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Canyon County, ID Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Canyon County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The magistrate division of the district court at the Canyon County Courthouse. Probate is heard by a magistrate judge under Idaho Code § 1-2208. |
| Courthouse address | Canyon County Courthouse, 1115 Albany Street, Room 201, Caldwell, ID 83605. |
| Mailing address | Same as the street address: 1115 Albany Street, Caldwell, ID 83605. |
| Phone | Main clerk number: (208) 454-7300. Clerk's civil line: (208) 454-7572, option 3. The county does not label either line as an estate line, so confirm which line should handle your filing before you go. |
| Fax | (208) 454-7525, listed by Canyon County as a contact fax. Do not assume a filing can be made by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Confirm current hours with the clerk before travelling. |
| Filing fee | $166.00 to open a probate in the magistrate division, effective under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule dated July 12, 2024. The figure includes the $120 magistrate-division filing fee, the $26 judges' retirement fund fee, a $10 Idaho Code fund fee and a $10 civil administrative surcharge (Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213, § 31-3201). |
| Local forms | The statewide forms library at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms has no probate or estate category, and no Canyon County probate form, cover sheet or checklist appears on the Canyon County, Third Judicial District or Canyon Court Assistance Office pages. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys must 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 under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4(b). If a will is filed electronically, the original will must also be filed conventionally within seven business days under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a). |
| Case search | Idaho publishes the iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov. Canyon County also publishes a daily court calendar and an online court records request route. 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 matters by telephone or video teleconference, and Canyon County publishes Zoom hearing information. The county states that hearings may be in person and that the notice from the court controls. |
| Website | Third Judicial District: https://isc.idaho.gov/district-3. Canyon clerk operations page: https://www.canyoncounty.id.gov/elected-officials/clerk/court-operations/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start by listing what the decedent owned, what was owed, what passed outside the estate, and whether there is real property. In Canyon County, the route decision, the $166.00 opening filing fee under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, the inventory due within three months after appointment under Idaho Code § 15-3-706, and the question whether a court filing is needed at all depend on the asset and liability picture.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts in the decedent's name, so estate settlement starts from a complete picture rather than a guess. The clerk of the district court in Room 201 accepts filings and keeps the file; the Court Assistance Office in Room 334 can provide legal information and document review through courtselfhelp.idaho.gov, but it cannot give legal advice.
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 Canyon County Courthouse.
Probate for Canyon County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the county courthouse in Caldwell. Canyon County is one of the six counties in Idaho's Third Judicial District, with Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem and Owyhee, and that district has eight district judges, seven resident chambers in Canyon County, and district administration in the Canyon County Courthouse (Idaho Code § 1-804).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent had domicile at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in Idaho, any Idaho county where the decedent's property was located at death (Idaho Code § 15-3-201). If the decedent lived in Canyon County, the filing counter is in Caldwell, including for families connected to other Canyon County communities.
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, real property, accounts and transfers outside the estate before choosing a filing path. This first step controls estate settlement and the later inventory under Idaho Code § 15-3-706.
- Choose the correct Idaho Title 15 route. Informal probate begins by application, formal probate begins by petition, and the affidavit for collecting personal property under Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 is presented to the holder of the property rather than filed with the court.
- Prepare the application or petition. The Court Assistance Office forms library at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms has no probate or estate category, and no Canyon County probate form, cover sheet or checklist appears on the local pages, so the personal representative or an attorney drafts from Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3.
- File with the clerk of the district court at the Canyon County Courthouse, 1115 Albany Street, Room 201, Caldwell, ID 83605. Venue is based on the decedent's domicile or Idaho property location under Idaho Code § 15-3-201.
- Use the correct filing channel. Attorneys must use electronic filing 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 with the clerk under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4(b), and the electronic filing choice continues for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal.
- If a will is filed electronically, file the original will and any pleading it is attached to conventionally within seven business days, excluding legal holidays, under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a).
- Pay the $166.00 opening filing fee, effective under the July 12, 2024 Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A schedule, to the Canyon County Clerk of the District Court, and confirm the current amount and payment method before filing (Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213, § 31-3201).
- Bring copies. The Third Judicial District tells filers that no appointment is needed to file, but a person who arrives without needed copies will pay a copy fee at the counter.
