Nevada · Seventh Judicial District Court of Nevada (Eureka, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties)
White Pine County Clerk (Clerk of the District Court) Guide
County Clerk (Clerk of the District Court) information · Updated June 2026
Settling an estate while grieving is hard. This page takes it one step at a time, and free local help is listed below.
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Not sure if you need probate?
Many estates can avoid probate entirely. Assets with beneficiary designations, joint accounts, and trust assets may pass automatically without court involvement.
Immediate Actions
The first days
First: Get Death Certificates
Required for everythingNevada Office of Vital Records
Certified Nevada death certificates are issued by the state Office of Vital Records (about $22 per certified copy for deaths in White Pine County), and may be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person. The White Pine County Clerk-Recorder may also issue or assist with vital records for recent local deaths; the District Court Clerk does not issue death certificates. Verify the issuing office before ordering.
Secure the Property
- Lock the residence and secure valuable items
- Forward mail to a responsible family member
- Make a list of what you find (don't throw anything away yet)
Locate Important Documents
Required by Law
First 30 days
Deposit the Will
A person having custody of a will must deliver it to the clerk of the district court, or to the named personal representative, within 30 days after learning of the testator's death (NRS 136.050). The will is then offered for probate in the Seventh Judicial District Court. Verify the custodian's obligations and timing with the court. (NRS 136.050)
Creditor claim window
Creditors generally have 3 months from first publication of the notice to creditors to bring claims against the estate. (NRS 147.040)
Notify Key Parties
- Banks and credit card companies (to prevent unauthorized use)
- Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213)
- Employer (if applicable) for final paycheck and benefits
Assess Your Situation
Before filing anything
Which probate type is right for you?
Small estate? If the estate is worth less than the Nevada small-estate limit (shown on the options below), you may qualify for simplified procedures.
Is there a valid will? If yes, you'll file for probate with will. If no will exists, it's intestate probate.
Complex assets? Business interests, real estate in multiple states, or contested claims may require probate administration.
Select a probate type below to see specific requirements and costs.
Which applies to your situation?
Not sure? Use the free checker at the top of this page - you don't have to decide this alone.
At least 40 days after death, a successor may collect a decedent's personal property by affidavit without letters or probate. Under NRS 146.080 the gross value of the Nevada estate must not exceed $25,000 for a general claimant or $150,000 when the claimant is the surviving spouse (the surviving-spouse limit was raised from $100,000 by SB 404 of 2025, effective October 1, 2025). This affidavit does not transfer real property. Verify the applicable limit for the claimant before relying on this path.
- Qualifies:
- $25,000 ($150,000 for a surviving spouse)
A streamlined, court-supervised probate available when the gross value of the estate, after deducting encumbrances, does not exceed $500,000 (raised from $300,000 by SB 404 of 2025, effective October 1, 2025; matters filed before that date use the $300,000 cap). Filed in the District Court via the County Clerk. Verify eligibility for the specific estate.
- Qualifies:
- $500,000
Documents you'll need:
- Certified Death Certificate
- Original Will
- Petition for Probate of Will and Issuance of Letters / Petition for Letters of Administration
- Notice to Creditors (Publication)
- Inventory and Appraisement
General administration in the Seventh Judicial District Court (estates over $500,000, or estates of any size where summary administration is not used). The personal representative qualifies, receives Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, files an inventory and appraisement within 120 days (NRS 144.010), gives notice to creditors, and files accountings reviewed by the court. Verify bond, surety, original-will, and notice requirements with the court.
- Attorney:
- not required by law, though many families use one
Documents you'll need:
- Certified Death Certificate
- Original Will
- Petition for Probate of Will and Issuance of Letters / Petition for Letters of Administration
- Notice to Creditors (Publication)
- Inventory and Appraisement
- Account / Final Account
If the gross value of the estate does not exceed $150,000 (raised from $100,000 by SB 404 of 2025, effective October 1, 2025), the District Court may set the estate aside without administration to the surviving spouse and minor children, or distribute it to the persons entitled. Keyed to the filing date.
- Qualifies:
- $150,000
Documents you'll need:
- Certified Death Certificate
- Petition to Set Aside Estate Without Administration
At least 40 days after death, a successor may collect a decedent's personal property by affidavit, without letters or probate, if the gross value of the Nevada property does not exceed $25,000 for a general claimant or $150,000 for the surviving spouse (the surviving-spouse limit was raised from $100,000 by SB 404 of 2025, effective October 1, 2025; the $25,000 general limit was unchanged). This procedure does not transfer real property.
