How Do I Probate the Estate of a Deceased in Nevada?
Full Question:
Answer:
There may be an issue of a claim against the hospital, which as administrator of the estate you may need to be formally appointed in probate to pursue. Otherwise, it may be possible to petition for small estate or summary administration. The probate of the estate begins with filing a petition in court to administer the estate. Please see the links to the forms below. The answer will depend on all the facts involved, such as whether he left a spouse or children. If he didn't, then a hospital bill would stand first in line to take the estate.
When a person dies, their assets are distributed in the probate process. If a person dies with a will, an executor is named to handle the distribution of the estate. If the person dies without a will, the court appoints an administrator to distribute the decedent's assets according to the state's laws of intestacy. In cases where the decedent didn't own property valued at more than a certain amount, which varies by state, the estate may go through a small estate administration process, rather than the formal probate process. The value of the estate must not be more than $100,000 (after liens and creditor claims) to qualify for small estate/shortened procedures, not more than 200,00 for summary procedure in Nevada. To dispose of the real property interests of the decedent, the executor or administrator executes an executor's deed or fiduciary deed. A fiduciary deed may be prepared without an attorney.
Please see the following NV statutes:
NRS 146.070 Estates not exceeding $100,000: Petition; notice; fees; distribution of interest of minor.
1. If a person dies leaving an estate the gross value of which, after deducting any encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000, and there is a surviving spouse or minor child or minor children of the decedent, the estate must not be administered upon, but the whole estate, after directing such payments as may be deemed just, must be, by an order for that purpose, assigned and set apart for the support of the surviving spouse or minor child or minor children, or for the support of the minor child or minor children, if there is no surviving spouse. Even if there is a surviving spouse, the court may, after directing such payments, set aside the whole of the estate to the minor child or minor children, if it is in their best interests.
2. If there is no surviving spouse or minor child of the decedent and the gross value of a decedent's estate, after deducting any encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000, upon good cause shown, the court shall order that the estate not be administered upon, but the whole estate be assigned and set apart in the following order:
(a) To the payment of funeral expenses, expenses of last illness, money owed to the Department of Health and Human Services as a result of payment of benefits for Medicaid and creditors, if there are any; and
(b) Any balance remaining to the claimant or claimants entitled thereto pursuant to a valid will of the decedent, and if there is no valid will, pursuant to intestate succession.
3. Proceedings taken under this section, whether or not the decedent left a valid will, must not begin until at least 30 days after the death of the decedent and must be originated by a petition containing:
(a) A specific description of all the decedent's property.
(b) A list of all the liens and mortgages of record at the date of the decedent's death.
(c) An estimate of the value of the property.
(d) A statement of the debts of the decedent so far as known to the petitioner.
(e) The names and residences of the heirs and devisees of the decedent and the age of any who is a minor and the relationship of the heirs and devisees to the decedent, so far as known to the petitioner.
4. The clerk shall set the petition for hearing and the petitioner shall give notice of the petition and hearing in the manner provided in NRS 155.010 to the decedent's heirs and devisees and to the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services. If a complete copy of the petition is not enclosed with the notice, the notice must include a statement setting forth to whom the estate is being set aside.
5. No court or clerk's fees may be charged for the filing of any petition in, or order of court thereon, or for any certified copy of the petition or order in an estate not exceeding $2,500 in value.
6. If the court finds that the gross value of the estate, less encumbrances, does not exceed the sum of $100,000, the court may direct that the estate be distributed to the father or mother of a minor heir or devisee, with or without the filing of any bond, or to a custodian under chapter 167 of NRS, or may require that a general guardian be appointed and that the estate be distributed to the guardian, with or without bond, as in the discretion of the court is deemed to be in the best interests of the minor. The court may direct the manner in which the money may be used for the benefit of the minor.
NRS 146.080 Estates not exceeding $20,000: Transfer of assets without issuance of letters of administration or probate of will; affidavit showing right to assets.
