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Buffalo County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Buffalo County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Buffalo County Court |
| Courthouse address | 1512 Central Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 520, Kearney, NE 68848 |
| Phone | 308-236-1228 |
| Fax | 308-236-1243 |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Buffalo County Court does not publish regular county court office hours. Call 308-236-1228 before traveling to file. |
| Filing fee | $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). The Judicial Branch court-costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists statewide informal counter totals of $44, or $45 for a testate filing. Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Buffalo County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Buffalo County publishes no county-specific estate forms or local probate cover sheet. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch forms and the uniform fax cover sheet when filing by fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| E-filing | Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). A person filing without a lawyer should use in-person filing, mail, or fax unless the clerk confirms that non-attorney registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 is open for the filing. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search through Nebraska.gov, running on the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE case management system: 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 any 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 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). The ninth county judge district protocol allows virtual meetings for non-testimonial proceedings at the judge's discretion; request participation at least 48 hours before the hearing and log in 5 minutes early. |
| County judge district | Buffalo County is in Nebraska's ninth county judge district with Hall County. The district assigns county judges and county court local rules; the estate filing still goes to the Buffalo County Court in Kearney (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/buffalo-county-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Buffalo County, list the decedent's assets, debts, title paperwork, beneficiaries, and any property located outside Nebraska. Estate settlement moves faster when you know whether the matter needs an informal application, a formal petition with notice, or an affidavit route for property that can pass outside a court case.
Sunset can help with the front-end inventory by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets. That asset picture helps you decide what to ask the Buffalo County Court for, what to send to a bank or transfer agent, and whether real estate work belongs at the Buffalo County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Buffalo County is filed with the clerk of the Buffalo County Court in Kearney. The court serves Buffalo County communities including Kearney, Gibbon, Ravenna, Elm Creek, Shelton, Amherst, Miller, Pleasanton, and Riverdale.
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).
Buffalo County is in Nebraska's ninth county judge district. A county judge district assigns county judges and county court local rules; it does not move a Buffalo County estate to another filing counter (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 county where the decedent had property (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening track. In informal probate, an application goes to the registrar; in formal probate, a petition goes to the court with notice to interested persons (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2209, § 30-2216).
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, addresses for heirs and devisees, a preliminary asset list, and information needed for Nebraska inheritance tax and creditor notice.
- File with the clerk of the Buffalo County Court at 1512 Central Avenue in Kearney, mail to P.O. Box 520, Kearney, NE 68848, or fax to 308-236-1243 with the uniform cover sheet required for fax filing by a non-attorney under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). Email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
- Pay the filing fee. The statutory base is $22 for a proceeding commenced and closed informally, with formal probate fees based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). The Judicial Branch court-costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists statewide informal counter totals of $44, or $45 for a testate filing.
- For informal probate, wait until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death before the registrar issues the written statement of informal probate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415). If the registrar declines the application, formal proceedings may still be available.
- If a hearing is set, ask early about the ninth county judge district virtual-meetings protocol. Non-testimonial virtual participation is at the judge's discretion, and requests should be made at least 48 hours before the hearing; statewide law also governs telephone and videoconference hearings (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704).
- 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 generally barred unless presented within two months after the first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485). Provide Department of Health and Human Services notice when required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483.
- Obtain Letters. Nebraska uses letters testamentary for a will and letters of administration when there is no will; one certified copy of letters of appointment is provided without charge in a formal probate fee (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- Administer the estate: collect assets, manage claims, prepare the inventory, address Nebraska inheritance tax, and keep records for beneficiaries. Nebraska inheritance tax is determined by the Buffalo County Court and is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
- Distribute property and close the estate when administration is complete. If a closing statement is used, follow Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Buffalo County
Use Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms where they match your situation. The statewide estate form set includes CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022, for the personal-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. That route applies after thirty days, and the personal property ceiling is $100,000, raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022.
The statewide set also includes CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025, for the real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. That affidavit is recorded with the register of deeds, not filed to open a county court estate. The real-property ceiling is $100,000, raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024.
The Nebraska Judicial Branch publishes a testate informal-probate flowchart for an uncontested estate with a will, and it publishes claim, notice, and affidavit forms in the CC 15 series. It does not publish a fill-in-the-blank application for informal probate or petition for formal probate that opens every estate. Buffalo County publishes no county-specific estate forms or local probate cover sheet.
If you file by fax as a non-attorney, place the uniform fax cover sheet first and follow Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A fax filing of more than 10 pages, not counting the cover sheet, requires approval from the clerk before sending.
