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Washington County, NE Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Washington County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Washington County Court |
| Courthouse address | 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008 |
| Mailing address | 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008 |
| Phone | 402-426-6833 |
| Fax | 402-426-6840 |
| [email protected], for questions, not filings. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska courts (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212). | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Filing fee | $22 statutory base 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 of the Nebraska estate at death, from $22 on estates of $1,000 or less to $1,500 over $5,000,000. The statewide fee schedule is effective July 1, 2026, and the fee statute is Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. Confirm the counter total with the clerk before you file. |
| Local forms | No Washington County-specific probate packet is published. Nebraska publishes selected estate forms, including CC 15:40 for personal property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and CC 15:41 for real property under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| E-filing | Nebraska attorneys file electronically under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax with the required cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), accepted by every Nebraska court until July 1, 2028. Ask the clerk whether non-attorney electronic registration under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-216 is open before relying on it. |
| Case search | Statewide trial court case information runs through Nebraska.gov's JUSTICE system at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general list search has no charge; viewing case details costs $2, with no added charge for document images. A one-time party-name search costs $17 for up to 30 records, and frequent users can open an annual $100 subscriber account. The same case information is available at no charge at courthouse kiosks and law libraries. |
| Remote appearance | Nebraska law allows county court nonevidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Washington County is in Nebraska's sixth county judge district, whose Rule 6.7 allows video or telephone participation in nontestimonial proceedings at the county judge's discretion, with a request to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing. |
| County judge district | Nebraska's sixth county judge district, which groups judges and local rules, not filing counters (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503). |
| Website | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/washington-county-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Nebraska probate track, make a working list of the person's accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, taxes, and family contacts. Washington County filings go through the county court in Blair, but the right estate settlement path depends on what has to be transferred and whether anyone is expected to object.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families search across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize liabilities, and prepare the information an attorney or self-represented filer needs before contacting the Washington County Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Washington County is filed with the clerk of the Washington County Court at 1555 Colfax Street in Blair. Blair is the county seat and courthouse city. Washington County also includes Arlington, Fort Calhoun, Herman, Kennard, and the unincorporated village named Washington.
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, located at the county seat (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-502).
Washington County sits in Nebraska's sixth county judge district with Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, and Thurston counties. The county judge district assigns judges and local rules; it does not move a Washington County filing away from Blair (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-503).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is based on the county of the decedent's domicile at death, or, for a person not domiciled in Nebraska, any Nebraska county where the decedent's property was located (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2410).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the track. Informal probate uses an application to the registrar, while formal probate uses a petition to the court with notice. 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 Washington County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2216).
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, addresses for interested persons, an initial asset and liability list, and any information needed for the Nebraska inheritance tax, which is handled through the county court and depends on the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent and the date of death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004).
- Deliver the application or petition to the clerk of the Washington County Court at 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008. A Nebraska attorney files electronically under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax to 402-426-6840 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), accepted until July 1, 2028. Email filings are not allowed (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
- Pay the filing fee under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125. The statutory base is $22 for a proceeding commenced and closed informally, and the formal fee uses the gross value of the Nebraska estate at death, with the statewide fee schedule effective July 1, 2026. Confirm the counter total with the clerk before filing.
- For informal probate, wait for the statutory earliest issuance point. The registrar may issue the written statement of informal probate only if at least 120 hours have elapsed since the decedent's death (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2415).
- After appointment, the clerk publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, with first publication within 30 days after appointment; claims covered by that notice are barred two months after the first publication (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483, § 30-2485). The party or attorney must handle the required mailing and proof of mailing.
- Give the Department of Health and Human Services notice if the decedent was 55 or older or resided in a medical institution, because a notice that does not follow the statute is void (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2483).
- Once authority is granted, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration. The court provides one certified copy of letters of appointment without extra charge in a formal probate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125.
- Administer the estate: collect assets, handle claims, maintain records, prepare the inventory, and address the Nebraska inheritance tax. The tax is due twelve months after the date of death and may be determined in the Washington County Court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010, § 77-2018.01).
