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Antelope County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Antelope County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Antelope County Court |
| Courthouse address | 501 M Street, Room 1, Neligh, NE 68756 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756 |
| Phone | 402-887-4650 |
| Fax | 402-887-4160. A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), accepted until July 1, 2028. |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As of the Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026, $22 is the statutory base for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding; the same schedule lists the counter total for an informal probate at $44, or $45 testate. A formal probate is charged on a schedule keyed to the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death, from $22 on estates of $1,000 or less to $1,500 over $5,000,000 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Antelope County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | No Antelope County-specific probate packet or local cover sheet was found. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms that apply, plus the uniform fax cover sheet for fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| E-filing | A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax with the required cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Confirm with the clerk before relying on any non-attorney electronic filing registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search is through Nebraska.gov on the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE system: https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general search for a list of cases is free; viewing case details is $2, with no extra charge for document images, and frequent users can open a Nebraska.gov subscriber account for an annual $100. The same case information is free at any courthouse kiosk or law library. |
| Remote appearance | Nebraska law allows all nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings the court approves with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard telephonically or by videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Antelope County is in District 7, whose local rule requires prior court authorization from the presiding county judge for any remote hearing. |
| County judge district | Seventh county judge district. District 7 groups Antelope, Cuming, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Stanton, and Wayne counties for county judges and local county court rules (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | Nebraska Judicial Branch court page: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/antelope-county-court. Antelope County court page: https://antelopecounty.nebraska.gov/county-court. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate filing in Antelope County, list the accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, beneficiary designations, and co-owned property. The right path depends on what must be transferred, whether Letters are needed, whether there is a will, and whether any real property in Antelope County must be sold or retitled.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families look for assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize liabilities, and decide whether an Antelope County Court filing is needed before paperwork is prepared.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Antelope County is filed with the clerk of the Antelope County Court at 501 M Street, Room 1, Neligh, NE 68756. Mail goes to P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756. Neligh is the courthouse city for Antelope County, and the court serves Neligh and communities in Antelope County.
Nebraska district courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are issued in the county court, which has exclusive original jurisdiction of all matters relating to decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517).
Antelope County sits in Nebraska's seventh county judge district, which is how county judges and the county court's local rules are assigned; the case itself is filed at this county's own courthouse (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502, § 24-503).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent had domicile at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Nebraska, any Nebraska county where the decedent had property at death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening path. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar, and formal probate uses a petition to the court with notice (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2209). In an informal proceeding, the registrar's acts are performed by a county judge or by a person designated by written court order, and the application is delivered to the clerk of the Antelope County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216).
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, the family and beneficiary information, and an asset and liability list. If an original will is not filed with the application, Nebraska law addresses delivery of the will to the court in the informal process (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2414).
- File with the clerk of the Antelope County Court at 501 M Street, Room 1, Neligh, NE 68756, by mail to P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756, or, if you are filing without a lawyer, by fax to 402-887-4160 with the uniform cover sheet required for fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). Email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
- Pay the Antelope County Court filing fee. As of the Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026, the statutory base is $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with formal probate charged by the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- For informal probate, wait for the 120 hours required after death before the registrar issues the written statement of informal probate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415). If the registrar declines the informal application, that declination is not an adjudication and does not prevent a formal probate filing.
- After a personal representative is appointed, notice to creditors is published by the clerk once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within thirty days after appointment (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483). Claims are barred unless presented within two months after the date of first publication when notice is given as the statute requires (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485).
- Give any required Department of Health and Human Services notice if the decedent was 55 or older or resided in a medical institution, because Nebraska makes that notice part of the creditor notice process (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483).
- Obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration after appointment. The court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge in formal probate matters covered by the formal fee statute (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, preparing the inventory, addressing creditor claims, and handling the Nebraska inheritance tax. The Antelope County Court determines the inheritance tax, and it is paid to the county; the tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
- If a hearing is set, ask the clerk how to request a remote hearing. District 7 requires prior court authorization from the presiding county judge, and Nebraska law allows nonevidentiary hearings, plus approved evidentiary hearings with stipulation of all appearing parties, by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704).