Local nuance
Buffalo County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hours are not published for Buffalo County Court | Do not rely on hours posted for another county office. Call 308-236-1228 before going to the courthouse for an estate filing. |
| Kearney is the courthouse city | The Buffalo County Court is in the city of Kearney. Use the Buffalo County Court address and mailing address on this page for Buffalo County estate settlement. |
| Ninth district virtual-meetings protocol | Buffalo County shares the ninth county judge district protocol with Hall County. Requests for non-testimonial virtual participation should be made at least 48 hours before the hearing, and the statewide remote hearing statute still governs (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). |
| Real-property affidavits go to land records | CC 15:41 is recorded with the Buffalo County Register of Deeds at 1512 Central Avenue under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. It does not open a county court estate. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Buffalo County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming title to the home and the asset list. If court authority is needed, file the informal application or formal petition with the Buffalo County Court in Kearney. If a real-property affidavit fits, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Buffalo County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare an estate settlement plan before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If only personal property needs transfer, consider CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 after thirty days and within the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. If a court case is needed, mail the filing to P.O. Box 520 or fax to 308-236-1243 with the Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B) cover sheet. For a hearing, ask about the ninth district's 48-hour virtual-meeting request procedure under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset helps locate accounts, generate a filing packet, and coordinate with a Nebraska attorney when a remote filer needs local help. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale or title issue usually needs court attention beyond a simple affidavit. Nebraska law allows a clerk magistrate to hear some uncontested estate matters, but a clerk magistrate may not determine title to real estate or authorize the sale or mortgaging of real estate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507, § 24-519). Expect a county judge to handle that issue. | Sunset helps assemble assets and debts, prepare the court packet, and connect the family with a vetted attorney for the real-estate and inheritance tax pieces. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | Virtual self-help information, including filing mechanics, fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), and the rule that email filings are not allowed. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
| Estates self-help section | Estate process information, claims against estates, deposit of will information, affidavits, and the informal-probate flowchart for an uncontested estate with a will. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates |
| Additional information: estates | Nebraska Judicial Branch guidance stating that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help, while the law allows self-representation. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates |
| Master Forms List | Statewide forms including CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/forms |
| Buffalo County Court page | Buffalo County Court contact information, mailing address, fax, email, county judge district, and judges. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/buffalo-county-court |
| Buffalo County Register of Deeds | Land-records office for recording a real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. Phone: 308-236-1239. | https://buffalocounty.ne.gov/REGISTER-OF-DEEDS |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine 1.877.250.2016, Monday and Wednesday 8:30 am to 11:30 am, Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Central. ElderAccessLine 1.800.527.7249 serves people 60 and over in all 93 counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; published practice areas focus on family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and the organization takes no walk-ins. | https://legalaidofnebraska.org/how-we-help/ |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | A virtual clinic at ne.freelegalanswers.org where qualifying users may post civil legal questions for Nebraska volunteer attorneys. Published topics do not include estates, and volunteers cannot represent anyone in court. | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Limited Scope Representation | Information about hiring a lawyer for part of a case, through Nebraska Judicial Branch self-help materials. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require every personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the Judicial Branch's self-help materials say the law allows you to represent yourself. The same materials say that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help and that the Self-Help Center cannot supply forms for every situation. In Buffalo County, counsel is especially useful when no local opening form fits, a home must be sold, inheritance tax is disputed, a creditor claim is contested, or family members disagree. Limited Scope Representation through nebraskajudicial.gov can be a middle option, and Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families build the asset inventory needed for estate settlement, creditor decisions, tax planning, and the Buffalo County filing path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized packet you can review with a Nebraska attorney or use to prepare the application, petition, affidavit, notices, and supporting documents for the Buffalo County Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs a lawyer, Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney who can advise on Nebraska county court procedure, inheritance tax, real estate, and contested issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement workload, gather documents, and decide what to do next without paying Sunset for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Buffalo County, Nebraska?
File with the clerk of the Buffalo County Court in Kearney. The courthouse address is 1512 Central Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 520, Kearney, NE 68848. Nebraska district courts do not hear probate; probate belongs in the county court, which has exclusive original jurisdiction of decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517).
What are the Buffalo County Court hours?
Buffalo County Court does not publish regular county court office hours for this filing counter. Call 308-236-1228 before traveling to file or to ask whether a same-day filing cutoff applies.
Can I file a Buffalo County probate case by fax or email?
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 uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028. Use Buffalo County Court fax 308-236-1243. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
How much does probate cost in Buffalo County?
The statutory base is $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, plus another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding. Formal probate fees are based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death and run from $22 to $1,500 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The Judicial Branch court-costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists statewide informal counter totals of $44, or $45 for a testate filing. Confirm the current total with the clerk before filing.
Can I avoid probate in Buffalo County with an affidavit?
Sometimes. CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, is used under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 for qualifying personal property after thirty days, with a $100,000 ceiling raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, is used under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 for qualifying Nebraska real property and is recorded with the register of deeds, with a $100,000 ceiling raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024. Neither affidavit opens a county court estate.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax in a Buffalo County estate?
Yes. Nebraska inheritance tax is a county tax, and the Buffalo County Court determines it. The tax is due twelve months after the date of death, and it is paid to the county (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 attend a Buffalo County probate hearing by phone or video?
Ask the court early. Nebraska law allows all nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). The ninth county judge district protocol says virtual meetings for non-testimonial proceedings are available at the judge's discretion, with the request made at least 48 hours before the hearing and login 5 minutes early.
How do I look up a Buffalo County probate case?
Use the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court search at 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 an annual $100 subscriber account. The same case information is free at any courthouse kiosk or law library.
Do I need to travel to Kearney to open a Buffalo County estate?
Not always. A person filing without a lawyer may mail the filing to P.O. Box 520, Kearney, NE 68848, or fax it to 308-236-1243 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). If a hearing is set, ask whether the ninth county judge district virtual-meetings protocol and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 allow remote participation for that hearing.
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.