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Idaho County, ID Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Idaho County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The magistrate division of the district court at the courthouse in Grangeville. Probate is assigned to the magistrate division and heard by a magistrate judge (Idaho Code § 1-2201, § 1-2208). |
| Courthouse address | 320 West Main Street, Grangeville, ID 83530. |
| Mailing | Confirm the mailing address with the clerk of the district court before mailing original probate papers. |
| Court phone | (208) 983-2776, the court-specific line listed by Idaho County. |
| General clerk phone | (208) 983-2751, the Clerk of the District Court, Auditor, Recorder, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, and Chief Elections Officer of the County. |
| Fax | Court fax: (208) 983-2376. General Clerk and Auditor fax: (208) 983-1428. Do not fax a probate filing unless the clerk tells you that the filing method is allowed. |
| [email protected]. Confirm before sending anything that must be filed. | |
| Hours | Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, excluding county holidays. |
| 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 schedule effective July 12, 2024. The figure includes the $120 magistrate-division filing fee, the $26 judges' retirement fund fee, the $10 Idaho Code fund fee and the $10 civil administrative surcharge (Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213, § 31-3201). |
| Local forms | The Court Assistance Office forms page is at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms. A county-specific Idaho County probate packet is not listed in the local court information. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys must use iCourt File and Serve. Self-represented individuals may use iCourt File and Serve or file on paper with the clerk of the district court, but a self-represented filer who chooses electronic filing must continue using it for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4). The original will must also be filed conventionally on paper within seven business days in a testate case (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a)). A $5.00 electronic filing system fee has applied since December 15, 2023. |
| Case search | Use the iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov for Idaho court online records and payments. Ask the clerk what is visible for an Idaho County estate case; 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. The Second Judicial District page and Idaho County's own court page do not provide a probate-specific Zoom calendar. |
| Court website | Idaho County District Court: idahocounty.org/planb/district-courts/. Second Judicial District: isc.idaho.gov/district-2. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Idaho County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, titled property, beneficiaries and known creditors. Venue depends on the decedent's domicile or, for a nonresident decedent, property located in the State of Idaho (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Estate settlement moves faster when you know which accounts exist before choosing an informal application, a formal petition, or a non-court collection route. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts and property before they prepare the probate packet.
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 courthouse in Grangeville.
Idaho County probate is filed in Grangeville. Idaho County is one of five counties in the Second Judicial District, along with Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce and Lewis Counties, and the Second Judicial District has four district judges with one resident chambers in Idaho County (Idaho Code § 1-803). The judicial district organizes judges and local rules; it does not move an Idaho 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 the State of Idaho, venue is in any county where the decedent had property at death (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
The courthouse city is Grangeville. Idaho County also includes communities such as Riggins, Kamiah, Cottonwood, Ferdinand, Stites and Elk City.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate settlement path. An informal probate application is used for the informal route, and a petition is used for formal probate or formal appointment (Idaho Code § 15-3-301, § 15-3-302, § 15-3-401, § 15-3-402). If the estate qualifies for the Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 collection of personal property by affidavit, the claiming successor presents that affidavit to the holder of the property after 30 days, rather than filing it with the court.
- Prepare the papers for Idaho County. Use the Court Assistance Office forms page at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms, the Idaho Code Title 15 requirements, and any attorney-drafted documents. If there is a will, plan to submit the original will on paper within seven business days even if other documents are filed electronically (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a)).
- File with the clerk of the district court at the courthouse in Grangeville. Attorneys must file electronically through iCourt File and Serve. A self-represented personal representative may use iCourt File and Serve or may file on paper with the clerk of the district court in Idaho County, but choosing electronic filing commits that filer to electronic filing for the life of the case unless the court permits withdrawal (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4).
- Pay the filing fee. The opening fee is $166.00 under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing schedule effective July 12, 2024, and the statutory components include Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. Confirm the current amount and payment method with the Idaho County clerk before you file.
- Let the registrar act on an informal filing, or get a hearing date if the matter proceeds formally. In an informal proceeding, the registrar, meaning a magistrate judge or district judge rather than the clerk, makes the statutory findings and issues the written statement of informal probate or order appointing the personal representative (Idaho Code § 15-1-307, § 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).
