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Lincoln County, ID Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lincoln County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The magistrate division of the district court at the Lincoln County Courthouse (Idaho Code § 1-2208). |
| Courthouse address | 111 West B Street, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352. |
| Mailing address | Same as street address: 111 West B Street, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352. |
| Phone | Clerk of the District Court: (208) 886-7641. District Court general line: (208) 886-2173. |
| Fax | District Court fax: (208) 886-2458. Clerk's Office fax: (208) 886-2798. Call before sending anything by fax. |
| [email protected], labeled by the county for District Court records requests, not as an email filing address. | |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No midday closure or filing cutoff is published for Lincoln County. |
| Filing fee | $166.00 to open a probate in the magistrate division, effective July 12, 2024, under the Idaho Supreme Court Appendix A schedule and Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. |
| Local forms | No Lincoln County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published on the Lincoln County District Court page, Clerk's Office page or Court Assistance Office page. The Court Assistance Office forms index at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms does not list a probate category. |
| E-filing | Attorneys must use the Idaho electronic filing system. A self-represented personal representative may use iCourt File and Serve or file on paper with the clerk of the district court in Lincoln County, and a self-represented filer who chooses electronic filing must keep using it for the life of the case unless the court permits withdrawal (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4). |
| Case search | Use the iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov for Idaho online records and payments. Access to court records is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. |
| Remote appearance | Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference when the court permits it. The Fifth Judicial District publishes a Zoom information page captioned for attorneys, but that is not a general public right to appear remotely. |
| Website | Lincoln County District Court: https://www.lincolncountyid.gov/district-court. Lincoln County Clerk's Office: https://www.lincolncountyid.gov/clerks-office. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Lincoln County, list the estate's assets, debts, account numbers, real property and likely beneficiaries. Idaho venue turns on the decedent's domicile, so the first filing usually belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Estate settlement is easier when you know what exists before asking for letters testamentary or letters of administration (Idaho Code § 15-1-201). Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts and policies before they prepare the Lincoln County filing 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 Lincoln County Courthouse in the city of Shoshone.
Lincoln County is one of eight counties in Idaho's Fifth Judicial District, along with Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Jerome, Minidoka, Cassia and Twin Falls Counties (Idaho Code § 1-806). The Fifth Judicial District organizes judges and local rules, but it does not move a Lincoln County filing counter out of Lincoln County.
Venue for the first informal or formal estate proceeding is in the county where the decedent had domicile at death, or, for a decedent not domiciled in Idaho, in a county where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Lincoln County is the right venue. Use the county of the decedent's domicile, or, for a non-Idaho decedent, an Idaho county where property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
- Choose the filing path. An application is used for informal probate and informal appointment, while a petition is used for formal probate or appointment (Idaho Code § 15-3-301, § 15-3-302, § 15-3-307, § 15-3-401, § 15-3-402).
- Prepare the papers. In an informal proceeding, the registrar, meaning a magistrate judge or district judge and not the clerk, makes the required 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).
- File with the clerk of the district court at the Lincoln County Courthouse, 111 West B Street, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352. Attorneys must file electronically. A self-represented personal representative may use iCourt File and Serve or file on paper, and a self-represented filer who elects electronic filing must keep using it for the life of the case unless the court permits withdrawal (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4).
- If there is a will and the case is filed electronically, file the original will and the pleading it is attached to conventionally within seven business days (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 5(a)).
- Pay the filing fee. The probate opening fee is $166.00, effective July 12, 2024, under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. Confirm the current amount with the Lincoln County Clerk of the District Court before filing.
- Handle notice and hearing requirements for the path you filed. Formal proceedings are before a judge with notice to interested persons, and Idaho has a formal testacy framework for contested and uncontested matters (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-401, § 15-3-405). Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 allows certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference when the court permits it.
- After appointment, obtain the authority document. Idaho uses letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is no will, and administration begins with issuance of letters (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-103).
