are handled separately in that county; a Carson City estate is filed at the Carson City courthouse. The District Court shares a consolidated administration with the Carson City Justice Court and Municipal Court, which sit on the second floor of the same building, so confirm you are at the District Court clerk's counter on the third floor for a probate filing.
Venue for a decedent's estate is governed by NRS 136.010. Venue is proper in any district court in Nevada, subject to an interested person's objection on convenience grounds, in which case the court weighs, in priority order, where the decedent resided at death and where the decedent owned real property. In practice, file in Carson City for a decedent who lived here. There is no dedicated probate department in the First Judicial District; probate is heard on the court's law and motion calendar.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the documents. Collect the original signed will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the proposed personal representative's contact information and photo ID, the names and addresses of the heirs and beneficiaries, and a list of the assets and debts with values.
- Choose the path based on the estate. Depending on whether there is a will and on the value and type of assets, the route may be an affidavit of entitlement for a qualifying small estate with no Nevada real property (NRS 146.080), a set-aside without administration (NRS 146.070), summary administration (NRS Chapter 145), or general administration. The governing thresholds are statewide and are on the Nevada state page.
- Prepare the petition or affidavit. For an administration, prepare the petition for letters testamentary (with a will) or letters of administration (without a will). For a qualifying small estate with no Nevada real property, prepare the affidavit of entitlement instead. The affidavit is presented directly to each bank or asset holder rather than filed with the court, so a qualifying affidavit estate skips the filing and hearing steps below. Nevada has no statewide mandatory form set; the Nevada Judiciary self-help resources, the Civil Law Self-Help Center packets, and the State Bar of Nevada brochure are the practical starting points.
- For a court administration (set-aside, summary, or general), file with the Clerk of the District Court. File the papers in person on the third floor at 885 East Musser Street, Suite 3031, or by mail to the same address. Filing is by paper and only original documents are accepted; there is no e-filing, and faxed or emailed documents are not accepted for filing except by court order. Pay the filing fee: no fee if the stated estate value is $2,500 or less (NRS 19.013); above that, the court's posted schedule runs from $180.50 to $532.50 by estate value (see the fees section below), so confirm the current total with the clerk.
- Give notice and publish. The personal representative mails notice to heirs, devisees, and known creditors and publishes notice as required (NRS 155.020), including the notice to creditors that opens the claim period.
- Set the matter on the law and motion calendar. Under First District Court Rule 4.1, an uncontested probate matter is set by the attorney or self-represented filer directly on the court's law and motion calendar without a court order. In Carson City the calendar is heard by Department 1 on Mondays and Department 2 on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m.; a contested matter is heard separately by the assigned department.
- Receive the authority document. On approval the court issues letters testamentary (with a will) or letters of administration (without a will), the proof of the personal representative's authority to act. Request enough certified copies for the banks and institutions involved.
- Administer and close. Inventory and appraise the assets, pay valid claims in statutory priority, and account to the court. A creditor must file its claim with the clerk within 90 days after first publication or mailing of the notice to creditors, reduced to 60 days if summary administration is granted (NRS 147.040). Distribute the remaining assets and close the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Carson City
Nevada has no statewide mandatory probate form set, and Carson City publishes no probate petition packet of its own. The clerk's District Court forms page does post general forms used in any case, and a few matter in an estate: a creditor's claim, a notice to creditors, and the notice to set used to place a matter on the court's calendar. For divorce and guardianship the page points to the Nevada Supreme Court's standardized self-help forms. Petitions and affidavits are prepared to Nevada practice, and only original documents are accepted for filing. For self-prepared filings, the most complete free resources are the Nevada Judiciary self-help forms, the Civil Law Self-Help Center's probate packets (Clark County-focused but the most thorough free self-service probate resource in Nevada), and the State Bar of Nevada's probate brochure. For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Carson City clerk needs, call the Clerk of the District Court at (775) 887-2082.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Carson City District Court forms | The clerk's posted general court forms, including a creditor's claim, a notice to creditors, and the notice to set |
| Nevada Judiciary self-help forms | The Nevada courts' statewide self-help forms and instructions for people without a lawyer |
| Civil Law Self-Help Center - Probate | Free intro-to-probate guides and estate-administration packets used statewide |
| State Bar of Nevada probate brochure | Plain-language overview of Nevada probate paths and steps |
| Carson City Clerk of the District Court | Local intake questions, filing in person or by mail, hours, and the District Court Filing Fee Schedule |
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for letters testamentary, letters of administration, or set-aside, stated estate value $2,500 or less | No fee | Matches the statewide rule in NRS 19.013 |
| Same petition, estate value $2,501 to $20,000 | $180.50 | From the court's posted District Court Filing Fee Schedule |
| Same petition, estate value $20,001 to $299,999 | $279.50 | From the posted schedule |
| Same petition, estate value $300,000 or more | $532.50 | From the posted schedule |
| Lodging a last will and testament | $5.00 | NRS 19.013 |
| Objection or cross petition in an estate case | $122.00 | From the posted schedule |
| Petition to contest a will | $122.00 | From the posted schedule |
These figures come from the First Judicial District Court fee schedule posted on the Carson City District Court Clerk's filing fees page, revised October 1, 2019 and still posted as current (verified July 2026). The estate-value brackets are fee tiers built on the NRS 19.013 base and its statutory add-ons; they are not the substantive probate thresholds, which are statewide and are explained on the Nevada state page. Confirm the amount due with the clerk at (775) 887-2082 before filing.
