Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Idaho County
Valley County, Idaho
McCall - Idaho's mountain lake resort and the world's best small-town winter carnival - from McCall's Payette Lake setting (the alpine lake community of McCall - nestled on the shores of Payette Lake in the Payette National Forest at 5,000 feet elevation - is consistently ranked among the finest mountain resort communities in the Pacific Northwest, with boating, skiing at Brundage Mountain, and the spectacular Payette River wilderness at its doorstep) to the McCall Winter Carnival (the annual January festival featuring massive elaborate ice and snow sculptures - the largest amateur snow sculpture competition in the United States - that draws visitors from across the Pacific Northwest to a display of frozen artistry that has made McCall's winter festival one of the most beloved in the Mountain West).
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Valley County Sheriff’s Office – 107 W. Spring Street (behind the courthouse), Cascade, ID 83611 | P.O. Box 1350 | Non-emergency (208) 382-5160 | Civil (208) 382-7150 | Crisis Line (208) 382-5310 | Jail (208) 382-7168 | Records (208) 382-7159 | Email: [email protected]; Sheriff Kevin Copperi. 16 full-time patrol deputies, 2 detectives, and 2 administrative supervisors cover nearly 4,000 square miles of mostly forested terrain, supported by Valley County Search and Rescue.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: SR-55 serves Cascade, the county seat, along the North Fork of the Payette River; McCall is the county’s largest city, on Payette Lake.
Notes: Valley County was established February 26, 1917, named for the Long Valley of the North Fork of the Payette River, which extends over 30 miles from Payette Lake at McCall south to Cascade and Round Valley; the valley was historically used as summer pasture for livestock from the Boise Valley (Treasure Valley) before the Cascade Dam was completed in 1948, creating the Cascade Reservoir that now covers much of the northern valley.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Valley County Courthouse – 219 N. Main Street, Cascade, ID | P.O. Box 1350.
Notes: Valley County hosts the annual North Fork Championship, recognized as an Extreme Whitewater Kayaking World Championship event, held on the North Fork of the Payette River between Banks and Smith’s Ferry – a genuinely notable competitive draw for elite kayakers worldwide.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Valley County Veterans Services – confirm current contact via co.valley.id.us.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Cascade Public Library and McCall Public Library – confirm current addresses/phones via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Payette Lake (McCall), Cascade Reservoir, the North Fork of the Payette River (site of the annual World Championship whitewater kayaking event), and the surrounding forested mountain terrain are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine, world-class whitewater kayaking competition held annually on the North Fork of the Payette River is among the standout local facts covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Valley County Assessor’s Office – confirm current contact via co.valley.id.us.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Confirm current dedicated shelter contact via co.valley.id.us; Valley County Sheriff’s Office for animal control arrangements.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Valley County Solid Waste / Planning & Zoning – confirm current contact via co.valley.id.us.
NOTES: Valley County is the forty-fourth and FINAL county completed in Idaho’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project – this file completes all 44 Idaho counties. The genuine, world-class whitewater kayaking competition on the North Fork of the Payette River is 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 Valley County
Valley County is McCall – Idaho’s premier mountain lake resort community on Payette Lake hosts the largest amateur snow sculpture competition in the United States each January, and Brundage Mountain’s uncrowded slopes attract skiers seeking authentic mountain resort atmosphere without the Vail-scale crowds and prices.
McCall (population ~3,500) is the county’s resort and cultural hub. Cascade (the county seat, population ~1,000) serves the county’s governmental and agricultural communities on the North Fork of the Payette River.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Valley County Assessor at 219 N. Main Street, Suite 4, Cascade, ID 83611, phone 208-382-7126. ID homeowner’s exemption up to $125,000.
Courts & Legal
Valley County District Court at 219 N. Main Street, Cascade, ID 83611, phone 208-382-7175, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK / ADMINISTRATOR
219 N. Main St., Cascade, ID 83611
(208) 382-7100
CLERK OF COURT (Records, Marriage Licenses)
219 N. Main St., Cascade, ID 83611
(208) 382-7100
ELECTIONS / CLERK
219 N. Main St., Cascade, ID 83611
(208) 382-7100
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Valley County Magistrate Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Valley 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
Valley County Magistrate Court 219 North Main Street, P.O. Box 1350, Cascade, ID 83611 (208) 382-7100
The Court Assistance Office, located inside the courthouse, can help with forms: (208) 587-1890. Valley County is a mountainous, recreation-oriented county in central Idaho, home to McCall and Payette Lake.
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 Valley 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 Valley 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
219 N. Main St., Cascade, ID 83611
(208) 382-7150
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS / CLERK
219 N. Main St., Cascade, ID 83611
(208) 382-7100
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Idaho Dept of Health & Welfare — Southwest
(208) 334-5500
Idaho Medicaid
(800) 926-2588
McCall Medical Center (St. Luke's)
stlukesonline.org/mccall
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Central District Health (serving Valley County) – confirm current contact via co.valley.id.us.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Cascade
Population: 11,000
Area: 3,676 sq mi
Established: 1917
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Valley County residents.
