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Sarpy County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Sarpy County Court |
| Courthouse address | Sarpy County Court, 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion, NE 68046 |
| Mailing address | Use 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion, NE 68046, and confirm with the clerk of the Sarpy County Court before mailing an original will. |
| Phone | 402-593-5775 |
| Fax | 402-593-2193 |
| [email protected] for questions, not filings. Sarpy County also publishes [email protected]. Nebraska Supreme Court rules do not allow filings by email (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 402-593-5775 before traveling because hours can change. |
| Filing fee | $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). The Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026 puts the counter total for an informal probate at $44.00, or $45.00 where there is a will, because statutory court costs are added. Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Sarpy County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | The Sarpy County Court does not publish a local probate form, local cover sheet, or local checklist. Use the statewide forms that apply, including CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, and the fax cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601. |
| 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, which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028. Optional non-attorney electronic filing registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 should be confirmed with the clerk before relying on it. |
| 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. General searches for lists of cases are free; viewing case details is $2, current as of August 2026, with no extra charge for document images. A one-time party-name search is $17, current as of August 2026, for up to 30 records, and frequent users can open a Nebraska.gov subscriber account for an annual $100, current as of 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). Sarpy County is in the 2nd county judge district, whose county court local rules presume in-person appearance and require a motion to appear remotely by video conferencing at least three business days before the hearing. |
| County judge district | 2nd county judge district. District 2 covers Sarpy, Cass, and Otoe counties and assigns county judges and local rules only; a Sarpy County estate is filed in Sarpy County (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | Court page: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/sarpy-county-court. County page: https://www.sarpy.gov/375/County-Court. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you go to Suite 3142 in Papillion, identify what the estate owns and owes. In Sarpy County, the amount matters because a formal probate fee is keyed to the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death, meaning actual value less liens and joint tenancy property (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125), and the asset list also supports the inheritance tax worksheet.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, so a Sarpy County family can see accounts, balances, and debts before choosing an affidavit route, an informal proceeding, or a formal proceeding. That asset picture is part of practical estate settlement because creditor claims are barred unless presented within two months after first publication of notice (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485), and the inheritance tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2004).
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Sarpy County is filed with the clerk of the Sarpy County Court at the county courthouse in Papillion. The filing address is 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion, NE 68046.
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). Sarpy County's courthouse building also contains another court's suite, so use Suite 3142 for estate filings.
Sarpy County sits in Nebraska's 2nd county judge district, which is how county judges and the county court's local rules are assigned; the case itself is filed at Sarpy County's own courthouse in Papillion (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502, § 24-503). District 2 covers Sarpy, Cass, and Otoe counties and has four county judges (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 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's property was located at death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410). Sarpy County communities include Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, and Springfield.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing track. An informal proceeding is an application to the registrar; 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 Sarpy County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). A formal probate starts with a petition to the court and proceeds with notice.
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, and the names and addresses of the surviving spouse, children, heirs, and devisees.
- Deliver the application or petition to the clerk of the Sarpy County Court at 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion. A Nebraska attorney files electronically (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). A person filing without a lawyer may file at the courthouse, by mail to the same address, or by fax to 402-593-2193 with the uniform cover sheet as the first page, which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028 (Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601). Email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
- Pay the filing fee. 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; a formal probate is charged on the gross value schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026 puts the informal counter total at $44.00, or $45.00 where there is a will, because statutory court costs are added.
- For informal probate, the registrar issues a written statement of informal probate once at least one hundred twenty hours have elapsed since the death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415). For an unopposed formal testacy petition, the court may order probate on the pleadings instead of holding a hearing in open court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2429).
- If a hearing is set and you cannot come to Papillion, file a motion to appear remotely by video conferencing at least three business days before the hearing. Nebraska law permits telephone or videoconference hearings within the limits of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, and the District 2 county court rule says the judge rules on the motion case by case.
- After appointment, letters testamentary, if there is a will, or letters of administration, if there is not, are issued to the personal representative. The court provides one certified copy of the letters of appointment without charge (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125).
- The clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with the first publication within thirty days after appointment. The personal representative or attorney must mail the published notice and prove the mailing, and claims are barred unless presented within two months after the date of first publication (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485).
- Give notice to the Department of Health and Human Services if the decedent was fifty-five or older, or resided in a medical institution. A notice that does not conform is void (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483).
- Prepare the inventory, collect assets, pay allowed claims, and account to the people entitled to the estate.
- Have the Nebraska inheritance tax determined. The Sarpy County Court determines the tax 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, § 77-2004). Sarpy County also has a county attorney inheritance tax review process for worksheets and petitions.
- Distribute what remains and close the estate by closing statement or by the closing route the court directs (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
- If the only Sarpy County asset that needs to move is real property and no personal representative is being appointed, the route is not a county court filing. The successor records the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, form CC 15:41, with the register of deeds of the county where the land is located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). In Sarpy County, that office is at 1102 E. 1st Street in Papillion.
