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Keith County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Keith County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Keith County Court |
| Courthouse address | 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153 |
| Mailing address | 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153 |
| Phone | 308-284-3693 |
| Fax | 308-284-6825 |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email does not create a court filing, and email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call before travelling to the courthouse. |
| Filing fee | As of August 2026, $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 to $1,500 for estates over $5,000,000 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). The Judiciary counter schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists $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 Keith County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Keith County does not list a local probate packet. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms and the required fax filing cover sheet when filing by fax 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 is not required to e-file and may file in person, by mail, or by fax with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028. Confirm with the clerk of the Keith County Court before relying on non-attorney electronic filing registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search through Nebraska.gov, running on the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE case management system at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. As of August 2026, a general list search has no charge; viewing case details costs $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 available at no charge at courthouse kiosks and law libraries. |
| 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). Keith County is in the Eleventh county judge district under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503; its remote hearing rule requires scheduling at least 5 days in advance and exhibits at least 5 days in advance. |
| County judge district | Eleventh county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503) |
| Website | Court page: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/keith-county-court. County government: https://www.keithcountyne.gov. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you decide whether to open a Keith County Court estate, list the assets, debts, account titles, beneficiary designations, real estate, vehicles, and any will. That inventory drives the estate settlement path, including whether you need Letters from the county court or an affidavit route outside the court.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can identify accounts before they file. In Keith County, that can help you avoid filing too little, filing in the wrong path, or missing the Nebraska inheritance tax deadline during estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Keith County is filed with the clerk of the Keith County Court at 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. Ogallala is the county seat and courthouse city.
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).
Keith County sits in Nebraska's Eleventh county judge district, which is how county judges and county court local rules are assigned; a Keith County estate is filed at this county's own courthouse in Ogallala (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 had property (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct Nebraska path before filing. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar, whose acts are performed by a county judge or by a person designated by the court in a written order (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). Formal probate uses a petition to the court with notice. If only qualifying property must be transferred, the Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, form CC 15:40, may be presented to the holder after 30 days under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, and the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, form CC 15:41, may be recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129.
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, names and addresses of interested persons, an asset and debt list, and information needed for Nebraska inheritance tax planning (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004).
- File the application or petition with the clerk of the Keith County Court at 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Email is for questions, not filing.
- Pay the filing fee. As of August 2026, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125 sets $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with additional $22 charges for later petitions or applications in an informal proceeding, and sets the formal schedule by gross value.
- For informal probate, remember the timing rule. The registrar may issue the written statement of informal probate only if at least 120 hours have passed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- After appointment, notice to creditors is published by the clerk once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within 30 days after appointment (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483). Creditor claims covered by that notice are barred unless presented within two months after the first publication, subject to the statute's limited extension process (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485). Notice to the Department of Health and Human Services is required in the circumstances described in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483.
- If a hearing is set and you want a remote hearing, ask early. Nebraska permits qualifying telephone or videoconference hearings under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, and the Eleventh county judge district rule requires the remote hearing to be scheduled at least 5 days in advance, with exhibits provided to the court and all other parties at least 5 days in advance.
- Obtain Letters after appointment. Nebraska uses letters testamentary for a will and letters of administration when there is no will; one certified copy of letters of appointment is provided without charge in a formal probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125.
- Administer the estate, inventory the property, manage creditor claims, and address Nebraska inheritance tax. The Keith County Court determines inheritance tax and it is paid to the county; the tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01).
- Distribute property only after the authority, notice, creditor, tax, and court requirements for the case are satisfied. When the estate is ready to end, use the Nebraska closing procedure that fits the case, including a closing statement when available under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Keith County
Keith County does not list a local probate form packet on its county government page. The court uses Nebraska Judicial Branch estate materials and any case-specific document your situation requires.
| Form or resource | Use |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022 | Used for qualifying personal property after 30 days when the requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 are met. It is presented to the holder of the property, not opened as a Keith County Court case. |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025 | Used for qualifying Nebraska real property interests under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. In Keith County, recording is with the register of deeds at 511 North Spruce Street, Room 102, Ogallala. |
| Uniform fax filing cover sheet | Required as the first page when a person without a lawyer files by fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The fax must be under the Nebraska Judicial Branch page limit unless the clerk approves a longer fax. |
| Flowchart for Informal Probate Filed with a Will (Testate) | Nebraska Judicial Branch flowchart for a will-based, uncontested informal path. It does not cover a no-will case, a contested will, or a contested distribution. See nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates. |
There is not a statewide application or petition form that opens every decedent's estate. The clerk of the Keith County Court can accept filings, but cannot choose your forms, draft your application or petition, or advise you which legal path to use.
Timeline
- For informal probate, the registrar cannot issue the written statement until at least 120 hours have passed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415, § 30-2216).
- If a remote hearing is requested in Keith County, Nebraska's statewide remote hearing statute applies (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704), and the Eleventh county judge district rule requires the hearing to be scheduled at least 5 days in advance.
- For a remote hearing in the Eleventh county judge district, exhibits must be provided to the court and all other parties at least 5 days in advance (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704).
- After a personal representative is appointed, notice to creditors is published as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, and claims covered by the notice are barred unless presented within two months after first publication under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485.