- For an informal matter, the registrar, meaning a magistrate judge or district judge, makes the statutory findings and issues the written statement of informal probate or the order appointing the personal representative (Idaho Code § 15-1-307, § 15-3-302, § 15-3-307). Letters testamentary or letters of administration are the authority documents, and administration begins with issuance of letters (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-103).
- If the matter is formal or a hearing is needed, the court sets the date. The Third Judicial District's local rules set Canyon County magistrate division law and motion for each Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and civil calendar call for the last Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m.; the notice from the court controls your date, time and courtroom.
- For any remote appearance question, start with Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2. Canyon County publishes Zoom hearing information and a remote appearance help number, but the county also says a hearing may be in person and to check the notice from the court.
- Administer and close the estate. Idaho lets the personal representative publish notice to creditors to start the four-month claim period under Idaho Code § 15-3-801, requires an inventory within three months after appointment under Idaho Code § 15-3-706, and then the estate proceeds to distribution and closing as the case requires.
- Track the matter through the iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov, the Canyon County daily court calendar, and Canyon County's court records request route. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Canyon County
Idaho's Court Assistance Office publishes statewide court forms for divorce, custody and child support, conservatorship, guardianship, housing, name change, protection orders, small claims and other civil matters at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms. That statewide library has no probate or estate category, and no Canyon County probate form, cover sheet or checklist appears on the Canyon County, Third Judicial District or Canyon Court Assistance Office pages.
A personal representative or an attorney drafts the application for informal probate or the petition for formal probate from Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3. The Court Assistance Office page for Canyon County is at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Canyon, and the statewide publication titled Most frequently asked questions about probate in Idaho is available at https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/publications/WP-1.pdf.
Fees
The $166.00 opening filing fee is statewide and is effective under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule dated July 12, 2024. It applies to a petition for formal probate or an application for informal probate in the magistrate division and is tied to Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201.
| Local cost item | What Canyon County publishes |
|---|---|
| Paper mail service | Under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(b), a self-represented filer who stays on paper and needs paper or mail service from the court pays designated mail service fees to the clerk at filing. Canyon County's Court Assistance Office page, reviewed August 2026, lists standard envelope postage at $1.05, large envelope postage at $2.40, $5.55 or $10.75 depending on page count, and registered mail at $18.60. Confirm the current amount with the clerk. |
| Electronic filing vendor fee | The Idaho Supreme Court's Guide and File site states that, as of December 15, 2023, the system vendor collects a $5.00 electronic filing fee. That fee is separate from the court filing fee. |
| Court records request charges | Canyon County's court records request page, reviewed August 2026, lists $1.00 per page for print or emailed copies, $1.00 per document for certification, $10.00 for an audio CD or digital audio link, mailing charges for records requests, and a 3.5% card transaction fee. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. |
| Extra copies at filing | The Third Judicial District tells filers to bring completed paperwork and copies. If you do not bring the extra copies, you will pay a fee for copies at the counter. No local amount was stated for that counter copy fee. |
Timeline
- After death, an informal probate statement may issue once at least five days have elapsed (Idaho Code § 15-3-302). An informal appointment may issue once at least 120 hours have elapsed, or after 30 days for a nonresident decedent unless a statutory exception applies (Idaho Code § 15-3-307).
- When a will is filed electronically, the original will and any attached pleading must also reach the clerk conventionally within seven business days, excluding legal holidays, under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a).
- Canyon County magistrate division law and motion is set by the Third Judicial District's local rules for each Thursday at 9:00 a.m. This is a motions setting, not a promise that an estate matter will be heard that day.
- Canyon County's magistrate division civil calendar call is set by the Third Judicial District's local rules for the last Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. The notice from the court controls the actual date, time and courtroom for your estate matter.
- The personal representative must prepare the inventory within three months after appointment, must send a copy to interested persons who request it, and may file the original with the court (Idaho Code § 15-3-706).
- Idaho allows the personal representative to publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks, which starts a four-month claim period from first publication. Mailed or delivered notice gives the creditor 60 days after mailing or delivery, or the published period, whichever is later (Idaho Code § 15-3-801).
