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Lyon County, NV Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Third Judicial District Court, Lyon County (Lyon is the only county in the Third Judicial District); no separate probate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the District Court |
| Courthouse | 911 Harvey Way, 2nd Floor, Yerington, NV 89447 |
| Mailing address | District Court Clerk, 911 Harvey Way #4, Yerington, NV 89447 |
| Phone | (775) 463-6503 (clerk); (775) 463-6571 (court departments) |
| Fax | (775) 463-3643 |
| Office hours | Clerk's office 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday; closed legal holidays. Confirm midday availability with the clerk before a lunchtime visit. |
| Filing fee | No fee where the stated estate value is $2,500 or less (NRS 19.013). The court's posted fee schedule (effective July 1, 2019) charges $160.50 where the value is $100,000 or less or unknown, $259.50 where the value is between $100,000 and $300,000, and $512.50 where the value is more than $300,000 (verified July 2026). See the fees section below. |
| Local probate forms | None; Nevada has no statewide mandatory probate form set, and Lyon County publishes no local probate forms. The court directs filers to the Nevada self-help center forms |
| E-filing | Available through eFlex (efile.lyon-county.org); an account is required. Filing is also accepted in person or by mail |
| Online case search | Not available; there is no public docket portal for Lyon County. The eFlex portal is for filing, not public case search |
| Website | https://www.lyon-county.org/155/District-Court-Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Lyon County, 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 Third Judicial District Court serves Lyon County alone; Lyon is the only county in the district. It covers the whole of Lyon County, including Yerington (the county seat), Fernley, Dayton, Silver Springs, Smith Valley, Mound House, Silver City, and Stagecoach. All Lyon County probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the District Court at the courthouse in Yerington and heard by one of the district's two departments: Department I (Judge John P. Schlegelmilch) and Department II (Judge Leon A. Aberasturi).
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 Lyon County for a decedent who lived here. There is no dedicated probate department in the Third Judicial District; probate is heard on the court's general docket.
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 court directs filers to the Nevada self-help center forms, and the Civil Law Self-Help Center packets and the State Bar of Nevada brochure are practical starting points.
- For a court administration (set-aside, summary, or general), file with the Clerk of the District Court in Yerington. File electronically through the eFlex portal (efile.lyon-county.org) with an account, in person at 911 Harvey Way, 2nd Floor, or by mail to District Court Clerk, 911 Harvey Way #4, Yerington, NV 89447. Pay the filing fee: no fee if the stated estate value is $2,500 or less (NRS 19.013); above that, see the county's posted schedule in the fees section below.
- 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.
- Attend the hearing. The petition is set for hearing before Department I or Department II on the court's general docket in Yerington. Ask the clerk how the hearing will be held and whether a remote appearance is available.
- 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 Lyon County
Nevada has no statewide mandatory probate form set, and Lyon County publishes no local probate forms of its own. The District Court Forms page directs filers to the forms on the State of Nevada self-help center; there is no local Lyon County cover sheet or checklist to download. Completed papers may be electronically filed through the court's eFlex portal, filed in person, or mailed to the clerk. For self-prepared filings, the most complete free resources are 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, e-filing, or what the Yerington clerk needs, call the Clerk of the District Court at (775) 463-6503.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Lyon County District Court Forms | The court's forms page, which points to the Nevada self-help center forms and to the eFlex e-filing portal |
| 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 |
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Probate, stated estate value $2,500 or less | No fee | Matches the statewide rule in NRS 19.013 |
| Probate, estate value $100,000 or less or unknown | $160.50 | From the court's posted Official Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2019 |
| Probate, estate value between $100,000 and $300,000 | $259.50 | From the posted schedule |
| Probate, estate value more than $300,000 | $512.50 | From the posted schedule |
| Contest or objection (probate or guardianship) | $198.00 | Contesting a will or codicil, objecting to appointment of an executor, administrator, or guardian, or objecting to an account (from the posted schedule) |
These figures come from the Third Judicial District Court Lyon County Official Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2019 and still posted as current on the court's site (verified July 2026). The estate-value brackets in this schedule ($100,000 and $300,000) are filing-fee brackets only; each listed fee combines the NRS 19.013 base with statutory and county add-ons, including the tiered fee under NRS 19.0302, whose top tier begins at $300,000. They are not the substantive probate thresholds that decide which Nevada path an estate takes, which are statewide and appear on the Nevada state page. Confirm the current amount with the clerk at (775) 463-6503 before filing.
Local nuance
Lyon County-specific considerations
A single-county district. Lyon County is the only county in the Third Judicial District Court, so an estate is filed and heard entirely within Lyon County at the Yerington courthouse. The district has two departments: Department I (Judge John P. Schlegelmilch) and Department II (Judge Leon A. Aberasturi).