Executor duties
These are local additions to the statewide duties of a personal representative in a Sarpy County estate settlement.
- Use the right suite. Estate filings and estate questions go to the clerk of the Sarpy County Court at 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion, or to 402-593-5775.
- Watch the 4:45 p.m. closing time. The clerk's office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, and hours can change.
- Plan for Sarpy County inheritance tax review. The county attorney's office generally reviews inheritance tax petitions between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, but attorney availability is not guaranteed. Make an appointment or call 402-593-2230 before arriving. Worksheets and attachments, including the inventory, may be sent to [email protected], by mail, or by fax to 402-593-4359. That office cannot file documents, accept filing fees, give legal advice, or supply the inheritance tax form. The tax is due twelve months after the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2004).
- If Sarpy County real property must be transferred or sold, use the Sarpy County Register of Deeds at the Sarpy County 1102 Building, 1102 E. 1st Street, Papillion, 402-593-2105. The office lists recording charges of $10 for the first page and $6 for each additional page, as published with no effective date shown; those are recording charges, not county court filing fees (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129).
- If you cannot attend a hearing in Papillion, file the motion to appear remotely by video conferencing at least three business days before the hearing, and be prepared to appear in person if the judge denies the motion or has not ruled before the hearing date (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Sarpy County
The Sarpy County Court does not publish a local probate form, local cover sheet, or local checklist. The Judicial Branch does publish some statewide estate forms, but it does not supply a fill-in application for informal probate, a petition for formal probate, Letters, or an inventory form for starting and administering every estate.
| Form or resource | Use |
|---|---|
| CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022 | Used for the personal-property affidavit route under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. URL: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-40.pdf |
| CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025 | Recorded with the register of deeds for the county where the land is located under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. URL: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-41.pdf |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | Required as the first page for a fax filing by a person without a lawyer (Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601). URL: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/Ch6Art6App1.pdf |
| Flowchart for Informal Probate Filed with a Will (Testate) | A nebraskajudicial.gov 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. URL: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/AD-2-26.pdf |
| Nebraska Master Forms List | The statewide form index. URL: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/forms |
Sarpy County's inheritance tax review page also says that the county attorney's office does not have inheritance tax forms and cannot give legal advice. If the estate needs an application, petition, tax worksheet, or sale authority drafted, build that document carefully or work with a Nebraska attorney.
Local nuance
Sarpy County-specific considerations
- Use Suite 3142. The Sarpy County Court is at 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion. The county website also has pages for court filing fees, court calendars, and motion days that belong to the district court in the same building, not to the county court that hears estates. For probate, use Suite 3142.
- Sarpy uses a judicial administrator. In Sarpy County, the county court's administrative office is held by a judicial administrator. Write to or call the clerk of the Sarpy County Court, and do not expect court employees to draft your filing.
- The court closes at 4:45 p.m. Sarpy County and the Judicial Branch both list the county court hours as 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. No midday closure or filing cutoff is published for this court.
- Sarpy County has a local inheritance tax review process. The county attorney's office reviews inheritance tax petitions generally between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with attorney availability not guaranteed. Call 402-593-2230 or make an appointment before arriving. Worksheets and attachments may be sent to [email protected], by mail, or by fax to 402-593-4359. That office cannot file documents, accept filing fees, give legal advice, or supply the form (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2018.01, § 77-2004).
- The Sarpy County Register of Deeds is in another building. A real-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 is recorded with the Sarpy County Register of Deeds at the Sarpy County 1102 Building, 1102 E. 1st Street, Papillion, 402-593-2105. The office lists recording charges of $10 for the first page and $6 for each additional page, with no effective date shown; those charges are not county court filing fees.
