Clark County Probate Records

Clark County probate records are created or compiled due to probate proceedings initiated by next of kin, designated executors, or public administrators in Clark County, Nevada.

Probate refers to a court action filed after someone dies to settle their outstanding financial obligations and transfer any remaining assets to the rightful beneficiaries. Documents that stem from these legal actions are termed probate records. Similar to other Clark County court records, they include:

• All papers filed by case parties (wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, bonds, pleadings, motions, notices, creditor's claims)
• All materials produced by the court to track, organize, or record a case proceeding (docket sheets, calendars, indices)
• All orders and judgments released by the court

Probate records in Clark County are valuable for determining a property's rightful ownership, identifying a decedent's debts and assets, demonstrating the validity of a will, researching one's family history or relationships, and providing an official account of an estate administration case.

Nevada's Probate Law requires probate in Clark County to be initiated "as soon as is practicable" after a person's death, especially if the decedent's assets exceed $25,000 in value ($100,000 if the claimant is the deceased individual's surviving spouse) and include real estate holdings in Nevada.

Are Probate Records Public?

Yes, probate records are public in Clark County. The Nevada Public Records Law facilitates the inspection or copying of documents maintained by government bodies and officials, so long as it pertains to the transaction of public business. Probate records, being a category of court records, are open to the general public under this law, except where access restrictions are imposed by statute or court order.

Usually, a record may be deemed classified if its widespread release would jeopardize a legal or investigative procedure, threaten the safety or life of a person, or cause sensitive information to be accessible in the public domain.

What is Probate Court in Clark County?

Traditionally, matters of probate (that is, estate administration cases) are heard by a probate court. Depending on the jurisdiction, this court may exist as a separate entity or as part of a larger court. It may also handle other cases, such as guardianships, involuntary commitments, conservatorships, marriage license issuances, adoptions, and trusts.

In Clark County, there is no independent probate court. Instead, probate proceedings are heard by the Eighth Judicial District Court (a trial court of general jurisdiction) on specific days at the following address:

Phoenix Building
330 South 3rd Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 455-2650
Email: probate@clarkcountycourts.us

Probate Court Case Lookup

There are a few ways to look up probate court cases in Clark County, Nevada:

• Search the Eighth Judicial District Court Portal. A case party's name or case number can be used for search queries. However, while it is possible to print the search results, actual case documents cannot be downloaded from this platform.
• Contact the District Court Clerk’s Office using the following details:

Regional Justice Center
200 Lewis Avenue
3rd Floor
Las Vegas, NV 89155
Phone: (702) 671-0501

• Complete an Order for Document Copies (or Copy Request Form) and email it to the District Court Clerk’s Office at recordsrequest@clarkcountycourts.us. The form can also be submitted by mail to:

Clerk of Court
Attn: Records
200 East Lewis Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89155

Note: Requesters can indicate if they wish to receive copies by mail/email or pick up records at the courthouse. However, all copy fees must be paid in advance. Generally, photocopies cost 50 cents per page, certification costs $3 per document, and exemplification costs $6 per document.

The Clerk's Records Search and Viewing webpage has more information about accessing probate case records maintained by the Eighth Judicial District Court, as well as other forms and costs for requesting record searches or CDs.

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

Members of the public can access the Eighth Judicial District Court Portal (as explained previously) to view Clark County probate records for free. Admittedly, only limited case information is available at no cost. Parties who need official copies of documents or detailed case information are directed to contact the District Court Clerk’s Office or stop by the probate courthouse when it is open.

An alternative method for finding probate records online is to leverage a third-party aggregator website. Such sites amass probate records from various U.S. jurisdictions, including Clark County, and feature centralized databases for retrieving case information. However, while basic searches on these platforms require a case participant's name or case number and are typically free, there are often subscription requirements to see or print extensive information.

How Long Does Probate Take in Nevada

The time until a decedent's estate is probated in Nevada depends on the case specifics, including the estate category.

According to the State Bar of Nevada, litigants can expect a routine Summary or General Administration case without disputes to have a minimum probate period of 10 - 12 months. (Summary Administration is used for estates valued between $100,000.01 and $300,000, whereas General Administration is used for estates valued above $300,000.)

However, certain complications, like claim disputes, will contests, incomplete paperwork, statutory wait times, court backlogs, tax issues, and absent beneficiaries or heirs, can extend the period until an estate's final distribution.

Generally, estates with lesser values (below $100,000) and no complexities have shorter probate timelines.

Are Wills Public Record?

Yes. Wills on file at the Clark County District Clerk's Office are permanent records that are open for inspection unless sealed pursuant to Part VII of the Nevada Supreme Court Rules (NRS 136.050).

Hence, any member of the public can access a Combined Index of Wills filed with the Clerk's Office before July 13, 2009. The online index is only a listing of names, not copies of the actual wills, and some wills not listed in the index may still be on file at the Clerk's Office. For later or unavailable records, a request can be submitted to the Clerk's Records Division at the Regional Justice Center.

Note that the Clerk's Office records series might include wills received prior to death that were deposited for safekeeping. Most clerks in Nevada no longer accept wills before probate. However, any will filed for safekeeping is not public until the testator passes away and the document is submitted for the probate process.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

In Nevada, wills are not typically filed or recorded with the courts. Instead, they are stored in a safe place accessible to family members after one's passing.

Most wills on file at the courthouses belong to late testators (a "testator" is the person who writes a will). As such, if the query is for a deceased person's will, one can stop by or contact the Clark County District Clerk's Office for copies. Alternatively, an individual can get in touch with the executor or attorney for the deceased's estate (i.e., the party responsible for will execution and overseeing the settlement of the estate).

Where the will belongs to a living testator, it can usually only be disclosed or seen if they permit it.

Clark County Family Court Case Search

Public access to family court case records is provided online through the Eighth Judicial District Court Portal or the Clark County Court Case Inquiry webpage (by selecting "Family Records"). Both systems are free to use, and the minimum search criterion is a litigant's name or case number.

Alternatively, an inquirer can download and fill out the Clark County District Court Clerk’s Copy Request Form to obtain record copies.

They can also request case documents/information at the family courthouse at 601 North Pecos Road, Las Vegas, NV 89101, or call (702) 455-2385. The copy fee is 50 cents per page, with additional charges for certification and exemplification.

The Family Law Self-Help Center's Court & Case Lookup webpage has more information on conducting Clark County family case searches and includes blank PDF forms for copy requests. However, requesters should note that some family court case records are sealed or confidential to the general public.