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Valley County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Valley County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Valley County Court |
| Courthouse address | 125 South 15th Street, Ord, NE 68862 |
| Mailing address | 125 South 15th Street, Ord, NE 68862 |
| Phone | 308-728-3831 |
| Fax | 308-728-7725. A person filing without a lawyer may use fax filing with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), subject to the rule's page limits and fee prepayment. |
| [email protected] for questions, not filings. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call before traveling to confirm current counter hours. |
| 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, reviewed August 2026). Confirm the current amount with the clerk of the Valley County Court before you file. |
| Local forms | Valley County does not publish a Valley-only probate packet, local cover sheet, or local court fee sheet. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch forms and ask the clerk what the court requires for your filing. |
| E-filing | A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202). A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 describes optional non-attorney electronic filing registration only when the Supreme Court-approved technology is available, so confirm the local filing route with the clerk before relying on it. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case search runs through Nebraska.gov on the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE case management system at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general search list is free; viewing case details is $2 per case, and frequent users may use a Nebraska.gov subscriber account with an annual $100 charge, as described by the Judicial Branch and reviewed August 2026. The same case information is free at courthouse kiosks or 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 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Valley County is in the eighth county judge district, whose Rule 8-2 adds motion deadlines for remote hearing requests. |
| County judge district | Valley County is in Nebraska's eighth county judge district (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | Valley County Court: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/valley-county-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Valley County probate filing, make a practical list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, and whether there is an original will. Nebraska estate settlement turns on what property must be transferred, whether a personal representative is needed, and whether the informal route fits the facts.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, which can help you find accounts before you pay a filing fee or prepare an application. That asset picture also helps decide whether a no-probate affidavit may be enough or whether a Valley County Court case is needed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Valley County is filed with the clerk of the Valley County Court at the courthouse in Ord. 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).
Valley County sits in Nebraska's eighth 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. § 24-502, § 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, for a non-Nebraska domiciliary, in a Nebraska county where the decedent's property was located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the filing track. An informal probate uses an application to the registrar, whose acts may be performed by a county judge or by a person designated by written court order; the application is delivered to the clerk of the Valley County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216). A formal probate uses a petition to the court and proceeds with notice.
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, names and addresses of heirs and devisees, a list of assets and debts, and any facts needed to show Valley County venue under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410.
- File with the clerk of the Valley County Court at 125 South 15th Street in Ord, by mail, in person, or, for a person without a lawyer, by fax filing with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). A Nebraska attorney must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202.
- Pay the filing fee required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125, reviewed August 2026. Informal probate begins at the statutory $22 base fee when commenced and closed informally; formal probate uses the statutory gross-value schedule.
- For informal probate, wait until at least 120 hours have elapsed after death before the registrar issues the written statement of informal probate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- After appointment of a personal representative, the clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within thirty days after appointment; creditor claims are generally barred if not presented within two months after first publication when notice is given as required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485).
- Give any required notice involving the Department of Health and Human Services if the decedent was fifty-five or older or resided in a medical institution, because a nonconforming notice is void under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483.
- Ask the court about any hearing and any remote hearing request. Valley County's eighth county judge district Rule 8-2 requires court approval and specific motion timing for remote hearing requests, in addition to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704.
- Once the appointment is granted, the court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. The court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without charge under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125.
- Administer the estate, prepare any inventory or tax materials required for the case, address Nebraska inheritance tax within twelve months after the date of death, and complete the court steps needed to distribute property and close the estate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2004).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Valley County
Nebraska provides a partial statewide estate form set, but Valley County does not publish its own local probate packet, local cover sheet, or local fee sheet. The statewide forms most often relevant to no-probate transfers are CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, tied to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and revised July 2022, and CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, tied to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 and revised October 2025.
The Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate is presented to the holder of the property, not to the Valley County Court, and applies only when the statutory conditions are met, including the $100,000 personal-property ceiling and the thirty-day timing under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, reviewed August 2026. The Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded with the Valley County Register of Deeds when the real-property statute applies (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129).
The Nebraska Judicial Branch also provides a Flowchart for Informal Probate Filed with a Will on its estates self-help page at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates. That flowchart is for an uncontested testate informal case and does not cover every estate settlement. The Judicial Branch does not provide a ready-made application or petition for opening every estate, and the clerk of the Valley County Court cannot create one for you.
If you file by fax as a person without a lawyer, the uniform fax cover sheet must be the first page under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). Ask the clerk before sending more than the rule allows.
