{"id":374848,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:56","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/nevada-law\/nevada-wills-laws.html"},"modified":"2023-04-18T14:49:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T19:49:00","slug":"nevada-wills-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/nevada-law\/nevada-wills-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Nevada Wills Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Nevada Wills Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Talking about creating a will can be scary. Who really wants to think about their own death and what happens to their assets when they\u2019re gone? However, if you don\u2019t develop an estate plan, including a will<\/a> and possibly a trust, your possessions will be given to your relatives according to the state\u2019s intestacy<\/a> laws.<\/p>\r\n

Sometimes, the children, parents, and\/or siblings who will inherit our estate by intestate succession are exactly who we want to receive it and maybe even in the proportions we\u2019d like. Often, a person wants to donate to their favorite charity or a cherished friend. To do this, you should create a will<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Nevada\u2019s main wills laws are outlined in the table below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\r\nNevada Revised Statutes Chapter 133 \u2013 Wills<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Legal Requirements of Valid Will<\/b><\/td>\r\nEvery person of sound mind and over 18 years old<\/a> can make a will in Nevada. The legal requirements of a will are:
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Self-Proved Wills<\/b><\/td>\r\nA will in Nevada can be \u201cself-proved<\/a>\u201d meaning the witnesses don\u2019t have to testify in probate court about the will, usually, if a self-proving affidavit is attached to the will that\u2019s signed by the witnesses and is notarized.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Witnesses<\/b><\/td>\r\nYou can\u2019t give anything in the will to a witness of that will. The gift will be void unless there are two other competent witnesses who also sign the will.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Revocation of Will<\/b><\/td>\r\nA will can be revoked<\/a> in a number of ways, including by:
Oral or Nuncupative Wills<\/b><\/td>\r\nOral or \u201cnuncupative<\/a>\u201d wills aren\u2019t valid in Nevada or most states. However, a few states, including Texas<\/a> continue to recognize oral wills in some, limited situations.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Handwritten or Holographic Wills<\/b><\/td>\r\nA holographic will is valid if the material provisions, date, and signature are handwritten of the testator. It doesn\u2019t need to be notarized or witnessed, can be made inside or outside the state, and doesn\u2019t have to follow a particular format.
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\r\nAnyone at least 18 years old and of sound mind can dispose of all or part of his or her estate, real or personal, by a handwritten will.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Validity of Out-of-State Wills<\/b><\/td>\r\nYes, wills made in other states are valid in Nevada, as long as in writing, signed by the testator, and valid according to the laws of the state in which it was created or where the testator lived.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

You can draft your own valid will in Nevada using numerous online will resources<\/a> or just fully handwriting a will. However, if you have significant assets, you should speak to an experienced local wills lawyer<\/a> because you\u2019re loved ones have a lot to lose if you make a mistake. You should also considering creating a living will<\/a> to state your health care wishes and a power of attorney<\/a> to designate a healthcare agent to speak for you if you become incapacitated.<\/p>\r\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws are revised regularly; talk to a lawyer or conduct your own legal research to verify these estate planning laws.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\r\n