Estate Planning for Adams County, Nebraska Property Owners

For most Adams County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Adams County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the County Court. The two tools that keep a Adams County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Register of Deeds, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Adams County property passes through the County Court — even simple Nebraska probates run 4+ months and start with $44 in filing fees. Nebraska also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Adams County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Adams County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Register of Deeds during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Nebraska transfer on death deed is signed with 2Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-3401 to 76-3424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source witnesses and notary acknowledgmentNeb. Rev. Stat. 76-3401 to 76-3424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded within 30 daysNeb. Rev. Stat. 76-3401 to 76-3424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source of signing and before the owner's deathNeb. Rev. Stat. 76-3401 to 76-3424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a NebraskaTOD deed →Adams Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Adams County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Register of Deeds Byron Morrow, at 500 N. Denver Ave, Hastings, NE 68901. Phone: 402-461-7148. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 203, Hastings, NE 68902-0203.

The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first page plus $6 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Adams County comes to $16. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Adams County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Adams County · Register of Deeds · Byron Morrow

Address

500 N. Denver AveHastings, NE 68901Mailing: P.O. Box 203, Hastings, NE 68902-0203

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

E-recording

Available via SimplifileE-recording info →

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$10
Each additional page$6
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-109

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 7, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Adams County

FirmHastings, NE

Skalka, Baack & Fiala

Serves 9 counties

Hastings firm serving Adams County and central Nebraska, focused on estate planning and administration, real estate, and business formation. Handles wills, trusts, probate and trust administration, Medicaid planning, special-needs planning, TOD deeds, and inheritance and estate tax filings. Founding partner Matthew Baack concentrates on estate, trust, and business-succession planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more

Office
200 North Burlington, Suite 100Hastings, NE 68901

FirmKearney, NE

Stamm Romero & Associates, PC, LLO

Serves 3 counties

Kearney firm handling estate planning, trusts, probate, and wills for central Nebraska, including Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Lexington, and North Platte. Partners Vikki Stamm and Michele Romero also handle family law, adoption, and real estate matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
3720 Avenue A, Suite CKearney, NE 68847
Free consultation

FirmHastings, NE

Sullivan Shoemaker P.C., L.L.O.

Serves 3 counties

Hastings firm serving Adams County and south-central Nebraska. Handles wills, trusts, probate, will contests, inheritance tax, powers of attorney, guardianships, and elder and Medicaid planning. D. Charles Shoemaker focuses on estate administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianships ConservatorshipsProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
747 N Burlington Avenue, Suite 305Hastings, NE 68901

FirmOmaha, NE

Fraser Stryker PC LLO

Since 1898 · Serves 3 counties

Omaha firm founded in 1898 with one of Nebraska's larger trusts and estates groups, serving families statewide from Omaha and Hastings. Handles probate, estate and trust administration, and trust and estate litigation, advising personal representatives, trustees, and other fiduciaries. Ten attorneys carry the estate practice, backed by in-house tax and business-succession lawyers.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationBusiness SuccessionProbate Administration

Office
1501 Mike Fahey Street, Suite 400Omaha, NE 68102

FirmOmaha, NE

Smith Pauley LLP

Serves 4 counties

Omaha and Hastings firm formed when Kellogg & Palzer and MCM Law Office merged into Smith Pauley in 2025. Handles estate and wealth-transfer planning, probate, and trust administration for personal representatives and trustees across eastern and south-central Nebraska. Jeffrey and Julia Palzer (Omaha) and Daniel McMahon (Hastings) lead the estate work.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationBusiness SuccessionProbate Administration

Office
3555 Farnam Street, Suite 1000Omaha, NE 68131

FirmLincoln, NE

Ball, Loudon, Ebert & Brostrom, LLC

Serves 3 counties

Boutique estate and business firm in Lincoln working in the Lancaster County courts. The team handles will and trust administration, guides fiduciaries through probate, and manages estate transfers ranging from simple wills to tax-driven planning for larger estates. Trusts and estates is one of its two core focus areas alongside business and commercial law.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate Administration

Office
3701 Union Drive, Suite 200Lincoln, NE 68516
See all 10 firms serving Adams County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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