- Handle notice and creditor steps. Idaho lets a personal representative publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks to start the 4 months claim period from first publication; written notice gives the creditor the later of 4 months after the published notice or 60 days after mailing or delivery (Idaho Code § 15-3-801). Ask the clerk or counsel how the Second Judicial District wants notice handled in the specific estate.
- Ask about remote participation before any hearing. Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows the court to hold certain matters by telephone or video teleconference, but the decision belongs to the court. 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, and the spouse assumes the decedent's debts under that route (Idaho Code § 15-3-1205).
- Receive authority and administer the estate. After appointment and qualification, the personal representative receives letters testamentary if there is a will or letters of administration if there is no will (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-103). Within 3 months after appointment, the personal representative must prepare an inventory, send it to interested persons who request it, and may file the original with the court (Idaho Code § 15-3-706).
- Close the estate settlement when administration is complete. Use the closing path that fits the case, including any summary administration closing statement when that statewide route applies (Idaho Code § 15-3-1203, § 15-3-1204), and confirm with the clerk what Idaho County requires before final filing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Idaho County
Use the Court Assistance Office forms page at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms as the starting point, and contact Idaho County's limited-service Court Assistance Office contact before filing. Idaho County's local court information does not list a county-specific probate packet for this county.
In Idaho County, the opening document depends on the path: an informal probate filing uses an application, while formal probate uses a petition (Idaho Code § 15-3-301, § 15-3-302, § 15-3-401, § 15-3-402). If the case is testate, the original will must also be filed conventionally on paper within seven business days even when the case is otherwise filed electronically (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a)).
The Court Assistance Office can provide court forms, document review and legal information for people representing themselves, but it does not give legal advice. Because probate forms can be situation-specific, a personal representative often uses the Idaho Code requirements, Court Assistance Office materials and attorney-drafted documents to assemble the packet.
Local nuance
Idaho County-specific considerations
Idaho County is the county's full name. On this page, Idaho County means the county seated at Grangeville, while the State of Idaho means the state whose probate statutes and court rules govern the case. That distinction is important in estate settlement because statewide phrases such as Idaho Code, Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service, and the Idaho State Tax Commission do not refer to the county government.
Idaho County's own district court page lists court hours as 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific time. Use Pacific time when calling the court-specific line at (208) 983-2776 or the general clerk line at (208) 983-2751.
Idaho County is in the Second Judicial District, and Idaho Code § 1-803 places one resident chambers for a district judge in Idaho County. Probate filings still go to the courthouse in Grangeville, and a probate matter is heard in the magistrate division of the district court (Idaho Code § 1-2208).
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| August 11, 2026 | The Idaho Judiciary launched new public websites for the state's judicial districts, including the Second Judicial District site that serves Idaho County. |
| August 2026 | Idaho County's District Court page lists court hours as 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, with a court-specific phone, fax and email for the Grangeville courthouse. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Idaho County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the surviving spouse is the sole devisee or heir, ask whether summary administration under Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 fits. That route can reach real property and has a $130.00 filing fee under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A schedule effective July 12, 2024, but the spouse assumes liability for the decedent's debts and there is no administration of the estate (Idaho Code § 15-3-1205, § 31-3201A). | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues before the spouse chooses a route, and can connect the family with a local probate attorney for the debt-liability decision. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | For probate personal property worth $100,000 or less, the Idaho Code § 15-3-1201 collection of personal property by affidavit may be presented to the holder after 30 days if no appointment or summary administration is pending or granted. If a court appointment is needed, file in Idaho County if venue is proper under Idaho Code § 15-3-201, and remember that the Grangeville courthouse uses Pacific time. | Sunset's estate settlement tools help locate accounts and generate a packet checklist so the child can decide whether the affidavit route or a court appointment is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home generally requires court authority unless another valid nonprobate transfer applies. The parent should expect an Idaho County probate filing, appointment of a personal representative, and letters testamentary or letters of administration before sale steps are taken (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-103). | Sunset helps gather asset information, organize creditor and title questions, and connect the parent with a vetted Idaho probate attorney for sale authority and closing requirements. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps Idaho County families | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Court Assistance Office for Idaho County | Idaho County is marked limited service. The county page directs self-represented users to the Court Assistance Office serving Latah County for Second Judicial District self-help support. The Court Assistance Office provides forms, document review and legal information through courtselfhelp.idaho.gov. | Idaho County location: 320 West Main Street, Grangeville, ID 83530. Staffed contact: Court Assistance Office serving Latah County, (208) 883-7221, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Idaho Legal Aid Services | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Idaho Legal Aid Services does not list probate among its service areas, so do not assume it will take an estate administration matter. | Legal Advice Line: 208-746-7541. |
| Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program | Volunteer civil legal assistance for financially qualified applicants. It may provide advice, consultation, brief service or representation depending on eligibility and attorney availability. | ilf.idaho.gov/ivlp/legal-assistance/. |
| Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to an Idaho State Bar attorney. The referral fee is $35 as listed by the Idaho State Bar in August 2026, with stated exceptions for personal injury, medical malpractice and workers' compensation referrals. | isb.idaho.gov/lawyer-referral-service/; Idaho State Bar phone (208) 334-4500. |
| Idaho State Law Library | Legal research materials for Idaho law. The library is 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
Consider hiring a probate attorney when the estate includes real property, a business, a dispute among heirs, creditor questions, a nonresident decedent, a surviving-spouse summary administration question under Idaho Code § 15-3-1205, or uncertainty about whether Idaho County is the correct venue under Idaho Code § 15-3-201. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, debts and property before they choose an Idaho County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's answers into an organized estate settlement packet, including the information a personal representative needs for an Idaho County application or petition.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home must be sold, a creditor issue needs legal judgment, or a hearing may be required, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Idaho probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps and decide whether they need court filing help in Idaho County.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Idaho County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the courthouse in Grangeville if Idaho County is the decedent's domicile county. If the decedent was not domiciled in the State of Idaho, venue can be in a county where the decedent had property (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Is Idaho County the same thing as the State of Idaho for probate?
No. Idaho County is the county seated at Grangeville. The State of Idaho supplies the Idaho Code, statewide court rules, the Idaho State Tax Commission and the iCourt systems that apply to every county.
What is the filing fee to open probate in Idaho County?
The opening filing fee is $166.00 under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A filing schedule effective July 12, 2024. The amount includes the $120 magistrate-division filing fee, the $26 judges' retirement fund fee, the $10 Idaho Code fund fee and the $10 civil administrative surcharge (Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213, § 31-3201).
Can I e-file an Idaho County probate case?
Attorneys must file electronically through iCourt File and Serve. A self-represented individual may use iCourt File and Serve or file on paper, but if the self-represented filer chooses electronic filing, that choice continues for the life of the case unless the court allows withdrawal (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4). In a testate case, the original will must also be filed conventionally on paper within seven business days (I.R.E.F.S. Rule 5(a)).
Does Idaho County have local probate forms?
Start with the Court Assistance Office forms page at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms and the limited-service Court Assistance Office page for Idaho County. A county-specific Idaho County probate packet is not listed in the local court information, so ask the Court Assistance Office contact or a probate attorney what forms fit your filing.
Can I look up an Idaho County probate case online?
The iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov is the statewide online records and payments portal. Ask the clerk of the district court what information is available for an Idaho County estate case because access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.
Can I attend an Idaho County probate hearing by phone or video?
Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows the court to hold certain matters by telephone or video teleconference, but the court decides whether that is allowed. For a surviving-spouse summary administration, the petitioner may move to appear telephonically or file affidavits instead of appearing, subject to Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 and its debt-liability rule.
Do I have to travel to Grangeville to handle Idaho County probate?
You may be able to file electronically if you are represented by counsel, or as a self-represented filer if you choose iCourt File and Serve under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service. Paper filings, original wills and hearing participation should be planned with the Idaho County clerk because the courthouse runs on Pacific time.
Does the State of Idaho collect inheritance tax for an Idaho County estate?
The State of Idaho collects no inheritance tax, no estate tax and no gift tax: 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, and the Idaho Code's estate and transfer tax chapter is repealed (tax.idaho.gov; Idaho Code Title 14, chapter 4). An estate may still owe federal tax or need 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.