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Furnas County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Furnas County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Furnas County Court |
| Courthouse address | 912 R Street, Beaver City, NE 68926 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 373, Beaver City, NE 68926 |
| Phone | 308-268-4025 |
| Fax | 308-268-2345. 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 court cases. | |
| Hours | Judicial Branch listing: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Furnas County listing: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, closed weekends and holidays. Call 308-268-4025 before travelling. |
| Filing fee | $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding, under the current Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. 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, under the current Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The Judicial Branch filing fees and court costs schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists informal probate counter totals of $44, or $45 when a will is proved. Confirm the amount with the clerk of the Furnas County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Furnas County does not publish a local probate packet. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch forms and instructions that apply to your route. |
| 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 uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Ask the clerk whether non-attorney registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 is open before relying on it. |
| 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 listed in August 2026, a general search for a list of cases is free, viewing case details is $2 through Nebraska.gov, document images carry no extra charge, a one-time party-name search is $17 for up to 30 records, 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. |
| Remote appearance | Nebraska law allows all nonevidentiary hearings, and any evidentiary hearing the county court approves with all appearing parties' stipulation, by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Furnas County is in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, whose Remote Hearing Rules require the moving party to coordinate with the court and set up the remote hearing at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies. |
| County judge district | Eleventh county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | Furnas County Court: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/furnas-county-court. Furnas County government: https://furnascounty.ne.gov/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate route in Furnas County, identify the decedent's assets, debts, account titles, beneficiary designations, vehicle titles, and real property. Nebraska estate settlement often turns on whether you need Letters from the Furnas County Court, whether an affidavit route fits, and whether the Furnas County Register of Deeds must be involved for real property.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families locate accounts and policies before they prepare a probate filing. That asset picture makes the Furnas County filing, notice, inheritance tax, and closing steps more accurate from the start.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Furnas County is filed with the clerk of the Furnas County Court at the courthouse in Beaver City, 912 R Street, Beaver City, NE 68926, with mailing to P.O. Box 373, Beaver City, NE 68926. 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).
Furnas County sits in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district. A county judge district is how county judges and the county court's local rules are assigned; it does not move the estate filing counter away from Furnas County's own courthouse (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 Nebraska county where the decedent had property at death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening track. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar, while formal probate uses a petition to the court with notice. In an informal proceeding, 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 Furnas County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216).
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, creditor information, and the names and addresses of interested persons. Informal probate cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- Deliver the application or petition to the clerk of the Furnas County Court at 912 R Street, Beaver City, NE 68926, mail it to P.O. Box 373, Beaver City, NE 68926, or, if filing without a lawyer, fax it to 308-268-2345 with the uniform cover sheet required for fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email filings are not allowed.
- Pay the current filing fee under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The base fee is $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with additional statutory charges for later petitions or applications in an informal proceeding. The Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists informal probate counter totals of $44, or $45 when a will is proved.
- If the application is informal, the registrar reviews whether the statutory findings are met. If the matter is formal, the court proceeds on the petition with notice to interested persons.
- 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 covered by that notice are barred unless presented within two months after the date of first publication, subject to the statute's limited extension process (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485).
- Give any required notice to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services 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).
- Once appointed, the personal representative receives letters testamentary or letters of administration. The court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge in a formal probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125(2).
- Inventory the estate, administer assets, evaluate creditor claims, and address Nebraska inheritance tax. The Furnas County Court determines the inheritance tax, it is paid to the county, and the tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
- If a hearing is set, ask the clerk how to request a telephone or videoconference appearance under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and the eleventh county judge district's Remote Hearing Rules. The moving party must coordinate with the court and set up the remote hearing at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies.
- After debts, taxes, distributions, and required filings are complete, close the estate with the appropriate closing statement under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Furnas County
Furnas County does not publish a local probate packet, local probate cover sheet, or local instruction sheet. The county points families to Nebraska Judicial Branch statewide resources.
The Nebraska Judicial Branch forms most often relevant to no-court affidavit routes are CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022, for the personal property route under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, and CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025, for the real property route under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. The current $100,000 personal property ceiling was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022, and the current $100,000 real property ceiling was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024; the personal property ceiling is under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125.
The uniform fax cover sheet is required when a person filing without a lawyer uses fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The Judicial Branch also publishes an informal-probate flowchart for a testate, uncontested estate, and that flowchart is limited to cases with a will and no contest.
The Judicial Branch does not publish a statewide form for the application or petition that opens an estate, for Letters, or for an inventory. The clerk of the Furnas County Court cannot draft those papers or give legal advice.
Timeline
- Call before travelling to the Beaver City courthouse. The Judicial Branch listing gives 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, while Furnas County lists 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, with weekends and holidays closed.
- If you need a remote hearing, ask about it as soon as the hearing is set. Furnas County is in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, whose Remote Hearing Rules require the moving party to coordinate with the court and set up the remote hearing at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704.
- No Furnas County probate hearing day, motion day, or filing-to-hearing window is published for estate cases. Ask the clerk what date and appearance method apply to your case.
