What is a will?

A will is a written document, which after your death gives instructions for how you want your individually-owned property to be distributed. A will may also indicate who is to be in charge of your property until it is distributed and who will take care of your minor children if the other parent should also be dead. If a person dies without leaving a valid will, the property will be distributed according to the dictates of intestate succession under Nevada law.

What does dying "testate" or "intestate" mean?

A person dies testate if they left a will. One dies intestate if that person does not have a valid will at the time of death. If a person dies intestate, then the laws of Nevada, in effect at the time of death, determine who the heirs are and hence who receives the decedent's property.