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Hooker County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Hooker County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Hooker County Court |
| Courthouse address | Hooker County Courthouse, 303 NW 1st Street, Mullen, NE 69152 |
| Mailing address | Hooker County Court, P.O. Box 184, Mullen, NE 69152 |
| Phone | 308-546-2249 |
| Fax | 308-546-2490 |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | The Judicial Branch lists courthouse hours as 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Hooker County lists 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Mountain Time, Monday through Friday except holidays. Court sessions are held the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am Mountain Time, and the page says to call to verify. |
| 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). As of July 1, 2026, the Judicial Branch lists counter totals of $44.00 for a probate commenced and closed informally, or $45.00 when a will is proved and the certificate of probate of will issues. Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Hooker County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Hooker County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or county cover sheet. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms and the statewide fax cover sheet when 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 filing with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which Nebraska courts must accept from non-attorneys until July 1, 2028. Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 addresses optional non-attorney registration once approved technology allows it, so ask the clerk before relying on that route. |
| 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, in a manner that preserves an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Hooker County sits in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, whose remote hearing rules require the moving party to coordinate with the court at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies. |
| County judge district | Eleventh county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503) |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hooker-county-court and https://hookercountyne.gov/county-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Hooker County, list the decedent's assets, debts, account titles, real estate interests, and likely creditors. Estate settlement starts with what exists, who owns it now, and whether someone needs court-issued Letters to deal with a bank, buyer, or title company.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can identify accounts before they prepare an estate settlement packet. That is especially useful in Hooker County because the courthouse schedule is limited and an incomplete filing can push a hearing to a later monthly court session.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Hooker County is filed with the clerk of the Hooker County Court at the Hooker County Courthouse in Mullen, with mail sent to P.O. Box 184, Mullen, NE 69152. The clerk's office is 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).
Hooker County sits in Nebraska's eleventh county judge district, which assigns county judges and local rules; the estate case itself is filed at this county's courthouse in Mullen (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502, § 24-503).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is in the county of the decedent's domicile at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Nebraska, in any Nebraska county where the decedent had property (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the opening track. An informal probate uses an application to the registrar; the registrar's acts are performed by a county judge or by a person designated by written court order, and the application is delivered to the clerk of the county court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). A formal probate uses a petition to the court and proceeds before a judge with notice.
- Collect the death certificate, the original will if there is one, addresses for heirs and devisees, a working list of assets and debts, and the information needed for the Nebraska inheritance tax. If the original will is not delivered with an informal application, Nebraska law allows limited timing for delivery after filing in the circumstances described by statute.
- Deliver the application or petition to the clerk of the Hooker County Court. Nebraska attorneys use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. A self-represented filer may use in-person delivery, mail to P.O. Box 184, Mullen, NE 69152, or fax filing to 308-546-2490 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). Because Hooker County holds court sessions only once each month, call before making an in-person trip.
- Pay the filing fee required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. As of August 2026, the 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 fees run from $22 to $1,500 depending on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death.
- Ask about scheduling and remote hearing procedure when you file. Hooker County court sessions are listed for the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am Mountain Time. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and the Eleventh Judicial District remote hearing rules, the moving party generally coordinates a remote hearing with the court at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies, and exhibits must be provided to the court and all other parties at least 5 days before a remote hearing.
- For informal probate, do not expect the registrar to issue the written statement until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415). If the registrar declines the application, that does not decide the merits and does not prevent a formal probate filing.
- After appointment, obtain Letters. Nebraska uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will; the court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge in a formal probate fee case (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- Handle notice to creditors. After a personal representative is appointed, the clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with the first publication within thirty days after appointment; the party or attorney must mail the published notice and prove mailing as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483). Claims covered by published notice are barred unless presented within two months after the first publication, subject to the statutory good-cause procedure (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485). Notice to the Department of Health and Human Services is required in the situations described by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483.
