Probate is a legal process wherein a court oversees the distribution of a deceased person's estate to the heirs or beneficiaries of the estate after the payment of all debts, obligations and funeral expenses. A Nevada probate proceeding helps fulfill the wishes of the deceased as specified in a will. In case there is no will, the distribution of the deceased’s estate is made according to the applicable state laws.
The time required to complete the probate process depends on several factors including:
With the above factors in mind, the probate process may be completed in nine to twelve months or may take years. The probate process can be delayed if the validity of the will is contested, if there are disputes relating to the settlement of the debt of the deceased, or if there is a delay in finding beneficiaries. Tax issues can also delay a probate process.
The cost of the Nevada probate process may be set by the applicable state laws or by practice and therefore differs from state to state and case to case. The general costs included are:
Although some of these charges are fixed per state law, legal and accounting fees can be negotiated. However, in case of any type of disputes or litigation, the probate process may continue for months, if not years, and involve a number of additional costs.
To learn more about probate and Nevada probate laws, speak with a probate attorney at Anderson, Dorn & Rader. Our Reno law firm also provides free reports that further explain a probate.