Nevada has no state income tax, no estate tax, and one of the strongest asset-protection trust statutes in the country. Estate planning here is different.
Top 10 Estate Planning Lawyers in Las Vegas
Nevada is one of the most favorable estate-planning jurisdictions in the United States. No state income tax. No state estate tax. The Nevada Asset Protection Trust (NAPT) under NRS 166 — a self-settled spendthrift trust — is one of the strongest creditor-shield vehicles in the country, with a two-year statute of limitations on most existing creditor claims. The Nevada Dynasty Trust can run up to 365 years. The right Las Vegas estate planning attorney knows when these tools fit the situation and when a plain revocable living trust is the better answer. The firms below practice in both extremes.
Updated February 10, 202614 min readEditorially independent
These ten Las Vegas estate planning firms were selected based on Nevada State Bar Probate & Trust Section membership, Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers recognition, AV Preeminent peer ratings, Chambers USA recognition where applicable, and consistent surfacing on Justia and ThreeBestRated. We do not accept payment for placement.
Practice focus: Estate planning, trust and estate litigation, tax planning
Las Vegas firm led by estate-and-trust litigators, estate planning attorneys, and tax attorneys. Represents clients in complex estate and trust matters across Nevada.
Strong fit when the plan involves substantial assets and the realistic risk of future trust litigation among heirs — the firm's litigation depth shows in how plans are drafted.
Practice focus: Wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, NAPTs, charitable trusts
Las Vegas estate planning firm at 1140 N Town Center Dr, Summerlin. Prepares basic to complex plans including Nevada Asset Protection Trusts (NAPTs) and Nevada Dynasty Trusts.
Strong fit for the Summerlin/Northwest client who wants a firm with deep NAPT experience and the willingness to draft for complexity.
Practice focus: High-net-worth trust, estate, family office, tax planning
Major Nevada law firm with offices in Reno and Las Vegas. The Trust & Estates Practice represents high-net-worth families, family offices, and business owners on wealth preservation, asset protection, and intergenerational transfer.
Strong fit for high-net-worth clients with multi-state assets, family-office structure, or business succession planning needs.
Practice focus: Probate, estate planning, trust administration
Las Vegas probate and estate planning firm with 50+ years of combined experience across the attorney team.
Strong fit when the work crosses estate planning and active probate — having one firm carry both the design and the administration smooths transitions when a death occurs.
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, asset protection, probate, business succession
Las Vegas estate planning firm at nvestateplan.com. Founder S. Craig Stone II and the team have been preparing plans since 1993, covering individuals, families, and business owners nationwide.
Strong fit for the client who wants long-standing local experience with both the routine documents and the more involved asset-protection structures.
Practice focus: Estate planning, family law, business, personal injury
Las Vegas firm with more than 40 years of combined experience creating custom estate planning solutions for individuals and families.
Strong fit when the estate plan needs to coordinate with active family-law matters (divorce, prenuptial, custody) — the firm's overlapping practices help with that.
Practice focus: Estate planning, asset protection, probate, business formation
Las Vegas firm founded by Samuel A. Marshall. Practice spans estate planning, asset protection, probate, business formation, and advice to small-business owners.
Strong fit for small-business owners who want one attorney to handle both their business-entity work and their personal estate plan.
Practice focus: Probate, estate planning, trusts, guardianship, real estate
Las Vegas firm of attorney Lee A. Drizin with 32+ years of experience. Practice spans estate planning, probate, trusts, guardianship, and commercial real estate.
Strong fit when the estate involves Nevada real estate — the firm's commercial real estate background helps with planning the disposition of investment property.
Practice focus: Trust and estate planning, asset protection, tax
Regional firm with a major Las Vegas office. The trusts and estates practice handles complex multi-state estate plans, dynasty trusts, and high-net-worth structures.
Strong fit for ultra-high-net-worth clients with multi-jurisdiction estates who need a firm that can also coordinate the related tax and corporate work in-house.
Practice focus: Estate planning, trust administration, tax, asset protection
Regional firm with a Las Vegas office. Recognized in the market for both transactional and litigation depth. Trusts and estates practice covers planning, administration, and disputes.
Strong fit when the family is concerned about future trust litigation among heirs and wants planning by a firm that also handles the litigation side.
Ten firms is a lot to evaluate. Three filters will get you to a short list of two or three in an afternoon.
Fit your situation, not just the practice area. A estate planning firm that does mostly high-dollar cases is a different fit from one that does mostly working-family matters. Call the firm and ask: "What does a typical client look like for you? What does a typical case look like?" If the answer is your situation, you are in the right place.
Ask who actually handles the case. Many firms market on the senior partner and route the day-to-day work to a junior associate. That is not automatically bad — junior associates can be excellent — but you should know who you are working with. Ask: "Who will I be talking to day-to-day? How often does the senior partner sit in?"
Compare quotes side by side. Most Las Vegas firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use two of them. Compare fee structure, retainer, and the answers to the same set of questions across firms.
What a Las Vegas estate planning lawyer costs
Routine Las Vegas estate plans (will, revocable living trust, financial and medical POAs, HIPAA release) are typically flat-fee: $1,200–$3,500 for an individual plan, $2,000–$5,000 for a couple. Complex plans involving NAPTs, dynasty trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, or business-succession provisions run $5,000–$25,000+. Probate is typically billed hourly ($300–$525) plus statutory fees on the estate value. Trust litigation is hourly.
