Back to Nebraska
Platte County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Platte County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Platte County Court |
| Courthouse address | 2610 14th Street, Columbus, NE 68601 |
| Mailing address | Platte County Court, P.O. Box 538, Columbus, NE 68602 |
| Phone | 402-563-4905 |
| Fax | 402-562-8158 |
| [email protected], for questions only. Email is not a filing method for Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | The Platte County website lists 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Judiciary listing for Platte County does not state hours, so call 402-563-4905 before you travel. |
| 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 on estates of $1,000 or less to $1,500 over $5,000,000 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Platte County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | No separate Platte County probate form is listed on the Platte County county court contact page. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms and the uniform 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 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028. Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 addresses optional non-attorney registration; confirm with the clerk before relying on that route. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search runs through Nebraska.gov on the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE case management system: https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. As of August 2026, a general search for a list of cases has no charge; 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 available without charge 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). Platte County is in the fifth county judge district, whose Remote Hearings rule requires a request at least 48 hours before the hearing and contact with the court representative at least 24 hours before the hearing after remote participation is authorized. |
| County judge district | Fifth county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/platte-county-court and https://plattecounty.ne.gov/county-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Platte County, make a practical inventory of what the person owned, how each asset was titled, what debts are known, whether there is a will, and whether any real estate has to be transferred or sold. Estate settlement usually turns on those details before it turns on forms.
Sunset's estate settlement process can help identify bank, investment, insurance, retirement, and other accounts across more than 2,300 institutions so you can decide whether Platte County Court probate is needed or whether a narrower affidavit route may fit.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Platte County is filed with the clerk of the Platte County Court in Columbus. The courthouse address is 2610 14th Street, Columbus, NE 68601, and mail goes to Platte County Court, P.O. Box 538, Columbus, NE 68602. The filing 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). Nebraska has a county court in and for each county, and the court is located at the county seat (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502).
Platte County sits in Nebraska's fifth county judge district, which is how county judges and the county court's local rules are assigned; the case itself is filed at this county's own courthouse (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is in the county where the decedent had 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
- Decide whether you are starting informal probate or formal probate. In an informal proceeding, an application is addressed to the registrar, whose 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 county court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). In formal probate, a petition goes to the court with notice to interested persons.
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, names and addresses for heirs and devisees, a working asset and debt list, and the information needed for estate settlement decisions. Informal probate cannot issue until at least 120 hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- File with the clerk of the Platte County Court at 2610 14th Street, Columbus, NE 68601, by mail to P.O. Box 538, Columbus, NE 68602, or, if you are filing without a lawyer, by fax to 402-562-8158 with the uniform cover sheet required for fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Email is for questions only and is not accepted as a court-case filing method (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
- Pay the filing fee. As of August 2026, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125 sets $22 for a proceeding commenced and closed informally, with formal probate fees based on the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death and reaching $1,500 for estates over $5,000,000.
- If the court appoints a personal representative, the clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within thirty days after appointment; claims are generally barred unless presented within two months after the date of first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485).
- Give any required Department of Health and Human Services notice if the decedent was fifty-five or older or resided in a medical institution, because Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483 makes that notice part of the creditor-notice process.
- After appointment, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration. The court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge in a formal probate fee case under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125.
- Prepare the inventory and continue administration, including collecting assets, addressing valid claims, and keeping records for beneficiaries and the court.
- Handle Nebraska inheritance tax. Nebraska is one of the few states with an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Platte 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).
- If a hearing is set and remote participation is needed, ask early. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and the fifth district Remote Hearings rule, a request for virtual conferencing must be filed at least 48 hours before the hearing, and an authorized remote participant must contact the court representative at least 24 hours before the hearing for instructions.
- Distribute assets only after the required administration steps are complete, then close the estate using the appropriate closing statement process under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Platte County
Platte County does not list a separate local probate form on its county court contact page. The Nebraska Judicial Branch publishes a limited estate form set, not a standard application or petition form for starting every decedent estate.
| Form or resource | Use |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate | Used for the personal-property affidavit route under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. The form was revised July 2022. |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate | Used for the real-property affidavit route that is recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. The form was revised October 2025. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required as the first page when a person without a lawyer uses fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). The fax must be less than 10 pages not counting the cover sheet unless the clerk approves more pages before transmission. |
| Flowchart for Informal Probate Filed with a Will | A Nebraska Judicial Branch flowchart for an uncontested testate informal probate. It does not apply when there is no will, the will is contested, or the estate or distribution of assets is contested. |
The clerk of the Platte County Court can accept filings and answer procedural questions, but cannot choose the right form for you or draft the application or petition.
