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Chase County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Chase County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Chase County Court |
| Courthouse address | The court publishes P.O. Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033 as its address for filing and correspondence. Call 308-882-7519 before traveling because no street room for the filing counter is published for this court. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033 |
| Phone | 308-882-7519 |
| Fax | 308-882-7554. Fax filing by a non-attorney requires the uniform cover sheet and prepayment of statutory filing fees under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each subsequent 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 Chase County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | No Chase County probate packet or local cover sheet is posted by the county. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch forms that apply, and use the uniform fax cover sheet for fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| E-filing | Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. A person filing without a lawyer can file in person, by mail, or by fax with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which remains available to non-attorneys until July 1, 2028. Ask the clerk whether Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 registration is open before relying on electronic filing as a non-attorney. |
| 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. As of August 2026, 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 a county court to hear all nonevidentiary hearings, and any evidentiary hearing the court approves with the stipulation of all appearing parties, telephonically or by videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Chase County is in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, whose local Remote Hearing Rule requires the moving party to coordinate a remote hearing with the court at least 5 days ahead and provide exhibits to the court and all other parties at least 5 days ahead. |
| County judge district | District 11. Chase County sits in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, which assigns county judges and county court local rules; it does not move a Chase County estate filing away from Imperial (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/chase-county-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Chase County, make a practical inventory of what the decedent owned, what passed outside probate, and what debts or claims may exist. Nebraska estate settlement choices depend on the assets, liabilities, title, family structure, and whether there is a will.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, investments, and other property before deciding whether to open a county court estate or use a narrower affidavit route.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Chase County is filed with the clerk of the Chase County Court in Imperial. The clerk of the Chase County Court is an office held by a clerk magistrate (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).
Chase County sits in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district. A county judge district assigns county judges and county court local rules; it does not change where a Chase County estate is filed (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502, § 24-503).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is in the county where the decedent had domicile at death, or, for a non-Nebraska domiciliary, in a Nebraska county where the decedent's property was located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct opening track. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar, whose acts are performed by a county judge or by a person designated by written court order, and the filing is delivered to the clerk of the county court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). Formal probate uses a petition to the court and requires notice.
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of interested persons, asset information, and known liabilities before you prepare the application or petition.
- Deliver the application or petition to the clerk of the Chase County Court at P.O. Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033, or call 308-882-7519 before using any in-person filing counter. A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202; a non-attorney filer can file in person, by mail, or by fax with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B).
- Pay the statutory filing fee. As of August 2026, an informal proceeding commenced and closed informally is $22, with another $22 for each later petition or application in the same informal proceeding; formal probate fees are based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death and can reach $1,500 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- For informal probate, account for the waiting period. The registrar may issue the written statement of informal probate only after at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- After appointment of a personal representative, the clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with the first publication within thirty days after appointment; claims are barred unless presented within two months after the first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485). The party or attorney must handle mailing and proof of the published notice as required by statute.
- Give Department of Health and Human Services notice if the decedent was 55 or older or resided in a medical institution; a notice that does not follow the required manner is void (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483).
- Request any hearing or remote hearing procedure through the court. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, eligible county court hearings may be held by telephone or videoconference, and District 11's local rule requires remote hearings and exhibits to be coordinated at least 5 days ahead.
- Once appointed, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration. As of August 2026, the court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge when formal fees are charged under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125(2).
- Administer the estate, inventory assets, address claims, determine whether Nebraska inheritance tax must be determined in the Chase County Court, and plan for the tax due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
- Distribute property and close the estate using the proper Nebraska closing procedure. Nebraska allows a closing statement in appropriate cases under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Chase County
The Nebraska Judicial Branch publishes some estate forms, but not a complete opening packet for every estate. The Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, form CC 15:40, was revised in July 2022 and is tied to the personal property affidavit procedure under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. As of August 2026, that procedure uses a $100,000 ceiling and requires the statutory conditions in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125.
The Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, form CC 15:41, was revised in October 2025 and is tied to the real property affidavit procedure under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. A real property affidavit is recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the land is located, not with the county court, and the statewide personal property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 is a separate route.
The uniform fax cover sheet is required as the first page of a non-attorney fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The Nebraska Judicial Branch also provides an informal-probate flowchart at nebraskajudicial.gov for a testate, uncontested case; the flowchart does not cover a case with no will, a contested will, or a contested estate distribution.
Chase County does not post a local probate packet, local probate cover sheet, or local estate fee sheet. The Judicial Branch does not publish a statewide form for the application for informal probate, the petition for formal probate, Letters, or an inventory, and the clerk of the Chase County Court cannot prepare those filings for you.
