Nevada Probate Cost: The Full Breakdown

Q: Why does Nevada have two separate statutory fee schedules instead of one?

Because the executor fee under NRS 150.020 and the attorney fee under NRS 150.060 compensate different roles with different tiers and rules - the executor's schedule is a fallback tied to the will being silent, while the attorney's schedule is fixed by written agreement and subject to court approval.

Q: Does a mortgage reduce the Nevada attorney fee the same way it reduces the executor fee?

Not necessarily the same way - the executor fee under NRS 150.020 is explicitly calculated net of liens and encumbrances, while the attorney fee schedule doesn't carry that same explicit net-of-debt language.

Q: Does choosing a lower probate tier in Nevada reduce the statutory executor and attorney fees?

Not directly - the statutory fee schedules are based on estate value, not the administration tier chosen, though lower tiers like set-aside typically involve much less attorney time overall, which can matter if billing hourly instead of the schedule.

Quick answer: Nevada has two statutory fee scales — one for the executor (NRS 150.020) and a separate one for the attorney (NRS 150.060) — plus a modest court fee and publication, and no death tax. On a $500,000 estate that's about $11,150 executor + $13,000 attorney. Get your own figure with the Nevada probate cost calculator.

1. Executor fee — NRS 150.020 (on the net value)

When the will is silent, NRS 150.020 sets the executor fee on the estate accounted for less liens and encumbrances:

Portion of the net estate	Rate
First $15,000	4%
Next $85,000 (to $100,000)	3%
Over $100,000	2%

Worked examples: $100,000 → $3,150; $300,000 → $7,150; $500,000 → $11,150; $1,000,000 → $21,150. A lawyer serving as executor can't take both this fee and attorney fees (NRS 150.025); family executors often waive it.

2. Attorney fee — NRS 150.060 (a different schedule)

NRS 150.060(4): the attorney has its own ladder — 4% of the first $100,000, 3% of the next $100,000, 2% of the next $800,000, 1% of the next $9M, 0.5% of the next $15M — fixed by written agreement, or the attorney may bill hourly ($300–$500/hr). That's $13,000 on $500,000 and $23,000 on $1,000,000.

3. Court, publication & the tax picture

Court: filing ~$270–$540 by county and tier; publication ~$100–$250. No death tax: Nevada's Constitution bans an inheritance tax, and there's no estate tax and no income tax — only federal above the federal exemption.

Worked total examples

Executor (NRS 150.020, no liens) + attorney (NRS 150.060 schedule) + ~$550 court/publication:

Estate value	Executor	Attorney	Court + pub.	Approx. total
$200,000	$5,150	$7,000	$550	≈ $12,700
$500,000	$11,150	$13,000	$550	≈ $24,700
$1,000,000	$21,150	$23,000	$550	≈ $44,700

Court + pub. = ~$350 filing + $200 publication. Executor fee shown with no liens — mortgages reduce it. Attorney fee at the schedule; hourly may differ. Family executors often waive their fee. Run your own numbers in the calculator.

How to reduce Nevada probate costs

Use the right tier — set-aside ($150,000) and summary administration ($500,000) are cheaper and faster than general administration.
Executor waives the fee if a family member and beneficiary.
Negotiate hourly or a flat attorney fee for a simple estate instead of the schedule.
Community property, joint tenancy, TOD deeds and a living trust keep assets out of probate entirely.

Nevada probate cost — frequently asked questions

Why does Nevada have two separate statutory fee schedules instead of one?

The executor fee under § 150.020 and the attorney fee under § 150.060 compensate different roles with different tiers and rules.

Can a Nevada estate end up paying both statutory schedules in full?

Yes, unless the same person serves as both executor and attorney, in which case § 150.025 prevents collecting both.

Does a mortgage reduce the Nevada attorney fee the same way it reduces the executor fee?

Not necessarily — the executor fee is explicitly calculated net of liens, while the attorney fee schedule doesn't carry that same explicit language.

Is Nevada's lack of a death tax the biggest cost saving compared to other states?

For larger estates, potentially yes — many other states impose an estate or inheritance tax on top of administration costs.

Does choosing a lower probate tier in Nevada reduce the statutory executor and attorney fees?

Not directly — the schedules are based on estate value, though lower tiers typically involve much less attorney time overall.

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal or tax advice. Nevada's executor fee (NRS 150.020: 4% first $15,000, 3% next $85,000, 2% over $100,000) is on the estate less liens and encumbrances when the will is silent. The attorney fee uses a separate schedule (NRS 150.060) or hourly, by written agreement subject to court approval. Set-aside up to $150,000 (NRS 146.070); summary administration up to $500,000 (NRS 145.040), as amended by SB 404 effective October 1, 2025. Nevada has no estate or inheritance tax. Verify with the District Court or a licensed Nevada attorney.

Nevada Probate Cost: Full Breakdown