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Fillmore County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Fillmore County Court, in Nebraska's tenth county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Courthouse address | 900 G Street, 2nd Floor, Geneva, NE 68361. |
| Mailing address | Fillmore County Court, P.O. Box 66, Geneva, NE 68361. |
| Phone | 402-759-3514. |
| Fax | 402-759-4440. A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| [email protected], for questions, not filings. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska courts (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Court office hours are 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Courthouse building hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, so call 402-759-3514 before arriving late in the afternoon. Regular court days are Wednesdays of each month. |
| 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; statewide fee schedule effective July 1, 2026). Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Fillmore County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | No Fillmore County-specific probate packet is posted. Use the statewide estate forms, the statewide informal-probate flowchart on nebraskajudicial.gov, and the fax cover sheet required by 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 under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 addresses optional non-attorney e-filing registration, so confirm with the clerk before relying on that route. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search runs through Nebraska.gov on the JUSTICE system 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 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 all nonevidentiary hearings, and any evidentiary hearing approved by the court with the stipulation of all parties who have appeared, to be heard by telephone or videoconference in a manner that preserves an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Fillmore County's tenth county judge district rules add that parties must contact the clerk magistrate at least 5 days before the hearing for remote-technology instructions. |
| County judge district | Fillmore County is in Nebraska's tenth county judge district, which assigns county judges and county court local rules; it does not move the filing counter out of Geneva (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/fillmore-county-court and https://fillmorecountyne.gov/county-court/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Fillmore County probate path, make a practical inventory of the accounts, vehicles, land, debts, taxes and beneficiary designations. The right filing depends on what needs legal authority, what can transfer outside the court process, and whether anyone is likely to object.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts by finding assets and liabilities, including account discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, so the family can see whether it needs Letters from the Fillmore County Court, a no-court affidavit route, or attorney help before papers are filed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Fillmore County is filed with the clerk of the Fillmore County Court at 900 G Street, 2nd Floor, Geneva, NE 68361. Mail filings to Fillmore County Court, P.O. Box 66, Geneva, NE 68361. Geneva is the county seat, and Fillmore County includes Geneva, Fairmont, Shickley, Exeter, Milligan, Grafton and Strang.
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). Nebraska has a county court in and for each county, located at the county seat (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502).
Fillmore County is in Nebraska's tenth county judge district. A county judge district is how county judges and county court local rules are assigned; it is not a separate filing place and it does not send a Fillmore County estate outside Geneva (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's property was located. Later proceedings stay where the first proceeding occurred unless the statute allows transfer (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Decide whether the estate is on the informal track or the formal track. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar; in an informal proceeding the registrar's acts are performed by a county judge or a person designated by the court in a written order, and the application is delivered to the clerk of the Fillmore County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). Formal probate uses a petition to the court with notice.
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, names and addresses of interested persons, a first list of assets and liabilities, and any information needed for Nebraska inheritance tax under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004.
- Deliver the application or petition to the clerk of the Fillmore County Court at 900 G Street, 2nd Floor, Geneva, NE 68361, by mail to P.O. Box 66, Geneva, NE 68361, or, if filing without a lawyer, by fax to 402-759-4440 with the uniform cover sheet required by Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202.
- Pay the filing fee. The $22 informal base fee and the formal fee schedule keyed to gross value are set by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125, with the statewide fee schedule effective July 1, 2026. Confirm the exact counter amount with the clerk before sending payment.
- Wait for the court process to fit the track. Informal probate cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415). If a formal matter is set for hearing, Fillmore County's regular court days are Wednesdays of each month, but call 402-759-3514 for the timing in your case.
- After appointment, 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 covered by that notice are barred two months after the first publication unless the statute allows more time (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 that notice is part of the creditor-notice statute (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483).
- Obtain Letters. Nebraska's authority documents are letters testamentary for a will and letters of administration when there is no will, and the court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125(2).
- Administer the estate, file the inventory, determine and pay the Nebraska inheritance tax due twelve months after the date of death, distribute property, and close the estate with a closing statement when the estate is ready to close (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Fillmore County
For Fillmore County, the local court page does not post a county-specific probate packet or local probate cover sheet. The clerk of the Fillmore County Court accepts filings and keeps the court record, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch does not provide a statewide application or petition form to open every type of estate.
| Form or resource | Use in Fillmore County |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022 | Used for the personal-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. The personal-property ceiling is $100,000, raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022, and the affidavit is presented to whoever holds the property rather than opened as a court case. |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025 | Used for the real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. The separate real-property ceiling is $100,000, raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024, and the affidavit is recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the land is located. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required as the first page when a person filing without a lawyer sends a court document by fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The Fillmore County Court fax number is 402-759-4440. |
| Flowchart for Informal Probate Filed with a Will | A nebraskajudicial.gov flowchart for uncontested testate informal probate. It does not cover a case with no will, a contested will, or contested distribution. |
Timeline
- Before filing, confirm whether you are visiting during court office hours. The court office lists 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, while courthouse building hours list 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
- For scheduling, note that Fillmore County lists regular court days as Wednesdays of each month. That is a general county court scheduling fact, not a promise that every probate hearing will be on a Wednesday.
- If informal probate is requested, the registrar cannot issue the written statement until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216).
- If a remote hearing is requested, Nebraska law allows a qualifying county court hearing by telephone or videoconference under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, and the tenth county judge district rule requires parties to contact the clerk magistrate at least 5 days before the hearing for instructions.
- After appointment of a personal representative, notice to creditors is published by the clerk, and claims covered by the notice are barred two months after first publication under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485.