Local nuance
Chase County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Address for the court | The Chase County Court publishes P.O. Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033 as its address. Because no street room is published for the clerk's filing counter, call 308-882-7519 before going in person. |
| Office hours | The clerk's office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Do not assume a 5:00 p.m. closing time. |
| District 11 remote hearing rule | For a remote hearing under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, District 11's local rule requires the moving party to coordinate the remote hearing at least 5 days ahead and provide exhibits to the court and all other parties at least 5 days ahead. |
| Real property affidavit recording | If a qualifying real property affidavit is used, it is recorded with Chase County's ex officio Register of Deeds office at P.O. Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033, phone 308-882-7500, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. That is a different office from the Chase County Court. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Chase County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First identify how the home is titled and what assets, if any, remain in the decedent's name alone. If a county court estate is needed, file in the Chase County Court if venue is proper under the domicile rule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410. Nebraska inheritance tax still needs attention because the county court determines it and the due date is tied to the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004). | Sunset helps with estate settlement by finding accounts, organizing title and debt information, and generating a filing packet for attorney review or self-represented filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with an affidavit-level estate | If the assets are personal property only and the statutory conditions are met, the Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate may be presented to the holder of the property instead of opening a county court estate. As of August 2026, the personal property ceiling is $100,000 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If court filing is needed, contact the Chase County Court about mail or non-attorney fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). | Sunset can help identify institutions, prepare the asset list, and determine whether the affidavit route or a county court estate settlement path is more practical. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires careful review of title, authority, creditor claims, and inheritance tax. If the estate needs a personal representative, file the application or petition with the Chase County Court and expect court involvement before sale authority or title issues are resolved. | Sunset can gather asset information, create the probate packet, and connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney for real estate and court authority questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or link |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | Virtual self-help information for Nebraska courts, including the rules that non-attorneys may file in person, by mail, or by fax with the required cover sheet, and that email filings are not allowed. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
| Estates section | Information on estate processes, claims against estates, deposit of a will, the informal-probate flowchart, affidavit routes, and motor vehicle title transfer. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates |
| Additional information: Estates | Explains that estate filing often requires an attorney's help, while Nebraska law allows self-representation. It also describes when a family may be able to proceed without opening a county court estate. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates |
| Nebraska Judicial Branch forms | Search for CC 15 estate 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 |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine 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 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all Nebraska counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; the listed practice areas are 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 free online civil legal question service. Its listed topics do not include estates, and volunteer attorneys cannot represent anyone in court. | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Limited Scope Representation | Nebraska information about hiring a lawyer for part of a case through the Judicial Branch's self-help materials. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, investments, and other assets that may affect the Chase County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Nebraska probate filings, including interested-person details, asset lists, and the documents your attorney or the court filing process may require.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal review, a real estate sale, inheritance tax work, or formal probate with notice, Sunset can connect you with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and decide whether a self-represented filing, an affidavit route, or attorney help is the right path.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Chase County?
File Chase County probate matters with the clerk of the Chase County Court in Imperial. The court publishes P.O. Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033 as its address, and you should call 308-882-7519 before traveling because no street room for the filing counter is published.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Chase County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help because estates differ in assets, debts, family structure, and tax issues. Sunset can connect you with a vetted attorney if the estate settlement needs legal help.
How much does probate cost in Chase County?
As of August 2026, the statutory base fee 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 is charged by a statutory schedule based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death and can reach $1,500 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). Call the clerk of the Chase County Court to confirm the amount and payment method before filing.
Can I use an affidavit instead of opening a Chase County case?
Possibly. As of August 2026, the Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate can be used for qualifying personal property when the statutory conditions are met, including the $100,000 ceiling and the required waiting period under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. A separate real property affidavit is recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, not filed with the county court.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax, and who handles it for a Chase County estate?
Yes. Nebraska has an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax. The Chase 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 a Chase County probate hearing?
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). Chase County is in District 11, whose local Remote Hearing Rule requires the moving party to coordinate a remote hearing at least 5 days ahead and provide exhibits at least 5 days ahead. Ask the clerk how to request it for your hearing.
Can I file by fax or email in Chase County?
A non-attorney may use fax filing until July 1, 2028, with the uniform cover sheet and prepayment of statutory filing fees under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212. Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202.
How do I look up a Chase County probate case?
Use Nebraska.gov's JUSTICE trial court case search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. As of August 2026, a general list search 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 courthouse kiosks and law libraries.
What are the clerk's hours for the Chase County Court?
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 308-882-7519 before traveling, especially if you need to file near closing time.
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.