Recent updates
| Change | Date |
|---|---|
| The county court local rules for Nebraska's 2nd county judge district, which covers Sarpy County, include a remote-hearing protocol for all county court proceedings. The rule presumes in-person appearance and requires a motion to appear remotely by video conferencing at least three business days before the hearing, with the judge ruling case by case (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). | Effective January 1, 2022; approved February 22, 2023; amended March 15, 2023 |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Sarpy County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the Papillion, Bellevue, or other Sarpy County home was held in joint tenancy, the house may not be what drives the county court case because joint tenancy property is excluded from the gross value used for the formal fee under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The spouse still needs to identify accounts, vehicles, debts, and beneficiary designations. If a personal representative is needed, the application for an informal proceeding goes to the clerk of the Sarpy County Court in Suite 3142, and the registrar can act after one hundred twenty hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415, § 30-2216). Interests passing to a surviving spouse are not subject to Nebraska inheritance tax, but the determination still belongs in the county process (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004). | Sunset finds accounts and balances across more than 2,300 institutions so the spouse can see whether estate settlement requires a county court filing or whether nonprobate transfers already move the property. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the parent was domiciled in Sarpy County at death, venue is here even if the child lives elsewhere (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410). If the personal-property affidavit route fits, the claiming successor presents CC 15:40 to the bank, employer, or transfer agent that holds the property, and that affidavit is not filed with the court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). If a case must be opened, a person without a lawyer may mail documents to Suite 3142 or fax them to 402-593-2193 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601, which every Nebraska court must accept until July 1, 2028. If a hearing is set, the District 2 rule allows a motion to appear remotely by video conferencing at least three business days before the hearing, subject to the judge's ruling (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). | Sunset assembles the asset picture remotely, so an adult child can decide whether an affidavit or a county court estate settlement is needed before traveling to Papillion. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a Sarpy County home must be sold, open the estate in the Sarpy County Court so Letters can issue to a personal representative with authority to act. The real-property affidavit route transfers title to a successor and is recorded with the register of deeds, but it is not a court sale route (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). When a deed must be recorded, use the Sarpy County Register of Deeds at 1102 E. 1st Street in Papillion. The inheritance tax determination is due twelve months after the date of death, and Sarpy County's county attorney review asks for the worksheet and inventory attachments (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2004). | Sunset builds the asset and liability picture, including debts tied to the home, so the parent can approach the estate settlement knowing what the sale must cover. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Sarpy County Court | Address, phone 402-593-5775, fax 402-593-2193, hours, and the court email for questions. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/sarpy-county-court |
| Sarpy County's County Court page | Suite 3142, the same phone, fax, and hours, and a link to the Nebraska court calendar search. | https://www.sarpy.gov/375/County-Court |
| Sarpy County Attorney inheritance tax review | Review process for inheritance tax petitions, appointment phone 402-593-2230, email [email protected], fax 402-593-4359, and the office's limits on filing documents, taking fees, supplying forms, or giving legal advice (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004). | https://www.sarpy.gov/314/Inheritance-Tax-Review |
| Sarpy County Register of Deeds | Records real-property affidavits and estate deeds at 1102 E. 1st Street in Papillion under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. | https://www.sarpy.gov/220/Register-of-Deeds-Services-County-Clerk |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | The Judicial Branch's virtual self-help center. It explains fax filing, no email filing, and court employee limits. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
| Estates section | Information on estate processes, claims, deposit of a will, affidavits, and the informal-probate flowchart on nebraskajudicial.gov. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates |
| Additional Information: Estates | The Judicial Branch's own explanation that the law allows self-representation and that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates |
| Nebraska court calendar search | Free lookup of an upcoming Sarpy County Court date by county court and either date or last name. An empty result does not necessarily mean there is no court date. | https://www.nebraska.gov/courts/calendar/index.cgi |
| Statewide trial court case search | JUSTICE case search through Nebraska.gov. General searches are free; viewing details is $2, current as of August 2026; a one-time party-name search is $17, current as of August 2026; frequent users can open an annual $100 Nebraska.gov account, current as of August 2026. | https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | 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, and ElderAccessLine 1.800.527.7249 for people 60 and over in all 93 counties. Screening depends on household income, assets, and legal issue; the published practice areas are family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and the organization takes no walk-ins. | https://legalaidofnebraska.org/call-for-help.html |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | A free virtual clinic at ne.freelegalanswers.org where a Nebraska-licensed volunteer attorney answers a civil legal question in writing. Its topic list does not include estates, and volunteers cannot call you or represent you in court. | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Limited Scope Representation | A nebraskajudicial.gov resource for hiring a lawyer to handle part of a case rather than the whole matter. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
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 you to represent yourself. 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 Sarpy County, counsel often makes sense when the opening application or petition must be drafted, when the county attorney's inheritance tax review is involved, when real property will be sold, or when any beneficiary, creditor, or will issue is contested. Nebraska's Limited Scope Representation materials on nebraskajudicial.gov can also help families hire a lawyer for part of a case. 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 to help families identify accounts, balances, debts, and beneficiary designations before they choose an estate settlement path in Sarpy County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Sarpy County Court, including asset lists, family information, and documents that support the filing. That matters in Nebraska because neither the Judicial Branch nor the clerk of the Sarpy County Court supplies a fill-in document for starting every estate, and Sarpy County's inheritance tax review does not supply the tax form.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs drafted pleadings, a sale of real property, inheritance tax work, or help with a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Sarpy County probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate, prepare for the next step, and decide whether to file themselves or work with counsel, without paying Sunset for the estate settlement support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Sarpy County, Nebraska?