- Distribute property only after the personal representative has authority and required matters are handled, then close the estate with the appropriate closing statement (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128). Sunset can help keep estate settlement tasks organized while you work through the court process.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Antelope County
Antelope County does not provide its own probate packet or local probate cover sheet. The county court page directs families to Nebraska Judicial Branch forms, and the statewide set is partial rather than a complete opening packet.
| Form or resource | Use in Antelope County |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate | Used for qualifying personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. The $100,000 ceiling for this personal-property route was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate | Used for qualifying Nebraska real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. The $100,000 ceiling for this real-property route was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024. It is recorded with the register of deeds, not filed as the court opening. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required as the first page when a person filing without a lawyer uses fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| Informal probate flowchart with a will | The Nebraska Judicial Branch provides a flowchart for informal probate with a will, but it does not apply when there is no will, the will is contested, or the estate or distribution of assets is contested. |
| Opening application or petition | The Nebraska Judicial Branch does not provide a statewide form for the application that opens informal probate, the petition that opens formal probate, Letters, or an inventory, and Antelope County does not provide a local substitute. |
Local nuance
Antelope County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Room 1 matters | The Antelope County Court address is 501 M Street, Room 1, Neligh, NE 68756. Use the room number when filing in person or mailing documents that identify the court. |
| Register of deeds is separate | The real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 is recorded with the Antelope County Register of Deeds, not used to open probate in the county court. That office is at the Antelope County courthouse and has its own phone number, 402-887-4410. |
| District 7 remote hearing rule | Antelope County's District 7 rule requires prior court authorization from the presiding county judge for any remote hearing. Evidentiary hearings, bench trials, and witness testimony require stipulation of the parties plus case-by-case court permission, alongside Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Antelope County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titles. If personal property qualifies, CC 15:40 may be presented to the holder under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 after the statutory waiting period, and the $100,000 ceiling for that route was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. If Nebraska real property qualifies separately, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Antelope County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, with its $100,000 ceiling raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024. If Letters are needed, file with the Antelope County Court in Neligh. | Sunset helps identify accounts, co-owned property, and beneficiary designations before the family chooses a court filing or affidavit route. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the property is personal property that qualifies under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, the affidavit goes to the holder, not to the court. If Letters are needed, you can file with the Antelope County Court by mail to P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756, or by fax to 402-887-4160 with the cover sheet required by Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A remote hearing requires prior court authorization under District 7's rule and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement checklist, helps locate assets, and prepares information for the filing packet or attorney review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a home must be sold, open the estate with the clerk of the Antelope County Court. A clerk magistrate may hear and determine noncontested estate and inheritance tax matters, but not determine title to real estate or authorize a sale or mortgage of real estate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507, § 24-519). Those issues go to a county judge. Notice to creditors is handled under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, and the two-month claims bar is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485. | Sunset helps gather property, debt, and family information so the personal representative and any attorney can move the home sale and inheritance tax steps forward. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Antelope County Court | 501 M Street, Room 1, Neligh, NE 68756. Mail: P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756. Phone 402-887-4650. Fax 402-887-4160. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Court page: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/antelope-county-court. |
| Antelope County Court page | County website page for the court, with local contact information and links to Nebraska Judicial Branch forms and the online payment system: https://antelopecounty.nebraska.gov/county-court. |
| Antelope County Register of Deeds | Courthouse, 501 Main, P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756. Phone 402-887-4410. This is where the real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 is recorded. Page: https://antelopecounty.nebraska.gov/register-deeds. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | Statewide self-help materials for people without lawyers, including filing-route information and estate resources: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help. |
| Estates section and additional estates information | Nebraska Judicial Branch estate settlement resources, including information about probate, claims, affidavits, and self-representation: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates. |
| Affidavit forms CC 15:40 and CC 15:41 | CC 15:40 is for personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. CC 15:41 is for real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. Forms: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-40.pdf and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-41.pdf. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required for fax filing by a person filing without a lawyer under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B): https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/Ch6Art6App1.pdf. |