- Administer the estate. The personal representative may publish notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks to start a four-month claims period, with a 60-day mailed-notice tail 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).
- Close the estate under the applicable Idaho procedure. Estate settlement may require sale or transfer of property, payment of allowed claims, accounting to interested persons, and any closing filing required by the selected path.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lincoln County
The Court Assistance Office forms index at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms lists many civil and family categories, but it does not list a probate category. A CAO Pb probate form series exists, but no Lincoln County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published on the Lincoln County District Court page, Clerk's Office page or Court Assistance Office page.
For a Lincoln County filing, a personal representative or attorney drafts the application for informal probate or the petition for formal probate from Idaho Code Title 15, chapter 3, using the correct path for the estate (Idaho Code § 15-3-301, § 15-3-302, § 15-3-401, § 15-3-402).
The Court Assistance Office page for Lincoln County is marked Limited Services and lists the Lincoln County District Court at 111 West B Street, Ste. C, Shoshone, ID 83352, with phone 208-886-2173 and hours 8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.
Fees
Lincoln County publishes payment options on its District Court page. Court payments may be made by mail, by phone with a credit or debit card at (208) 886-2173 with a convenience fee, or online through mycourts.idaho.gov, where a 3.5 percent convenience fee applies.
Those payment charges are separate from the probate filing fee. The probate opening fee is $166.00, effective July 12, 2024, under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. Attorneys and self-represented filers who use electronic filing should also account for the $5.00 electronic filing system fee dated December 15, 2023.
Local nuance
Lincoln County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Shoshone means the city here | The Lincoln County Courthouse is in the city of Shoshone, Idaho. Do not confuse that city with the separate Idaho county seated at Wallace. |
| Two local phone lines | Use (208) 886-7641 for the Lincoln County Clerk of the District Court and (208) 886-2173 for the District Court general line. |
| Limited Services Court Assistance Office | The Court Assistance Office page for Lincoln County is marked Limited Services and lists the local number as 208-886-2173, with the Fifth Judicial District Court Assistance Office also listed as 208-736-4136. Use courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Lincoln for that resource. |
| Fifth Judicial District Zoom page | The Fifth Judicial District publishes Zoom information captioned for attorneys. Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 still controls whether a hearing may be held by telephone or video teleconference. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Fifth Judicial District website | Idaho's judicial district websites launched on August 11, 2026. Lincoln County is listed under Idaho's Fifth Judicial District, and the district site links to Lincoln County's own court pages (Idaho Code § 1-806). |
| Lincoln County hours and contact details | Lincoln County's District Court, Clerk's Office and Court Assistance Office pages list 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, rather than the statewide form-row hours that appear in some older references. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lincoln County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary, Idaho has a summary administration route under Idaho Code § 15-3-1205. That route can address property through a decree, but the surviving spouse assumes liability for estate debts under Idaho Code § 15-3-1205(c). | Sunset organizes the asset picture, flags the spouse-only issue for attorney review, and helps assemble the estate settlement packet for the Lincoln County Courthouse. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the property is personal property and the estate subject to probate fits Idaho Code § 15-3-1201, the claiming successor may use the collection of personal property by affidavit after 30 days. If a court appointment is needed, file in Lincoln County only if venue is proper under Idaho Code § 15-3-201. | Sunset searches for accounts, helps separate probate and nonprobate assets, and can connect the child with local help without guessing from another state's Lincoln County rules. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually requires a court appointment and letters testamentary or letters of administration, depending on whether there is a will (Idaho Code § 15-1-201, § 15-3-103). File at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Shoshone if Lincoln County is the proper venue. | Sunset helps gather balances, debts, title information and heirs so the personal representative can move estate settlement forward with a complete packet. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Court Assistance Office for Lincoln County | Limited Services. The Court Assistance Office offers court forms, document review and legal information for people representing themselves, but not legal advice. Its local page is courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Local/Lincoln. | Lincoln County District Court, 111 West B Street, Ste. C, Shoshone, ID 83352. Phone 208-886-2173. Hours 8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday. |