- If a hearing is set and you want to participate by phone or video, ask the clerk how the Sixth county judge district's Rule 6.7 request is made to the bailiff or courtroom clerk. Rule 6.7 requires the request at least 48 hours before a nontestimonial hearing, and remote participation remains at the county judge's discretion under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704.
- When administration is complete, distribute assets and close the estate with the proper closing statement process (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,128).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washington County
Probate forms in Washington County start with Nebraska's limited estate form set, not a county packet. The Judicial Branch lists CC 15:40, Affidavit for Transfer of Personal Property without Probate, revised July 2022, for the personal property affidavit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. It also lists CC 15:41, Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate, revised October 2025, for the real property affidavit recorded with the register of deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129.
The Judicial Branch's estate form list does not include an opening application for informal probate, an opening petition for formal probate, Letters, or an inventory form. Court employees cannot prepare those documents for you or give legal advice.
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). The fax goes to the Washington County Court at 402-426-6840. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska courts (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
The Judicial Branch also publishes an informal probate flowchart for a will case, but that flowchart applies only when there is a will and the will, estate, and distribution of assets are not contested.
Local nuance
Washington County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Same courthouse building for land records | The Washington County Register of Deeds is on the first floor of the courthouse building at 1555 Colfax Street in Blair, with phone 402-426-6824. That office is where a qualifying Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property without Probate is recorded under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. It is separate from the Washington County Court's probate filing counter. |
| Sixth district remote procedure | Washington County follows the Sixth county judge district's Rule 6.7. A nontestimonial hearing may be held by video or telephone at the county judge's discretion, with a request to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing, consistent with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. |
| Clear court hours | The Washington County Court lists regular hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 402-426-6833 before traveling if a filing deadline is close. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Sixth district remote rule approved May 27, 2026 | Rule 6.7 now states the local process for video and telephone participation in nontestimonial proceedings in the Sixth county judge district, including the 48-hour request timing, alongside Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Washington County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by reviewing the deed, accounts, and debts to see what actually needs court authority. If a Washington County court estate is needed, file in the Washington County Court in Blair. If a qualifying real property affidavit is used instead, record CC 15:41 with the Washington County Register of Deeds under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize title questions for counsel, and build an estate settlement checklist before you choose the court or affidavit route. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the estate fits Nebraska's personal property affidavit route, CC 15:40 may be presented to the property holder after the statutory waiting period under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. If court authority is needed, send the filing to the Washington County Court in Blair by mail or, if filing without a lawyer, by fax with the cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). | Sunset helps find financial accounts, prepare the information needed for the affidavit or court packet, and coordinate with a Washington County probate attorney if the facts do not fit the affidavit route. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of estate real estate may require county judge involvement because a clerk magistrate's authority over uncontested estate matters does not include authorization to sell or mortgage real estate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-507, § 24-519). File the needed probate petition or application with the Washington County Court in Blair. | Sunset helps gather asset information, produce an organized estate settlement packet, and connect the family with a vetted attorney for the sale and court steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the Washington County Court | 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008. Phone 402-426-6833. Fax 402-426-6840. Email [email protected] for questions, not filings. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Court page: https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/washington-county-court |
| Washington County Court county website page | https://www.washingtoncountyne.gov/county-court. Lists the local county court contact information and identifies probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and adoption among county court matters. |
| Washington County Register of Deeds | First floor, Courthouse Building, 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE. Mailing: P.O. Box 446, Blair, NE 68008. Phone 402-426-6824. Fax 402-426-6825. Email [email protected]. This is the recording office for CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. Page: https://www.washingtoncountyne.gov/register-of-deeds |
| Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help. Explains self-represented filing routes, fax filing under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), and the rule that email filings are not allowed. |
| Estates section and Additional Information: Estates | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates and https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help/estates/additional-information-estates. Provides Nebraska estate self-help information and the informal probate flowchart. |
