Lincoln trusts-and-estates and business firm in Lancaster County, with satellite offices in Omaha and Grand Island. Its attorneys guide fiduciaries through probate and estate administration, and handle guardianships, conservatorships, and Nebraska inheritance tax and federal estate tax planning.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Lancaster County, Nebraska
How probate works in Lancaster County: the County Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Lancaster County Court
Lancaster County · 3
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
575 South 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508
Website
Files probate
Probate, Adoption & Condemnation Division
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys must e-file in every Nebraska county court through eFileNeb. People without a lawyer may file on paper in person or by mail, or by fax with the court's cover sheet, and an emailed document is not a filing. On paper: People without a lawyer may file on paper in person, by mail, or by fax until July 1, 2028; An original will or other original document a statute requires is delivered to the clerk after its scanned copy is e-filed.
Self-represented filing
AllowedNebraska law allows a person to handle an estate in county court without a lawyer. The Supreme Court's self-help center publishes estate forms, including the affidavits for collecting a small estate without probate, but not forms for every step. A person filing without a lawyer registers an email address with the court to receive its notices.
Fax
1-402-441-6055
Departments
- Probate, Adoption & Condemnation Division1-402-441-7443 · Takes probate filingsThe division of the Lancaster County Court that handles probate, adoption and condemnation cases.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Lancaster County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Lancaster County, probate runs through the County Court at 575 South 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Lincoln. The court sits in the 3.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Nebraska intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Nebraska estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 2 monthsNeb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-520.01, 30-2483, 30-2485, 30-2486, 30-2487Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Lancaster County
What probate costs in Lancaster County, Nebraska comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the County Court at 575 South 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Lincoln. The court is part of the 3.
Nebraska charges $44 - $1,670 (based on estate value)Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Nebraska are negotiated, typically 1.7%Modeled estimate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2482 (reasonable compensation determined by court): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2482 (reasonable compensation determined by court): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Nebraska allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payNeb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2480 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Nebraska requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2446Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Nebraska typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the County Court
Probate cases in Lancaster County, Nebraska are filed at the Probate, Adoption & Condemnation Division of the County Court. The court sits in the 3.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Nebraska has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableNeb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2414Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Lancaster County Self-Filing Assessment.
What to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the County Court: Original Last Will and Testament (testate cases; in the possession of the court, accompanying the application, or delivered within 10 days of filing); Verified Application for Informal Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative (or Petition for Formal Probate); Notice of Informal Probate and Notice to Creditors for publication; Statement of acceptance of the duties of the office (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2444; flowchart AD 2:26 shows Acceptance of Appointment within 10 days of appointment); Bond, unless excused under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2446(1)Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-2414 to 30-2418 (informal probate), §§ 30-2424 to 30-2429 (informal appointment / formal testacy and appointment), §§ 30-2444 to 30-2446 (qualification, acceptance, bond)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Lancaster County
In Lancaster County certified copies of the death certificate come from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - Vital Records
Lancaster County · State vital records office
Phone
Office
Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South, 1st Floor, Lincoln, NE 68509
Website
Certified copies
From Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - Vital Records
Nebraska Vital Records
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $16 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Lancaster County · Lancaster County Attorney
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
605 South 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Lincoln, NE 68508
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-402-441-7336
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Lancaster County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Lancaster County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 500 West O Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. Phone: 1-402-441-7463. Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to 555 South 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.
The Register of Deeds charges $10 for the first page plus $6 for each additional page.
Lancaster County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Lancaster County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
500 West O Street, Lincoln, NE 68508
E-recording
555 South 10th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $10 |
| Each additional page | $6 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-109
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Lancaster County
Nebraska allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Lancaster County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Nebraska are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Lancaster County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the County Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Lincoln firm in Lancaster County, founded in 1974, practicing personal injury, business law, and estate planning. Assists families with the administration and probate of an estate, and drafts wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents.
Lincoln firm in Lancaster County, near the Capitol building downtown, serving clients across Nebraska since 1962. Guides personal representatives through probate and handles conservatorships, along with wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Partner Steven E. Guenzel concentrates his practice on wills, trusts, and estates, including special needs trusts.
Beatrice firm in Gage County with a Fairbury office, successor to the Law Offices of Merrell Andersen, serving Jefferson, Saline, Gage, Johnson, and Lancaster Counties. Handles probate and trust administration, including the inheritance tax determination, on a flat fee schedule based on estate value. Offers a free initial consultation, remote meetings, and English and Spanish service.
Beatrice firm in Gage County with roots to 1885, serving towns including Crete, Fairbury, Pawnee City, Falls City, and Tecumseh. Guides executors and trustees through probate and trust administration, prepares fiduciary, final, and Nebraska inheritance tax returns, and handles will and trust contests. Associate Nolan W. Schafer is both an attorney and a CPA.
Lincoln office on P Street, serving Lancaster County, of a firm whose other office is in Chandler, Arizona; Justin J. Cook is its Nebraska-licensed attorney. Handles probate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, estate planning, and guardianships and conservatorships, alongside commercial and tort litigation. Offers a free 30-minute consultation and virtual meetings.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2414
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2480 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-125
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-520.01, 30-2483, 30-2485, 30-2486, 30-2487
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-2414 to 30-2418 (informal probate), §§ 30-2424 to 30-2429 (informal appointment / formal testacy and appointment), §§ 30-2444 to 30-2446 (qualification, acceptance, bond)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-109
- Lancaster County Court, official page
- Lancaster County Register of Deeds, official page
- Lancaster County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Nebraska statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Nebraska
Free tools for settling an estate in Nebraska: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Nebraska.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Nebraska: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysNeb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-2467, 30-2468, 30-2469Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 2 monthsNeb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-520.01, 30-2483, 30-2485, 30-2486, 30-2487Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Nebraska happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeNeb. Rev. Stat. § 30-3801 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysNeb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-3809, 30-3878, 30-3894Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Nebraska has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableNeb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2414Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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