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Dodge County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Dodge County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Dodge County Court |
| Courthouse address | Dodge County Judicial Center, 3rd Floor, 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025 |
| Mailing address | Dodge County Court, 428 North Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Fremont, NE 68025 |
| Phone | 402-727-2779, the court's line for probate, adoption and condemnation matters |
| Fax | 402-727-2762 |
| [email protected], for questions only. Nebraska Supreme Court rules do not allow email filings in court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Filing fee | 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. 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 filing fees and court costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists an informal opening total of $44, or $45 when testate. Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Dodge County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Dodge County does not publish a county-specific probate form or cover sheet. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms that apply, including CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, and the uniform fax cover sheet required for fax filing 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 file in person, by mail, or by fax with the required cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which every Nebraska court must accept from non-attorneys until July 1, 2028. Ask the clerk whether optional non-attorney electronic filing registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 is available before relying on it. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search is 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 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). Dodge County is in the sixth county judge district. District 6 Rule 6.7 says video and telephone participation for nontestimonial hearings is at the county judge's sole discretion, requests go to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing, and remote participants must log in 5 minutes early. |
| County judge district | Dodge County is in Nebraska's sixth county judge district with Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Thurston and Washington Counties. The district assigns county judges and local rules; the Dodge County estate filing stays at the Dodge County Court in Fremont (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/dodge-county-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Dodge County probate path, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, titled property, account holders, beneficiaries, and possible creditors. Nebraska procedure changes depending on whether an estate needs a personal representative, whether real estate must be transferred, whether the matter is informal or formal, and whether the Nebraska inheritance tax has to be determined by the Dodge County Court.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizes the information a family needs to decide whether to prepare a county court filing, use an affidavit route, or ask for legal help.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Dodge County is filed with the clerk of the Dodge County Court at the Dodge County Judicial Center in Fremont. Dodge County includes Fremont, North Bend, Hooper, Scribner, Dodge, Inglewood, Nickerson, Snyder, Uehling and Winslow.
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). There is a county court in and for each county, located at the county seat (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502).
Dodge County sits in Nebraska's sixth county judge district, which is how county judges and county court local rules are assigned. The district does not move the filing counter; a Dodge County case is filed in Fremont (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 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 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening track. For informal probate, prepare an application to the registrar; the registrar's acts are performed by a county judge or by a person designated by the court in a written order, and the application is delivered to the clerk of the county court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). For formal probate, prepare a petition to the court with notice to interested persons.
- Gather the death certificate, will and asset information. If there is a will, bring the original will or the authenticated copy required for the filing. Informal probate cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- File with the Dodge County Court in Fremont. Deliver the application or petition to the Dodge County Court, Dodge County Judicial Center, 3rd Floor, 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025. A self-represented filer may file in person, by mail, or by fax to 402-727-2762 with the uniform cover sheet required by 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 filing fee. The statutory base is $22 for a proceeding commenced and closed informally, with 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 the schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The Judicial Branch filing fees and court costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists an informal opening total of $44, or $45 when testate.
- Complete notice after appointment. After appointment of a personal representative, 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 date of first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485). Notice to the Department of Health and Human Services is required in the situations covered by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483.
- Schedule any hearing and request video or telephone participation early. Not every filing is handled the same way. Nebraska law allows telephone or videoconference handling for nonevidentiary hearings and for approved evidentiary hearings with the required stipulation (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). In the sixth county judge district, Rule 6.7 requires a request to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing, and each remote participant must log in 5 minutes early.
