Why Trusts Are Often a Better Choice Than Wills in Nevada

Planning for the future isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for the people you love. Having a comprehensive estate plan ensures your wishes are honored, your assets are protected, and your loved ones are spared unnecessary stress and expense. In Nevada, the two most common estate planning tools are wills and trusts—but when it comes to long-term efficiency, privacy, and control, trusts often offer significant advantages over wills.

In this guide, we’ll explain why trusts are typically the smarter option in Nevada and when a will might still be appropriate as a supplemental document.

What Is a Trust?

A trust is a legal arrangement where a trustee holds and manages assets on behalf of a beneficiary. The most common type, a revocable living trust, allows you to retain control of your assets during your lifetime and make changes as needed. Upon your passing, your designated trustee takes over, ensuring a seamless, private, and efficient distribution of your estate—without the need for probate.

Why Trusts Are Superior in Nevada

1. Avoid Probate Completely One of the most compelling reasons to choose a trust is that it bypasses the probate process entirely. Probate is a court-supervised legal procedure that can take months—or even years—to finalize. With a trust, your heirs can access their inheritance almost immediately, saving time, stress, and money.

2. Maintain Privacy Unlike wills, which become public record during probate, trusts remain private. Your family’s financial matters, beneficiaries, and asset details will not be made public—an important consideration for many Nevada residents.

3. Lower Long-Term Costs While trusts may involve a higher upfront cost to set up properly, they can result in significant savings in the long run by avoiding court fees, legal expenses, and delays associated with probate.

4. Greater Control and Flexibility Trusts allow you to set specific terms for when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance. This level of control is particularly useful for families with young children, blended families, or concerns about beneficiaries' spending habits.

5. Strong Legal Protections in Nevada Nevada is one of the most trust-friendly states in the U.S. With no estate tax and some of the nation’s strongest asset protection laws—including Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPTs)—Nevada trusts offer exceptional advantages for preserving and protecting wealth.

What About Wills?

A will, or last will and testament, is a legal document that outlines how you want your assets distributed and who should care for your minor children. While simple and inexpensive to draft, wills must go through probate, making them slower, costlier, and less private than trusts.

Pros of Wills:

• Easy and quick to set up

• Clearly names guardians for minor children

• Outlines how assets should be distributed

  
  

Cons of Wills:

• Subject to probate

• Becomes public record

• May incur legal fees and court costs

• Slower asset distribution

  
  

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Will	Trust
Effective When	After death	Immediately upon creation
Probate Required	Yes	No
Public Record	Yes	No
Upfront Cost	Lower	Higher (but saves later)
Long-Term Cost	Higher (due to probate)	Lower
Asset Protection	Limited	Strong (in Nevada)
Privacy	None	Complete

Final Thoughts

While both wills and trusts play a role in estate planning, trusts offer far more advantages—especially in Nevada. They’re faster, more private, and often more cost-effective over time. For those who own property, have children, or simply want more control and protection over how their assets are handled, a revocable living trust is typically the better option.

That said, every family’s situation is unique. At Dragon Law Group, we’re here to help you decide which approach best fits your needs. Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating an existing estate plan, we’ll walk you through the process with care and clarity.

Schedule a Consultation Today —and take the first step in protecting your legacy.