Local nuance
Fillmore County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Office hours and building hours do not match at the end of the day | The court office lists a 5:00 pm closing time, while courthouse building hours list 4:30 pm. Call 402-759-3514 before planning an afternoon filing close to closing time. |
| Regular court days are Wednesdays | Fillmore County lists regular court days as Wednesdays of each month. If a probate hearing is set, confirm the actual hearing date and time with the clerk because the posted court day is not probate-specific. |
| Real-property affidavits go to the Fillmore County Register of Deeds | The Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, not opened as a probate filing. The Fillmore County Register of Deeds is in the same building at 900 G Street, Geneva, with phone 402-759-4931 and hours 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, open through lunch. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with title. If the home or account passes outside probate, court authority may not be needed for that asset. Personal property may fit CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 if thirty days have elapsed, the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022, is met, and no appointment is pending or granted. If Nebraska real property must transfer by affidavit, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Fillmore County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, using the separate $100,000 real-property ceiling raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024. | Sunset identifies accounts, helps sort jointly owned and individually owned assets, and prepares the family for the right estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If only personal property must be collected and the Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 affidavit fits, the affidavit is presented to the holder of the property and no trip to Geneva is needed for that transfer. If Letters are needed, send the filing by mail to P.O. Box 66, Geneva, NE 68361, or by fax to 402-759-4440 with the cover sheet required by Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). If a hearing is set, ask about the tenth county judge district remote hearing procedure under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset organizes the asset list, generates a probate packet when a court filing is needed, and helps coordinate local attorney review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | An affidavit does not itself authorize a sale of the home. Open the estate with the clerk of the Fillmore County Court. Because the office is held by a clerk magistrate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507, and a clerk magistrate may not authorize the sale or mortgage of real estate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519, that issue goes to a county judge. The Fillmore County Court also determines the Nebraska inheritance tax, due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004). | Sunset helps collect property records, creditor information and family details, then connects the family with a vetted local probate attorney for the sale-authority step. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Fillmore County Court | 900 G Street, 2nd Floor, Geneva, NE 68361. Mail: P.O. Box 66, Geneva, NE 68361. Phone 402-759-3514. Fax 402-759-4440. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. Office hours are 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, with regular court days on Wednesdays of each month. |
| Fillmore County Register of Deeds | 900 G Street, Geneva, NE 68361. Phone 402-759-4931. Use this office to record the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help. Use it for Nebraska self-help information, fax filing mechanics, the uniform cover sheet, 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. Use these pages for the estate process overview, the two affidavit routes, and the Judicial Branch's self-representation guidance. |
| Statewide affidavit forms | 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. |
| Statewide case search | https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. Nebraska.gov provides JUSTICE trial court case search. General list searches have no charge; viewing case details is $2, and frequent users can use an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account. The same information is free at a courthouse kiosk or law library. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Call the statewide AccessLine at 1.877.250.2016 through legalaidofnebraska.org during its posted intake hours, or the ElderAccessLine at 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all 93 Nebraska counties. Screening depends on household income, assets and legal issue; estate administration is not among its published practice areas. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/. A free virtual clinic for qualifying users to ask a Nebraska-licensed volunteer attorney a civil legal question by email. Estates are not on its published topic list, and volunteers cannot represent anyone in court. |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require a personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the 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 the Self-Help Center cannot provide forms for every situation. In Fillmore County, counsel is especially useful if the home must be sold, a will or title issue is disputed, inheritance tax questions are difficult, or you need Limited Scope Representation through nebraskajudicial.gov for part of the case. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build the asset and liability picture before filing in Fillmore County, including financial-account discovery across more than 2,300 institutions. That makes estate settlement decisions more concrete before you choose an affidavit, informal probate, or formal probate path.
Generate the probate packet. When a Fillmore County Court filing is needed, Sunset organizes the information families need for the application or petition, interested-person details, asset lists, and supporting documents. The goal is a cleaner handoff to the clerk, the court, or counsel.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs a lawyer, Sunset connects the family with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Nebraska county court practice, Letters, creditor notice, inheritance tax, and real-estate sale issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement workflow, gather documents, and decide next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Fillmore County?
File with the clerk of the Fillmore County Court at 900 G Street, 2nd Floor, Geneva, NE 68361, or mail the filing to P.O. Box 66, Geneva, NE 68361. 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 Fillmore County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, and the Judicial Branch says so in its estate materials. The same materials say filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help because each estate is different. Court employees can answer procedural questions, but they cannot give legal advice.
How much does it cost to open probate in Fillmore County?
The base fee is statutory, not set locally. A probate proceeding commenced and closed informally is $22, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding; formal probate uses a gross-value schedule from $22 to $1,500 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125; statewide fee schedule effective July 1, 2026). Confirm the current counter amount before sending payment.
Can I use an affidavit instead of opening a Fillmore County Court case?
Sometimes. Personal property may be transferred with CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 if thirty days have elapsed, the statutory conditions are met, and the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022, is not exceeded. Nebraska real property has a separate CC 15:41 route under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, using a separate $100,000 ceiling 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 in Fillmore County, and who gets paid?
Yes. Nebraska has an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Fillmore 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; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 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 Fillmore County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court allows it. Nebraska law permits all nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with the stipulation of all appearing parties, to be heard by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Fillmore County's tenth county judge district remote hearing rule requires parties to contact the clerk magistrate at least 5 days before the hearing for instructions.
Can I send a filing by fax or email in Fillmore County?
A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing until July 1, 2028, if the filing includes the uniform cover sheet required by Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Use fax number 402-759-4440. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska courts (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212), so the clerk's email is for questions only.
How do I look up a Fillmore 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, and frequent users can use an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account. The same case information is free at a courthouse kiosk or law library.
What are the Fillmore County Court hours?
The court office lists 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The courthouse building lists 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Because those closing times differ, call 402-759-3514 before going late in the afternoon.
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.