Local nuance
Platte County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hours should be checked before travel | The Platte County website lists 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, while the Judiciary listing for Platte County does not state hours. Call 402-563-4905 before going to the courthouse. |
| Fifth district remote hearing timing | Platte County is in the fifth county judge district. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and that district's Remote Hearings rule, a request for virtual conferencing must be filed at least 48 hours before the hearing, and an authorized participant must contact the court representative at least 24 hours before the hearing for instructions and an invitation. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Platte County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating co-owned property from assets titled only in the decedent's name. If a Platte County estate must be opened, file with the clerk of the Platte County Court in Columbus or by mail to P.O. Box 538. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title clues so the spouse can focus the estate settlement on assets that actually need action. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the estate fits the affidavit route, Nebraska allows personal property of $100,000 or less to be collected by affidavit after thirty days, with the affidavit presented to the holder of the property rather than to the county court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). Real property uses a separate affidavit recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. If court probate is needed, ask about filing by mail or fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). | Sunset helps locate assets and can prepare an organized probate packet for attorney review or court filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often makes the case more than a document-dropoff. In Nebraska, a clerk magistrate may hear and determine some noncontested estate matters, but not an authorization to sell or mortgage real estate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507). File any Platte County proceeding in Columbus and ask counsel about the correct petition and notice. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, organize real-estate and account details, and connect the family with a vetted probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Platte County Court | 2610 14th Street, Columbus, NE 68601. Mail: P.O. Box 538, Columbus, NE 68602. Phone: 402-563-4905. Fax: 402-562-8158. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. |
| Platte County Court website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/platte-county-court and https://plattecounty.ne.gov/county-court/ provide court contact information, hours published by the county, and links to statewide court services. |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates explain estate topics, court processes, the two affidavit routes, and the rule that Nebraska court employees cannot provide legal advice. |
| Additional information: Estates | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates explains that the law allows self-representation, while estate filings most often require help from an attorney. |
| Nebraska Judicial Branch forms | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/forms lists CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, and other limited estate forms. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch uniform cover sheet as the first page of a fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| Statewide case search | https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi searches Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court records. As of August 2026, viewing case details costs $2, while frequent users can open an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | https://legalaidofnebraska.org. Statewide AccessLine 1.877.250.2016, Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central; ElderAccessLine 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue, and published practice areas focus on family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration. |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ lets qualifying users submit civil legal questions to volunteer attorneys. Its published topic list does not include estates, and volunteers cannot represent anyone in court. |
| Limited Scope Representation | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help includes Limited Scope Representation information for hiring a lawyer for part of a case. |
When to hire an attorney
Nebraska does not require a personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the Nebraska Judicial Branch's self-help materials say the law allows you to represent yourself. The same materials say filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help, and that the Self-Help Center cannot supply forms for every situation. Counsel is especially useful when Platte County real estate must be sold, heirs disagree, creditor claims are disputed, inheritance tax questions are present, or the family needs a formal petition with notice. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank, investment, insurance, retirement, and other accounts that may need attention in the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the family information, asset list, debt details, court contact information, and filing checklist so the personal representative or attorney can move faster in Platte County Court.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs formal probate, a real-estate sale, inheritance tax work, or help with notice, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Nebraska probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families understand what exists, what needs action, and what can be delegated without adding another bill during a difficult time.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Platte County?
File with the clerk of the Platte County Court in Columbus. The courthouse address is 2610 14th Street, Columbus, NE 68601, and the mailing address is Platte County Court, P.O. Box 538, Columbus, NE 68602. Nebraska district courts do not hear probate; the county court has exclusive original jurisdiction over decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517).
What are the Platte County Court hours?
The Platte County website lists 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Judiciary listing for Platte County does not state hours, so call 402-563-4905 before traveling to the courthouse.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Platte County?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. That is especially true if you need formal probate with notice, a real-estate sale, a disputed claim, or inheritance tax work under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004.
How much does Platte 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 uses a gross-value schedule for the Nebraska estate at death and can reach $1,500 for estates over $5,000,000.
Can I avoid probate in Platte County with an affidavit?
Possibly. After thirty days, personal property of $100,000 or less may be collected with CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, presented to the holder of the property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. Nebraska also has CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. These are separate affidavit routes, not filings that open a county court estate.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax, and who do I pay?
Yes. Nebraska has an inheritance tax under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004, and it is determined through the county court process and paid to the county. The tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2018.01).
Can I appear by phone or video in a Platte County probate hearing?
Nebraska law allows nonevidentiary hearings, and approved evidentiary hearings with the required stipulation, to be heard by telephone or videoconference when the court orders it and an accurate record is preserved (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Platte County's fifth district Remote Hearings rule requires a request at least 48 hours before the hearing and, if remote participation is authorized, contact with the court representative at least 24 hours before the hearing for instructions.
Can I fax or email a filing in Platte County?
A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing to 402-562-8158 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), which runs until July 1, 2028 unless changed by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email is for questions only and is not accepted as a filing method for court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
How do I look up a Platte County probate case?
Use the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. As of August 2026, a general case-list search has no charge, viewing case details costs $2, and frequent users can open an annual $100 Nebraska.gov subscriber account. The same case information is available without charge at courthouse kiosks and law libraries.
Do I have to travel to Columbus to start estate settlement?
Not always. You may mail filings to Platte County Court, P.O. Box 538, Columbus, NE 68602, and a person without a lawyer may use fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). If a hearing is set, ask the clerk how to request remote participation under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704 and the fifth district Remote Hearings rule.
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.