Section 146.080(1) of the Nevada Revised Statutes, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 146.080(1) (2014),
sets out a procedure by which, 40 days after the death of an individual with an estate
of $20,000.00 or less, a person or a representative on behalf of a government entity
may receive property of the decedent by means of an affidavit and without going through
probate. Section 146.080 (1) provides:
“If a decedent leaves no real property, nor interest therein, nor mortgage or lien
thereon, in this State, and the gross value of the decedent's property in this State,
over and above any amounts due to the decedent for services in the Armed Forces of
the United States, does not exceed $20,000, a person who has a right to succeed to
the property of the decedent (either pursuant to intestacy or pursuant to the valid
will on behalf of all persons entitled to succeed to the property claimed, or the
Director of the Department of Health and Human Services or public administrator on
behalf of the State or others entitled to the property, may, without procuring letters
of administration or awaiting the probate of the will and 40 days after the death
of the decedent, collect any money due the decedent, receive the property of the decedent,
and have any evidences of interest, indebtedness or right transferred to him or her
upon furnishing an affidavit to the person, representative, corporation, officer or
body owing the money, having custody of such property or acting as registrar or transfer
agent of such evidences of interest, indebtedness or right.”