- Qualifies:
- $25,000
Documents you'll need:
- Certified Death Certificate
- Small Estate Affidavit
File for Probate
Where to file, forms & fees
Where to File
Free Filing Help Available
Nevada Courts Self-Help Center / Seventh Judicial District Court (White Pine County) can help you understand forms and filing requirements at no cost.
Visit Self-Help CenterOther Topics That May Apply
Property & Real Estate
Property transfer after death, recording
White Pine County Recorder
WebsiteVehicle Title Transfer
Retitle or transfer the deceased's vehicle. Office, forms, fees.
Nevada DMV - Ely Office
- Phone:
- (702) 486-4368
- Address:
- 480 Campton Street, Ely, NV 89301
- Hours:
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Full-service rural Nevada DMV office serving White Pine County. Appointment required. Fax: (775) 289-1607.
When a Nevada vehicle owner dies, the title is transferred through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Nevada offers three nonprobate paths — transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary designation, joint ownership with right of survivorship, and the small-estate affidavit (VP 024) — and one probate path for estates that do not qualify for simplified routes. All paths can be processed at any Nevada DMV office statewide or, for some transactions, by mail to DMV Title Processing, 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711.
Transfer scenarios
Transfer-on-Death (TOD) Beneficiary Designation
Documents needed:
- Certified death certificate(s) of all owners
- Original certificate of title (if available), OR VP 241 - Beneficiary's Affidavit for Title (if original title is lost; must be notarized or signed before a DMV agent)
- $20 title fee
During lifetime: owner completes VP 239 (Transfer on Death Application) and submits to any DMV office or by mail with $20 fee; new title issued in approximately 8 weeks. After death: beneficiary presents certified death certificate(s) plus original title (or VP 241 if lost) at any Nevada DMV office or by mail to DMV Title Processing. New title mailed in approximately 4-6 weeks.
The beneficiary has no rights to the vehicle while the owner is alive. All loans and liens must be paid off before ownership can transfer to the beneficiary. Adding a loan or lien after designating a beneficiary automatically removes the beneficiary. TOD designation cannot be added after the owner has passed away.
Joint Ownership with Right of Survivorship
Documents needed:
- Original vehicle title showing both owners
- Certified death certificate of the deceased owner
- $28.50 title fee (complete change of ownership)
Surviving owner presents the death certificate and existing title at any Nevada DMV office. The DMV issues a new title in the survivor's name alone.
Nevada title designations: 'OR' means either owner can act independently; 'AND' means both must sign. If the title says 'AND', both parties must sign — after one dies, consult the DMV about the correct process.
Small-Estate Affidavit — VP 024 (No Probate Required)
Documents needed:
- VP 024 - Affidavit for Transfer of Title for Estates Without Probate (completed and notarized)
- Certified death certificate of the vehicle owner
- Original vehicle title (or apply for duplicate via VP 012 if lost)
- $20 title fee + $8.25 processing fee
At least 40 days after the owner's death, and after notifying other successors and waiting 14 days, the eligible heir completes and notarizes VP 024, then presents it with the death certificate and title at any Nevada DMV office or by mail. The DMV will issue a new title without requiring probate.
The NRS 146.080 applicable amounts were last amended in 2025 (Stats202518, Stats202528). The motor vehicle exclusion from gross value is significant: a vehicle worth any amount can be transferred via VP 024 even if it would otherwise push the estate over the threshold. Verify current statute at leg.state.nv.us before advising clients.
Sole Owner — Probate (Personal Representative Transfer)
Documents needed:
- Original vehicle title (or apply for duplicate via VP 012 if lost)
- Certified death certificate
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration issued by the Nevada district court
- $28.50 title fee
Open probate in the district court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Upon appointment, the personal representative presents letters, the death certificate, and the title at any Nevada DMV office. The DMV issues a new title to the estate or the distributee.
Forms
- Affidavit for Transfer of Title for Estates Without Probate(VP 024)(Must be notarized. Requires 40-day wait after death. Motor vehicles excluded from gross value threshold calculation.)
- Transfer on Death Application(VP 239)(Submit to any Nevada DMV office or by mail with $20 fee.)
- Beneficiary's Affidavit for Title(VP 241)(Must be notarized or signed in front of a DMV agent. Eliminates need to apply for a duplicate title separately.)
- Application for Duplicate Nevada Certificate of Title(VP 012)(Required if the original title is missing and the heir is not using VP 241.)