Timeline
- File the petition on paper with the Clerk of the District Court and complete notice and publication (NRS 155.020).
- Set the uncontested matter on the law and motion calendar. Under First District Court Rule 4.1, the attorney or self-represented filer sets an uncontested probate matter directly on the calendar without a court order.
- Attend on the scheduled law and motion day. In Carson City, Department 1 hears the calendar on Mondays and Department 2 on Tuesdays, with uncontested civil, probate, and guardianship matters called at 8:30 a.m. If a Carson City law and motion day falls on a holiday recognized by the State of Nevada, the calendar is heard on the next day the court is open.
- Observe the creditor-claim window. A creditor must file its claim with the clerk within 90 days after first publication or mailing of the notice to creditors, reduced to 60 days if summary administration is granted (NRS 147.040).
These scheduling details come from First District Court Rule 4.1 (verified July 2026). A contested probate matter is not set on the law and motion calendar; it is heard by the assigned department on its regular calendar, and timing depends on the court's schedule.
Local nuance
Carson City-specific considerations
An independent city, not a county. Carson City is Nevada's capital and an independent consolidated municipality that merged with the former Ormsby County in 1969, so there is no county by that name. Probate is filed with the Clerk of the First Judicial District Court, which serves Carson City together with Storey County.
Find the District Court on the third floor. The District Court, Justice Court, and Municipal Court share a consolidated administration at 885 East Musser Street. The District Court clerk, where probate is filed, is on the third floor; the Justice and Municipal Courts are on the second floor. Confirm you are at the District Court counter for a probate filing.
Paper filing, original documents only. There is no e-filing in Carson City. File in person on the third floor at 885 East Musser Street, Suite 3031, or by mail to the same address. Only original documents are accepted for filing; faxed or emailed documents are not accepted except by court order. An online payment portal exists for fees but is not an e-filing or case-search system.
Uncontested probate is set by the filer. Under First District Court Rule 4.1, an uncontested probate matter is set by the attorney or self-represented filer directly on the law and motion calendar without a court order. In Carson City that calendar is heard by Department 1 on Mondays and Department 2 on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m.
No online case search. Carson City has no public docket portal. The nvcourts.gov listing for the court is a directory entry, not a case-search tool. To check on a filing, contact the Clerk of the District Court directly.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Carson City | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Carson City home was held in community property with right of survivorship or in joint tenancy, it passes to the surviving spouse outside probate by recording the death certificate and an affidavit of death with the Carson City Recorder. If the home was in the decedent's sole name and there is a will, the spouse petitions for letters testamentary and files with the Clerk of the District Court on the third floor at 885 East Musser Street. Because there is Nevada real property, the affidavit of entitlement path is not available (NRS 146.080). | Asset discovery to confirm how title is held. Packet generation for the qualifying paperwork. Guidance on recording the survivorship documents with the Carson City Recorder. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | For a qualifying small estate with no Nevada real property, the child can often use the affidavit of entitlement (NRS 146.080), which is typically handled by mail without a court appearance once the statutory waiting period has passed. If the estate is larger or holds Nevada real property, the child files a set-aside, summary, or general administration petition with the Carson City clerk instead, and the uncontested matter is set on the law and motion calendar under First District Court Rule 4.1. The statewide thresholds that separate these paths are on the Nevada state page. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate qualifies and holds no Nevada real property. Packet generation for the affidavit or petition, prepared and notarized in advance so an out-of-state filer can proceed largely by mail. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because the estate holds Nevada real property that must be sold, the affidavit path is unavailable; the parent files a set-aside, summary, or general administration petition (depending on value) with the Clerk of the District Court in Carson City, sets the uncontested matter on the law and motion calendar, is issued letters of administration or an order setting the estate aside, and can then convey the home. A contested matter is heard by the assigned department instead. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the administration filing. Attorney referral if the sale or an heir dispute turns contested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Carson City Clerk of the District Court, (775) 887-2082 (carsoncity.gov) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, and the District Court Filing Fee Schedule |
| Nevada Supreme Court Law Library, 201 South Carson Street, Carson City, (775) 684-1640 (nvcourts.gov/lawlibrary) | Free public law library in Carson City, open Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with Nevada statutes, court rules, and legal research help |
| Nevada Judiciary self-help and court locator (selfhelp.nvcourts.gov) | Statewide self-help forms, guides, and the District Courts directory, including the First Judicial District |