- Prepare the inventory, administer assets, address creditor claims, and complete the Nebraska inheritance tax step. The Hooker County Court determines inheritance tax, and the tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
- Distribute remaining property and close the estate. When administration is ready to close, use the proper closing statement or court order process for the track you are in (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hooker County
Hooker County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, county cover sheet, or county court fee sheet for estate filings. The Nebraska Judicial Branch estate form set is partial: it includes transfer affidavits and several estate-related forms, but it does not supply an opening application or opening petition for every estate.
| Form or resource | Use in Hooker County |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022 | Used for the personal-property affidavit route when the statutory conditions are met, including the $100,000 ceiling and waiting period (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). It is presented to the holder of the property, not filed to open a county court estate. |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025 | Used for the real-property affidavit route when the statutory conditions are met; it is recorded with the Hooker County Register of Deeds, not used to open an estate case in the Hooker County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required as the first page when a self-represented filer sends a fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The fax number for the Hooker County Court is 308-546-2490. |
| Flowchart for informal probate filed with a will | The Nebraska Judicial Branch provides this nebraskajudicial.gov resource for an uncontested testate informal probate. It does not apply when there is no will, when the will is contested, or when the estate or distribution is contested. |
Timeline
- Before filing, call the Hooker County Court at 308-546-2249 if timing matters. The Judicial Branch lists court sessions for the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am Mountain Time, with a call-to-verify note.
- If the matter may need a remote hearing, raise it early. Nebraska's county court remote-appearance statute is Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, and the Eleventh Judicial District's remote hearing rules generally require coordination with the court at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies.
- For informal probate, the registrar cannot issue the written statement until 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, and covered claims are barred unless presented within two months after the first publication, subject to the statutory good-cause procedure (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485).
- Calendar the Nebraska inheritance tax deadline. The Hooker County Court determines the inheritance tax, and the tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
Local nuance
Hooker County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Monthly court sessions | Hooker County lists court sessions for the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am Mountain Time. If you need a hearing, a missed filing or notice issue can matter more than it would in a court with a more frequent local calendar. |
| Published hours differ | The Judicial Branch lists 8:30 am to 4:30 pm as a continuous block. Hooker County lists 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Mountain Time, Monday through Friday except holidays. Call 308-546-2249 before traveling. |
| Shared clerk magistrate staffing | The Hooker County Court is staffed through a clerk magistrate office that also serves other county courts, as allowed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507(2). Do not assume another county's office will take a Hooker County estate filing. |
| Separate Register of Deeds phone | The real-property affidavit is recorded with the Hooker County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. That office is in the same courthouse building but uses 308-546-2244, not the county court's probate filing phone. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Hooker County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titles. If personal property remains and the statutory affidavit conditions are met, CC 15:40 may be presented to the holder after the required waiting period, including the $100,000 ceiling (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). If a Nebraska real-property interest must pass by affidavit and the statutory conditions are met, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Hooker County Register of Deeds at 303 NW 1st Street, Mullen (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). If Letters are needed, file with the Hooker County Court. | Sunset helps identify accounts, separate jointly owned property from probate assets, and generate the estate settlement packet for the path that fits. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the personal-property affidavit fits, a trip to Mullen may not be needed because CC 15:40 is presented to the property holder under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If Letters are needed, a self-represented filer may mail the filing to P.O. Box 184, Mullen, NE 69152, or use fax filing to 308-546-2490 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Because local court sessions are monthly, ask early about a remote hearing under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps generate filing documents, and can connect the family with a Nebraska attorney if a court filing is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Neither affidavit route itself sells the home. A clerk magistrate may hear some noncontested estate matters, but not a determination of title to real estate or an authorization to sell or mortgage real estate; those matters go to a county judge (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519). Plan for notice to creditors and the two-month claims bar after first publication (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485), plus the Hooker County inheritance tax determination due timeline (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2004). | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare the information an attorney or personal representative needs, and keep estate settlement tasks organized around the monthly court calendar. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help | The virtual self-help center, including the Nebraska rules that allow non-attorney fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B) and prohibit email filings. |
