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Arthur County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Arthur County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Arthur County Court, a Nebraska county court. |
| Courthouse address | Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. |
| Mailing address | Use the same address: Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. |
| Phone | 308-284-3693. |
| Fax | 308-284-6825. Fax filing by a person without a lawyer must use the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Second Wednesday of every month, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call 308-284-3693 before traveling. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding; 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 Arthur County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | No Arthur County local probate packet or local cover sheet is available from the court page. Use Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms and the fax cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| E-filing | A Nebraska attorney must file electronically (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). A person filing without a lawyer may use in-person filing during the monthly window, mail, or fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Optional non-attorney electronic filing registration depends on Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 and should be confirmed with the clerk before relying on it. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search through Nebraska.gov, running on the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE case management system at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general search for a list of cases is free; viewing a case's 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 a courthouse kiosk or law library. |
| Remote appearance | Nebraska law allows a county court to hear all nonevidentiary hearings, and any evidentiary hearing the court approves with all appearing parties' stipulation, by telephone or videoconference in a way that preserves an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Arthur County is in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, whose remote hearing rule requires coordination with the court at least 5 days ahead, with exhibits provided at least 5 days ahead. |
| County judge district | Arthur County is in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/arthur-county-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path, list the decedent's assets, debts, account titles, beneficiary designations, vehicle titles, and any Nebraska real property. Arthur County's public counter is open only two hours a month, so a complete asset picture helps you decide whether you need Letters, whether an affidavit route may work, and whether mail or fax is the practical way to start estate settlement.
Sunset's estate settlement process can search more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, organize what you find, and help you decide what has to go to the Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court in Ogallala, and what may pass outside a court case.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Arthur County is filed with the clerk of the Arthur County Court, whose published address is Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. The town of Arthur is the county seat, but the Arthur County Court is housed at the Keith County Court building in Ogallala under this c/o arrangement.
Arthur County sits in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, which is how county judges and the county court's local rules are assigned; the case itself remains an Arthur County case (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). The clerk of the Arthur County Court is an office held by a clerk magistrate, and one clerk magistrate may serve more than one county (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507).
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). Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county of the decedent's domicile, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Nebraska, any county where the decedent's property was located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the track. Informal probate uses an application delivered to the clerk of the Arthur County Court for action by the registrar, whose acts are performed by a county judge or by a person designated by written court order (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). Formal probate uses a petition to the court with notice to interested persons.
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of heirs and devisees, asset information, debts, and any Nebraska real property information before filing.
- File with the clerk of the Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. In-person filing is limited to the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; a person filing without a lawyer may also mail the papers or fax them to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202, and email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
- Pay the filing fee. As of August 2026, an informal proceeding commenced and closed informally is $22, later petitions or applications in that informal proceeding are another $22, and formal probate uses the gross value schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125.
- Account for the earliest issuance rule. Informal probate cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- After appointment, the clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within thirty days after appointment (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483). Claims are barred two months after the date of first publication if notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485).
- Give Department of Health and Human Services notice when required for a decedent who was 55 or older or resided in a medical institution, because that notice is part of the creditor notice statute (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483).
- Obtain Letters. The court issues letters testamentary for a testate estate and letters of administration for an intestate estate; one certified copy of letters of appointment is included without charge in a formal case under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125(2).
- Administer the estate, prepare the inventory, address creditor claims, and handle the Nebraska inheritance tax. The Arthur County Court determines the inheritance tax, it is paid to the county, and it is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004, § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01).
- If a hearing is set and a telephone or video appearance is needed, coordinate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and the eleventh county judge district remote hearing rule at least 5 days before the hearing, with exhibits provided at least 5 days before the hearing.
- Distribute the estate and close the case. Nebraska uses a closing statement after administration is complete (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Arthur County
Arthur County does not provide a local probate packet or local probate cover sheet on the court page. Nebraska's statewide estate materials are partial: they include affidavit forms and several estate-related forms, but not a statewide form for the application or petition that opens an estate.
| Form or resource | Use |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022 | Used for personal property when the statutory conditions are met, including the $100,000 ceiling as of the current statute and the 30-day waiting period. It is presented to the holder of the property, not filed with the court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025 | Used for qualifying Nebraska real property. It is recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the real property is located, and its separate $100,000 ceiling is based on the assessment rolls for the year of death; the personal-property ceiling under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 is separate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required as the first page for a fax filing by a person without a lawyer under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| Flowchart for Informal Probate Filed with a Will | Nebraska Judicial Branch guidance for testate, uncontested informal probate only; it does not cover cases with no will, a contested will, or contested distribution, according to the Nebraska Judicial Branch at nebraskajudicial.gov. |
Timeline
- Before filing, call 308-284-3693 because the Arthur County Court's public hours are limited to the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- If filing without a lawyer, consider mail or fax to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), especially if the next monthly in-person window is not soon enough.
- If informal probate is the chosen track, the registrar cannot issue the written statement until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415, § 30-2216).
- If a remote hearing is needed, coordinate with the court at least 5 days before the hearing under the eleventh county judge district remote hearing rule and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704.
