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Nebraska County Guide

Estate Planning and Probate for York County, Nebraska Farm Families

Farm estate planning, probate, and land help for York County families, served from our office in Henderson, Nebraska.

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Our only office is in Henderson, Nebraska (2308 E 5 Rd, Henderson, NE 68371). We serve York County families from there, mostly by phone, video and mail. Kole can also meet you in person to sign. Kole Pederson is licensed in Nebraska and Minnesota. Page reviewed by attorney Kole Pederson on October 29, 2026.

How we help York County farm families

I live in Henderson, so York County is home, and our office sits just across the county line in Hamilton County. As an ag pilot, I’ve flown over many York County fields, and R&M Flying Service, where I’m CEO, serves farms here. Nearly three of every four farm acres here are irrigated, and much of the ground is rented. When a parent dies, the family often has to sort out the lease, the water records, and the land at the same time. The Upper Big Blue NRD covers the county, and it says no water limits are expected for 2027. That still doesn’t let anyone add irrigated acres or drill without a permit.

We work with families in and around York (the county seat), Henderson, Benedict, Bradshaw, Gresham, Lushton, McCool Junction, Thayer, and Waco.

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.

Where things are handled in York County

York County Courthouse in York, Nebraska
York County Courthouse in York, Nebraska. Photo: Ammodramus, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Probate and inheritance tax

York County Court

510 Lincoln Avenue, Room 211, York, NE 68467

Phone: 402-362-4925

Court page

Deeds and land records

York County Clerk (also the Register of Deeds)

510 N. Lincoln Ave, 1st Floor, York, NE 68467

Phone: 402-362-7759

Deeds office page

Water and wells

Upper Big Blue NRD

NRD website

Farm programs (FSA and NRCS)

York USDA Service Center

419 W 6th St, York, NE 68467

Phone: 402-362-5700

Probate notices

York News-Times

Notices to creditors run in the local legal newspaper. They also post statewide at nepublicnotices.com.

Local farm help

Nebraska Extension in York County

Extension office page

How probate works in York County

  1. See if you need probate. Personal property worth $100,000 or less can often be collected by affidavit 30 days after death. Land in this county with an assessed value of $100,000 or less can also pass by affidavit. That affidavit is filed with the York County Clerk (also the Register of Deeds). Land with a recorded transfer on death deed passes without probate.
  2. File in York County Court. Probate is filed in the county court where the person lived. Call 402-362-4925 with filing questions.
  3. Publish the notice. The notice to creditors runs in the York News-Times. Creditors have 2 months after the first notice to file claims.
  4. Settle inheritance tax. The county court sets the tax, and it is paid to the York County treasurer. It is due 12 months after death. Late filing can add a penalty of 5% a month, up to 25%.
  5. Close the estate. The court names a personal representative (the person in charge of the estate). A simple estate can close about 5 months after that, but many take longer.

Rules checked against Nebraska statutes in October 2026. For details, read our Nebraska probate guide or inheritance tax guide.

Settling an estate in York 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-AGLAW

Farming in York County

Farms

498

Land in farms

349,139 acres

Irrigated

254,793 acres

Farmers 65 or older

30.2%

Top crops and livestock: Corn (199,819 acres), soybeans (114,236 acres), hogs and pigs (53,542)

Source: USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, the latest census.

Land values and rent in York County

Average cash rent, 2026

Irrigated: $306.00 an acre

USDA county survey. Averages only.

Assessed value per acre, 2026

Irrigated: $9,583

Dryland: $5,658

Grassland: $1,780

County assessor values, set at about 70 to 75% of market value. Not a sale price.

Inheritance tax paid to the county

$805,055 in FY2025-26

$1,188,441 in FY2024-25

$751,939 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.

What is happening in York County

  • 2026: York County announced that OPPD and Sandhills Energy agreed to transfer the proposed K-Junction Solar project to Sandhills Energy. (York County)
  • August 21, 2026: The Upper Big Blue NRD revised its Rule 5, changing nitrogen reporting for dryland and small irrigated fields. (Upper Big Blue NRD)
  • April 2026: USDA named York County a primary drought disaster county. FSA emergency loan applications are due December 15, 2026, at the York USDA Service Center (402-362-5700). (USDA notice)

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.

Legal services for York County families

See all Nebraska services, or read about what we don’t do.

York County probate and estate questions

How do I open probate in York County?expand_more

At the York County Court, Room 211 of the courthouse at 510 Lincoln Avenue in York (402-362-4925). The office is open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, so plan around the lunch hour. The court opened 56 to 78 new probate cases a year from FY2024 to FY2026. See our Nebraska probate guide.

Who collects inheritance tax in York County?expand_more

The York County Treasurer collects it after the York County Court sets the amount. York County received $751,939, then $1,188,441, then $805,055 over the last three fiscal years. That swing shows how much one large estate can change a year. Read our Nebraska inheritance tax guide.

Does the Upper Big Blue NRD limit water on land we inherit in York County?expand_more

The Upper Big Blue NRD says water levels are above its trigger, so no allocation is expected for 2027. That is not permission to add irrigated acres. Large wells still need a permit, and transfers of acres are limited. Make sure the new owner’s name is on the NRD’s records. More on NRD water rights.

Does a solar lease pass to our heirs in York County?expand_more

Usually, yes. Most solar and wind leases stay with the land, so whoever inherits the ground inherits the lease and its payments. York County has seen solar development, including the proposed K-Junction Solar project. If your family signed a lease or option, keep a copy with your estate papers. See wind and solar leases.

Neighboring counties we serve

Hamilton County

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.