What Probate Covers in Douglas County
Probate in Nebraska is a County Court function. The County Court jurisdiction statute at Neb. Rev. Stat. 24-517 assigns probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and adoption matters to the county court. In Douglas County, that work is done by the Probate Division of Douglas County Court at the Hall of Justice, 1701 Farnam Street, 3rd Floor, Omaha, NE 68183. The probate phone line is 402-444-7152.
Probate cases protect heirs from fraud, protect creditors who are owed money by an estate, and make sure estate taxes get paid. The division also handles the appointment of a personal representative to gather assets, pay debts, and distribute what is left. Guardianship and conservatorship cases protect people who cannot manage their own affairs. Adoption cases finalize new legal parent-child relationships.
Douglas County does not have a separate elected probate court. The county court judges hear probate alongside their other limited-jurisdiction work. That keeps probate in the same building as the County Court criminal and traffic divisions.
Douglas County Probate Terms Defined
Probate filings use words that do not show up in everyday speech. A quick guide helps when reading a Douglas County estate file or a guardianship docket.
- Testator
- The person who made the will. A testator who dies leaves a will to be proved in probate.
- Executor / Personal Representative
- The person named in the will, or appointed by the court, to settle the estate.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will. Nebraska law sets who inherits in that case.
- Guardianship
- A court relationship where a guardian makes personal and care decisions for a protected person.
- Conservatorship
- A court relationship where a conservator manages money and property for a protected person.
- Letters Testamentary
- The court order that gives a personal representative legal authority to act for the estate.
How to Search Douglas County Probate Records
Probate is one of the case types covered by the Nebraska JUSTICE one-time case search at nebraska.gov/justicecc. The paid search returns case detail, the party listing, court costs, the register of actions, and document images for files since April 16, 2008. A probate file that is not restricted is usually viewable this way.
- Open the JUSTICE one-time case search and agree to the terms.
- Search by the decedent's name, the ward's name, or the personal representative's name.
- Pay the $17 fee. Results stay available for three calendar days.
- Open the case to view the register of actions and document images.
- For records not online, contact the Probate Division at 402-444-7152 or visit the Hall of Justice.
Free in-person access is available at courthouse public terminals where offered. Nebraska court rules allow inspection of electronic court records at clerk-office terminals unless a record is restricted by law or court order.
Probate Court in Douglas County
All Douglas County probate work runs through the Probate Division of Douglas County Court. The division shares the Hall of Justice with the County Court criminal and traffic divisions, while the Civil and Small Claims Division sits a block away at the Civic Center.
Probate Division, Douglas County Court
Hall of Justice, 1701 Farnam Street, 3rd Floor
Omaha, NE 68183
402-444-7152
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Douglas County Probate Filing Fees
Probate fees in Nebraska are set by statute and the statewide fee schedule. The probate fee statute is Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-125, and the current dollar amounts are on the Nebraska Judicial Branch filing fees and court costs page.
| Item | Where Set |
|---|---|
| Original probate / estate application | Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-125 and statewide fee schedule |
| Letters testamentary or of administration | County Court probate division |
| Guardianship or conservatorship application | Statewide fee schedule |
| Certified copy | Verify per-page charge with the probate division |
| Will deposit before death | See Nebraska deposit-of-will self-help page |
The fee schedule changes from time to time, most recently effective July 1, 2025. The probate division can confirm the current charge before filing.
Small Estates and Will Deposits
Not every estate needs full probate. Nebraska allows a small-estate process that uses an affidavit to transfer personal property without opening a probate case. The Nebraska Judicial Branch affidavit for transfer of personal property without probate page explains the limits and the form.
A person can also deposit a will with the county court for safekeeping before death. The deposit a will self-help page walks through how that works in Nebraska. A deposited will stays sealed until the person dies, then it opens for probate.
What Douglas County Probate Records Show
A public probate file usually shows the case number, the decedent or ward's name, the filing date, and the case type. Estate files show the will when one exists, the order appointing a personal representative, the inventory of assets, accountings, creditor notices, and the final order of distribution. Guardianship and conservatorship files show the petition, the order appointing a guardian or conservator, and required reports.
The register of actions lists every docket event in order. It is the fastest way to see where a Douglas County probate case stands. Document images, when available through JUSTICE, let a user read the actual filings rather than just the docket text.
Restricted Probate Records
Some probate matters carry confidentiality. Adoption records are sealed by law. Guardianship and conservatorship files that involve a minor or a protected person's medical and financial information may be redacted. Mental health commitment records are handled under separate confidentiality rules.
Note: A sealed adoption or a protected-person file will not appear in full on the public JUSTICE search; the probate division can explain what limited information is releasable and to whom.