Nevada Paving, Inc. v. Callahan

The necessary consequence of the opinion in today’s case is to erase the precondition that an estate exist before special letters of administration may issue. A cause of action for wrongful death is not an “estate” subject to administration. Troyer’s Estate, 48 Nev. 72, 227 P. 1008 (1924). An estate must exist before administration is justified. In re Dickerson’s Estate, 51 Nev. 69, 268 P. 769 (1928). The recovery in a wrongful death case is for the heirs of the decedent who sustained a compensable loss by reason of his death. Estes v. Riggins, 68 Nev. 336, 232 P.2d 843 (1951); See also:…