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Idaho County
Benewah County, Idaho
St. Maries and the St. Joe River - the world's highest navigable river - from the St. Joe River's remarkable distinction (the St. Joe River - flowing through the heart of Benewah County - was historically navigable by stern-wheel steamboats to an elevation higher than any other navigable river in the world, and the river's clarity and scenic beauty through the white pine forest made it one of north Idaho's most celebrated waterways) and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Benewah County connection (the Coeur d'Alene Reservation borders Benewah County and the tribe's presence shapes the cultural landscape of the St. Maries area).
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Office: Benewah County Sheriff’s Office – 701 W. College Avenue, St. Maries, ID 83861 | (208) 245-2555 / (208) 245-5224; Sheriff elected 2021.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: SR-3/5 serve St. Maries, the county seat and largest city, near the confluence of the St. Maries and St. Joe Rivers, with part of the city lying within the Coeur d’Alene Reservation.
Notes: Benewah County was established January 23, 1915, from land partitioned from Kootenai County, named for a chief of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The exact origin of the spelling “Benewah” is genuinely debated – one account holds it derives from a misspelling of “Benoit,” the French baptismal name of a Coeur d’Alene man, mispronounced and eventually mangled by English speakers into its current form. The federally recognized Coeur d’Alene Tribe is based on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation spanning this and neighboring Kootenai County. St. Maries was founded by Joseph Fisher, who selected the townsite for a sawmill (first built 1889) and later served as postmaster and general store operator; the steamboat era and the Milwaukee Railroad’s construction helped grow neighboring communities like St. Joe.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Benewah County Courthouse – 701 W. College Avenue, St. Maries, ID (built 1924, Classical Revival, architect Julius Zittel, builders Meyers & Telender; National Register of Historic Places since 1987) | (208) 245-3212 / (208) 245-3241 (Clerk).
Notes: Benewah County is home to two state parks: Heyburn State Park, Idaho’s oldest state park, and Mary Minerva McCroskey Memorial State Park. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, running through the county, is the longest paved bike path in the United States.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Benewah County Veterans Services – confirm current contact via benewahcountyid.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
St. Maries Public Library (St. Maries) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Heyburn State Park (Idaho’s oldest, featuring Lake Chatcolet), Mary Minerva McCroskey Memorial State Park, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and the St. Joe National Forest are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine distinction of Heyburn State Park as Idaho’s oldest, alongside the record-setting length of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, are among the standout local facts covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Benewah County Assessor’s Office – confirm current contact via benewahcountyid.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Confirm current dedicated shelter contact via benewahcountyid.gov; Benewah County Sheriff’s Office for animal control arrangements.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Benewah County Solid Waste / Planning & Zoning – confirm current contact via benewahcountyid.gov.
NOTES: Benewah County is the fifth county completed in Idaho’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine distinction of Heyburn State Park as Idaho’s oldest, alongside the county’s Coeur d’Alene Tribe naming history, are among the standout local facts covered in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Benewah County
Benewah County is the St. Joe River country – the world’s highest navigable river for sternwheel steamboats flows through the white pine forests of north Idaho, and St. Maries serves as the gateway to one of the Pacific Northwest’s most scenic river valleys.
St. Maries (the county seat, population ~2,600) is the hub for Benewah County’s timber, agricultural, and outdoor recreation communities in the St. Joe River valley.
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Benewah County Assessor at 701 W. College Avenue, Suite 1, St. Maries, ID 83861, phone 208-245-3212. ID homeowner’s exemption up to $125,000.
Courts & Legal
Benewah County District Court at 701 W. College Avenue, St. Maries, ID 83861, phone 208-245-3212, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK / ADMINISTRATOR
701 College Ave., St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-3212
CLERK OF COURT (Records, Marriage Licenses)
701 College Ave., St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-2428
ELECTIONS / CLERK
701 College Ave., St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-3212
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Benewah County Magistrate Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Benewah County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Benewah County Magistrate Court (First Judicial District) 701 College Avenue, Suite 201, St. Maries, ID 83861
Magistrate Judge: Hon. Douglas Paul Payne. Benewah County is in the Idaho Panhandle, home to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe reservation lands.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Idaho has adopted the Uniform Probate Code (Idaho Code Title 15). Idaho is also a community property state. Idaho recognizes four main paths:
Small Estate Affidavit – a non-court process for estates with a total value of $100,000 or less (excluding liens and encumbrances) and no real property. Available 30 days after death. No court filing required (Idaho Code § 15-3-1201).
Summary Administration – available when the value of all the decedent’s property is less than the homestead allowance, exempt property, and last-illness medical expenses combined, or when a surviving spouse is sole beneficiary (Idaho Code §§ 15-3-1203, 15-3-1205).
Informal Probate – the most common track for uncontested estates, handled through the court registrar.
Formal Probate – court-supervised proceedings required when disputes arise or the will is contested.
Step 2: filing
For informal probate with a will, file an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative with the Magistrate Division.
For formal probate, file a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative (or the equivalent for intestate estates).
Idaho does not have a statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives – fees must be reasonable given the services rendered and complexity.
If formal or informal probate is needed
Determine whether small estate affidavit, summary administration, or full probate applies.
File the appropriate application or petition with the Benewah County Magistrate Court.
Under informal proceedings, the registrar reviews the application without a hearing. Under formal proceedings, a judge holds a hearing.
The personal representative accepts the appointment and may need to post a bond.
Once appointed, the court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Obtain several certified copies.
Publish notice to creditors as required.
Mail notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and interested parties.
Marshal assets, obtain an EIN, open an estate account, pay valid debts and expenses, and prepare any required inventory.
Distribute remaining assets per the will or Idaho’s intestacy statutes, then close the estate.
What it costs
Idaho does not impose its own state estate or inheritance tax.
Idaho does not have a statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives.
Court filing fees and publication costs are separate – confirm current amounts with the Benewah County Magistrate Court.
Probate in Idaho typically takes 6-12 months for uncontested estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
701 College Ave., St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-2555
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS / CLERK
701 College Ave., St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-3212
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Idaho Dept of Health & Welfare — Panhandle
(208) 769-1421
Idaho Medicaid
(800) 926-2588
Benewah Community Hospital
benewahcommunityhospital.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Panhandle Health District (serving Benewah County) – confirm current contact via panhandlehealthdistrict.org.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: St. Maries
Population: 9,200
Area: 776 sq mi
Established: 1915
Tier: 3
Public Records
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