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Gage County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Gage County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Gage County Court |
| Courthouse address | 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice, NE 68310 |
| Mailing address | 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice, NE 68310 |
| Phone | 402-223-1323 |
| Fax | 402-223-1374. A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing with the required cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| [email protected], for questions. Case papers are not accepted by email under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212. | |
| Hours | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, open through the lunch hour. |
| Filing fee | $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, current August 2026, 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, current August 2026 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Gage County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Gage County publishes no local probate form. Use the statewide affidavit forms when they fit, and prepare the opening application or petition separately. |
| E-filing | 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), accepted by every Nebraska court until July 1, 2028. Ask the clerk whether Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 non-attorney registration is available 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. A general search for a list of cases is free; viewing a case's details is $2, current August 2026, with no extra charge for document images, and frequent users can open a Nebraska.gov subscriber account for an annual $100, current August 2026. 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, in a manner that preserves an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Gage County follows the First Judicial District protocol for virtual meetings. |
| County judge district | Nebraska's first county judge district, which groups judges and local rules but does not move the filing counter (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/gage-county-court and https://gagecountyne.gov/county-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Beatrice, identify the decedent's assets, debts, account titles, real estate, and possible creditor issues. That determines whether estate settlement needs an informal application, a formal petition with notice, or a no-court affidavit route.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families locate accounts before choosing a Gage County estate settlement path or asking a lawyer to draft the opening papers.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Gage County is filed with the clerk of the Gage County Court at 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice, NE 68310. Beatrice is the county seat and courthouse city. Gage County also includes Wymore, Blue Springs, Adams, Barneston, Clatonia, Cortland, Filley, Liberty, Odell, Pickrell, and Virginia.
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, and Gage County sits in Nebraska's first county judge district for judge assignment and local rules (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's property was located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the 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 Gage County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216).
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset information, debt information, names and addresses of interested persons, and any facts needed for Nebraska inheritance tax under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004.
- File with the clerk of the Gage County Court at 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice, NE 68310. If you are filing without a lawyer, you may deliver papers in person, mail them, or use fax filing to 402-223-1374 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202.
- Pay the filing fee. The statutory base is $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, current August 2026, while formal probate uses the gross value schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125.
- Wait for authority to issue. Informal probate cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415). If the registrar declines the informal application, a formal proceeding may be needed.
- Handle notice after appointment. The clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within thirty days after appointment; creditor claims are generally barred two months after the first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485). Notice to the Department of Health and Human Services is required in the situations described in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483(b).
- Obtain Letters and administer the estate. The court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration, and one certified copy of letters of appointment is provided without charge under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. Use the Letters to collect assets, manage debts, and prepare the inventory.
- Address Gage County inheritance tax. Nebraska inheritance tax is determined by the Gage County Court and is due twelve months after the date of death; 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, § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01).
- Request a remote hearing if needed. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and the First Judicial District protocol, a nontestimonial virtual meeting is at the judge's discretion, and the request must be filed with the clerk at least three business days before the hearing.
- Distribute and close. After debts, taxes, notice issues, and required filings are handled, the personal representative distributes property and closes the estate with a closing statement when that route is available (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gage County
Gage County publishes no local probate form. The county's own court page lists the court's case types, and a county site search for probate does not add a local packet.
The Nebraska Judicial Branch provides 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. It also provides 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.
The Judicial Branch does not provide a single opening application or petition for estates. If an estate must be opened in the Gage County Court, you or your lawyer must prepare the application for informal probate or the petition for formal probate with the required facts and attachments.
The uniform fax cover sheet at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/Ch6Art6App1.pdf must be the first page of a fax filing by a person filing without a lawyer under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The Judicial Branch also publishes an informal probate flowchart for an uncontested estate with a will at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates; that flowchart does not apply when there is no will, the will is contested, or the estate or asset distribution is contested.
