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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

 

WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR DO? 

 

The Public Administrator is an elected position entrusted to oversee the administration of the estates of deceased persons who have no qualified person willing and able to do so. The administrator is required by state law to ensure that the property of the deceased is secured until a relative or other designated person can claim the property. These conditions may apply when:

  • There are no known heirs.
  • No executor has been appointed and as a result, the estate, or any part, is being wasted uncared for or lost.
  • The named executor of a will fails to act.
  • The will names the Public Administrator as executor.
  • An heir or heirs wish to have the estate administered for them by the Public Administrator

When the Public Administrator Steps In

In accordance with state law, the Public Administrator ensures the property of a deceased person is safeguarded. If the police or coroner cannot immediately locate a family member when there has been a death, they will request the assistance of the Public Administrator's Office.

Funeral Arrangements

In the absence of relatives, when an estate has assets, the Public Administrator may make necessary funeral arrangements. Arrangements will be made in accordance with any plans of the deceased and within the ability of the estate to pay.  If it appears that there are insufficient funds for a private service, referrals will be made to Clark County Social Service for an indigent burial.

Selling of Property

If the estate is debt free and has sufficient cash to pay claims and expenses, the Public Administrator may not sell the real property, securities or jewelry of the deceased unless instructed by heirs. At the request of heirs, the estate will be liquidated at public auction.

WHERE DOES THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR GET HIS or HER AUTHORITY? 

Nevada Revised Statutes CHAPTER 253 - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS AND GUARDIANS

DOES THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR CHARGE FOR SERVICES? 

Yes, fees are set by NRS:  The Public Administrator's Office has the responsibility to protect the valuables of individuals who die in Clark County until family or a legal representative can take possession. This service is furnished 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Estate property is brought into the Public Administrator's warehouse for safekeeping, residences are sealed and locked and vehicles are secured.  Fees collected for services are returned to the County General Fund. This price schedule covers the actual cost of providing the service.   FEE SCHEDULE LINK

ARE ALL NEVADA PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS ELECTED? 

Some are elected, some are appointed, and sometimes the duty is assigned to another office:

 Table from the Washoe County Public Administrator Web site. 

       
Carson City (Municipality)      
Alan Glover, Public Administrator Ex-officio   (775) 887-2260
885 E. Musser Street, Suite 1028      
Carson City, NV 89701   fax (775) 887-2146
aglover@ci.carson-city.nv.us      
       
Churchill County      
John Serpa, Public Administrator Elected   (775) 423-5035
Post Office Box 789      
Fallon, NV 89407   fax (775) 428-2567
no email      
       
Clark County      
John J. Cahill, Public Administrator Elected   (702) 455-4332
515 Shadow Lane      
Las Vegas, NV 89106   fax (702) 455-4335
cahillj@co.clark.nv.us      
       
Douglas County      
Lynn EnEarl, Public Administrator Elected cell (775) 721-1679
Post Office Box 1284      
Gardnerville, NV  89410   fax (775) 782-4250
douglascpa@charter.net      
       
Elko County      
Janyce Jenkins, Public Administrator Elected   (775) 738-3171
P.O. Box 25      
Elko, NV  89803   fax (775) 753-9860
jenkinsjantom@frontiernet.net      
       
Esmeralda County      
Vicki L. Serfoss, Public Administrator Elected wk (775) 572-3022
P.O. Box 324      
Dyer, NV  89010      
vickiserfoss@yahoo.com   fax   (to come)
       
Eureka County      
Mike Rebaleati, County Recorder / Auditor Ex-officio   (775) 237-5263
Post Office Box 556      
Eureka, NV 89316   fax (775) 237-5614
mr@eurekanv.org      
       
Humboldt County      
Russell Smith, District Attorney (Acting PA) Ex-officio   (775) 623-6370
Theresa Wriston, Deputy Public Administrator      
50 W. Fifth St.

 

   
Winnemucca, NV 89445   fax (775) 623-6370
publicadmin@hcnv.us      
       
Lander County      
Hy Forgeron, District Attorney Ex-officio    
Elizabeth Barela (Paralegal/Office Manager - does PA work)     (775) 635-5195
Post Office Box 187      
Battle Mountain, NV 89820   fax (775) 635-8209
landerda@sbcglobal.net      
       
Lincoln County      
Gregory J. Barlow, District Attorney Ex-officio   (775) 962-5171
Post Office Box 60      
Pioche, NV 89043   fax (775) 962-5582
lcda@lcturbonet.com      
       
Lyon County      
Delores Munro  Appointed   (775) 443-5511
Post Office Box 745   cell (775) 722-1661
Yerington, NV 89447   fax (775) 463-7306
deemunro@gmail.com      
       
Mineral County      
Arthur A. Johnson III Appointed   (775) 945-1112
Box 1597      
Hawthorne, NV 89415      
keystone2b@sbcglobal.net      
       
Nye County      
Robert Jones,  Public Administrator Elected cell (775) 751-4259
131 N. Kittyhawk Dr.       
Pahrump, NV 89060   fax (775) 751-4288
bjones@co.nye.nv.us      
       
Pershing County      
Jeff Kearns, Public Administrator Elected   (775) 273-0274
Post Office Box 1167      
Lovelock, NV 89419   fax (775) 273-0274
lkjinc@sbcglobal.net      
       
Storey County      
Marilou Walling, Public Administrator Ex-officio   (775) 847-0968
Post Office Box 176      
Virginia City, NV 89440   fax (775) 847-0949
mwalling@storeycounty.org      
       
Washoe County      
Donald L. Cavallo, Public Administrator Elected   (775) 861-4000
Post Office Box 7360      
Reno, NV 89510-7360   fax (775) 861-4041
dcavallo@washoecounty.us      
       
White Pine County      
Richard W. Sears, District Attorney Ex-officio   (775) 289-8828
801 Clark St. Suite 3      
Ely, NV 89301   fax (775) 289-1559
rwsears@mac.com      
       

 

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE TO CLARK COUNTY'S MANAGEMENT? 

Well as an elected county official the Public Administrator is a peer to other elected officinals.  But the duty is not like sitting on a board.  The CCPA is a department working position, very close to line operations, where daily duties are required and performed to get the job done.  The CCPA is in court every Friday to answer on assigned cases as necessary and to respond otherwise as may be required by the direction of the Probate Commissioner.  Interaction with the Coroner, Guardian, Law Enforcement, and oversight of estate management is all part of a daily routine that makes the Public Administrator one of the most "hands on" elected offices in government.  The County funds the office and staff positions through the same budget process as other County operations.  Budget for operations must be fought for against all the other responsibilities the County performs.  If the CCPA asks for a new staff position, to keep up with the growing demands and increasing population, that position will have to be considered along with a request for more staff in other Departments.  It a process that demands experience in budget preparation and program management.  The County has the purse strings and the elected Public Administrator has the authority and responsibility by statute.  How's that for an interesting relationship? 

WHERE DOES UNCLAIMED PROPERTY GO? 

The CCPA works very hard to find a relative so there is no unclaimed property, but it does happen.  That property is usually liquidated and the funds held by the County for up to two years and then it escheates to the State of Nevada where it may be held indefinitely.  Check out this article on MSNBC Dateline and the page of the Nevada State Treasurer. 

HOW CAN I FIND IF I MIGHT HAVE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY SOMEWHERE?

See these links MSNBC Dateline and the page of the Nevada State Treasurer.  If you want to send the info to someone who does not have a computer print out the URL and the info and suggest they get assistance from their local library to find those sites and write down the info. 

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT WE MIGHT POST? 

EMAIL John at JJCAHILL@COX.NET