Local nuance
Arthur County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Arthur County Court is housed in Ogallala | The filing address is Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. Keep the court name as Arthur County Court because the case remains an Arthur County matter. |
| Public hours are two hours each month | The counter schedule is the second Wednesday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call before traveling, and consider mail or fax if a deadline is close. |
| Shared clerk magistrate arrangement | The clerk of the Arthur County Court is an office held by a clerk magistrate, and Nebraska law allows a clerk magistrate to serve more than one county (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507). The same phone and fax also serve Keith County Court. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Arthur County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and account titles. Personal property may be handled by CC 15:40 if the $100,000 ceiling and other conditions are met as of the current statute, and the affidavit is presented to the holder of the property after the waiting period (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). Qualifying real property uses CC 15:41 and is recorded with the register of deeds where the land is located, with its separate ceiling under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 and the personal-property ceiling under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If Letters are needed, file with the Arthur County Court in Ogallala. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and whether estate settlement needs a court filing or an affidavit path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If personal property qualifies under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, CC 15:40 is presented to the holder and no trip to the courthouse is needed. If Letters are needed, mail the packet to Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court in Ogallala, or fax to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). If a hearing is set, ask early about the eleventh county judge district remote hearing rule and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset can organize the packet, track missing asset information, and help an out-of-state family coordinate estate settlement without relying on a two-hour monthly counter window. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually means the estate needs Letters from the Arthur County Court. A clerk magistrate may hear noncontested estate and inheritance tax matters, but not authorization to sell or mortgage real estate; those matters go to a county judge (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519, § 24-507). Plan around the monthly Arthur County Court schedule, creditor notice, and the inheritance tax determination due twelve months after death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004, § 77-2010). | Sunset can help gather property, debt, and account information, then connect the family with a local probate attorney for the real estate sale process. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Arthur County Court | Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. Phone 308-284-3693. Fax 308-284-6825. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. Hours are the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help. Includes court filing information, fax filing mechanics, the uniform cover sheet requirement under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), and the rule that email filings are not allowed. |
| Estates section and Additional Information: Estates | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates. Includes estate information, the affidavit paths, and the Judicial Branch statement that the law allows self-representation but filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. |
| Affidavit forms CC 15:40 and CC 15:41 | CC 15:40 is the Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. CC 15:41 is the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 and is recorded with the register of deeds. |
| Statewide case search | https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi, the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE system. General list searches are free, case detail views are $2, and frequent users can open an annual $100 subscriber account. Courthouse kiosks and law libraries provide the same case information free. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine through legalaidofnebraska.org at 1.877.250.2016, Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central. ElderAccessLine is 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all 93 counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; estate administration is not among its published practice areas, and there are no walk-ins. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/. A free virtual civil legal advice clinic by email for qualifying users. Estates are not on its published topic list, and volunteer lawyers cannot represent anyone in court. |
| Limited Scope Representation | Information is available through nebraskajudicial.gov. This can let a family hire a lawyer for part of a case, such as reviewing an application or handling a hearing, without turning every estate settlement task over to counsel. |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require a personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the Nebraska Judicial Branch estates materials say the law allows self-representation, while also saying that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help and that the Self-Help Center cannot provide forms for every situation. In Arthur County, counsel is especially worth considering when the estate needs a custom application or petition, a real estate sale, a contested issue, a tax determination, or a remote hearing request around the two-hour monthly schedule; Limited Scope Representation information is available through nebraskajudicial.gov. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions, helps identify accounts, debts, insurance, retirement assets, and property, and turns a scattered estate into an organized starting point for Arthur County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps assemble the information a personal representative needs for the Nebraska county court process, including the court address, filing route, asset list, and next steps for affidavits, Letters, creditor notice, and closing.
Find a local probate attorney. When an Arthur County estate needs legal judgment, real estate authority, tax help, or a hearing strategy, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Nebraska county court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, and understand the local filing path without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for Arthur County?
File with the Arthur County Court, c/o Keith County Court, 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. Arthur County remains the venue if the decedent was domiciled there, even though the filing address is physically in Ogallala (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
What are the Arthur County Court hours?
The public office hours are the second Wednesday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call 308-284-3693 before traveling, and consider mail or fax if timing matters.
Can I file by fax or email in Arthur County?
A person filing without a lawyer may file by fax to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which applies until July 1, 2028 unless changed by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202).
How much does Arthur County probate cost?
As of August 2026, the statutory base is $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding; formal probate uses the gross value schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125, from $22 for estates of $1,000 or less to $1,500 for estates over $5,000,000. Confirm the current total with the clerk before filing.
Can I avoid an Arthur County probate filing with an affidavit?
Possibly. CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, is used for qualifying personal property after the waiting period and within the $100,000 ceiling as of the current statute, and it is presented to the holder of the property rather than filed with the court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, is recorded with the register of deeds where the land is located, with its own separate ceiling under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 and the personal-property ceiling under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax in an Arthur County estate?
Yes. Nebraska has an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Arthur 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. § 77-2004, § 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 attend an Arthur County hearing by phone or video?
Nebraska law allows a county court to use telephone or videoconference for all nonevidentiary hearings, and for evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, in a way that preserves an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Arthur County is in the eleventh county judge district, whose remote hearing rule requires coordination with the court at least 5 days ahead and exhibits at least 5 days ahead.
How do I look up an Arthur County probate case?
Use the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court case search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general list search is free, viewing a case's details is $2 through Nebraska.gov, and frequent users can open an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account; the same case information is free at a courthouse kiosk or law library.
Do I need a lawyer for Arthur County probate?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. In Arthur County, the limited monthly counter hours make complete paperwork, mail or fax filing, and early legal review especially important.
Shaped by the families we've helped
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.