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Boise County, ID Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Boise County details |
|---|---|
| Court | The magistrate division of the district court at the Boise County Courthouse (Idaho Code § 1-2208). |
| Courthouse address | Boise County Courthouse, 420 Main Street, Idaho City, ID 83631. |
| Mailing address | PO Box 1300, Idaho City, ID 83631. |
| Phone | Main phone: (208) 392-4431. The Idaho Judiciary also lists general Idaho City numbers at (208) 392-4452 and (208) 392-9593, plus a Horseshoe Bend general number at (208) 793-2262. |
| Hours | The Court Assistance Office for Boise County states Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00. Call the clerk of the district court before traveling for filing-counter hours. |
| Filing fee | $166.00 to open a probate in the magistrate division, whether by petition for formal probate or application for informal probate, under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule effective July 12, 2024. The amount includes the $120 magistrate-division filing fee under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, the $26 judges' retirement fund fee under Idaho Code § 1-2003, the $10 Idaho Code fund fee under Idaho Code § 73-213, and the $10 civil administrative surcharge under Idaho Code § 31-3201. |
| Forms | The statewide Court Assistance Office form library at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms has no probate category, and the page for Boise County does not list a Boise County probate packet. A Court Assistance Office Pb probate form series exists, so ask the clerk what form set is accepted before filing. |
| E-filing | Attorneys file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(a). A self-represented personal representative may use iCourt File and Serve or may file on paper with the clerk of the district court in Boise County under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4(b). A self-represented filer who elects electronic filing must keep using it for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal. |
| Original will | If a will is involved and the case is electronically filed, the original will and the pleading it is attached to must also be filed conventionally within seven business days under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a). |
| Case search | Use the statewide iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov/odysseyportal/. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. |
| Remote appearance | Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 lets the court hold certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference. No Boise County hearing day is published here, so ask the clerk how the Fourth Judicial District handles your setting. |
| Website | Fourth Judicial District: isc.idaho.gov/district-4. Boise County services page for courts: www.boisecounty.us/services/courts/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Boise County, make a working list of accounts, debts, land, vehicles, business interests and beneficiary designations. Idaho venue for the first estate proceeding is based on the decedent's domicile, or, for a non-Idaho decedent, a county where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families look for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 institutions before they prepare a probate filing. That asset picture matters because the Boise County filing should match what actually needs court authority, what can pass outside probate, and what may qualify for a narrower Idaho procedure.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Idaho has no separate court for decedents' estates: probate is a case class assigned to the magistrate division of the district court, which sits in every one of Idaho's 44 counties, and a magistrate judge hears it (Idaho Const. art. V, § 20; Idaho Code § 1-2201, § 1-2208). The papers are filed with the clerk of the district court at the Boise County Courthouse in Idaho City.
Boise County is in Idaho's Fourth Judicial District with Valley, Ada and Elmore Counties (Idaho Code § 1-805). The Fourth Judicial District organizes judges and local rules, but it does not move a Boise County estate filing to another county. If the decedent was domiciled in Boise County, file in Boise County; if the decedent was not domiciled in Idaho, venue may be in an Idaho county where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm venue and assets. Start with the decedent's domicile and the property that needs court authority, then decide whether Boise County is the correct county under Idaho Code § 15-3-201.
- Choose the filing path. Informal probate starts with an application under Idaho Code § 15-3-301 and a written statement of informal probate may issue under Idaho Code § 15-3-302. Formal probate starts with a petition under Idaho Code § 15-3-401 and § 15-3-402. If only personal property is involved, the collection of personal property by affidavit is addressed in Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 and is presented to the holder of the property rather than filed as a Boise County case.
- Prepare the Boise County packet. Use the title, parties, will status, requested appointment and proposed personal representative information required by Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3. If there is a will, keep the original available for paper filing when required by I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a).
- File with the clerk of the district court in Idaho City. Attorneys file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(a). A self-represented personal representative may file through iCourt File and Serve or on paper under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4(b), but an individual who chooses electronic filing must keep using it for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal.
- Pay the opening filing fee. The probate opening fee is $166.00 under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule effective July 12, 2024, including the $120 magistrate-division filing fee under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, the $26 fee under Idaho Code § 1-2003, the $10 Idaho Code fund fee under Idaho Code § 73-213, and the $10 surcharge under Idaho Code § 31-3201.
- Let the registrar act on an informal application, or get a hearing date if the case is formal. In Idaho, the registrar is a magistrate judge or district judge, not the clerk (Idaho Code § 15-1-307). The registrar issues the written statement of informal probate or an order of informal appointment when the statute permits it (Idaho Code § 15-3-302, § 15-3-307). Formal proceedings are conducted before a judge with notice to interested persons (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-401).
- Receive authority to act. After appointment, qualification and issuance of letters, the personal representative has authority to administer the estate. Idaho uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-103).
- Administer and close the estate. Idaho lets a personal representative publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks to start the four-month claims period, with a 60-day mailed-notice rule for creditors who receive written notice (Idaho Code § 15-3-801). Within three months after appointment, the personal representative prepares an inventory, sends it to interested persons who request it, and may file the original with the court (Idaho Code § 15-3-706).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Boise County
The Boise County probate forms starting point is the Idaho Court Assistance Office at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms and the Court Assistance Office page for Boise County at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Boise. The statewide library lists many civil and family categories, but it does not have a probate category. A Court Assistance Office Pb probate form series exists, so do not assume that a blank category list means there is no form to ask about.
The Court Assistance Office page for Boise County does not list a Boise County probate packet, cover sheet or checklist. Because the county's own services page for courts may carry filing instructions that are not repeated on the Court Assistance Office page, call the clerk of the district court before filing an application for informal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-301 or a petition for formal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-401 and § 15-3-402.