- Obtain Letters. When the court appoints a personal representative, the court issues letters testamentary for a will or letters of administration when there is no will. One certified copy of letters of appointment is provided without charge in a formal probate fee case (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- Administer, tax, distribute and close. The personal representative gathers assets, handles claims, prepares the inventory, seeks the Nebraska inheritance tax determination when required, distributes property, and closes the estate. The Nebraska inheritance tax is determined by the Dodge County Court and is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004). Nebraska also provides for a closing statement when the estate is ready to close (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Dodge County
Dodge County does not publish a county-specific probate form, local cover sheet, or local fee sheet for estates. The Dodge County Court still uses Nebraska county court procedure, and filings go to the clerk of the Dodge County Court in Fremont.
| Form or resource | Use in Dodge County |
|---|---|
| Application or petition to open an estate | The Nebraska Judicial Branch does not provide a fill-in application for informal probate or a fill-in petition for formal probate. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar, and formal probate uses a petition with notice. Bring a prepared filing to the Dodge County Court. |
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022 | Use only when the personal-property affidavit route applies. The $100,000 personal-property ceiling was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022, and the statute requires the conditions in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025 | Use only when the real-property affidavit route applies. It is recorded with the Dodge County Register of Deeds at 435 North Park Avenue in Fremont, not with the county court. The $100,000 real-property ceiling was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024, and the recording route is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | A non-attorney who files by fax must use the uniform cover sheet. Fax filing by non-attorneys is accepted until July 1, 2028 under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The Dodge County Court fax number is 402-727-2762. |
| Flowchart for informal probate filed with a will | The Nebraska Judicial Branch posts a nebraskajudicial.gov flowchart for an uncontested informal probate with a will. It does not cover cases with no will, a contested will, or contested distribution. |
Timeline
- Before filing: decide whether the matter is informal or formal and gather the death certificate, will, asset list and interested-person information.
- At filing: file at the Dodge County Court on the 3rd floor of the Dodge County Judicial Center in Fremont, or send a permitted fax filing to 402-727-2762 with the required cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B).
- For informal probate: the registrar cannot issue the written statement until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415, § 30-2216).
- For a video or telephone request: District 6 Rule 6.7 requires the request to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing, and each remote participant must log in 5 minutes early. The statewide authority for telephone or videoconference hearings is Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704.
- After appointment: the clerk publishes notice to creditors within thirty days after appointment, and the two-month claims bar runs from the date of first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485).
- Tax timing: the Nebraska inheritance tax is due twelve months after the date of death, and the county court determines it when required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
Local nuance
Dodge County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Dedicated probate phone line | The Dodge County Court lists 402-727-2779 for probate, adoption and condemnation matters. Use that number for estate filing questions instead of the court's general line. |
| 3rd-floor filing location | Estate filings go to the Dodge County Court at the Dodge County Judicial Center, 3rd Floor, 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025. |
| Single fax for court divisions | The Dodge County Court lists 402-727-2762 as the fax number. A non-attorney fax filing must include the uniform cover sheet required by Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| Register of deeds for real-property affidavits | The Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, CC 15:41, is recorded with the Dodge County Register of Deeds at 435 North Park Avenue, Fremont, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Dodge County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking title, beneficiary designations and accounts. If no court authority is needed, a full estate filing may not be necessary. If a personal representative is needed, file at the Dodge County Court in Fremont. If a qualifying real-property affidavit is needed, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Dodge County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and beneficiary designations so the surviving spouse can choose the correct estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Call the Dodge County Court probate line, 402-727-2779, before mailing anything. If the personal-property affidavit route applies, CC 15:40 is presented to the holder of the property and is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If a county court filing is needed, a self-represented filer may file by mail or by fax to 402-727-2762 with the required cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). For a hearing, District 6 Rule 6.7 requires a video or telephone request at least 48 hours in advance, subject to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset can assemble institution information, generate an estate settlement packet, and help the family decide whether to prepare an affidavit, a court filing, or both. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires careful review because Nebraska limits what a clerk magistrate may hear in uncontested estate matters. A clerk magistrate may not hear a determination of title to real estate or an authorization to sell or mortgage real estate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519, § 24-507). File the estate matter with the Dodge County Court, and expect a county judge to handle real-estate title or sale authority issues. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, mortgage and title information, creditor information and attorney handoff needed for an estate settlement involving a home sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Dodge County Court | Call 402-727-2779 for probate, adoption and condemnation matters. The court is at the Dodge County Judicial Center, 3rd Floor, 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025. Email is for questions, not filings. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | The nebraskajudicial.gov self-help site explains court filing options, including fax filing for non-attorneys under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B) and the rule that email filings are not allowed. |
