Create your Nevada will with confidence
Protect your loved ones with a Nevada will using FindLaw’s attorney-created forms and easy step-by-step process.
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Provide clear guidance and control what happens to your property, children, and pets with a will. Ensure comprehensive protection for you and your loved ones and secure your future with an estate planning forms package.
Last Will and Testament
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Estate Planning Package
All the forms you need to create a personal estate plan
Quick and easy Nevada will forms
There are many reasons to make a valid last will and testament part of your estate plan. One of the most important is that it’ll be much easier for your family to handle your affairs when you pass away. If you die without a will, your family may have to endure a long and complex probate process where a court distributes your assets based on Nevada law without your input. Making a will allows you the opportunity to take control of your and your family’s future by stating your preferences on how you want your assets divided, at what age your beneficiaries can access their inheritance, and naming any individuals you wish to exclude from inheriting.
With FindLaw, you can easily create a will. Click on the links below to jump down the page:
How it works
It only takes minutes to control your future. Need help? Contact one of our directory attorneys.
Create an account
Create a secure account which is accessible through an easy dashboard you can access any time.
Gather information
You will need a list of your assets, contact information for important people, and any wishes you want to be honored when you’re gone.
Complete your documents
Answer all questions, then we’ll generate your digital documents for downloading, printing, and signing.
Make it legal
Carefully follow the instructions provided in the form, which may include signing your documents in front of witnesses or a notary.
Plan for your future with confidence
This free guide will help you:
Learn the most common estate planning terms
Understand the essential estate planning tools
Gather critical information with an estate planning checklist
What’s next to make my Nevada will valid?
If you want a will, you can hire a lawyer or use a will form from a reliable source. If you use a form, follow these steps:
List all of your assets and decide how you’d like to transfer them
Choosing which assets you’d like to distribute to family, friends, and organizations after you die is an essential step in creating a will. You’ll want to make a list of all of the assets that you want to be distributed, including:
- Vehicles
- Real estate
- Bank accounts
- Businesses
- Stocks and bonds
Don’t forget to list any sentimental items you’d like particular people to receive from your estate. Things such as jewelry, antiques, or art can be listed as tangible personal property.
Pick your beneficiaries
A beneficiary is an individual or organization that receives something from your estate. Many people choose their spouse and close relatives to be their beneficiaries, but you may also want to consider naming friends, neighbors, or even co-workers. You can also designate an organization, such as your favorite charity, as a beneficiary. Be sure to use the full legal names for individuals and properly identify any organizations you wish to receive something in your will.
Pick a guardian for your children
If you have minor children or adult incapacitated children, it is important to think about who would take care of them when you die. A guardian is a person responsible for making decisions for your dependents and taking care of them. Choose someone you trust to serve as a guardian, and also choose an alternate guardian. The alternate guardian can fulfill this role if the first person you chose as a guardian is unable to do so.
Pick an executor
You should name someone to be the executor of your estate in your will. The executor will be responsible for handling your debts and distributing the remainder of your assets to the beneficiaries of your estate.
In addition to choosing an executor, it’s a good idea to choose an alternate executor. This is helpful in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to fulfill the role.
Execute your last will and testament
Each state has its own requirements for the proper execution of a will. If you don’t meet the requirements of your state, your will could be considered invalid.
In Nevada, the person making the will must be of sound mind and at least 18 years old. The person making the will is referred to as the testator.
In addition to requirements for the testator, there are requirements regarding the signing of the will. Under Nevada Revised Statutes 133.040, a Nevada will must be:
- In writing
- Signed by the testator (or by someone else at the testator’s direction)
- Signed by two competent witnesses
The two witnesses must sign the will in the presence of the testator. Notarization is not required to make the will valid, but you might want to get your will notarized to make things easier for your family. When a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths notarizes a will, it becomes self-proving. A self-proving will may be accepted by the court without witness testimony. If your will is not self-proving, a court may require that the witnesses come forward to testify, making the probate process longer.
Nevada, unlike some other states, allows holographic wills. A holographic will is a handwritten will that doesn’t have to be signed by witnesses.
Store your will and revise it as necessary
It’s important that you store your last will and testament in a safe and accessible place. Many people think that placing their will in a safe deposit box is a good idea, but it actually could be problematic. If you are the only person with access to your safe deposit box, your family members could have trouble gaining access to your will when they need it. Your executor might have to get a court to allow them to access the safe deposit box, causing unnecessary delay.
Consider storing your will in a home safe and letting your executor know how to access it. As needed, you can review your will and make any changes required as a result of life events. For example, if you have a child after making your will you might want to revise it.
Frequently asked questions about Nevada last will and testaments
No, you don’t need a lawyer to make a valid last will and testament. You can create a Nevada will on your own using our step-by-step process.
FindLaw is not a law firm, and the forms are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. If you have a very complex situation or a high net worth, you may wish to consult an estate planning lawyer to prepare your documents or to review a will you created on your own.
You always have the option of using a free will template, but you might encounter problems down the road. A free will template might not be tailored to the laws of Nevada, and it might not address the issues that are unique to your situation. It’s vital that your will meet the requirements of Nevada law, so a state-specific FindLaw will form could be your best option.
An effective Nevada estate plan consists of several legal documents, including a will, power of attorney, and health care directive. While wills become effective upon death, powers of attorney for health care or finances can be helpful during your lifetime. Powers of attorney allow you to authorize another person to make important decisions on your behalf. You can use a living will to state your wishes for medical treatment in case you’re ever incapacitated or too ill to do so.
If you don’t have a will when you die, a court may end up deciding how your assets will be distributed based on Nevada intestacy laws. These laws generally state which relatives should receive a share of your estate. Of course a court’s determination, based on the laws of intestate succession, may differ from what you would’ve wanted for your family.
You may want to speak with a lawyer if you:
- Have a past divorce, blended family, or other complex family situation
- Have a high-value estate
- Own a business
- Want to create a special needs trust
- Want legal review of your completed will