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Camas County, ID Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Camas County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The magistrate division of the district court at the Camas County Courthouse (Idaho Code § 1-2208). |
| Courthouse address | Camas County Courthouse, 501 Soldier Road, Fairfield, ID 83327. The courthouse is also described locally as the corner of Soldier and Willow Streets. |
| Mailing address | PO Box 430, Fairfield, ID 83327. |
| Phone | (208) 764-2242, courthouse and clerk of the district court line. |
| Fax | (208) 764-2349. Call before sending anything by fax, because no probate filing by fax is stated here. |
| Hours | Current public counter hours are not stated on the Camas County website's courthouse pages. Call (208) 764-2242 before traveling to Fairfield. |
| Filing fee | $166.00, effective July 12, 2024, to open a probate in the magistrate division, whether by petition for formal probate or application for informal probate. The amount includes the magistrate-division filing fee under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, the $26 judges' retirement fund fee under Idaho Code § 1-2003, the Idaho Code fund fee under Idaho Code § 73-213 and the civil administrative surcharge under Idaho Code § 31-3201. |
| Local forms | A Camas County probate cover sheet, checklist or local packet is not listed on the Camas County website's courthouse pages. Check the Court Assistance Office at https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Camas and ask the clerk before filing. |
| Electronic filing | Idaho uses iCourt File and Serve. Attorneys must file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service. A self-represented personal representative may choose iCourt File and Serve or paper filing, but choosing electronic filing generally commits that filer to continue electronically for the case (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4). In a testate estate, the original will must also be filed conventionally within seven business days (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5). |
| Case search | Use the iCourt Portal at https://mycourts.idaho.gov/odysseyportal/. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. |
| Remote appearance | Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows the court to hold certain matters by telephone or video teleconference. The Fifth Judicial District posts Zoom information captioned for attorneys. A surviving-spouse summary administration has its own telephonic appearance procedure under Idaho Code § 15-3-1205. |
| Websites | Fifth Judicial District: https://isc.idaho.gov/district-5. Camas County: https://camascounty.id.gov/. Court Assistance Office: https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Camas. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Camas County, list the assets, debts, accounts, titled property and beneficiaries. Venue turns on the decedent's domicile at death, or, for a non-Idaho decedent, on where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Good estate settlement work starts with knowing what exists. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts and assets before they prepare a Camas County filing or decide whether a court filing is needed.
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 Camas County Courthouse.
Camas County is in Idaho's Fifth Judicial District with Blaine, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls Counties (Idaho Code § 1-806). The judicial district organises judges and local rules; it does not move a Camas County estate filing to another county.
File the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Idaho, venue is in a county where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the correct county. For a Camas County decedent, file at the Camas County Courthouse in Fairfield if venue is proper because of domicile or Idaho property location (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
- Choose the filing path. Informal probate uses an application, and the registrar, a magistrate judge or district judge, acts without a hearing if the statute is satisfied (Idaho Code § 15-1-307; Idaho Code § 15-3-302). Formal probate uses a petition and proceeds before a judge with notice (Idaho Code § 15-3-401).
- Prepare the application or petition. Use Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3, the Court Assistance Office resources at https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Camas and any current local instructions from the clerk of the district court. If there is a will, plan to provide the original will on paper even if other documents are filed electronically (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5).
- File with the clerk of the district court. Attorneys file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service; a self-represented personal representative may file through iCourt File and Serve or file on paper (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4).
- Pay the opening fee. The probate filing fee is $166.00, effective July 12, 2024, under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. Call (208) 764-2242 before traveling to confirm hours and payment instructions.
- Address notice and hearing needs. Informal probate is handled by the registrar under Idaho Code § 15-3-302. Formal probate and other noticed matters follow the applicable Idaho probate statutes and any Fifth Judicial District local procedures.
- Ask about remote attendance before the hearing date. Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference when the court permits it, and Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 has a specific appear telephonically option for a surviving-spouse summary administration.
- Obtain authority to act. After appointment, the personal representative qualifies and receives letters testamentary if there is a will or letters of administration if there is no will (Idaho Code § 15-1-201; Idaho Code § 15-3-103).
- Administer the estate. A personal representative prepares an inventory within three months after appointment and sends a copy to interested persons who request it; filing the original with the court is permitted but not stated as mandatory (Idaho Code § 15-3-706). Idaho allows publication of notice to creditors to start a four-month claim period from first publication, with mailed or delivered notice handled under the same statute (Idaho Code § 15-3-801).
- Close the estate using the procedure that fits the case. If a summary administration path applies, use Idaho Code § 15-3-1203, § 15-3-1204 or § 15-3-1205 as applicable; otherwise follow the ordinary closing requirements for the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Camas County
Camas County does not list a county-specific probate cover sheet, checklist or packet on the county website's courthouse pages. The Court Assistance Office page for Camas County is https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Camas, and the statewide forms page is https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms.
