A Nevada last will and testament is a document that contains the final wishes of its creator (testator) and establishes exactly how his or her property will be used after their death. Make sure to go through all requirements before making a will. Even if you don’t possess a lot of assets, a last will might help your family situation and prove to be essential to all your family members.
If you need a Nevada last will and testament PDF or Word template, you’ll find one below in two common, fillable and printable formats, along with will preparation guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions.
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Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
The law sets the baseline requirements a will must meet to be legally valid, covering how it must be written, signed, and witnessed. Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 133 is the primary source for these rules, and § 133.040 in particular sets these requirements:
The table below summarizes these and other specific rules for your will and property.
| Requirements | Citation | |
| Statutes | Chapter 133 – Wills | |
| Definitions | Chapter 132 – General provisions | |
| Signing requirement | Two witnesses | 133.040 Valid wills: Requirements of writing, subscription, witnesses and attestation |
| Age of testator | 18 or older | 133.020 Sound mind requirement |
| Age of witnesses | 18 or older | 133.040 |
| Self-proving wills | Allowed | 133.050 Attesting witnesses may sign self-proving declarations or affidavits to be attached to or associated with will |
| Electronic wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | 133.085 Electronic will |
| Oral wills | Not recognized | |
| Holographic wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | 133.090 Holographic will |
Electronic wills are also recognized here. A certified paper copy of a valid electronic will can be admitted to probate the same way as a traditionally signed will.[2.1] If that electronic will is self-proving, the law presumes it valid and admits it to probate without further proof, unless someone objects.[2.1] Probate, also known as estate administration, is the court process that settles the estates of deceased persons.
Moved here from elsewhere, or made your will somewhere else? A will that was validly made elsewhere, where you were domiciled at the time, or that meets local requirements, is still recognized here.[2.4]
A will that is not signed by the testator and properly witnessed as required by law can be declared invalid in probate, even when the testator’s wishes are otherwise clear.[1]
1. Think about possible formats. One thing to decide upon beforehand is whether you want to write the entire thing by hand (holographic will) or go for a fillable will template available in PDF and DOC. You can also use our will-making software for more options along the way.
2. Indicate your information. Fill out your full name and address (the city, county, and state of residence) to ascertain the testator of the last will and testament. Go through the information you entered to double-check if all details are correct.
3. Determine the executor. Now is the time to decide on the executor of your last will and testament, the personal representative who will be in charge of ensuring that everything you write in this document comes true. Fill out the executor’s full legal name, as well as their residence information (city, county, and state).
Be sure you choose a person who resides in the same state as you do because they will have to deal with a lot of matters, which can take weeks.
It may happen that the personal representative will be unable to carry out your last will as a result of a disease, passing, disinclination, or some other factors. In this case, the court will probably choose its own estate administrator to handle the duties. In order to avoid that, it’s possible to decide on a second executor under this section.
4. Appoint the guardian. You are able to appoint a trusted person as a guardian if you’ve got underage or dependent children that must be looked after. In case there are no instructions concerning what person should look after your children, the guardian will be chosen by the court. Although this is optional, consider how important it is based on your circustances.
5. Indicate your beneficiaries. This is where you indicate people who are going to inherit your assets. For every beneficiary, fill out the next details: full legal name, address, and the way they are related to you.
6. Assign your possessions accordingly. It is possible to specify which of your respective beneficiaries gets this or that piece of property. Otherwise, the assets are going to be allocated equally amongst the inheritors, and this distribution determines how each asset will pass to them. These assets cannot include shared and living trust property, as well as your life insurance.
7. Finalize the document. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 133.040 specifies that at least two witnesses have to sign a last will and testament for it to be regarded as valid.[1] Only a person who isn’t your beneficiary and is of 18 years or older can be chosen as a witness.
As a possible precaution against scenarios when your will is challenged or other problems, it’s wise to appoint a witness who’s younger than you. After a careful review of every section in your last will, all parties involved (you and the two witnesses) have to write their full names and full addresses and sign the document.
These answers cover common wills and estates questions people ask about writing, signing, and updating a last will. Topics include whether notarization or a self-proving affidavit is required, how a handwritten (holographic) will works, and what to do if the signed original is lost or a spouse must be excluded.
No, you don’t have to notarize your last will.
A holographic last will is handwritten and does not need to be witnessed. To be effective, the entire document must be in the testator’s own handwriting, dated, and signed by them (133.090). If a holographic will is contested, the law allows it to be proved through authentication that satisfies the court, rather than the normal witness proof.[2.2]
This type of will is usually made only when no other option is available, and it is typically replaced later by a more detailed document created with a will template or a law firm. Keeping a holographic will as your final version is not recommended. Unclear or conflicting language in your own handwriting can delay probate, invite a challenge, or even void the will.
It is not required, but you can certainly do it to make it less susceptible to fraud and contesting and to quicken the probate. You would still need two people to witness it, plus a notary public acknowledgment.
Community, or marital, property is recognized here. Assets acquired or increased in value during the marriage must generally be split evenly between the two spouses, which makes it nearly impossible to disinherit a spouse entirely.
The sole way to disinherit your marriage partner would be to enter into a prenuptial contract with him or her before the marriage (hence the name). Here, they can waive their community property rights.
Except for your marriage partner, you can disinherit any other members of your family.
Yes, it can be done. A testator can alter or annul the will at any time until their death. If someone later claims a will was destroyed in order to revoke it, the law requires that to be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.[2.3] The only case that can prevent you from altering it is when this action is prohibited under the contract you signed, which is rarely recommended to do.
If you need to change something minor (e.g., change someone’s name), use a codicil. But if changes required are numerous, just create a new will from scratch to avoid any confusion during probate.
A copy of a last will may be admitted to probate if both of these are proven (see 136.230):
Here’s a case example where someone tried to prove that a will existed without the original – Howard Hughes Med. Inst. v. Gavin.
| Related documents | When to create one |
| Codicil | Your will requires one or a number of minor modifications. |
| Self-proving affidavit | You want the probate to be quicker when it’s necessary. |
| Living will | You want to make certain your end-of-life treatment is carried out in accordance with your wishes. |
| Living trust | You would like to consider an alternative to a last will. |
This page is general information about Nevada last wills, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a Nevada attorney.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Nev. Rev. Stat..