| Civil Law Self-Help Center - Probate (civillawselfhelpcenter.org/self-help/probate) | Free intro-to-probate guides and estate-administration packets, the most complete free self-service probate resource in Nevada |
| Nevada Legal Services, Carson City office, 209 North Pratt Avenue, (775) 883-0404 (nevadalegalservices.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible Nevadans; the Carson City office is staffed Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the Reno office covering other days |
| Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans (VARN), Carson City, (775) 883-8278 | Free limited legal help for low-income residents of Carson City and rural northern Nevada, including a Lawyer in the Lobby program |
| State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral Service, (800) 789-5747 (nvbar.org) | Attorney referrals statewide, including for Carson City probate matters |
When to hire an attorney
Most Carson City estates are uncontested and can be handled without an attorney: a qualifying small estate with no Nevada real property often moves by affidavit of entitlement and mail, and a straightforward administration is filed on paper with the Clerk of the District Court and set on the law and motion calendar. Consider counsel when the estate holds real property that must be sold, when a will contest or heir dispute is likely, when the estate is insolvent or a formal accounting is demanded, or when the estate includes a business interest or out-of-state property. Because the District Court cannot give legal advice (NRS 7.285), a lawyer can also help you set and present a contested matter. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Nevada probate attorney serving Carson City.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Carson City real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Nevada estate settlement path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition or affidavit of entitlement and the supporting paperwork for your path, ready to file on paper with the Clerk of the District Court in Carson City, in person or by mail.
Find a local probate attorney. When a matter is contested or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Nevada probate attorney serving Carson City.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Carson City?
With the Clerk of the District Court on the third floor at 885 East Musser Street, Suite 3031, Carson City, NV 89701-3031, in person or by mail. Carson City is served by the First Judicial District Court, which also serves Storey County. There is no separate probate court in Nevada, and Carson City is an independent consolidated municipality, not a county.
Is there e-filing for probate in Carson City?
No. Carson City has no e-filing for probate. Filing is by paper, in person on the third floor at 885 East Musser Street or by mail. Only original documents are accepted for filing, and faxed or emailed documents are not accepted except by court order. E-filing is mandatory in Clark County and Washoe County runs its own eFlex portal, but the First Judicial District files on paper.
How are probate hearings scheduled in Carson City?
Under First District Court Rule 4.1, an uncontested probate matter is set by the attorney or self-represented filer directly on the law and motion calendar without a court order. In Carson City the calendar is heard by Department 1 on Mondays and Department 2 on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. A contested matter is heard separately by the assigned department.
Can I look up a Carson City probate case online?
No. Carson City has no public online case portal. The nvcourts.gov listing for the court is a directory entry, not a live docket search. Carson City does operate an online payment portal for fees, but it is not a case-search tool. To check on a filing, call the Clerk of the District Court at (775) 887-2082.
What forms do I need for probate in Carson City?
Nevada has no statewide mandatory probate form set, and Carson City publishes no probate petition packet; petitions and affidavits are prepared to Nevada practice, and only original documents are accepted for filing. The clerk's District Court forms page posts general forms that matter in an estate, including a creditor's claim, a notice to creditors, and the notice to set, and directs self-represented filers to the Nevada Judiciary self-help forms. The Civil Law Self-Help Center probate packets and the State Bar of Nevada brochure are the other practical starting points.
What does it cost to file probate in Carson City?
There is no filing fee if the stated estate value is $2,500 or less (NRS 19.013). Above that, the court's posted District Court Filing Fee Schedule (revised October 1, 2019, verified July 2026) lists $180.50 for an estate of $2,501 to $20,000, $279.50 for $20,001 to $299,999, and $532.50 at $300,000 or more. Confirm the current total with the clerk at (775) 887-2082 before filing.
Do I have to travel to Carson City to settle an estate here?
Often not. A qualifying small estate with no Nevada real property can usually be handled by affidavit of entitlement through the mail without a court appearance, and administration papers can be mailed to the clerk at 885 East Musser Street, Suite 3031. Where a hearing on the law and motion calendar is required, ask the clerk whether a remote appearance is available, since it is not published for probate matters.
Is there a law library or free legal help in Carson City?
Yes. The Nevada Supreme Court Law Library at 201 South Carson Street is free and open to the public, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Nevada Legal Services has a Carson City office at 209 North Pratt Avenue, (775) 883-0404, for income-eligible residents, and Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans (VARN) offers free limited legal help in Carson City at (775) 883-8278.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.