- Lien Release(VP 186)(Must be obtained from the lienholder before title can be transferred if a loan or lien exists.)
Fees
All fees per official Nevada DMV fee schedule at dmv.nv.gov/title.htm, verified 2026-06-27. Fees do not include any applicable registration, smog, or county fees.
Small-estate vehicle transfer
Nevada allows heirs to transfer a decedent's personal property — including motor vehicles — without probate using a notarized affidavit under NRS 146.080. The DMV-specific form is VP 024 (Affidavit for Transfer of Title for Estates Without Probate). Motor vehicles registered to the decedent are EXCLUDED from the gross value calculation, which means vehicles of any value may be eligible as long as the decedent's other estate assets are within the threshold.
The motor vehicle exclusion is unique to Nevada's NRS 146.080(1). The vehicle's fair market value is not counted in the gross estate calculation. This is distinct from NRS 146.070 (court set-aside procedure for estates up to $150,000 including real property). VP 024 is the DMV-specific form; do not confuse with the general court set-aside under NRS 146.070.
Lost or duplicate title
If the original Nevada certificate of title is lost, misplaced, or accidentally destroyed
If no lien: the owner may mail VP 012 or apply in person at any Nevada DMV office. Title mailed in approximately 2-3 weeks. If there is a lien: contact the lienholder first — the lienholder is responsible for ordering the printed title after the lien is satisfied, or they may complete a Lien Release (VP 186) to allow the owner to apply.
Helpful resources
- Nevada DMV - Vehicle Title and Ownership
Official Nevada DMV page on vehicle title requirements, fees, duplicate titles, and transfer procedures.
- Nevada DMV - Vehicle Beneficiary Transfer on Death
Official Nevada DMV page on TOD beneficiary designation (VP 239/VP 241) and estates-without-probate affidavit (VP 024).
- Nevada DMV Form VP 024 - Affidavit for Transfer of Title for Estates Without Probate
Small-estate affidavit for transferring a vehicle title without probate under NRS 146.080.
- Nevada DMV Form VP 241 - Beneficiary's Affidavit for Title
Used by a TOD beneficiary to claim a vehicle after the owner's death, when the original title is unavailable.
- NRS Chapter 146 - Support of Family; Small Estates
Official Nevada Revised Statutes governing small estates. NRS 146.080 sets the affidavit-based transfer thresholds ($150,000 surviving spouse / $25,000 other heirs, with motor vehicles excluded from gross value).
- Nevada DMV - Office Locations
All Nevada DMV metropolitan and rural office locations, addresses, and hours.
Statewide forms and steps live in the vehicle title transfer guide. If the title cannot be found, see selling a car without a title.
Vehicle sources (10)
- https://dmv.nv.gov/title.htm
- https://dmv.nv.gov/regtod.htm
- https://dmv.nv.gov/locat.htm
- https://dmv.nv.gov/assessor.htm
- https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp024.pdf
- https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp012.pdf
- https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp239.pdf
- https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp241.pdf
- https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp186.pdf
- https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-146.html
Sources for this page (9)
The facts above come from these official sources. Verify current details with the office before filing.
- whitepinecounty.nethttps://www.whitepinecounty.net/223/Seventh-Judicial-District-Court
- whitepinecounty.nethttps://www.whitepinecounty.net/138/Clerk
- nvcourts.govhttps://nvcourts.gov/find_a_court/district_courts/white_pine_county_clerk_s_office
- nevada-portal.ecourt.comhttps://nevada-portal.ecourt.com/public-portal/
- leg.state.nv.ushttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-146.html
- leg.state.nv.ushttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-145.html
- leg.state.nv.ushttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-136.html
- leg.state.nv.ushttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-147.html
- leg.state.nv.ushttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-019.html
You've seen what probate involves. Here's how to spare your own family.
A few simple steps (naming beneficiaries, a transfer-on-death deed where your state allows it, or a living trust) can keep your estate out of court.
See how to avoid probate in NevadaFrequently Asked Questions
How much does probate cost in White Pine County?
How long does probate take in White Pine County?
Do I need an attorney for probate in White Pine County?
More Nevada Resources
Explore the rest of the Nevada probate hub.
Start here
Do I need probate?5 pages
For the executor5 pages
Money and taxes5 pages
Family and inheritance5 pages
Transfer assets5 pages
File and learn5 pages
Verified against Seventh Judicial District Court (White Pine County) on June 22, 2026
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in Nevada can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.