1. If a decedent leaves no real property, nor interest therein, nor mortgage or lien thereon, in this State, and the gross value of the decedent's property in this State, over and above any amounts due to the decedent for services in the Armed Forces of the United States, does not exceed $20,000, a person who has a right to succeed to the property of the decedent pursuant to the laws of succession for a decedent who died intestate or pursuant to the valid will of a decedent who died testate, on behalf of all persons entitled to succeed to the property claimed, or the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services or public administrator on behalf of the State or others entitled to the property, may, 40 days after the death of the decedent, without procuring letters of administration or awaiting the probate of the will, collect any money due the decedent, receive the property of the decedent, and have any evidences of interest, indebtedness or right transferred to the claimant upon furnishing the person, representative, corporation, officer or body owing the money, having custody of the property or acting as registrar or transfer agent of the evidences of interest, indebtedness or right, with an affidavit showing the right of the affiant or affiants to receive the money or property or to have the evidence transferred.
2. An affidavit made pursuant to this section must state:
(a) The affiant's name and address, and that the affiant is entitled by law to succeed to the property claimed;
(b) The date and place of death of the decedent;
(c) That the gross value of the decedent's property in this State, except amounts due the decedent for services in the Armed Forces of the United States, does not exceed $20,000, and that the property does not include any real property nor interest therein, nor mortgage or lien thereon;
(d) That at least 40 days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, as shown in a certified copy of the certificate of death of the decedent attached to the affidavit;
(e) That no petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted in any jurisdiction;
(f) That all debts of the decedent, including funeral and burial expenses, and money owed to the Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the payment of benefits for Medicaid, have been paid or provided for;
(g) A description of the personal property and the portion claimed;
(h) That the affiant has given written notice, by personal service or by certified mail, identifying the affiant's claim and describing the property claimed, to every person whose right to succeed to the decedent's property is equal or superior to that of the affiant, and that at least 14 days have elapsed since the notice was served or mailed;
(i) That the affiant is personally entitled, or the Department of Health and Human Services is entitled, to full payment or delivery of the property claimed or is entitled to payment or delivery on behalf of and with the written authority of all other successors who have an interest in the property; and
(j) That the affiant acknowledges an understanding that filing a false affidavit constitutes a felony in this State.
3. If the affiant:
(a) Submits an affidavit which does not meet the requirements of subsection 2 or which contains statements which are not entirely true, any money or property the affiant receives is subject to all debts of the decedent.
(b) Fails to give notice to other successors as required by subsection 2, any money or property the affiant receives is held by the affiant in trust for all other successors who have an interest in the property.
4. A person who receives an affidavit containing the information required by subsection 2 is entitled to rely upon that information, and if the person relies in good faith, the person is immune from civil liability for actions based on that reliance.
5. Upon receiving proof of the death of the decedent and an affidavit containing the information required by this section:
(a) A transfer agent of any security shall change the registered ownership of the security claimed from the decedent to the person claiming to succeed to ownership of that security.
(b) A governmental agency required to issue certificates of title, ownership or registration to personal property shall issue a new certificate of title, ownership or registration to the person claiming to succeed to ownership of the property.
6. If any property of the estate not exceeding $20,000 is located in a state which requires an order of a court for the transfer of the property, or if the estate consists of stocks or bonds which must be transferred by an agent outside this State, any person qualified pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 to have the stocks or bonds or other property transferred may do so by obtaining a court order directing the transfer. The person desiring the transfer must file a petition, which may be ex parte, containing:
(a) A specific description of all the property of the decedent.
(b) A list of all the liens and mortgages of record at the date of the decedent's death.
(c) An estimate of the value of the property of the decedent.
(d) The names, ages of any minors and residences of the decedent's heirs and devisees.
(e) A request for the court to issue an order directing the transfer of the stocks or bonds or other property if the court finds the gross value of the estate does not exceed $20,000.
(f) An attached copy of the executed affidavit made pursuant to subsection 2. If the court finds that the gross value of the estate does not exceed $20,000 and the person requesting the transfer is entitled to it, the court may enter an order directing the transfer.
NRS 145.040 Conditions for ordering summary administration.
If it is made to appear to the court that the gross value of the estate, after deducting any encumbrances, does not exceed $200,000, the court may, if deemed advisable considering the nature, character and obligations of the estate, enter an order for a summary administration of the estate.