Clark County Probate Court Forms

Most families dealing with a Clark County estate discover the same problem: the court's website lists the forms, but not in the order you need them, and the fee schedule buried in a PDF doesn't match what the clerk actually charges. Then there's the Odyssey system — mandatory for electronic filing, frustrating the first time, faster once you know it.

This guide covers what you actually need to know to file probate in Clark County: which court, which forms, what you'll pay, and what changed in October 2025 that may let you skip full general administration entirely.

Where Clark County Probate Is Filed

All Clark County probate matters — whether general administration, summary administration, or set aside proceedings — are filed with the Eighth Judicial District Court. The probate department is located at the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas.

Electronic filing is mandatory for most filers. Clark County uses the Odyssey File & Serve platform (also called Tyler Technologies File & Serve). You must create an account, select the correct case type (Probate), and upload your documents in PDF format. The system accepts payment by credit card or eCheck at the time of filing. Walk-in paper filing at the clerk's window is still available for self-represented filers who cannot file electronically, but electronic filing is faster and avoids additional processing delays.

If you are handling the estate yourself without an attorney, the Civil Law Self Help Center at civillawselfhelpcenter.org is a legitimate resource. It provides free packet forms for common probate filings and staff who can answer procedural questions (not legal advice). The center is located inside the Regional Justice Center.

Clark County Probate Filing Fees

The filing fee is calculated based on the gross value of the estate at the time of death:

These fees apply at initial petition filing. Additional fees may apply for subsequent filings (inventory, final account, order approving distribution), though these are typically smaller motion fees rather than additional percentage-based charges.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, Nevada law provides for a fee waiver (in forma pauperis). The self help center has the Application for Waiver of Fees form.

Death certificates from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) cost $38 for the first certified copy and $25 for each additional copy. Order multiple copies upfront — banks, the DMV, financial institutions, and the probate court each typically require a certified original, not a photocopy. Most Clark County estates need four to six certified copies.

The SB 404 Change That Matters for Clark County Families

Senate Bill 404, effective October 1, 2025, raised Nevada's summary administration threshold from $300,000 to $500,000. This is the most significant probate reform affecting Clark County in recent years, and its impact on Las Vegas and Henderson families is substantial.

Summary administration is a streamlined version of probate that skips several steps required in general administration:

• No requirement to post a personal representative's bond (saving hundreds to over a thousand dollars annually)
• Simplified creditor notice process
• Abbreviated court timeline — typically two to four months versus four to eight months or more for general administration

Before SB 404, an estate with a Las Vegas home worth $380,000 (near the median home price) had to go through full general administration. After SB 404, that same estate qualifies for summary administration.

The result: a large share of Clark County estates — particularly those consisting primarily of a single-family home plus modest other assets — now qualify for the faster, less expensive track. If your estate's gross value falls below $500,000, verify with the court or an attorney whether summary administration is available; defaulting to general administration when summary is available is a common and costly mistake.

Key Forms in a Clark County Probate Filing

The specific forms depend on whether the decedent had a will (testate) or did not (intestate), and which type of administration you are pursuing. These are the core documents in a standard probate:

Petition for Probate (Petition for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) This is the initiating document. It identifies the decedent, summarizes the estate assets and their approximate values, names the proposed personal representative, and requests the court's appointment. For testate estates, the original will must be attached. The petition is filed at the same time as payment of the filing fee.

Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration These are issued by the court after the hearing on the petition and appointment of the personal representative. Letters are the legal document that proves to banks, title companies, and other institutions that you have authority to act on behalf of the estate. You will need multiple certified copies — typically one per institution.

Notice to Creditors In general administration, the personal representative must publish a Notice to Creditors in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in Clark County for a specified period (currently four consecutive weeks under Nevada law), then mail a copy to all known creditors. This triggers the 90-day creditor claim period. Summary administration has a shorter process.

Inventory and Appraisement Filed within 60 days of appointment, this document lists all probate assets and their fair market values as of the date of death. Real property typically requires a licensed appraiser. Personal property values (bank accounts, vehicles) can often be established by statements and DMV records.

Petition for Final Distribution and Order Approving Final Distribution Filed at the end of the probate, after all debts and taxes are paid. The court reviews the final account and, if approved, issues an order directing distribution to the beneficiaries or heirs.

Family Allowance and Homestead Set-Aside

Two provisions specifically benefit surviving spouses in Clark County probate and are frequently overlooked:

Family Allowance (NRS 146.010) The surviving spouse is entitled to a family allowance for maintenance during the period of estate administration. The court sets the amount based on the family's standard of living and the estate's size. This is paid from estate funds before creditors are paid and before distribution — it is not an advance against the surviving spouse's share, it is a separate entitlement. File a petition for family allowance early in the process, not at the end.

Homestead Set-Aside If the decedent's primary residence was the family home, Nevada law allows the surviving spouse to petition for the homestead to be set aside free from most creditor claims (with some exceptions). This is a separate petition from the main probate proceeding and should be filed concurrently.

How to Access Forms Through Odyssey

When you log in to Odyssey File & Serve:

1. Select "Clark County" as the jurisdiction
2. Select "Probate" as the case category
3. Choose the appropriate case type (e.g., "Probate — General Administration" or "Probate — Summary Administration")
4. For a new case, select "New Case" and the system will guide you through uploading the initiating petition and paying the filing fee
5. For subsequent filings in an existing case, search by case number and file additional documents as "Subsequent Filings"

The Civil Law Self Help Center at civillawselfhelpcenter.org offers fillable PDF versions of most standard probate forms. These can be completed offline, saved, and uploaded through Odyssey. The court does not charge separately for using the self help center's forms.

Clark County probate has enough moving parts — forms, fees, deadlines, the Odyssey system, the SB 404 eligibility question — that skipping a step or filing in the wrong track can add months and significant costs. The Nevada Survivor Benefits Navigator covers the complete Clark County probate process alongside every other survivor benefit available in Nevada, from Social Security survivor benefits to unclaimed property, so you can see the full picture and prioritize where to start.

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