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Nebraska County Guide

Estate Planning and Probate for Hall County, Nebraska Farm Families

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

As an ag pilot, I’ve flown over many Hall County fields, and R&M Flying Service, where I’m CEO, serves farms here. Hall County’s court handled more than 150 probate cases in each of the last three years. About 42% of Hall County farmers are 65 or older, the highest share of the six counties on this list. Many families here have both farm ground and property in or near Grand Island, and each needs its own plan. Hall County also has its own email for inheritance tax questions, which saves time once an estate is open.

We work with families in and around Grand Island (the county seat), Wood River, Alda, Cairo, Doniphan, and Shelton.

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 Hall County

Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island, Nebraska
Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island, Nebraska. Photo: Ammodramus, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Probate and inheritance tax

Hall County Court

111 West 1st Street, Suite #1, Grand Island, NE 68801

Phone: 308-385-5135

Court page

Deeds and land records

Hall County Register of Deeds

200 South Sycamore St, Suite 6, Grand Island, NE 68801

Phone: 308-385-5040

Deeds office page

Water and wells

Central Platte NRD

NRD website

Part of the county is in the Lower Loup NRD

Farm programs (FSA and NRCS)

Grand Island USDA Service Center

703 S Webb Rd, Grand Island, NE 68803

Phone: 308-395-8586

Probate notices

Grand Island Independent

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

Local farm help

Nebraska Extension in Hall County

Extension office page

How probate works in Hall 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 Hall County Register of Deeds. Land with a recorded transfer on death deed passes without probate.
  2. File in Hall County Court. Probate is filed in the county court where the person lived. Call 308-385-5135 with filing questions.
  3. Publish the notice. The notice to creditors runs in the Grand Island Independent. 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 Hall 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 Hall 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 Hall County

Farms

552

Land in farms

273,923 acres

Irrigated

191,002 acres

Farmers 65 or older

42.4%

Top crops and livestock: Corn (165,847 acres), soybeans (42,767 acres), cattle and calves (67,025)

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

Land values and rent in Hall County

Average cash rent, 2026

Irrigated: $279.00 an acre

USDA county survey. Averages only.

Assessed value per acre, 2026

Irrigated: $6,284

Dryland: $2,499

Grassland: $1,490

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

Inheritance tax paid to the county

$1,664,529 in FY2025-26

$2,088,760 in FY2024-25

$954,514 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 Hall County

  • May 28, 2026: The Lower Loup NRD board paused water transfers and supplemental wells unless approved by variance, citing drought. (Lower Loup NRD)
  • 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)
  • April 2026: USDA named Hall County a primary drought disaster county. FSA emergency loan applications are due December 15, 2026, at the Grand Island USDA Service Center (308-395-8586). (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 Hall County families

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

Hall County probate and estate questions

How do I open probate in Hall County?expand_more

At the Hall County Court, 111 West 1st Street, Suite 1, in Grand Island (308-385-5135). It is a busy court, with 154 to 184 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.

How do I ask about inheritance tax in Hall County?expand_more

Hall County has its own email for inheritance tax questions: inheritancetax@hallcountyne.gov. The county court sets the tax, and the county treasurer collects it. Hall County received $1,664,529 in FY2025-26. Read our Nebraska inheritance tax guide.

Which water rules apply to Hall County land we inherit?expand_more

Hall County land is in the Central Platte NRD or the Lower Loup NRD. The Central Platte NRD has not issued new well permits since 2006 and allows irrigation only on certified acres. The Lower Loup NRD paused transfers and supplemental wells in May 2026 unless approved by variance. More on NRD water rights.

Can heirs get USDA drought help in Hall County?expand_more

Hall County was named a primary drought disaster county in April 2026. FSA emergency loan applications are due December 15, 2026, at the Grand Island USDA Service Center (308-395-8586). 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

Hamilton County
Buffalo 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.