Farm estate planning, probate, and land help for Hamilton County families, served from our office in Henderson, Nebraska.
No obligation. No hourly billing. A straightforward conversation about your situation.
100% Confidential. Flat-fee pricing.
Our office is in Hamilton County, near Henderson, and I serve as President of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau. As an ag pilot, I’ve flown over many of the fields here, and R&M Flying Service, where I’m CEO, serves farms across the county. About 4 of every 5 farm acres in Hamilton County are irrigated, and almost two-thirds are rented. That means the lease, the certified water acres, and who inherits the ground matter as much as the will. The county sits in two NRDs, Central Platte and Upper Big Blue, so the rules for your wells depend on where your land is.
We work with families in and around Aurora (the county seat), Giltner, Hampton, Hordville, Marquette, Phillips, and Stockham.
Signing: Kole can meet you at your kitchen table or in Henderson to sign.
Every matter is flat fee, quoted after a free 30-minute call. If you want to meet in person, any travel cost is part of that quote.
Deeds and land records
1111 13th St, Suite 1, Aurora, NE 68818
Phone: 402-694-3443
Farm programs (FSA and NRCS)
1527 3rd St, Aurora, NE 68818
Phone: 402-694-6163
Probate notices
Notices to creditors run in the local legal newspaper. They also post statewide at nepublicnotices.com.
Rules checked against Nebraska statutes in October 2026. For details, read our Nebraska probate guide or inheritance tax guide.
Settling an estate in Hamilton County? Kole can tell you if you need probate and what it will cost. The first call is free and takes 30 minutes.
Book a free callCall (816) MW-AGLAWFarms
507
Land in farms
298,232 acres
Irrigated
235,849 acres
Farmers 65 or older
33.8%
Top crops and livestock: Corn (179,484 acres), soybeans (80,976 acres), cattle and calves (25,053)
Source: USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, the latest census.
Average cash rent, 2026
Irrigated: $304.00 an acre
Dryland: $174.00 an acre
USDA county survey. Averages only.
Assessed value per acre, 2026
Irrigated: $8,411
Dryland: $5,149
Grassland: $1,697
County assessor values, set at about 70 to 75% of market value. Not a sale price.
Inheritance tax paid to the county
$1,555,309 in FY2025-26
$511,688 in FY2024-25
$1,834,047 in FY2023-24
Nebraska Department of Revenue. One large estate can swing a year.
Regional land values: UNL Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report, East district. See the report.
Leases, easements, and options signed today usually bind whoever inherits the land. Have them reviewed before you sign, and keep copies with your estate papers.
See all Nebraska services, or read about what we don’t do.
Estates for people who lived in Hamilton County are filed at the Hamilton County Court in Aurora. The court is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays (402-694-6188). It opened 30 to 45 new probate cases a year from FY2024 to FY2026. Many estates can use Nebraska’s informal process without a court hearing. See our Nebraska probate guide.
To the Hamilton County Treasurer at 1111 13th Street, Suite 2, in Aurora (402-694-2291), after the county court sets the amount. Hamilton County received $1,555,309 in FY2025-26. Close family pay 1% on what each person gets over $100,000, and a surviving spouse pays nothing. Read our Nebraska inheritance tax guide.
It depends on which NRD covers the land. The Central Platte NRD has not issued new well permits since 2006, and only certified acres may be irrigated. The Upper Big Blue NRD requires a permit for large wells, and some areas have stricter rules. Check the certified acres with the right NRD before you plan any change. More on NRD water rights.
Yes. A recorded easement for a power line or pipeline usually stays with the land, so your heirs inherit it. Hamilton County has an Aurora to Central City transmission line in planning and pipeline proposals under discussion. Have any easement or option reviewed before you sign. See wind and solar leases.
Facts on this page last checked October 29, 2026. Court and office details can change, so confirm with the office before you file.
Talk to an agricultural lawyer who knows how farms work. Book a free 30-minute call or call (816) MW-AGLAW.