Local nuance
Boise County-specific considerations
Boise County's courthouse city is Idaho City. Do not confuse Boise County with the city of Boise, which is in a different county. For a Boise County estate, the courthouse address is 420 Main Street, Idaho City, ID 83631, and the mailing address is PO Box 1300, Idaho City, ID 83631.
Boise County is in Idaho's Fourth Judicial District. Idaho Code § 1-805 places Valley, Boise, Ada and Elmore Counties in that district and provides thirteen district judges, with resident chambers in Ada County and Elmore County, not Boise County. That resident-chambers statute does not change where a Boise County probate filing goes, and it does not say where Boise County's magistrate judge sits.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Boise County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how title is held and whether any court order for Boise County is needed. Idaho has a surviving-spouse summary administration route when the spouse is the sole beneficiary, and that route includes a debt-liability rule for the spouse (Idaho Code § 15-3-1205). | Sunset helps gather asset and title information so the spouse can see whether estate settlement needs a Boise County filing or a more limited Idaho procedure. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate under Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 | If the estate consists only of qualifying personal property and the value subject to probate fits Idaho Code § 15-3-1201, the collection of personal property by affidavit may be presented to the holder after the statutory waiting period. If court authority is needed, file in Idaho City when Boise County is the proper venue under Idaho Code § 15-3-201. | Sunset helps identify accounts, contact institutions and organize the information needed to decide whether a court filing is necessary. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires court authority unless title passes outside the estate. The parent should expect to file an application for informal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-301 or a petition for formal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-401 and § 15-3-402 at the Boise County Courthouse in Idaho City. | Sunset helps assemble the estate settlement packet, prepare a list of known assets and debts, and connect the family with a Boise County probate attorney when a sale or title issue needs legal guidance. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Court Assistance Office for Boise County | Offers court forms, document review and legal information for self-represented parties through the Idaho Court Assistance Office program at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov. It does not give legal advice. | 420 Main Street, Idaho City, ID 83631. Phone: 208-587-2127 ext. 1263. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00. |
| Idaho Legal Aid Services | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Its service areas do not list estate administration, so call to ask whether your issue fits. | Legal Advice Line: 208-746-7541. Online intake: idaholegalaid.org/apply-for-help. |
| Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program | Offers civil legal assistance through volunteer attorneys and advice-and-counsel clinics by appointment. It is not an emergency program. | ilf.idaho.gov/ivlp/legal-assistance/. |
| Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Refers callers to Idaho State Bar members. The Idaho State Bar page lists a $35 referral fee as of the page reviewed in August 2026 and an initial consultation of up to a half hour at no fee. | (208) 334-4500. isb.idaho.gov/lawyer-referral-service/. |
| Idaho State Law Library | Legal research help and public law-library access through the library managed by the Idaho Supreme Court and the University of Idaho College of Law. | 501 W. Front Street, Boise, ID 83702-7232. (208) 364-4555. isll.idaho.gov. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is most useful in Boise County when the estate includes real property, a disputed will, creditor problems, tax questions, a business interest, unclear community property issues, or a sale that needs clean authority from the personal representative. Idaho allows self-represented parties to file, but the Court Assistance Office gives legal information rather than legal advice, and probate forms may need to be drafted from Idaho Code Title 15. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts and other assets that may affect estate settlement in Boise County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for the Boise County Courthouse in Idaho City, including the details needed for an application, petition and letters when court authority is required.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real property, a dispute, creditor issues or a hard-to-value asset, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney who understands Idaho procedure and Boise County filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, locate assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for Boise County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Boise County Courthouse in Idaho City. Idaho venue is based on the decedent's domicile for the first estate proceeding, or, for a non-Idaho decedent, an Idaho county where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Is Boise County probate filed in the city of Boise?
No. Boise County's courthouse for this page is in Idaho City. The city of Boise is in a different county, so a Boise County estate should be anchored to the Boise County Courthouse, 420 Main Street, Idaho City, ID 83631.
Who decides an informal probate application in Boise County?
The registrar decides the informal application. In Idaho, the registrar is a magistrate judge or a district judge, not the clerk (Idaho Code § 15-1-307). The registrar may issue a written statement of informal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-302 or an informal appointment order under Idaho Code § 15-3-307 when the statute permits it.
Can I e-file a Boise County probate case?
Attorneys file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(a). A self-represented personal representative may use iCourt File and Serve or file on paper under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4(b). If a self-represented filer chooses electronic filing, that choice continues for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal.
What if there is an original will?
If a will is involved and the case is electronically filed, I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a) requires the original will and the pleading it is attached to to be filed conventionally within seven business days. Call the Boise County clerk before filing if you are unsure how to deliver the original will.
How much is the Boise County probate filing fee?
The opening filing fee is $166.00 under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule effective July 12, 2024. The fee includes the $120 magistrate-division filing fee under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, the $26 fee under Idaho Code § 1-2003, the $10 Idaho Code fund fee under Idaho Code § 73-213, and the $10 surcharge under Idaho Code § 31-3201.
Are there Boise County probate forms online?
The Court Assistance Office page for Boise County and the statewide Court Assistance Office library at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms do not list a Boise County probate packet. A Court Assistance Office Pb probate form series exists, so ask the clerk what application, petition, proposed order or local paper should be used before filing.
Can I look up a Boise County probate case online?
Idaho uses the statewide iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov/odysseyportal/ for online records and payments. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32, so call the clerk of the district court if you need to know what is visible for a Boise County estate.
Can I attend a Boise County probate hearing by phone or video?
Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 lets the court hold certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference, and the decision is the court's. For summary administration where a surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary, Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 allows the petitioner to move to appear telephonically or submit affidavits instead of appearing, and that same section makes the surviving spouse liable for estate debts covered by the statute.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.