Local nuance
Gage County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| County court and land records are in the same building | The Gage County Court is at 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice. The Gage County Register of Deeds is at 612 Grant Street, Room 1, with phone 402-223-1361. A real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 is recorded with the register of deeds, not opened as a county court estate filing. |
| First Judicial District virtual meeting protocol | Gage County is in Nebraska's first county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). For a nontestimonial hearing, the district protocol allows a virtual meeting at the judge's discretion. The request must be filed with the clerk at least three business days before the hearing, and each party appearing by video must log in five minutes early, consistent with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. |
| Clerk magistrate office | The clerk of the Gage County Court is an office held by a clerk magistrate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507). The clerk accepts filings and keeps court records, but does not give legal advice or prepare estate papers. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Gage County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking the deed, account titles, debts, and whether anything actually needs Gage County Court authority. If court authority is needed, file at 612 Grant Street, Room 17 in Beatrice. | Sunset helps inventory accounts, organize documents, and identify whether estate settlement needs a court filing or attorney review. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If only personal property must be collected and the statutory conditions fit, CC 15:40 may be presented to the holder of the property without probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If a Gage County court filing is needed, papers may be filed by mail or by fax with the cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). | Sunset helps find accounts, assemble the affidavit or court packet information, and reduce the need for extra travel to Beatrice. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home cannot pass by a real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, the estate may need Gage County Court authority and careful handling of notice, creditor claims, and inheritance tax under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004. | Sunset helps build the asset list, prepare the estate settlement file, and connect the family with a Nebraska probate attorney when sale authority or tax issues make counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Gage County Court | 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice, NE 68310. Phone 402-223-1323. Fax 402-223-1374. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. Hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, open through the lunch hour. Court page: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/gage-county-court |
| Gage County Court page | https://gagecountyne.gov/county-court/. Lists the case types the court handles and links the Judicial Branch online payment system. |
| Gage County Register of Deeds | 612 Grant Street, Room 1, PO Box 337, Beatrice, NE 68310. Phone 402-223-1361. Hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, open through the lunch hour. This is where the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help. Includes filing mechanics, the fax cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), and the rule that email is not an accepted filing method for court cases. |
| Estates section and additional estate information | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates. Includes the estate overview, affidavit information, and the informal probate flowchart on nebraskajudicial.gov. |
| Affidavit forms | CC 15:40 for personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-40.pdf. CC 15:41 for real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-41.pdf. |
| Statewide case search | https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. JUSTICE case information through Nebraska.gov has free general searches, $2 case-detail viewing current August 2026, an annual $100 subscriber account current August 2026, and free access at courthouse kiosks or law libraries. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine 1.877.250.2016 through legalaidofnebraska.org and ElderAccessLine 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over. Published practice areas are family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and the organization takes no walk-ins. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/. Free Legal Answers is a free email advice clinic for qualifying civil questions; the topic list does not include estates, and volunteers do not 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 self-help materials say the law allows self-representation. 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; Nebraska also has Limited Scope Representation information through nebraskajudicial.gov for hiring a lawyer for part of a case. Sunset connects families in Gage County to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, organizes what is found, and helps you understand what may need Gage County Court authority for estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information, and document checklist into a working probate packet so you can file with the Gage County Court or give a lawyer a cleaner starting point.
Find a local probate attorney. When a formal petition, home sale, inheritance tax issue under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004, or contested question makes counsel sensible, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Nebraska probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Gage County?
File with the clerk of the Gage County Court at 612 Grant Street, Room 17, Beatrice, NE 68310. 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 decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517).
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Gage County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. A lawyer is especially useful when the estate needs formal probate with notice, a home sale, contested issues, or inheritance tax work under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004.
How much does it cost to start probate in Gage County?
The statutory base is $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, current August 2026, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding. Formal probate is charged on the gross value schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125, from $22 to $1,500, current August 2026. Confirm the amount with the clerk before filing.
Can I avoid probate with an affidavit in Gage County?
Sometimes. CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, applies to personal property when the conditions in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 are met, including the $100,000 ceiling current since 2022 after LB 1124 was signed April 18, 2022. CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, is recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 when that statute fits.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax in a Gage County estate?
Yes. Nebraska inheritance tax is determined by the Gage County Court and paid to the county, with the tax due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004, § 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.
Can I appear by phone or video for a Gage County probate hearing?
Nebraska law allows nonevidentiary hearings, and approved evidentiary hearings with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard telephonically or by videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). In Gage County, the First Judicial District protocol allows a nontestimonial virtual meeting at the judge's discretion if the request is filed with the clerk at least three business days before the hearing.
Can I use fax or email for Gage County Court filings?
A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), accepted until July 1, 2028. Email is not an accepted court filing method under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212. A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202.
How do I look up a Gage County probate case?
Use Nebraska.gov at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi for JUSTICE trial court case information. A general search is free, case-detail viewing is $2 current August 2026, and frequent users can open an annual $100 subscriber account current August 2026; the same information is free at courthouse kiosks or law libraries.
What are the Gage County Court clerk's hours?
The Gage County Court is open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and the county page states that the office is open through the lunch hour. Call 402-223-1323 before you go if timing matters.
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.