How long it takes in Las Vegas
A routine Las Vegas estate plan can be drafted, reviewed, and signed in 2–6 weeks. Complex plans involving multiple irrevocable trusts run 6–14 weeks. Summary Administration probate (estates $100k–$300k) typically closes in 4–7 months. Full Probate Administration runs 9–18 months. NAPT funding is immediate, but the two-year creditor seasoning period under NRS 166 starts at the date of transfer.
Where Las Vegas estate planning cases are heard
Las Vegas probate matters are heard in the Eighth Judicial District Court, Probate Division, at the Regional Justice Center downtown. Trust litigation is also in the District Court Probate Division. Federal estate-tax matters for high-net-worth estates are handled with the IRS Estate & Gift Tax group, with any Tax Court appeals heard in Las Vegas.
What is specific about a estate planning case in Las Vegas
Nevada estate planning has distinct features that differ from neighboring states.
Nevada has no state estate tax. Nevada repealed its estate tax in 2005. The only estate tax exposure for a Nevada decedent is the federal estate tax, which applies above the federal exemption ($13.99 million per person in 2026; portable to a spouse).
Nevada Asset Protection Trusts are robust. Under NRS 166 a Nevada Asset Protection Trust (NAPT) — a self-settled spendthrift trust — allows the settlor to be both grantor and beneficiary while still receiving creditor protection. The statute of limitations on most pre-existing creditor claims is two years, the shortest in the country.
Dynasty Trusts can run up to 365 years. Nevada allows perpetual or near-perpetual dynasty trusts (NRS 111.1031). This is one reason high-net-worth families from out of state often establish Nevada trusts.
Probate has summary procedures. Estates under $20,000 (no real property) qualify for "affidavit of entitlement" with no probate. Estates between $20,000–$100,000 can use Set-Aside. Estates between $100,000–$300,000 use Summary Administration — substantially faster than full Probate Administration.
Red flags to watch for when picking a estate planning lawyer in Las Vegas
The first hundred Google results for "estate planning lawyer Las Vegas" include thousands of firms. Most are competent. A handful are problems. The patterns to walk away from:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery or dismissal, leave.
The vanishing partner. You meet a senior name at intake, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who handles your case from day to day.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to published verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We have helped thousands of clients" is marketing. Specific cases, numbers, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. Every legitimate Las Vegas lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them. If the firm cannot put that in writing, walk away.
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What to bring to your estate planning consultation in Las Vegas
The free consultation is short — usually 30 to 45 minutes. The lawyer cannot give you a serious case assessment without the documents. Bring the file. Most consultations turn into useful guidance only after the attorney has seen the paper trail.
The paper trail. Every email, text, and letter that touches the matter. Print or PDF the threads in chronological order. If you have a contract or written agreement, bring the signed version and any drafts that show what was negotiated. For court matters, bring every filed document and any orders that have issued.
A written timeline. One page. Bullet points. Date on the left, what happened on the right. Lawyers think in chronology — a timeline is the single most useful artifact you can prepare.
Names and contact information. Everyone involved on the other side, anyone who witnessed the events, your prior attorneys (if any), the relevant insurance carriers or institutions. A lawyer needs to run a conflict check before taking the case; a short list saves time.
Your goals, in writing. What does a good outcome look like? What does an acceptable outcome look like? What is non-negotiable? A lawyer who knows your goals can tell you whether the case is worth the cost.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most Las Vegas estate planning firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions, write down the answers, and compare across two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my case day-to-day? Get a name. Get an email.
How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? A number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign.
What case expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs surprise people. Ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes for a case like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
Who else will be involved? Experts? Co-counsel? Larger cases routinely involve outside experts. Know who is on the team.
How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? The rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
What is the worst-case outcome for my case? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a will or a living trust in Nevada?
Most Las Vegas residents with significant assets, real property, or minor children benefit from a revocable living trust because it avoids probate. A simple will is enough only for very small estates that qualify for summary procedures.
What is a Nevada Asset Protection Trust?
A NAPT under NRS 166 is a self-settled spendthrift trust where you can be both grantor and beneficiary while still receiving creditor protection. After two years of seasoning, most pre-existing creditor claims against the trust assets are time-barred. It is one of the strongest creditor-shield vehicles available in any U.S. jurisdiction.
How much does estate planning cost in Las Vegas?
Routine plans: $1,200–$3,500 for an individual, $2,000–$5,000 for a couple. Complex plans with NAPTs, dynasty trusts, or business-succession provisions: $5,000–$25,000+. Most firms charge flat fees for routine work and hourly for complex.
How long does probate take in Las Vegas?
Summary Administration (estates $100k–$300k): 4–7 months. Full Probate Administration (estates above $300k): 9–18 months. Smaller estates qualify for set-aside or affidavit of entitlement procedures that are much faster.
Does Nevada have an estate or inheritance tax?
No. Nevada repealed its estate tax in 2005 and has no inheritance tax. The only estate-tax exposure is federal, which applies above the $13.99 million per-person exemption in 2026.
What happens if I die without a will in Las Vegas?
Your estate is distributed under Nevada's intestate succession statutes (NRS 134). The order depends on your family situation — spouse, children, parents, siblings — and the type of property (community vs. separate). The result is rarely what you would have chosen.
Can I avoid probate in Nevada?
Yes, with proper planning. A funded revocable living trust avoids probate for trust assets. Transfer-on-death deeds (NRS 111.655 et seq.) can transfer real property without probate. Pay-on-death accounts and joint tenancy also bypass probate.
What is a Nevada Dynasty Trust?
A trust that can hold assets for the benefit of generations of heirs — Nevada allows trusts to run up to 365 years (NRS 111.1031), one of the longest periods in the U.S. Useful for substantial estates where the family wants long-term asset protection and tax efficiency.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team
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