- Nebraska inheritance tax is due twelve months after the date of death, and the Keith County Court determines it for county payment purposes (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
Local nuance
Keith County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for Keith County filings |
|---|---|
| Early courthouse hours | The Keith County Court lists public hours as Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 308-284-3693 before travelling, especially if you need same-day filing assistance. |
| Remote hearing rule | Keith County is in the Eleventh county judge district under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503. Nebraska allows qualifying telephone or videoconference hearings under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, and the district rule requires remote hearing scheduling and exhibits at least 5 days ahead. |
| Real property affidavit recording location | If form CC 15:41 applies, it is recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. In Keith County, that office is in the same courthouse at 511 North Spruce Street, Room 102, Ogallala, with phone 308-284-4726. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Keith County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start with deeds, account titles, and beneficiary designations. If only qualifying personal property remains after 30 days, CC 15:40 may be presented to the holder under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, with the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. If a qualifying real property interest must move, CC 15:41 is recorded with the Keith County register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, with the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024. If Letters are needed, file in the Keith County Court. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues, and whether the estate settlement needs a court filing or an affidavit path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the personal property affidavit applies, it is handled with the property holder and not by opening a court case (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). If Letters are needed, mail the filing to 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153, or fax it to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). If a hearing is set, ask about a remote hearing early under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. | Sunset gathers asset information, generates a probate packet, and helps coordinate with a local attorney if the filing cannot be handled from out of state. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Neither affidavit route is a substitute for authority to sell a home when court authority is needed. A clerk magistrate may hear certain noncontested estate matters, but not 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 needed petition with the Keith County Court and plan for creditor notice under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483 and the two months claim bar under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485. | Sunset helps locate assets, assemble documents for the personal representative, and connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help | Virtual self-help resources, including filing method guidance, fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), and the rule that email filings are not allowed. |
| Nebraska Judicial Branch estates section, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates | Estate information, claims information, deposit of will guidance, the testate informal probate flowchart, and links to the two affidavit forms. |
| Additional information: Estates, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates | Explains that Nebraska law allows self-representation, while also stating that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. |
| Nebraska Judicial Branch forms, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/forms | Master Forms List for CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, claim forms, and related estate materials. |
| Keith County Court page, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/keith-county-court | Local address, phone, fax, email, hours, district assignment, and court contact information for the Keith County Court. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska, https://legalaidofnebraska.org/how-we-help/ | Statewide AccessLine 1.877.250.2016, Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central; ElderAccessLine 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all Nebraska counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; the listed 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 lets qualifying users post civil legal questions for Nebraska volunteer attorneys. Its topic list does not include estates, and volunteers cannot represent users in court. |
| Limited Scope Representation, https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help | Limited Scope Representation can let a Nebraska lawyer handle part of a case, such as reviewing a petition or preparing for a hearing, without taking over every estate settlement task. |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require a personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the Nebraska 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 Keith County does not list a local opening packet for an application or petition. Limited Scope Representation through nebraskajudicial.gov can be a middle option when you need help with only part of the case. Sunset connects families in Keith County 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 choosing a Keith County estate settlement path.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset uses the facts you provide to assemble a probate packet tailored to the Nebraska county court process, including the Keith County Court filing address, fax route, local hours, and the forms or affidavits that fit the situation.
Find a local probate attorney
When the estate needs a lawyer, Sunset connects the family with a vetted local probate attorney who can advise on informal probate, formal probate with notice, real estate issues, inheritance tax, and court hearings.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The goal is to make estate settlement easier, reduce missed assets, and help you move from the first asset search to the right Keith County filing path.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Keith County?
File with the clerk of the Keith County Court at 511 North Spruce Street, Room 105, Ogallala, NE 69153. 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 Keith County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. Keith County does not list a local opening packet for an application or petition, so legal help is especially useful if the estate involves real estate, creditor disputes, inheritance tax, or formal probate with notice.
How much does Keith County probate cost?
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 is charged by gross value of the Nebraska estate, up to $1,500 for estates over $5,000,000. The Judiciary counter schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists $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 amount with the clerk before filing.
Can I use an affidavit instead of opening probate in Keith County?
Sometimes. For qualifying personal property, form CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, is presented to the holder after 30 days under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125; its $100,000 ceiling was raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022. For qualifying real property, form 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; its separate $100,000 ceiling was raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax and who is paid?
Yes. Nebraska has an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax. The Keith 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 for a Keith County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court allows it for the hearing. Nebraska law permits nonevidentiary hearings, and approved evidentiary hearings with the stipulation of all appearing parties, to be heard by telephone or videoconference while preserving an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Keith County is in the Eleventh county judge district, whose remote hearing rule requires scheduling and exhibits at least 5 days in advance.
Can I send a filing by fax or email in Keith County?
A person filing without a lawyer may file by fax to 308-284-6825 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which remains available for non-attorneys until July 1, 2028. A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email to the clerk is for questions only and does not create a filed court document (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
How do I look up a Keith County estate case?
Use Nebraska.gov at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi for statewide trial court case search through JUSTICE. As of August 2026, a general list search has no charge, viewing details costs $2, and a Nebraska.gov subscriber account costs an annual $100 for frequent users. The same case information is available at no charge at courthouse kiosks and law libraries.
What are the Keith County Court clerk's hours?
The Keith County Court lists hours as Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 308-284-3693 before travelling to Ogallala, especially if you need to file close to the end of the day.
Do I have to travel to Ogallala to start estate settlement?
Not always. If the personal property affidavit applies, it is presented to the property holder under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 rather than filed as a court case. If a Keith County Court case is needed, a person filing without a lawyer may file by mail or by fax with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), and any remote hearing request should be made early under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704.
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.