| Estates self-help section | The nebraskajudicial.gov estates section explains Nebraska estate processes, claims, deposit of wills, the informal-probate flowchart, and affidavit options. |
| Master forms list | The nebraskajudicial.gov forms list includes CC 15:40 for personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and CC 15:41 for real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Use the required cover sheet for any non-attorney fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| Statewide case search | Use Nebraska.gov JUSTICE case search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. General list searches are free, viewing case details is $2, and frequent users can open an annual $100 subscriber account. |
| Limited Scope Representation | Nebraska's nebraskajudicial.gov self-help materials describe Limited Scope Representation, which can let a lawyer help with part of a case rather than every task. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Legal Aid of Nebraska offers the statewide AccessLine through legalaidofnebraska.org at 1.877.250.2016, 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, and the ElderAccessLine at 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all 93 counties. Screening depends on household income, assets and legal issue; its published work areas focus on family, debt, housing and benefits rather than estate administration. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | Nebraska Free Legal Answers at ne.freelegalanswers.org is a virtual civil legal advice clinic. Its published topic list does not include estates, and volunteer lawyers answer questions online but do not represent users in court. |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require a 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 Dodge County, counsel is especially useful when the opening document must be drafted from scratch, heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor claims are unclear, or the Nebraska inheritance tax must be determined. Limited Scope Representation through nebraskajudicial.gov may be a middle option, and Legal Aid of Nebraska screens by income, assets and legal issue through legalaidofnebraska.org and 1.877.250.2016. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, investments and other assets that can determine whether a Dodge County estate settlement needs a court filing, an affidavit, or both.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset list, creditor information and local court details needed to prepare for filing at the Dodge County Court in Fremont.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs a formal petition, a home sale, contested issues, or inheritance tax work, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Nebraska probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, gather documents and move from confusion to a clear next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Dodge County?
File with the Dodge County Court at the Dodge County Judicial Center, 3rd Floor, 428 North Broad Street, Fremont, NE 68025. 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).
What phone number should I use for a Dodge County estate filing?
Use 402-727-2779. The Dodge County Court lists that number for probate, adoption and condemnation matters.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Dodge County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Judicial Branch explains that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. Dodge County does not publish a county-specific application or petition form for opening an estate, so legal help often makes sense for drafting, real estate, disputes, creditor issues and inheritance tax questions.
How much does it cost to file in Dodge County Court?
The statutory base is $22 for a proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding. Formal probate is charged by the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death, from $22 to $1,500 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). The Judicial Branch filing fees and court costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists an informal opening total of $44, or $45 when testate. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before filing.
Can I use an affidavit instead of opening a Dodge County estate?
Sometimes. The Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, CC 15:40, uses the personal-property route in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125; the $100,000 ceiling was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. The Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, CC 15:41, is recorded with the Dodge County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129; that $100,000 ceiling was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024. The two routes have separate requirements.
Where do I record a real-property affidavit in Dodge County?
Record CC 15:41 with the Dodge County Register of Deeds at 435 North Park Avenue, Fremont, NE 68025, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. Probate itself is still handled by the Dodge County Court, not by the register of deeds.
Can I participate in a Dodge County probate hearing by phone or video?
Possibly, if the court allows it. Nebraska law permits nonevidentiary hearings, and approved evidentiary hearings with the required stipulation, by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). District 6 Rule 6.7 requires a request to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing, and remote participants must log in 5 minutes early.
Can I send a Dodge County probate filing by fax or email?
A self-represented filer may send a permitted fax filing to 402-727-2762 with the uniform cover sheet required by Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which applies to non-attorney fax filings until July 1, 2028. Nebraska attorneys must file electronically under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email filings are not allowed under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212.
How do I look up a Dodge County probate case?
Use the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general list search is 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.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax in Dodge County?
Yes. Nebraska is one of the few states with an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Dodge 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).
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.