File with the clerk of the Sarpy County Court at 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion, NE 68046. Call 402-593-5775 with procedural questions. 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). Venue follows the decedent's domicile at death, or property location for a non-Nebraska domiciliary (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
What are the clerk's hours at the Sarpy County Court?
The Sarpy County Court is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. No midday closure or filing cutoff is published for this court. Call 402-593-5775 before traveling because hours can change.
Do I need a lawyer to settle an estate in Sarpy County?
Nebraska law allows you to represent yourself, and the Judicial Branch also says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. Sarpy County adds two practical reasons to consider counsel: the Judicial Branch does not supply a fill-in document for starting every estate, and the Sarpy County Attorney's inheritance tax review page says that office does not have inheritance tax forms and cannot give legal advice. Limited Scope Representation materials are available through nebraskajudicial.gov if you need help with part of the case.
How much does it cost to file probate in Sarpy County?
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. The Judicial Branch schedule effective July 1, 2026 puts the counter total for an informal probate at $44.00, or $45.00 where there is a will, because statutory court costs are added; each later informal filing totals $24.00 under that schedule. 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). One certified copy of the letters of appointment is provided without charge (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). Confirm the current amount with the clerk before filing.
Can I file by fax or by email in Sarpy County?
A person without a Nebraska attorney may fax a filing to the Sarpy County Court at 402-593-2193 with the uniform cover sheet as the first page. The fax must be fewer than 10 pages not counting the cover sheet, unless the clerk approves more pages, and every Nebraska court must accept fax filing from non-attorneys until July 1, 2028 (Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601). Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska courts (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). A Nebraska attorney must file electronically (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202).
Can I appear by phone or video for a probate hearing in Sarpy County?
Nebraska law allows county courts to hear nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, by telephone or videoconference in a way that preserves an accurate record (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). District 2 county court rules presume in-person appearance. To ask to appear remotely by video conferencing, an attorney or self-represented litigant files a motion at least three business days before the hearing; the judge rules case by case. If the judge denies the motion or has not ruled before the hearing, the person who asked is expected to appear in person.
Is there always a hearing in a Sarpy County probate case?
No. An informal proceeding is conducted without notice to interested persons, and the registrar issues a written statement of informal probate once one hundred twenty hours have elapsed since death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415, § 30-2216). An unopposed formal testacy petition may be decided on the pleadings rather than in open court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2429). If a hearing is set, ask the clerk of the Sarpy County Court for the date and location; Sarpy County does not publish a county court probate hearing day.
How do I look up a Sarpy County probate case or find my court date?
For an upcoming court date, use the Nebraska court calendar search at https://www.nebraska.gov/courts/calendar/index.cgi, which includes the Sarpy County Court. It has no charge, and an empty result does not necessarily mean there is no court date. For case information, use the statewide JUSTICE search through Nebraska.gov at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. General searches for lists of cases are free; viewing case details is $2, current as of August 2026, with no extra charge for document images; a one-time party-name search is $17, current as of August 2026; and a frequent-user account is an annual $100, current as of August 2026. The same case information is free at any courthouse kiosk or law library.
Are there local probate forms for Sarpy County?
The Sarpy County Court does not publish a local probate form or local cover sheet. The statewide set includes CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, and CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025, under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. The uniform fax cover sheet is required for fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601. The Judicial Branch does not supply a fill-in application or petition for starting every estate case.
Can I avoid probate in Sarpy County with an affidavit?
Sometimes, depending on the property. The personal-property affidavit, form CC 15:40, is presented to the bank, employer, transfer agent, or other holder of the property and is not filed with the court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). The real-property affidavit, form CC 15:41, is recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the land is located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). In Sarpy County, that office is at the Sarpy County 1102 Building, 1102 E. 1st Street, Papillion, 402-593-2105. Each affidavit route has its own statutory ceiling and timing rules, and neither route is a court sale of the house.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax on a Sarpy County estate, and who do I pay?
Yes. Nebraska is one of the few states with an inheritance tax, and it is a county tax: the Sarpy 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, § 77-2004). 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). Interests passing to a surviving spouse are not subject to the tax. In Sarpy County, the county attorney's office reviews inheritance tax petitions by appointment or phone coordination at 402-593-2230 and accepts worksheets with attachments by email to [email protected], by mail, or by fax to 402-593-4359. There is no Nebraska estate tax for a death on or after January 1, 2007 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2101.01).
Do I have to travel to Papillion to settle a Sarpy County estate?
Not for every step. A person without a Nebraska attorney may file in person at Suite 3142, by mail to 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 3142, Papillion, NE 68046, or by fax to 402-593-2193 with the uniform cover sheet (Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601). If a hearing is set, you may ask to appear remotely by video conferencing by filing a motion at least three business days before the hearing, and the judge rules case by case (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). If Sarpy County real property must be recorded, the register of deeds is in a different building at 1102 E. 1st Street (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129).
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.