Clearing the home of someone who has died is hard work done at a hard time. The tasks overlap: grief, legal duties, family opinions and a house that needs to be emptied or sold. A clear order of work keeps the process orderly. This guide gives a practical sequence and points to the official resources that explain the legal side.
Secure first, decide later
Lock the house, collect the mail, and move the most important papers to a safe place: wills, deeds, insurance policies, bank statements, tax returns and vehicle titles. Remove cash, jewelry and firearms to a secure location, with a second person present and a written note of what was taken. A short list signed by the executor protects everyone.
The legal side
The executor or personal representative has duties under Nevada law, and the court process depends on the size and shape of the estate. The Nevada Courts' Self-Help Center explains probate in plain language, and the Internal Revenue Service publishes information on estate taxes. This guide is not legal advice, so check with an attorney before items are sold, given away or discarded.
Photograph and inventory
- Walk each room with a camera or phone and take photos of every wall, shelf and cabinet.
- Write a room-by-room list with notes on condition and any known value.
- Flag items that may be valuable: art, jewelry, collections, antiques and guns.
- Record who is asking for what, so that disputes are settled on paper.
- Keep the list in a shared document or folder that the family can see.
Sort with the family
Gather the family for a walk-through, in person or on video. Let each person choose items, with the executor deciding disputes. Give the rest to charity, sell through consignment or an estate sale, or hold in storage until the legal steps allow. Personal papers and photographs deserve extra time.
Storage while the estate is settled
A house may need to be empty before a sale or a rental, while the estate remains open. Vault storage at O'Brien's Sparks warehouse starts from $40 per month, in wooden vaults of 7 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft, and goods ship with about 2 to 3 weeks of notice. See estate and downsizing storage and vault storage.
Moving the pieces that stay in the family
Furniture, pianos and fragile pieces going to relatives in another city can travel with a mover, and a written inventory keeps track of who gets what. Read moving antiques safely for valuable pieces and downsizing for seniors for sorting advice. O'Brien's free in-home estimate is a good way to see what the move will take.