Local nuance
Valley County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Valley County filing |
|---|---|
| 4:00 p.m. closing time | The Valley County Court lists public counter hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call before traveling, especially if you need to file near the end of the day. |
| No Valley-only court packet | Valley County does not publish a local probate packet, local cover sheet, or local fee sheet on its county government website. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate materials and confirm local filing mechanics with the clerk. |
| Eighth district remote hearing rule | Rule 8-2 for Nebraska's eighth county judge district requires court approval for remote hearing requests under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. For non-evidentiary matters, the rule uses a 5-day motion deadline when the hearing is to be scheduled remotely and a 3-day deadline to request remote participation in a hearing not originally scheduled that way; a remote evidentiary hearing without live witness testimony uses a 7-day motion deadline and requires exhibits 2 business days before the hearing. |
| Separate land office | The Valley County Register of Deeds is a separate office from the Valley County Court. If the real-property affidavit route applies, the Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, not opened as a county court case. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Valley County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming how the home is titled and what assets are outside joint ownership. If a personal representative is needed, file in the Valley County Court in Ord. If only a limited no-probate transfer is needed, compare the personal-property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and the real-property affidavit recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title questions for an attorney, and prepare an estate settlement plan before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Do not assume a court case is required. If only personal property is involved, the Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate may be presented to the holder after 30 days if the $100,000 statutory conditions are met (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, reviewed August 2026). If a Valley County Court case is needed, ask the clerk about mail filing or fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). | Sunset searches for financial accounts, helps sort which institutions need paperwork, and can connect the family with a Nebraska attorney when the affidavit route is not enough. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate usually calls for careful attorney review and may require formal probate with notice in the Valley County Court. A clerk magistrate may hear some uncontested estate matters, but matters involving authorization to sell or mortgage real estate are not handled by a clerk magistrate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-519 and § 24-507. | Sunset helps build the asset list, gather documents for the court or attorney, and keep the estate settlement organized through sale and distribution. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | Virtual self-help center with court process information, filing rules, fax filing guidance, and the no-email-filing rule. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help |
| Nebraska Judicial Branch estates section | Estate process information, claims against estates, deposit of will information, the informal-probate flowchart, and the two no-probate affidavit forms. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates |
| Additional information for estates | Explains that estate filings often need an attorney's help, but the law allows self-representation, and explains limits of the self-help materials. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates |
| Master forms list | Searchable 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. | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/forms |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | 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 serves people age 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. See legalaidofnebraska.org. | https://legalaidofnebraska.org/how-we-help/ |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | Free Legal Answers at ne.freelegalanswers.org lets qualifying users submit civil legal questions for Nebraska-licensed volunteer lawyers. Its published topic list does not include estates, and volunteers do not represent users in court. | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| Limited Scope Representation | Nebraska Judicial Branch information about hiring a lawyer for part of a case rather than the entire 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 self-representation. 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 a Valley County estate has contested heirs, real estate to sell, creditor disputes, inheritance tax questions under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004, or a formal probate with notice. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, and other assets that can change the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for a Valley County Court filing, including assets, debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and court-ready summaries for the personal representative or attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Nebraska filing needs legal judgment, Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney who can advise on informal probate, formal probate with notice, real estate, and inheritance tax.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the next steps, collect documents, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Valley County, Nebraska?
File with the clerk of the Valley County Court at 125 South 15th Street, Ord, NE 68862. 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 Valley County Court hours?
The Valley County Court lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 308-728-3831 before you travel, especially if you need to file near closing time.
Do I need a lawyer for Valley County probate?
Nebraska law allows self-representation, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch says filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help. A lawyer is especially helpful for formal probate with notice, disputes, real estate sales, creditor issues, and Nebraska inheritance tax questions under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004.
How much does probate cost in Valley County?
The county court probate filing fee is set by Nebraska statute, not locally. As reviewed August 2026, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125 sets $22 for a probate proceeding commenced and closed informally, with formal probate charged under a gross-value schedule that runs from $22 for estates of $1,000 or less to $1,500 for estates over $5,000,000.
Can I avoid opening a Valley County Court case with an affidavit?
Sometimes. For personal property, the Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate may be presented to the holder after 30 days if the $100,000 statutory conditions are met (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125, reviewed August 2026). For Nebraska real property, a separate Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded with the register of deeds if the requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129 are met.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax, and who handles it in Valley County?
Yes. Nebraska inheritance tax is determined through the county court and 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 request a phone or video appearance in Valley County Court?
You may request a remote hearing, but it is not automatic. Nebraska law allows telephone or videoconference hearings in the county court under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704, and Valley County's eighth county judge district Rule 8-2 requires court approval plus motion deadlines, including 5 days for a non-evidentiary hearing scheduled remotely, 3 days to request remote participation in a hearing not originally scheduled that way, and 7 days for certain evidentiary hearings without live witness testimony.
Can I file Valley County probate papers by fax or email?
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). Nebraska attorneys must use electronic filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska court cases (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212), so use the clerk's email only for questions.
How do I look up a Valley County probate case?
Nebraska trial court case information is available through Nebraska.gov's JUSTICE search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. General search lists are free, viewing case details is $2 per case, and frequent users may use a Nebraska.gov subscriber account with an annual $100 charge, as described by the Judicial Branch and reviewed August 2026.
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.