1. The public administrator or the person employed or contracted with pursuant to NRS 253.125, as applicable, shall:

(a) Investigate:

(1) The financial status of any decedent for whom he or she has been requested to serve as administrator to determine the assets and liabilities of the estate.

(2) Whether there is any qualified person who is willing and able to serve as administrator of the estate of an intestate decedent to determine whether he or she is eligible to serve in that capacity.

(3) Whether there are beneficiaries named on any asset of the estate or whether any deed upon death executed pursuant to NRS 111.655 to 111.699, inclusive, is on file with the county recorder.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 253.0403 and 253.0425, petition the court for letters of administration of the estate of an intestate decedent if, after investigation, the public administrator or the person employed or contracted with pursuant to NRS 253.125, as applicable, finds that there is no other qualified person having a prior right who is willing and able to serve.

(c) Upon court order, act as administrator of the estate of an intestate decedent, regardless of the amount of assets in the estate of the decedent if no other qualified person is willing and able to serve.

2. The public administrator or a person employed or contracted with pursuant to NRS 253.125, as applicable, shall not administer any estate:

(a) Held in joint tenancy unless all joint tenants are deceased; or

(b) For which a deed upon death has been executed pursuant to NRS 111.655 to 111.699, inclusive.

3. In a county whose population is less than 100,000, the board of county commissioners may, by ordinance, require the public administrator or the person employed or contracted with pursuant to NRS 253.125, as applicable, to notify or obtain approval from the board of county commissioners before transporting outside the county any property of a decedent for whose estate the public administrator or person serves as administrator.

4. As used in this section, “intestate decedent” means a person who has died without leaving a valid will, trust or other estate plan.

(Added to NRS by 1979, 991; A 1989, 1040; 1991, 197; 1999, 919; 2007, 2487; 2009, 2270; 2011, 1354, 1483; 2015, 1913; 2019, 1539)