| Estates self-help section, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates | General Nebraska estate process information, claims against estates, deposit of wills, the nebraskajudicial.gov informal-probate flowchart, affidavit forms, and motor vehicle title transfer information. |
| Additional information: Estates, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates | Explains that Nebraska law allows self-representation, while also warning that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help and that the Self-Help Center cannot supply forms for every situation. |
| Hooker County Court page, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hooker-county-court | Local court contact information, mailing address, phone, fax, court-session timing, and district information for the Hooker County Court. |
| Hooker County government, https://hookercountyne.gov/county-court/ | Local courthouse location and county-published hours for the county court page. |
| Hooker County Register of Deeds, https://hookercountyne.gov/register-of-deeds/ | Contact information for the office where a real-property affidavit is recorded under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Master forms list, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/forms | Nebraska Judicial Branch form list, including CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Case search, https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi | JUSTICE case information through Nebraska.gov, with general searches for lists of cases, $2 detail views, and annual $100 subscriber accounts for frequent users. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska, https://legalaidofnebraska.org/how-we-help/ | Statewide AccessLine at 1.877.250.2016 and ElderAccessLine at 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all Nebraska counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; published practice areas focus on family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and the organization takes no walk-ins. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers, https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ | A free civil-law question site where qualifying users can ask volunteer Nebraska lawyers by email. The published topic list does not include estates, and volunteers cannot represent anyone in court. |
| Limited Scope Representation, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help | Information about hiring a lawyer for part of a case instead of full representation. |
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 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 Hooker County, counsel can be especially useful when there is no local opening form, a home must be sold, a remote hearing needs to be coordinated around a monthly court session, or inheritance tax questions affect distribution. Limited Scope Representation information is available through nebraskajudicial.gov, and Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property before they choose a Hooker County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized estate settlement packet so you can review what may be needed for the Hooker County Court, the Hooker County Register of Deeds, financial institutions, and tax steps.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs formal probate, a home sale, inheritance tax work, or a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Nebraska probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Hooker County?
File with the clerk of the Hooker County Court. The courthouse is at 303 NW 1st Street, Mullen, NE 69152, and mail goes to Hooker County Court, P.O. Box 184, Mullen, NE 69152. 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).
What are the Hooker County Court hours?
The Judicial Branch lists 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Hooker County lists 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Mountain Time, Monday through Friday except holidays. Court sessions are listed for the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am Mountain Time. Call 308-546-2249 before traveling.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Hooker County?
Nebraska allows self-representation, but the Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help and that its Self-Help Center cannot supply forms for every situation. A lawyer is especially useful if the estate involves a home sale, disputed heirs, missing information, or inheritance tax questions (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004).
How much does probate cost in Hooker County?
As of August 2026, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125 sets $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with another $22 for each later petition or application in an informal proceeding. Formal probate fees range from $22 to $1,500 based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death. As of July 1, 2026, the Judicial Branch lists counter totals of $44.00 for an informal proceeding, or $45.00 when a will is proved and the certificate of probate of will issues.
Can I avoid opening a Hooker County Court estate with an affidavit?
Sometimes. For personal property, CC 15:40 may be presented to the holder if the statutory conditions are met, including the $100,000 ceiling and waiting period (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). For real property, CC 15:41 may be recorded with the Hooker County Register of Deeds if the statutory conditions are met (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). These affidavit routes do not replace a court estate when Letters are needed.
Can I file by fax or email in Hooker County?
A self-represented filer may use fax filing to 308-546-2490 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which Nebraska courts must accept from non-attorneys until July 1, 2028. Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
Can I appear by phone or video for a Hooker County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court allows it. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 allows nonevidentiary county court hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard telephonically or by videoconference. The Eleventh Judicial District remote hearing rules generally require the moving party to coordinate with the court at least 5 days before the hearing, except emergencies.
How do I look up a Hooker County probate case?
Use Nebraska.gov at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi for JUSTICE trial court case information. 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 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 Hooker County estates?
Yes. Nebraska is one of the few states with an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Hooker 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.