| Flowchart for informal probate with a will | Nebraska Judicial Branch flowchart for informal probate with a will, available at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/AD-2-26.pdf. It does not cover cases with no will, a contested will, or contested estate distribution. |
| Statewide case search | Nebraska.gov JUSTICE case search: https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. General searches return lists without charge; viewing case details is $2, with no extra charge for document images, and frequent users can open an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine 1.877.250.2016, open Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central. ElderAccessLine 1.800.527.7249 serves people 60 and older in all 93 counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; listed practice areas are family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and there are no walk-ins. Website: https://legalaidofnebraska.org/. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | Free Legal Answers at https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ lets qualifying users ask civil legal questions online. Its listed topic areas do not include estates, and volunteer lawyers do not represent users in court. |
| Limited Scope Representation | Nebraska Judicial Branch information about hiring a lawyer for part of a case: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/limited-scope-representation/people-wanting-limited-legal-assistance. |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require a personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the Nebraska Judicial Branch's estate materials say the law allows self-representation. The same materials say filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help, and Antelope County does not provide a local form to fill the statewide opening-form gap. Counsel is especially useful when real estate must be sold, title is disputed, inheritance tax questions arise, or family members disagree; Limited Scope Representation through nebraskajudicial.gov may be a middle option. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families organize accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, and beneficiary information before the Antelope County Court filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into an organized estate settlement packet for attorney review or self-represented filing, including local court contact details for the Antelope County Court in Neligh.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Nebraska lawyer is the right next step, Sunset helps connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who can advise on the filing, court hearings, inheritance tax, real estate issues, and closing statement.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets, and understand the next step without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Antelope County?
File with the clerk of the Antelope County Court at 501 M Street, Room 1, Neligh, NE 68756, or mail the filing to P.O. Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756. Nebraska district courts do not hear probate; the county court has exclusive original jurisdiction over decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517).
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Antelope County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. Antelope County does not provide its own opening-form packet, and the clerk can accept filings but cannot give legal advice.
How much does probate cost in Antelope County?
As of the Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026, $22 is the statutory base for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with later informal petitions or applications also at $22. Formal probate is charged by gross value of the Nebraska estate at death, from $22 to $1,500 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The statewide schedule lists the counter total for an informal probate at $44, or $45 testate, and you should confirm the current amount with the clerk before filing.
Can I avoid probate with an affidavit in Antelope County?
Sometimes. CC 15:40 may be used for qualifying personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125; its $100,000 ceiling was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. CC 15:41 may be used for qualifying Nebraska real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129; its $100,000 ceiling was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024, and it is recorded with the register of deeds.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax, and who determines it for Antelope County?
Yes. Nebraska is one of the few states with an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax. The Antelope County Court determines it and it is paid to the county, with the tax due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01). Rates and exemptions depend on the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent and on whether the death was before or on or after January 1, 2023 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004).
Can I appear by phone or video for an Antelope County probate hearing?
Ask the clerk how to request a remote hearing. Nebraska law allows nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard telephonically or by videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). District 7 also requires prior court authorization from the presiding county judge.
Can I file by fax or email in Antelope County?
A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing to 402-887-4160 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), accepted until July 1, 2028. A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
How do I look up an Antelope County probate case?
Use the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. General searches for lists of cases are free; viewing case details is $2, with no extra charge for document images, and frequent users can open an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account. The same case information is free at any courthouse kiosk or law library.
What are the Antelope County Court clerk's hours?
The Antelope County Court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 402-887-4650 before you go if your filing is time-sensitive.
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Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.