Nevada Guardianship of the Estate (Conservatorship)
Nevada Legal GuidesChange state: 
Idaho
California
ImmigrationBy Ronald W. Brilliant, Attorney at Law · Licensed in Idaho, Nevada & California · Last reviewed: September 2026 against Nevada Revised Statutes chapters 159, 159A, 160, 161, 162 and 167 (current through the 2025 legislative session)
When an adult can no longer manage his or her own money and property, a Nevada court may appoint a guardian of the estate to do it (NRS 159.0487(1)). The guardian must protect, preserve, manage and dispose of the estate according to law and for the protected person’s best interests (NRS 159.083(1)). This guide explains how that works under Nevada law, from appointment to sales of property and court oversight.
Many other states call this role a “conservator” and the case a “conservatorship.” Nevada’s guardianship statutes generally use the terms “guardian of the estate” and “protected person” instead, and this guide uses Nevada’s terms.
Key Nevada Terms
- Protected person: an adult for whom a guardian has been appointed (NRS 159.0253).
- Incapacitated: a person who, for reasons other than being a minor, cannot receive and evaluate information or make or communicate decisions to the point of lacking the ability to meet essential requirements for physical health, safety or self-care without appropriate assistance (NRS 159.019).
- Guardian: a person appointed as guardian of the person, of the estate, or of the person and estate, including a special guardian (NRS 159.017).
- Special guardian: a guardian for a person of limited capacity (NRS 159.026), meaning a person who can make some but not all of the decisions needed for his or her own care and the management of his or her property (NRS 159.022).
Guardian of the Estate vs. Guardian of the Person
A Nevada court may appoint a guardian of the person, of the estate, or of the person and estate for an incapacitated person whose home state is Nevada (NRS 159.0487(1)). A guardian of the person and estate has the authority and duties of both (NRS 159.077). A court may also appoint a guardian of the estate for an incapacitated person who lives outside Nevada but has property here (NRS 159.0487(3)).
The guardian of the estate must use the estate for the proper care, maintenance, education and support of the protected person and anyone he or she has a legal duty to support (NRS 159.083(2)). Title to the property stays with the protected person, not the guardian (NRS 159.089(3)). The role and duties of a guardian of the person are covered in the Nevada Guardianship guide.
Court Supervision
A guardian of the estate works under close court supervision. Every guardianship must be reviewed by the court annually (NRS 159.176). Many major steps, such as investing the property, borrowing, making gifts, and selling, leasing or placing property in trust, require a petition to the court first (NRS 159.113(1)).
Subject to the court’s discretion and approval, a guardian must be allowed reasonable compensation and necessary and reasonable expenses (NRS 159.183(1)). No compensation or expenses, including attorney’s fees, may be paid from the estate until the court approves them (NRS 159.183(4)).
Before seeking a guardianship, it is worth knowing that the petition must include an attestation that information on less restrictive alternatives to guardianship was given to the proposed protected person (NRS 159.044(2)(t)). Those alternatives include a durable power of attorney for financial matters and a supported decision-making agreement (NRS 159.0215). See alternatives to guardianship.
Nevada Guardianship of the Estate Topics
- Appointment, Bond and Letters: what the petition must say about property, how the court decides, bonds and blocked accounts, letters of guardianship, and small estates.
- Managing the Estate: taking possession, the inventory and appraisals, investments, court-approved actions, debts and claims.
- Property Transactions: selling and leasing real and personal property, family first right of refusal, and wills, trusts and beneficiary designations.
- Accountings and Court Oversight: when accounts are due, what they contain, court review, and compensation of guardians and attorneys.
- Minors’ Property: managing a child’s estate through guardianship and transfers to minors.
- Special Situations: missing members of the Armed Forces, veterans’ benefits, fiduciary security transfers, and guardians from other states.
Key Deadlines and Requirements at a Glance
| Step | Timing | NRS |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of hearing on a petition | At least 10 days before the hearing, unless a statute or the court provides otherwise | 159.034(2) |
| Temporary guardian for risk of financial loss | Appointed for 10 days; hearing on extension within 10 days after appointment | 159.0525(2), (5) |
| Bond and oath | Before the guardian starts his or her duties, unless an exception applies | 159.065(1), 159.073(1) |
| Serve order of appointment on protected person | Within 5 days after appointment | 159.074(1) |
| Record letters in each county with real property | Within 60 days after appointment | 159.087(1) |
| File verified inventory | Within 60 days after appointment, or further time the court allows | 159.085(1) |
| Supplemental inventory for newly found property | Within 30 days, or include in the next accounting | 159.085(5) |
| Notify claimant of rejected claim | Within 60 days after the claim is presented | 159.109(2)(c) |
| Petition to confirm sale of real property | Within 30 days after the sale contract is signed | 159.134(2) |
| Begin sale of personal property | Not until 30 days after the inventory is filed and mailed (with exceptions) | 159.154(4) |
| Annual account | Within 60 days after the anniversary of appointment, unless the court orders a different interval | 159.177(1)(a) |
| Account after removal | Within 30 days after removal, unless the court allows longer | 159.177(1)(c) |
| Final account after termination or death | Within 90 days, unless the court allows longer | 159.177(1)(d) |
| Suit against bond sureties | Within 3 years after the guardian’s discharge, or within 3 years after a legal disability of the person entitled to sue is removed | 159.071 |
How I Can Help
I help families decide whether a guardianship of the estate is needed, prepare and file the petition, and guide appointed guardians through the bond, inventory, court petitions and accountings that Nevada law requires. I also represent relatives and other interested persons who have concerns about how an estate is being managed. Request a consultation to discuss your situation.
This page provides general information about Nevada guardianship of the estate, based on the Nevada Revised Statutes as of the 2025 legislative session, and is not legal advice. Other Nevada laws, court rules, and case law also affect these matters. Every situation is different; consult an attorney about yours. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.