What to Do When Someone Dies in Bingham County, Idaho

Probate in Bingham County runs through the Magistrate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.

When someone dies in Bingham County, settling their estate runs through the Magistrate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.

Probate Court Record

Magistrate Court

Bingham County · 7th Judicial District

Address

501 North Maple Street, Suite 205Blackfoot, ID 83221

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed during the lunch hour)
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalSelf-filing allowed

Departments

  • District Civil208-782-3154
  • District Criminal208-782-3147
  • Treatment Court208-782-3118
  • Small Claims/Infractions208-782-3120
  • Magistrate Court208-782-3123
  • Misdemeanor208-782-3117
  • Misdemeanor Arraignment208-684-6253
  • Felony Preliminary208-782-3126
  • Juvenile208-782-3119
  • Payments208-782-3117

The 7th Judicial District includes Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton counties.

Verified July 3, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Bingham County

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Bingham County, probate runs through the Magistrate Court at 501 North Maple Street, Suite 205, Blackfoot. The court sits in the 7th Judicial District.

The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Idaho intestacy law when there is no will.

Most Idaho estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 4 monthsIdaho Code § 15-3-801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.

What Probate Costs in Bingham County

What probate costs in Bingham County, Idaho comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Magistrate Court at 501 North Maple Street, Suite 205, Blackfoot. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District.

Probate matters are handled through District Civil, District Criminal, Treatment Court, and Small Claims/Infractions. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.

Bingham County runs a probate self-help center, which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 208-589-9872.

Idaho charges $166IRCP Appendix A, Category A (eff. 7/12/2024); Idaho Code § 31-3201A(1) — api.isc.idaho.gov/uploads/Rules_PDFs/1775633983169-Appendix-A-Civil-Case-Filing-Fees-071224.pdf (Verified 2026-09-08)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.

The Magistrate Court accepts e-filing (https://isc.idaho.gov/irefs). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.

Estimate the costs for this estate:

Attorney fees in Idaho are negotiated, typically 1.8%Idaho Code § 15-3-721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage) — see also § 15-3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Idaho Code § 15-3-721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage) — see also § 15-3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.

Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.

Idaho requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.

Probate in Idaho typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.

How to File Probate at the Magistrate Court

Probate documents in Bingham County can be filed in person at the Magistrate Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 7th Judicial District.

Filings here are routed through District Civil, District Criminal, Treatment Court, and Small Claims/Infractions. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.

How to File Your Documents

Paper Filing Available

You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.

E-Filing Also Available

If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.

View E-Filing Information

Paper Filing Required For

  • •Original wills (must also be filed conventionally within 7 business days)

Can You File Without an Attorney?

Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Magistrate Court is realistic. Bingham County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Bingham County Self-Filing Assessment.

What to Bring

To file at the Magistrate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.

Transferring Property in Bingham County

Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.

Deeds and other real property documents for Bingham County are recorded with the County Recorder at 501 North Maple Street, Blackfoot, ID 83221. Phone: 208-782-3160. Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; recording hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

The County Recorder charges $15 for the first 30 pages plus $3 for each page beyond 30.

Recording Office Record

County Recorder

Bingham County

Address

501 North Maple StreetBlackfoot, ID 83221

Fax

208-785-4131

Hours

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; recording hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Base fee (first 30 pages)$15
Each page beyond 30$3

Idaho Code 31-3205 (recorder's fees). Deeds, grants and transfers of title to real property of 30 pages or fewer: $15.00 flat. All other instruments: $10.00 first page + $3.00 each additional page.

Verified September 4, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Bingham County

Idaho allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Bingham County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.

Probate attorney fees in Idaho are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.8%Idaho Code § 15-3-721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage) — see also § 15-3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Idaho Code § 15-3-721 (court reviews reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage) — see also § 15-3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Bingham County firm to quote a structure up front.

A probate attorney files the petition with the Magistrate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.

FirmBlackfoot, ID

Baker & Harris Law

Since 1996 · Serves 1 county

Blackfoot-based firm serving Bingham County since 1996. Practice covers estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, real estate, and business law. Two generations of attorneys serving the community.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
266 W Bridge StBlackfoot, ID 83221

FirmPocatello, ID

Echo Hawk & Olsen, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Full-service Pocatello firm with 7 attorneys handling estate planning, probate, trust administration, tribal law, business law, and litigation. Serves Bannock and Bingham counties in Southeast Idaho.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
505 Pershing Ave, Suite 100Pocatello, ID 83201

FirmBlackfoot, ID

Esplin & Packer LLP

Serves 1 county

Blackfoot firm serving Bingham County since 1999. Thomas W. Packer has over 40 years of experience in estate planning, probate, real property, and general civil practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
186 E Judicial StBlackfoot, ID 83221

FirmPocatello, ID

May, Rammell & Wells

Since 1975 · Serves 4 counties

A well-established Pocatello firm with roots dating back to 1975. Has helped many individuals, couples, and families throughout Southeastern Idaho create thorough estate plans. Handles wills, trusts, and estate administration. Attorneys in Pocatello and Burley with 70+ years of collective experience.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
216 West Whitman StreetPocatello, ID 83204

FirmPocatello, ID

Snake River Law PLLC

Since 2009 · Serves 3 counties

Pocatello firm serving Bannock, Bingham, and Bonneville counties across Southeast and Eastern Idaho since 2009. Focuses on estate planning and small business law, with added depth in elder law, special needs planning, and guardianship of minor children.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawConservatorshipand 4 more

Office
1156 East Center StreetPocatello, ID 83201

FirmIdaho Falls, ID

Hopkins Roden Crockett Hansen & Hoopes, PLLC

Since 1973 · Serves 2 counties

Idaho Falls firm established in 1973, serving Bonneville and Bingham counties. Handles estate planning, probate, trust administration, and estate tax planning, with the depth of one of Eastern Idaho's larger and longer-running practices.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
428 Park AveIdaho Falls, ID 83402
See all 11 firms serving Bingham County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Idaho statutes and official state code. How we research.