| Estate affidavit forms | CC 15:40 is at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-40.pdf for Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125. CC 15:41 is at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/CC-15-41.pdf for Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129. |
| Uniform fax cover sheet | https://nebraskajudicial.gov/sites/default/files/Ch6Art6App1.pdf. Use it as the first page when a person filing without a lawyer submits a court filing by fax under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B). |
| Statewide case search | https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. Nebraska.gov provides JUSTICE trial court case information. General list searches have no charge; case details cost $2; a one-time party-name search costs $17 for up to 30 records; an annual $100 subscriber account is available for frequent users. |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Statewide AccessLine 1.877.250.2016, with phone hours 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 serves people 60 and over in all 93 counties. Published practice areas are family, debt, housing, and benefits rather than estate administration, and screening starts by phone or online. https://legalaidofnebraska.org/ |
| Nebraska Free Legal Answers | https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/. Free Legal Answers lets qualifying users post civil legal questions for Nebraska-licensed volunteer attorneys; its topic list does not include estates, and volunteers do not represent users in court. |
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 that filing an estate will most often require an attorney's help, and that the Self-Help Center cannot supply forms for every situation. Limited Scope Representation information is available through nebraskajudicial.gov if you want help with only part of the matter, and Sunset connects families in Washington County to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a clearer estate settlement inventory before they file in Washington County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the application, petition, notices, inventory, and closing steps so the personal representative or attorney can move faster.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Washington County estate involves real estate, creditor issues, inheritance tax questions, or a contested filing, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Nebraska probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and decide when professional help is needed without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Washington County, Nebraska?
File with the clerk of the Washington County Court at 1555 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008. Nebraska district courts do not hear probate; a will is proved and letters are issued in the county court, which has exclusive original jurisdiction of decedents' estates (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-517).
Do I need a lawyer for a Washington 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 useful when real estate must be sold, a family member contests the filing, creditor claims are disputed, or the inheritance tax is difficult to calculate (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004).
How much does probate cost in Washington County?
The statutory base 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 of the Nebraska estate at death, with the statewide fee schedule effective July 1, 2026, from $22 on estates of $1,000 or less to $1,500 over $5,000,000 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125). Ask the clerk for the current counter total before filing.
Can I use an affidavit instead of opening probate?
Nebraska has two no-court affidavit routes. CC 15:40 covers qualifying personal property, with the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2022 Neb. Laws LB 1124, signed April 18, 2022 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125). CC 15:41 covers qualifying real property, with the $100,000 ceiling raised by 2024 Neb. Laws LB 1195, signed April 15, 2024, and is recorded with the register of deeds rather than filed with the county court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129). The two routes have separate requirements.
Can I file by fax or email in Washington County?
A person filing without a lawyer may file in person, by mail, or by fax to 402-426-6840 with the uniform cover sheet under Neb. Ct. R. § 6-601(B), accepted by every Nebraska court until July 1, 2028. Nebraska attorneys file electronically under Neb. Ct. R. § 2-202. Email filings are not allowed in Nebraska courts (Neb. Ct. R. § 2-212).
Can I appear by phone or video for a Washington County hearing?
Nebraska law allows nonevidentiary county court hearings, and evidentiary hearings approved by the court with all appearing parties' stipulation, to be heard by telephone or videoconference (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2704). Washington County's Sixth county judge district Rule 6.7 allows video or telephone participation in nontestimonial proceedings at the county judge's discretion, with a request to the bailiff or courtroom clerk at least 48 hours before the hearing.
How do I look up a Washington County probate case?
Use the Nebraska.gov JUSTICE trial court case search at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi. A general list search has no charge, viewing details costs $2, a one-time party-name search costs $17 for up to 30 records, and an annual $100 subscriber account is available for frequent users. The same case information is available at no charge at courthouse kiosks and law libraries.
Is there a Nebraska inheritance tax, and who handles it in Washington County?
Yes. Nebraska's inheritance tax is determined by the Washington 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 whether the death was before, or on or after, January 1, 2023 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2004).
What are the Washington County Court hours?
The Washington County Court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 402-426-6833 before traveling if you are close to a deadline or need to ask about a hearing.
Does Washington County publish local probate forms?
No Washington County-specific probate packet is published. Use the Nebraska Judicial Branch estate forms that fit your situation, including CC 15:40 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,125 and CC 15:41 under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-24,129, and ask the clerk what the court requires for your filing.
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.