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Nebraska County Guide

Estate Planning and Probate for Dawson County, Nebraska Farm Families

Farm estate planning, probate, and land help for Dawson 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 Dawson 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 Dawson County farm families

When I worked for Nebraska Farm Bureau, I advocated for Dawson County farmers on NRD water policy and the rules that affect them directly. About 60% of Dawson County’s farm ground is rented, so many landowners here don’t farm their own land. When a landowner dies, the heirs often inherit a lease along with the ground. Dawson County land falls in the Central Platte NRD, which tells buyers to check certified irrigated acres first. New irrigation needs an approved transfer, and the NRD only takes those requests from September 1 to March 1.

We work with families in and around Lexington (the county seat), Cozad, Gothenburg, Overton, Eddyville, Farnam, and Sumner.

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 Dawson County

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

Probate and inheritance tax

Dawson County Court

700 North Washington, Lexington, NE 68850

Phone: 308-324-5606

Court page

Deeds and land records

Dawson County Register of Deeds

700 N. Washington, Room D, Lexington, NE 68850

Phone: 308-324-4271

Deeds office page

Water and wells

Central Platte NRD

NRD website

Farm programs (FSA and NRCS)

Lexington USDA Service Center

721 E Pacific St, Lexington, NE 68850

Phone: 308-324-6314

Probate notices

Lexington Clipper-Herald

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

Local farm help

Nebraska Extension in Dawson County

Extension office page

How probate works in Dawson 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 Dawson County Register of Deeds. Land with a recorded transfer on death deed passes without probate.
  2. File in Dawson County Court. Probate is filed in the county court where the person lived. Call 308-324-5606 with filing questions.
  3. Publish the notice. The notice to creditors runs in the Lexington Clipper-Herald. 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 Dawson 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 Dawson 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 Dawson County

Farms

671

Land in farms

643,088 acres

Irrigated

264,554 acres

Farmers 65 or older

33.8%

Top crops and livestock: Corn (202,341 acres), soybeans (84,031 acres), cattle and calves (221,267)

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

Land values and rent in Dawson County

Average cash rent, 2026

Irrigated: $273.00 an acre

Dryland: $128.00 an acre

Pasture: $46.50 an acre

USDA county survey. Averages only.

Assessed value per acre, 2026

Irrigated: $6,671

Dryland: $2,745

Grassland: $1,320

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

Inheritance tax paid to the county

$766,755 in FY2025-26

$908,969 in FY2024-25

$542,170 in FY2023-24

Nebraska Department of Revenue. One large estate can swing a year.

Regional land values: UNL Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report, Central district. See the report.

What is happening in Dawson County

  • Coming in December 2026: The Central Platte NRD plans to move its office to 9644 W. 13th Street near Wood River. Check the address before you visit. (Central Platte NRD)
  • Last five years: Part of Dawson County reached exceptional drought (D4), the worst level on the U.S. Drought Monitor. (U.S. Drought Monitor)
  • April 2026: USDA named Dawson County a primary drought disaster county. FSA emergency loan applications are due December 15, 2026, at the Lexington USDA Service Center (308-324-6314). (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 Dawson County families

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

Dawson County probate and estate questions

How do I open probate in Dawson County?expand_more

At the Dawson County Court, 700 North Washington in Lexington (308-324-5606). The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. It opened 73 to 84 new probate cases a year from FY2024 to FY2026. See our Nebraska probate guide.

Does rented-out land count for inheritance tax in Dawson County?expand_more

Yes. Land you rent to someone else is still part of your estate, and it is taxed based on who inherits it. Close family pay 1% on what each person gets over $100,000, and a surviving spouse pays nothing. Dawson County received $766,755 in FY2025-26. Read our Nebraska inheritance tax guide.

Can we start irrigating more of the Dawson County land we inherit?expand_more

Only with approval. The Central Platte NRD has not issued new well permits since 2006, and only certified acres may be irrigated. Moving irrigation to new ground needs an approved transfer that offsets the water use. The NRD takes those requests from September 1 to March 1. More on NRD water rights.

Can heirs get USDA drought help in Dawson County?expand_more

Dawson County was named a primary drought disaster county in April 2026. FSA emergency loan applications are due December 15, 2026, at the Lexington USDA Service Center (308-324-6314). After a death, tell FSA who is now running the farm so loans and program payments stay on track. See USDA program help.

Neighboring counties we serve

Buffalo County
Custer 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.