Local nuance
Furnas County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for filing |
|---|---|
| Two published opening times | The Judicial Branch lists 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Furnas County lists 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, closed weekends and holidays. Call 308-268-4025 before you travel. |
| Real property affidavit goes to a different office | The Furnas County Register of Deeds is in the same courthouse building at 912 R Street, with phone 308-268-4145 and mailing address P.O. Box 387, Beaver City, NE 68926. The Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded with the register of deeds, not filed with the court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). |
| No local probate packet | Furnas County does not publish a local probate packet. Use statewide Judicial Branch resources and confirm with the clerk which documents the Furnas County Court requires for your estate settlement. |
| Clerk email | Use [email protected] for questions, not filings. Nebraska court case filings are not accepted by email. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| February 8, 2023 | The Remote Hearing Rules for the County Court in the Eleventh Judicial District, which includes Furnas County, were approved. The rule addresses telephone and videoconference hearings under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Furnas County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and account titles. If personal property remains and the current $100,000 route fits after thirty days have elapsed, CC 15:40 is presented to the holder of the property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If real property qualifies under the separate real property route, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Furnas County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. If Letters are needed, file with the Furnas County Court in Beaver City. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and whether the estate settlement likely needs a court filing or an affidavit route. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the personal property affidavit route fits, you may be able to handle that property without a trip to Beaver City by presenting CC 15:40 to the property holder under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If Letters are needed, file by mail to P.O. Box 373, Beaver City, NE 68926, or fax to 308-268-2345 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). If a hearing is set, ask about the District 11 remote hearing process under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps generate the probate packet, and connects the family to a vetted local probate attorney when court authority is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Neither affidavit route authorizes a sale. Open the estate with the clerk of the Furnas County Court. A clerk magistrate may hear noncontested estate and inheritance tax matters, but cannot hear a determination of title to real estate or authorize a sale or mortgage of real estate, which goes to a county judge (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519, § 24-507). The Furnas County Court also determines Nebraska inheritance tax, due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004). | Sunset helps gather property, debt, and tax information early so the attorney and personal representative can plan the court request and sale process. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Furnas County Court | 912 R Street, Beaver City, NE 68926. Mailing address: P.O. Box 373, Beaver City, NE 68926. Phone 308-268-4025. Fax 308-268-2345. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. Call before travelling because the two published opening times differ. |
| Furnas County government | https://furnascounty.ne.gov/county-court/. The county page links Judicial Branch fee, forms, and self-help information. |
| Furnas County Register of Deeds | 912 R Street, Beaver City, NE 68926. Phone 308-268-4145. Use this office to record the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129; the personal property affidavit route is under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help. This is the Judicial Branch's virtual self-help center. |
| Estates section and Additional Information: Estates | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates. These pages explain estate processes, claims, deposit of a will, affidavit options, and self-representation limits. |
| Affidavit forms CC 15:40 and CC 15:41 | CC 15:40 is for personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. CC 15:41 is for real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. Forms: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-40.pdf and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-41.pdf. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Use the cover sheet when filing by fax without a lawyer under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B): https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/Ch6Art6App1.pdf. |
| Statewide case search | JUSTICE trial court case search through Nebraska.gov: https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. |
| Filing fees and court costs | Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/rules/administrative-policies-schedules/filing-fees-and-court-costs. Probate base fees are set by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. |
| Limited Scope Representation | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/limited-scope-representation/people-wanting-limited-legal-assistance. This is a way to hire a lawyer for part of a case. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine through legalaidofnebraska.org: 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 for people 60 and over in all 93 counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; listed practice areas are family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and there are no walk-ins. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/. Qualifying users can ask non-criminal civil legal questions online at no cost. The published topic list does not include estates, and volunteer lawyers 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 estate materials say the law allows self-representation. The same materials say filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help, and in Furnas County there is no statewide or local form for the opening application or petition. Limited Scope Representation through nebraskajudicial.gov may help if you need a lawyer for only part of the case, and Legal Aid of Nebraska at 1.877.250.2016 screens by income, assets, and legal issue, although estate administration is not one of its listed practice areas. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, policies, and property before the Furnas County estate settlement plan is chosen.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the family and asset information you provide to help prepare an organized probate packet for the Furnas County Court or for attorney review.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs court authority, a real property sale, inheritance tax help, or a contested issue, Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand the local filing path, and decide when legal help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Furnas County?
File with the clerk of the Furnas County Court at 912 R Street, Beaver City, NE 68926, or mail the filing to P.O. Box 373, Beaver City, NE 68926. Probate belongs in the county court because the county court has exclusive original jurisdiction over decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517). Venue is based on the decedent's domicile or, for a non-Nebraska decedent, a Nebraska county where the decedent had property (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
Do I need a lawyer for Furnas County probate?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Judicial Branch states that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. Furnas County does not publish a local opening packet, and the clerk cannot draft your application or petition. Sunset can connect you to a vetted local probate attorney.
How much does it cost to open probate in Furnas County?
The base filing fee under the current Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125 is $22 for a proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for later petitions or applications within an informal proceeding. Formal probate uses a statutory schedule based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death, running from $22 to $1,500 under the current Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists informal probate counter totals of $44, or $45 when a will is proved.
Can I avoid probate in Furnas County with an affidavit?
Possibly. For personal property, CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, is presented to whoever holds the property if the current $100,000 ceiling and other requirements fit after thirty days have elapsed (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125; 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022). For real property, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Furnas County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, and the separate current $100,000 real property ceiling was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024; the personal property ceiling remains under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax in a Furnas County estate?
Yes. Nebraska is one of the few states with an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Furnas 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 in Furnas County probate?
Ask the clerk how to request it. Nebraska law allows all nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the county court with all appearing parties' stipulation, by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Furnas County is in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, whose Remote Hearing Rules require coordination with the court and setup at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies.
Can I file Furnas County probate papers by fax or email?
A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax to 308-268-2345 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028. A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases.
How do I look up a Furnas County probate case?
Use the statewide JUSTICE trial court case search through Nebraska.gov at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. As listed in August 2026, general searches for lists of cases are free, viewing case details is $2 through Nebraska.gov, document images carry no extra charge, and frequent users can open a Nebraska.gov subscriber account for an annual $100.
What are the Furnas County Court hours?
The Judicial Branch listing gives 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Furnas County lists 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, closed weekends and holidays. Call 308-268-4025 before travelling to the Beaver City courthouse.
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.