Local nuance
Canyon County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| District administration is in Caldwell | Seven of the Third Judicial District's eight statutory resident district-judge chambers are in Canyon County, and the Trial Court Administrator's Office is in the Canyon County Courthouse, Room 336 (Idaho Code § 1-804). |
| Title 15 assignment is local | The Third Judicial District's local rules assign all proceedings under Title 15 of the Idaho Code to the district's magistrate judges by local rule, consistent with Idaho Code § 1-2208. The same rules state that a Third Judicial District magistrate judge may handle a matter in any county of the district. |
| The filing counter closes at 4:30 p.m. | The clerk of the district court's filing office is Room 201, and Canyon County lists the clerk's hours as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Confirm current hours before travelling. |
| Civil line, main line and fax are separate | Canyon County lists a main clerk number, a civil line with option 3, a criminal line, an interpreter line and a fax. Use the main clerk number and civil line for estate questions, but confirm the correct filing route because the county does not label a dedicated estate extension. |
| Canyon County posts a daily calendar | The Third Judicial District states that Canyon County publishes its schedule online while the district's other five counties are reached by telephone. The county calendar is searchable by name, judge or time, but the notice from the court controls your setting. |
| Zoom information is county specific | Canyon County publishes Zoom hearing information, telephone dial-in numbers and a remote appearance help number. Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 still controls, and the county warns that a hearing may be in person. |
| Certified copies have local charges | Canyon County publishes its own court records request route and charges for copies, certification and audio. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. |
| Caldwell is the filing city | The courthouse, clerk of the district court and Court Assistance Office are all at 1115 Albany Street in Caldwell. File Canyon County estate papers there, even if the family is connected to another community in the county. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| August 11, 2026 | Idaho's seven judicial districts launched new public websites, so Third Judicial District information for Canyon County is now at https://isc.idaho.gov/district-3 (Idaho Code § 1-801). |
| July 12, 2024 | The Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule took effect and lists a petition for formal probate and an application for informal probate in the magistrate division at $166.00 (Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213, § 31-3201). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Canyon County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | File at the Canyon County Courthouse in Caldwell, Room 201, with the clerk of the district court. Informal probate proceeds by application, and the registrar, meaning a magistrate judge or district judge, makes the statutory findings without a hearing (Idaho Code § 1-2208, § 15-1-307, § 15-3-302). Idaho is a community property state under Idaho Code Title 15. If the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary, Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 may provide a summary administration route that reaches real property and allows a motion to appear telephonically, but the surviving spouse assumes liability for any and all indebtedness that might be a claim against the estate. | Sunset finds accounts, debts and ownership details before the family chooses a route for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the decedent was domiciled in Canyon County, venue stays in Canyon County (Idaho Code § 15-3-201). A self-represented filer may use iCourt File and Serve or file on paper, but choosing electronic filing continues for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(b). If the estate qualifies for the Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 personal property affidavit, that affidavit is presented to the holder of the property rather than filed with the court. | Sunset helps build the asset list remotely, prepare the filing packet and coordinate next steps from outside Idaho. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Open the estate in the magistrate division at the Canyon County Courthouse and obtain letters before dealing with the buyer, title company or lender, because administration starts with issuance of letters (Idaho Code § 1-2208, § 15-3-103). The inventory is due within three months after appointment (Idaho Code § 15-3-706), and notice to creditors may be used to start the four-month claim period under Idaho Code § 15-3-801. Certified copies can be requested through Canyon County's court records request route, with access governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. | Sunset organizes assets, liabilities, documents and certified copy needs so the sale can fit the estate settlement plan. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps in Canyon County | Website or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Court Assistance Office for Canyon County | Located in the Canyon County Courthouse, 1115 Albany Street, Room 334, Caldwell. It provides legal information, resources and document review for people representing themselves, but not legal advice. | courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Canyon, 208-454-7455, [email protected] |
| Third Judicial District Court Assistance page | Explains that the Court Assistance Office is not a substitute for an attorney, lists the local filing guidance, and tells filers that forms that do not exist may require help from an attorney. | https://isc.idaho.gov/district-3/court-services/court-assistance |
| Statewide court forms library | The forms library at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms has nineteen categories and no probate or estate category. Use it for general self-help resources, not a Canyon County probate form packet. | https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms |
| Idaho Legal Aid Services | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Its listed service areas do not promise estate representation, so call to ask whether help is available for your situation. | 208-746-7541 |
| Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program | Provides civil legal help through volunteer attorneys for financially qualified applicants, with advice, brief service and possible representation depending on availability. | https://ilf.idaho.gov/ivlp/legal-assistance/ |
| Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to a private attorney. The Third Judicial District states the referral costs $35 for a 30-minute consultation with a private attorney. | Idaho State Bar, https://isb.idaho.gov/lawyer-referral-service/ |
| Idaho State Law Library | State law library jointly managed by the Idaho Supreme Court and the University of Idaho College of Law. | https://isll.idaho.gov, (208) 364-4555 |
When to hire an attorney
Idaho does not require a personal representative to hire a lawyer, and the Idaho Supreme Court's Court Assistance Office at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov provides court forms, document review and legal information for self-represented parties. In Canyon County, counsel often makes sense when the family needs probate forms that are not supplied by the court, a formal petition under Idaho Code § 15-3-401, a contested or uncontested formal hearing under Idaho Code § 15-3-405, electronic filing strategy under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service, or help getting the original will to the clerk within seven business days. Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps identify accounts, policies and other assets before the Canyon County filing is prepared. That gives the family a clearer estate settlement picture before choosing a route.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the application or petition, the asset list, notices and follow-up tasks, tailored for filing with the clerk of the district court at the Canyon County Courthouse in Caldwell.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, a formal petition, a real property sale, a dispute, or help with Idaho's e-filing rules, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next steps and move the estate settlement forward without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Canyon County, Idaho?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Canyon County Courthouse, 1115 Albany Street, Room 201, Caldwell, ID 83605. Venue is based on the decedent's domicile at death, or Idaho property location for a nonresident decedent (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Which court handles probate in Canyon County?
The magistrate division of the district court handles the filing, and a magistrate judge hears probate under Idaho Const. art. V, § 20 and Idaho Code § 1-2201 and § 1-2208. The Third Judicial District's local rules assign all Title 15 proceedings to the district's magistrate judges.
What does it cost to open a probate in Canyon County?
The opening filing fee is $166.00, effective under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing fee schedule dated July 12, 2024, and is tied to Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. A paper filer may also owe mail service fees under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(b), and an electronic filer may owe the $5.00 electronic filing vendor fee.
Can I file the probate papers electronically in Canyon County?
Attorneys must file electronically under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(a). A self-represented personal representative may choose iCourt File and Serve or paper filing under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 4(b), but once that person chooses electronic filing, the choice continues for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal. If a will is filed electronically, the original will must also reach the clerk conventionally within seven business days under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a).
Does Canyon County have its own probate forms?
The Court Assistance Office library at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms has no probate or estate category, and no Canyon County probate form, cover sheet or checklist appears on the Canyon County, Third Judicial District or Canyon Court Assistance Office pages. A personal representative or attorney drafts the application or petition from Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3.
Are there probate hearings in Canyon County, and when are they held?
Informal probate is handled by the registrar without a hearing under Idaho Code § 15-1-307 and § 15-3-302. Formal proceedings are before a judge with notice to interested persons, and Idaho has an uncontested formal route (Idaho Code § 15-1-201(20), § 15-3-405). The Third Judicial District's local rules set Canyon County magistrate division law and motion for each Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and civil calendar call for the last Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m.; the court's notice controls your actual setting.
Can I appear by phone or video for a Canyon County probate hearing?
Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows the court to hold certain matters by telephone or video teleconference, but that is the court's decision. Canyon County publishes Zoom hearing information and a remote appearance help number, and the county warns that a hearing may be in person. In a summary administration where a surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary, the petitioner may move to appear telephonically or file affidavits instead of appearing, with the liability rule stated in Idaho Code § 15-3-1205.
How do I look up a Canyon County probate case?
Start with the iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov, then use Canyon County's daily court calendar or court records request page if you need scheduling information or copies. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32, and the clerk can tell you what is available for a particular case.
Do I have to travel to Caldwell to settle a Canyon County estate?
The filing counter is in Caldwell, but a self-represented filer may choose iCourt File and Serve under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4(b), informal probate can proceed without a hearing under Idaho Code § 15-3-302, and Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows the court to use telephone or video teleconference for certain matters. If a will is filed electronically, the original still must reach the clerk conventionally within seven business days under I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a).
Does Idaho charge inheritance tax or estate tax on a Canyon County estate?
Idaho has no inheritance tax, no estate tax and no gift tax: the Idaho State Tax Commission states at tax.idaho.gov that Idaho has no gift tax or inheritance tax and that its estate tax for deaths expired in 2004. An estate may still owe federal tax and may still have to file an income tax return for the estate.
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.