Idaho's Court Assistance Office should be checked for any current Pb probate materials, but the Camas County page itself does not provide a local probate packet. A personal representative or attorney prepares the application for informal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-302 or the petition for formal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-401 from Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3.
If there is an original will, electronic filing does not replace the paper will requirement. The original will must also be filed conventionally within seven business days under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Camas County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by identifying title, debts and whether the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary. If Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 applies, the spouse may use summary administration, but the spouse assumes liability for indebtedness that might be a claim against the estate. | Sunset helps gather asset and debt information so the spouse can decide whether a Camas County filing is needed and whether an attorney should review the real-property path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If only personal property is involved, review the affidavit route under Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 before opening a Camas County case. If a court appointment is needed, file in Fairfield or use iCourt File and Serve if choosing electronic filing under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service. | Sunset helps find accounts, organise balances and generate a checklist for estate settlement before the child decides whether to file or present an affidavit. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires authority from a personal representative. File an application for informal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-302 or a petition for formal probate under Idaho Code § 15-3-401 in Camas County if venue is proper. | Sunset helps assemble asset information, prepare a probate packet and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale and court authority questions. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Court Assistance Office for Camas County | Marked Limited Services. The Court Assistance Office provides court forms, document review and legal information for people representing themselves, but it does not represent you. | 501 Soldier Road, Fairfield, ID 83327. Phone: (208) 736-4136. https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Camas |
| Idaho Legal Aid Services | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Its service areas do not list probate administration, so use it as an intake resource rather than a promised estate representative. | Legal Advice Line: 208-746-7541. Online intake: https://www.idaholegalaid.org/apply-for-help |
| Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program | Volunteer-attorney advice and consultation for qualifying civil matters. It is not an emergency program, and its wills clinic is estate planning rather than estate administration. | https://ilf.idaho.gov/ivlp/legal-assistance/ |
| Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Connects callers with an Idaho State Bar lawyer referral. The Idaho State Bar page lists a $35 referral fee as of the page review in August 2026, except for exempt case types. | (208) 334-4500. https://isb.idaho.gov/lawyer-referral-service/ |
| Idaho State Law Library | State law library operated under the joint management of the Idaho Supreme Court and the University of Idaho College of Law. | 501 W. Front Street, Boise, ID 83702-7232. (208) 364-4555. https://isll.idaho.gov |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 financial institutions so families can identify accounts, balances and institutions before choosing an estate settlement path in Camas County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family intake into a Camas County probate packet checklist, with the court address, filing fee and Idaho terminology organised for the personal representative.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves land, creditor issues, a sale, a contested question or a formal petition, Sunset can connect the family with an Idaho probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organise estate settlement tasks, identify assets and decide what help they need before paying for legal work.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for a Camas County estate?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Camas County Courthouse, 501 Soldier Road, Fairfield, ID 83327. Venue is based on the decedent's domicile at death, or, for a non-Idaho decedent, a county where property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
What phone number should I call before going to the courthouse?
Call the Camas County Courthouse at (208) 764-2242. Current public counter hours are not stated on the Camas County website's courthouse pages, so call before traveling to Fairfield.
Can I file electronically in Camas County?
Attorneys must file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service. A self-represented personal representative may use iCourt File and Serve or paper filing, but a self-represented filer who chooses electronic filing generally must continue electronically for the case unless the court allows withdrawal (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4).
Does e-filing replace bringing in the original will?
No. In a testate estate, I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5 requires the original will to be filed conventionally within seven business days even when other papers are filed electronically.
Does Camas County have local probate forms?
The Camas County website's courthouse pages do not provide a county-specific probate cover sheet, checklist or local packet. Check the Court Assistance Office page for Camas County at https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Camas and the statewide forms page at https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms before filing.
How much is the Camas County probate filing fee?
The opening probate filing fee is $166.00, effective July 12, 2024, for a petition for formal probate or application for informal probate in the magistrate division. The fee is based on Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201.
Will a Camas County probate hearing be remote?
Do not assume that. Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows the court to hold certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference, and the Fifth Judicial District posts Zoom information captioned for attorneys. A surviving-spouse summary administration has a specific appear telephonically option under Idaho Code § 15-3-1205.
Can I look up a Camas County probate case online?
Idaho uses the iCourt Portal at https://mycourts.idaho.gov/odysseyportal/ for online records and payments. What can be viewed depends on court records access rules, including Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.
Does Idaho collect inheritance tax or estate tax in a Camas County probate?
Idaho has no inheritance tax, no gift tax and no estate tax for current deaths. The Idaho State Tax Commission states that Idaho has no gift tax or inheritance tax and that its estate tax for deaths expired in 2004 at tax.idaho.gov/taxes/estates-and-taxes/. Federal tax and estate income tax questions are separate.
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.