Probate in Nebraska · 93 counties

Nebraska Probate Courts

Estates here go through the County Court. Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit

$100,000

Wait 30 days

Death taxes

Yes

Inheritance tax on heirs

Executor fee

Reasonable

Reasonable fee set by the court

Handwritten wills

Valid

Unwitnessed, in testator’s hand

Plate · NE

Every Nebraska county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked

§ I

Nebraska probate rules

Court: County CourtIn Nebraska, probate is administered exclusively by the County Court in each of Nebraska's 93 counties under the Nebraska Probate Code.
Small estates: $100,000 personal property (§ 30-24,125); separate affidavit for real property up to $100,000 (§ 30-24,129)Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 & § 30-24,129
Filing the will: Must deliver will to county court promptly; 3-year limitation to commence probate
Creditor claims: 2 months after the date of first publication of notice to creditorsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483 & § 30-2485
Executor fees: Reasonable compensation approved by County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2480)Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2480 · calculator
Estate tax: NoneNebraska repealed its state estate tax in 2007.
Inheritance tax: YesNebraska imposes a county-level inheritance tax: Immediate relatives (Class 1) 1% over $100k exemption; remote relatives (Class 2) 11% over $40k; non-relatives (Class 3) 15% over $25k.
Typical duration: 6 to 12 months
Official courts site: supremecourt.nebraska.govCase search: Nebraska Judicial Branch JUSTICE Public Search

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: nebankers.org · nebraskalegislature.gov (statute)