| Fifth Judicial District Court Assistance Office | District-level resource also listed on the Court Assistance Office page for Lincoln County. The district page does not list probate as a case type. | 208-736-4136. |
| Idaho Legal Aid Services | Statewide civil legal aid intake. Its listed service areas do not include probate administration. | Legal Advice Line 208-746-7541. Online intake: https://www.idaholegalaid.org/apply-for-help. |
| Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program | Offers civil legal advice and clinics by appointment through the Idaho Law Foundation. 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 | Referrals to Idaho State Bar members in good standing. The referral fee is $35, as listed by the Idaho State Bar page reviewed August 2026, and the initial consultation is up to a half hour at no fee. | (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
A lawyer is useful in Lincoln County when there is real property to sell, disagreement among heirs, a creditor dispute, a will question, an out-of-state domicile issue, or uncertainty about whether Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 applies to a surviving spouse. Idaho allows self-represented parties to file, but the Court Assistance Office does not give legal advice, and probate forms may need to be drafted from Idaho Code Title 15. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before the Lincoln County filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized estate settlement packet so the personal representative and attorney can focus on the right Idaho filing path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs counsel, Sunset connects families with a vetted Idaho probate attorney who can advise on Lincoln County filing, letters, creditor issues and real property.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, track assets and move from discovery to filing without paying Sunset for the family account.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for Lincoln County, Idaho?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Lincoln County Courthouse, 111 West B Street, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352. Idaho venue for the first estate proceeding is based on the decedent's domicile, or, for a decedent not domiciled in Idaho, a county where the decedent's property was located (Idaho Code § 15-3-201).
Is Lincoln County probate heard by a magistrate judge?
Yes. Probate is assigned to the magistrate division of the district court, and a magistrate judge hears it (Idaho Code § 1-2201, § 1-2208). In an informal proceeding, the registrar, meaning a magistrate judge or district judge, acts under Idaho Code § 15-1-307.
Can I e-file a Lincoln County probate case?
Attorneys must file electronically. A self-represented personal representative may file through iCourt File and Serve or file on paper, and a self-represented filer who chooses electronic filing must keep using it for the life of the case unless the court permits withdrawal (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 4). If there is a will and the case is e-filed, the original will and the pleading it is attached to must also be filed conventionally within seven business days (Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service Rule 5(a)).
How much is the Lincoln County probate filing fee?
The probate opening fee is $166.00, effective July 12, 2024, for an application for informal probate or a petition for formal probate in the magistrate division, under Idaho Code § 31-3201A, § 1-2003, § 73-213 and § 31-3201. Confirm the current amount with the Lincoln County Clerk of the District Court before filing.
Are there Lincoln County probate forms online?
No Lincoln County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published on the Lincoln County District Court page, Clerk's Office page or Court Assistance Office page. The Court Assistance Office forms index at courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms does not list a probate category, although a CAO Pb probate form series exists.
Can I appear remotely for a Lincoln County probate hearing?
Idaho R. Civ. P. 7.2 lets the court hold certain hearings by telephone or video teleconference when the court permits it. The Fifth Judicial District has a Zoom information page captioned for attorneys, but no Lincoln County rule was found giving self-represented parties a general right to appear remotely. For the surviving-spouse summary administration route, Idaho Code § 15-3-1205 allows the petitioner to move to appear telephonically or submit affidavits instead of appearing.
How do I look up a Lincoln County probate case?
Use the iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov for Idaho online records and payments. What is visible for a Lincoln County case depends on court-record access rules, including Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.
Do I have to travel to Shoshone to start estate settlement?
If you are self-represented and do not use electronic filing, you file on paper with the clerk of the district court at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Shoshone. Attorneys must use electronic filing, and self-represented parties may choose iCourt File and Serve under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service.
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.