E-filing is available. Unlike most rural Nevada counties, Lyon accepts electronic filing through an eFlex portal at efile.lyon-county.org; an account is required. Papers may also be filed in person at 911 Harvey Way, 2nd Floor, or mailed to District Court Clerk, 911 Harvey Way #4, Yerington, NV 89447.
No online case search. Lyon County has no public docket portal. The eFlex portal is for filing, not public case lookup, and the nvcourts.gov listing for the court is a directory entry. To check on a filing, contact the clerk's office directly.
The court publishes its own fee schedule. The Third Judicial District Court Lyon County Official Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2019) lists probate filing fees by estate value. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before filing.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Lyon County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Yerington or Dayton 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 Lyon County 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 in Yerington. 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 county 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 Yerington clerk, electronically through eFlex or by mail. 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 or e-filing. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because the estate holds Nevada real property in Fernley or Silver Springs 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 Yerington, is issued letters of administration or an order setting the estate aside, and can then convey the home. Department I or Department II hears the petition on the general docket. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Lyon County Clerk of the District Court, (775) 463-6503 (lyon-county.org) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, e-filing, filing by mail or in person, hours, and the posted fee schedule |
| Nevada Judiciary self-help and court locator (nvcourts.gov) | Statewide self-help resources and forms, and the District Courts directory, including the Third 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 |
| State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral Service (nvbar.org) | Attorney referrals statewide, including for Lyon County probate matters |
| Nevada Legal Services, (866) 432-0404 (nevadalegalservices.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible Nevadans, serving rural counties including Lyon |
| Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans (VARN), (775) 883-8278 | Free civil legal help through its volunteer attorney panel and Lawyer in the Lobby clinics for income-eligible residents of rural northern Nevada counties including Lyon |
When to hire an attorney
Most Lyon County 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 with the Clerk of the District Court in Yerington, electronically through eFlex or on paper. 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. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Nevada probate attorney serving Lyon County.
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, Lyon County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Nevada path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition or affidavit of entitlement and the supporting paperwork for your estate settlement path, ready to file with the Clerk of the District Court in Yerington, through eFlex, 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 Lyon County.
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 Lyon County?
With the Clerk of the District Court at the courthouse, 911 Harvey Way, 2nd Floor, Yerington, NV 89447, or by mail to District Court Clerk, 911 Harvey Way #4, Yerington, NV 89447. Lyon is the only county in the Third Judicial District, so an estate here is filed and heard within Lyon County. There is no separate probate court in Nevada.
Is there e-filing for probate in Lyon County?
Yes. Lyon County accepts electronic filing through an eFlex portal at efile.lyon-county.org, which requires an account. This is unusual among rural Nevada counties, most of which file only on paper. You can still file in person at the Yerington courthouse or by mail to the clerk.
Can I look up a Lyon County probate case online?
No. Lyon County has no public online case portal. The eFlex system is for filing documents, not for public case lookup, and the nvcourts.gov listing for the court is a directory entry rather than a live docket search. To check on a filing, call the Clerk of the District Court at (775) 463-6503.
What forms do I need for probate in Lyon County?
Nevada has no statewide mandatory probate form set, and Lyon County publishes no local probate forms. The court's forms page points filers to the Nevada self-help center forms. The Civil Law Self-Help Center probate packets and the State Bar of Nevada brochure are practical starting points, and the clerk's office can answer local intake questions.
What does it cost to file probate in Lyon County?
There is no filing fee if the stated estate value is $2,500 or less (NRS 19.013). The court's posted Official Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2019, verified July 2026) charges $160.50 where the value is $100,000 or less or unknown, $259.50 where it is between $100,000 and $300,000, and $512.50 where it is more than $300,000. Confirm the current amount with the clerk at (775) 463-6503 before filing.
Who hears probate cases in Lyon County?
The Third Judicial District Court has two departments: Department I (Judge John P. Schlegelmilch) and Department II (Judge Leon A. Aberasturi). Probate is heard on the court's general docket in Yerington; there is no separate probate department. Ask the clerk how your hearing will be held and whether a remote appearance is available.
Do I have to travel to Yerington to settle an estate there?
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 e-filed through eFlex or mailed to the clerk. Where a hearing is required, ask the clerk whether a remote appearance is available.
Who do I call about probate in Lyon County?
The Clerk of the District Court at (775) 463-6503 for filing and intake questions, or the court departments at (775) 463-6571. The clerk's office is on the 2nd floor at 911 Harvey Way in Yerington.
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.