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§ II · Register

All 93 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#	County	Seat	Population	Record
1	Douglas County	Omaha	589,540	office checked
2	Lancaster County	Lincoln	326,716	county site
3	Sarpy County	Papillion	199,886	courthouse mapped
4	Hall County	Grand Island	62,197	courthouse mapped
5	Buffalo County	Kearney	50,697	courthouse mapped
6	Dodge County	Fremont	37,187	courthouse mapped
7	Scotts Bluff County	Gering	35,699	courthouse mapped
8	Madison County	Madison	35,627	courthouse mapped
9	Platte County	Columbus	34,609	courthouse mapped
10	Lincoln County	North Platte	33,365	courthouse mapped
11	Adams County	Hastings	30,899	courthouse mapped
12	Cass County	Plattsmouth	27,446	courthouse mapped
13	Dawson County	Lexington	24,085	courthouse mapped
14	Saunders County	Wahoo	23,463	courthouse mapped
15	Gage County	Beatrice	21,634	courthouse mapped
16	Dakota County	Dakota	21,268	courthouse mapped
17	Washington County	Blair	21,152	courthouse mapped
18	Seward County	Seward	17,671	courthouse mapped
19	Otoe County	Nebraska	16,335	courthouse mapped
20	Saline County	Wilber	14,555	courthouse mapped
21	York County	York	14,356	courthouse mapped
22	Box Butte County	Alliance	10,692	courthouse mapped
23	Custer County	Broken Bow	10,581	courthouse mapped
24	Colfax County	Schuyler	10,566	county site
25	Red Willow County	McCook	10,457	courthouse mapped
26	Holt County	O'Neill	10,093	courthouse mapped
27	Wayne County	Wayne	9,874	courthouse mapped
28	Cheyenne County	Sidney	9,541	courthouse mapped
29	Hamilton County	Aurora	9,537	courthouse mapped
30	Phelps County	Holdrege	9,057	courthouse mapped
31	Cuming County	West Point	8,918	courthouse mapped
32	Butler County	David	8,459	courthouse mapped
33	Knox County	Center	8,298	courthouse mapped
34	Cedar County	Hartington	8,262	courthouse mapped
35	Dawes County	Chadron	8,133	courthouse mapped
36	Keith County	Ogallala	8,113	courthouse mapped
37	Merrick County	Central	7,755	courthouse mapped
38	Richardson County	Falls	7,689	courthouse mapped
39	Pierce County	Pierce	7,299	courthouse mapped
40	Nemaha County	Auburn	7,076	courthouse mapped
41	Jefferson County	Fairbury	7,054	courthouse mapped
42	Kearney County	Minden	6,770	courthouse mapped
43	Burt County	Tekamah	6,727	courthouse mapped
44	Thurston County	Pender	6,557	courthouse mapped
45	Howard County	Saint Paul	6,527	courthouse mapped
46	Antelope County	Neligh	6,302	courthouse mapped
47	Clay County	Clay Center	6,116	courthouse mapped
48	Stanton County	Stanton	5,856	courthouse mapped
49	Fillmore County	Geneva	5,548	courthouse mapped
50	Cherry County	Valentine	5,492	courthouse mapped
51	Dixon County	Ponca	5,491	courthouse mapped
52	Boone County	Albion	5,310	courthouse mapped
53	Polk County	Osceola	5,228	courthouse mapped
54	Johnson County	Tecumseh	5,198	courthouse mapped
55	Sheridan County	Rushville	4,928	courthouse mapped
56	Thayer County	Hebron	4,829	courthouse mapped
57	Furnas County	Beaver	4,556	courthouse mapped
58	Morrill County	Bridgeport	4,504	courthouse mapped
59	Nuckolls County	Nelson	4,095	courthouse mapped
60	Valley County	Ord	4,012	courthouse mapped
61	Chase County	Imperial	3,724	courthouse mapped
62	Webster County	Red Cloud	3,351	courthouse mapped
63	Kimball County	Kimball	3,289	courthouse mapped
64	Nance County	Fullerton	3,274	courthouse mapped
65	Harlan County	Alma	3,045	courthouse mapped
66	Sherman County	Loup	2,983	courthouse mapped
67	Brown County	Ainsworth	2,853	courthouse mapped
68	Franklin County	Franklin	2,825	courthouse mapped
69	Perkins County	Grant	2,795	courthouse mapped
70	Frontier County	Stockville	2,585	courthouse mapped
71	Hitchcock County	Trenton	2,552	courthouse mapped
72	Pawnee County	Pawnee	2,512	county site
73	Greeley County	Greeley	2,219	courthouse mapped
74	Deuel County	Chappell	1,871	courthouse mapped
75	Gosper County	Elwood	1,847	courthouse mapped
76	Garden County	Oshkosh	1,794	courthouse mapped
77	Garfield County	Burwell	1,763	courthouse mapped
78	Boyd County	Butte	1,725	courthouse mapped
79	Dundy County	Benkelman	1,561	courthouse mapped
80	Rock County	Bassett	1,271	courthouse mapped
81	Sioux County	Harrison	1,154	courthouse mapped
82	Hayes County	Hayes Center	846	courthouse mapped
83	Keya Paha County	Springview	805	courthouse mapped
84	Wheeler County	Bartlett	775	courthouse mapped
85	Hooker County	Mullen	679	courthouse mapped
86	Thomas County	Thedford	677	courthouse mapped
87	Banner County	Harrisburg	674	county site
88	Logan County	Stapleton	655	county site
89	Loup County	Taylor	592	county site
90	Grant County	Hyannis	565	courthouse mapped
91	Blaine County	Brewster	436	courthouse mapped
92	Arthur County	Arthur	412	courthouse mapped
93	McPherson County	Tryon	383	county site

§ III

Nebraska probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Nebraska?

$100,000 personal property (§ 30-24,125); separate affidavit for real property up to $100,000 (§ 30-24,129) (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 & § 30-24,129). It can be used 30 days after death. Wait 30 days for personal property. For real estate under $50,000, wait 30 days and file affidavit with the Register of Deeds.

How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Nebraska?

Reasonable compensation approved by County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2480) (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2480). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.

What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Nebraska?

2 months after the date of first publication of notice to creditors (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483 & § 30-2485). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.

Does Nebraska recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?

Yes. Nebraska recognizes holographic wills if signature and material provisions are in testator's handwriting (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2328).

Does Nebraska have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?

Nebraska has no state estate tax. It also has an inheritance tax paid by heirs. Nebraska imposes a county-level inheritance tax: Immediate relatives (Class 1) 1% over $100k exemption; remote relatives (Class 2) 11% over $40k; non-relatives (Class 3) 15% over $25k.