Washoe County Probate: Filing, Fees, and How to Navigate the Reno Court

If you are settling an estate in Reno, Sparks, or anywhere in Washoe County, the Second Judicial District Court handles all probate matters. The court has its own e-filing requirements, specific fee schedules, and local rules that differ from Clark County's more familiar Las Vegas courts. Here is what you need to know before filing.

Where to File and How

Washoe County probate cases are filed with the Second Judicial District Court, located at 75 Court Street in Reno. The court requires e-filing through its approved electronic filing service for most documents — paper filings are accepted only in limited circumstances.

The first document you file depends on your estate administration pathway:

• Affidavit of Entitlement (no filing required — this is a non-judicial process presented directly to banks and asset holders)
• Petition for Set-Aside for estates with net probate value under $150,000
• Petition for Letters Testamentary (if there is a will) or Petition for Letters of Administration (if there is no will) for summary or general administration

All petitions must be accompanied by a Civil Cover Sheet and the applicable filing fee. If the decedent had a physical will, the original must be lodged with the court within 30 days of learning of the death under NRS 136.050.

Filing Fees and Costs

Washoe County filing fees follow the statewide schedule but include e-filing convenience charges that vary by provider. Expect these baseline costs:

• Petition for Probate filing fee: approximately $250 to $300
• E-filing convenience fee: typically $5 to $10 per filing
• Certified copies: $5 to $10 per copy for court-certified documents
• Publication costs: $50 to $150 for the required creditor notice in a Washoe County newspaper of general circulation

The Reno Gazette-Journal and the Sparks Tribune are commonly used for required creditor notice publications. For summary administration, the notice triggers a 60-day creditor claim period. For general administration, the period is 90 days.

SB 404 Threshold Changes

Senate Bill 404, effective October 1, 2025, raised Nevada's probate thresholds statewide — including Washoe County. The key changes that affect which pathway your estate qualifies for:

Set-aside without administration. Net probate value (fair market value minus mortgages) must be under $150,000. This pathway requires only one expedited court hearing and allows real property to be transferred. For surviving spouses and minor children, unsecured debts may be discharged entirely.

Summary administration. Gross probate value (minus mortgages) must be under $500,000. This is a court-supervised process but significantly faster than general administration — the inventory must be filed within 60 days of appointment.

General administration. Estates exceeding $500,000 go through the full probate process with continuous court oversight, a 120-day inventory deadline, and a 90-day creditor claim period.

For many Washoe County families, the raised thresholds mean estates that previously required general administration now qualify for the faster summary pathway.

Differences from Clark County

Washoe County is a smaller court system than Clark County, which handles the bulk of Nevada probate cases. Practical differences include:

Hearing scheduling. Washoe County typically schedules probate hearings within four to six weeks of filing, compared to longer wait times in Clark County's busier calendar. Set-aside hearings are often resolved in a single appearance.

E-filing systems. Both counties require electronic filing, but the approved providers and interface may differ. Check the Second Judicial District Court website for current approved e-filing services.

Self-help resources. The Washoe County Law Library provides in-person assistance and form packets for self-represented litigants handling probate matters. This is a more accessible resource than Clark County's larger but less personalized self-help center.

Planning to Avoid Washoe County Probate Entirely

The cheapest and fastest probate is the one that never happens. For Washoe County residents, the same estate planning tools that work statewide can eliminate the need for any court filing:

• Record a deed upon death with the Washoe County Recorder for your home — transferring title outside probate entirely under NRS 111.655
• Add TOD/POD designations to accounts at Greater Nevada Credit Union, Wells Fargo, or any financial institution
• Update beneficiaries on all retirement accounts and life insurance policies
• Register vehicles with a TOD beneficiary through the Nevada DMV

When every asset has a designated beneficiary or transfer mechanism, the probate estate value is effectively zero — and no filing with the Second Judicial District Court is necessary at all.

The Nevada Basic Estate Planning Kit provides checklists and templates for each of these steps, designed to keep Washoe County families out of probate court regardless of their total estate value.

See more Nevada guides →