The need to handle emotional and interpersonal matters often dominates early responses to a loved one’s death. The people left behind have a difficult adjustment period ahead as they work through their grief and learn to live without the person who died. Oftentimes, families focus on arranging a memorial service and finding a way to navigate daily life without their loved one in the first weeks after someone’s passing. Those left behind also have to eventually start thinking about resolving the decedent’s personal affairs.
Probate proceedings are often necessary to fulfill an individual’s financial obligations and distribute their property to their heirs or beneficiaries. How long do families generally have to initiate probate proceedings after someone’s death in Nevada?
Nevada’s rules offer some space for grieving
It can take many months for people to reestablish any sense of normalcy after the passing of a loved one. Grief often overwhelms people with a variety of intense emotions. They may experience anger, depression and other complex emotions. Grief can affect people’s ability to care for themselves and get adequate rest, which can make handling complicated matters particularly difficult.
Thankfully, surviving family members do have an opportunity to grieve a bit before they jump into the probate process in Nevada. State law requires the initiation of probate proceedings within two years of someone’s passing. If probate is necessary, the family has time to work through immediate needs and emotional reactions before beginning the complicated estate administration process. It is often better to begin the process earlier as opposed to waiting until the last moment.
Thankfully, families and individuals intending to serve as the personal representative of an estate do not have to tackle that process alone. They can retain an attorney to assist them with estate administration and probate court matters. Particularly in cases where families find their grief difficult to manage and where the estate may be relatively complex, having appropriate assistance can make a major difference.
Learning about Nevada’s unique rule for probate proceedings can benefit those still coming to terms with the loss of a loved one. The sooner families initiate probate proceedings, the sooner they can settle the decedent’s obligations and fulfill their last wishes.