Putting your affairs in order in Boise?
A solid estate plan decides who gets what, who makes decisions if you can't, and whether your family avoids a slow, public probate. Most Boise estate-planning work is done for a flat fee, so you can compare prices directly. Below are the Boise firms that show up most consistently across independent rating services for wills, trusts, and probate.
Boise estate-planning lawyers usually quote a flat fee for a defined package. A basic will-based plan — will, powers of attorney, and a health-care directive — commonly runs $400 to $1,500. A revocable living trust package that keeps your estate out of probate typically runs $1,800 to $4,000 or more, depending on whether you own a business, rental property, or out-of-state real estate. Probate administration, when someone has died, is usually billed hourly or as a percentage.
The right firm depends on complexity. A young family with a house and kids needs different work than a retiree with a business and blended family. Ask what's included, whether trust funding (retitling assets into the trust) is part of the fee, and what a future update will cost.
How we picked these firms: We cross-referenced Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia and Expertise.com, then looked for peer recognition, published results, and consistent client review patterns. A firm had to appear across at least two independent sources to make the list. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. Where a firm's size or founding year isn't publicly confirmed, we leave it out rather than guess. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Estate planning, elder law, probate, trusts
A BBB-accredited Boise firm serving the area since 1991, focused on elder law, estate planning, probate, trust and will-based plans, and long-term-care planning. The firm was recognized among Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers in 2017.
Practice focus: Estate planning, asset preservation, elder law
Through its Elder Law Group, partner Joshua C.P. Reams focuses on estate planning, asset preservation, and long-term-care planning for seniors. A good fit for clients with more complex tax or asset-protection needs.
Practice focus: Trusts, estate planning, probate, asset protection
A Boise boutique built around trust and estate planning, probate and trust administration, and asset protection — a smaller-firm option for clients who want partner-level attention.
Practice focus: Trusts, wills, probate, estate planning
Attorney Fran Talboy Kershisnik has practiced probate and estate planning for more than 30 years, helping individuals structure wills, trusts, and estate plans that fit their families.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, business planning
A Boise practice handling wills, trusts, and probate, frequently listed among the area's estate-planning firms on independent directories.
Practice focus: Estate planning, trusts, probate
An established Boise firm whose estate-planning and probate attorneys appear across Super Lawyers and Justia listings for the area.
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney
A boutique estate-planning practice offering flat-fee will and trust packages, a straightforward option for individuals and young families.
Practice focus: Estate planning, business, real estate
A Boise firm combining estate planning with business and real-estate work — convenient if you want one firm for your trust and your company or property.
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Request Free Consultation →A complete plan usually includes a will, a durable financial power of attorney, a health-care power of attorney with a living will, and — for many families — a revocable living trust. The will names guardians for minor children and directs who inherits. The powers of attorney name who acts for you if you're incapacitated. A funded living trust lets your estate pass to your heirs without Idaho probate, which saves time and keeps the details private.
Idaho probate is comparatively streamlined, but it still takes months and becomes part of the public record. Whether you need a trust depends on your assets, your family, and how much you care about avoiding probate. A good estate-planning lawyer will tell you honestly when a simple will is enough and when a trust earns its higher fee.
Most Boise firms quote flat fees. A basic will-based package generally runs $400 to $1,500. A revocable living trust package usually runs $1,800 to $4,000 or more, depending on complexity — a business, rental properties, blended family, or out-of-state real estate pushes it higher. The most important question is whether trust funding is included; an unfunded trust does nothing, and some firms charge separately to retitle your assets. Probate administration after a death is typically hourly or a percentage of the estate.
Match the firm to your situation. If you're a young family, you mostly need clear, affordable documents and named guardians — a flat-fee will package is fine. If you own a business, have a blended family, expect estate-tax exposure, or want long-term-care and Medicaid planning, choose a firm with elder-law or tax depth. Ask what's included, what updates cost, who you'll actually meet with, and how the firm handles trust funding. A plan you understand and will actually keep current beats a thicker binder you never open.
Estate planning is mostly flat-fee, so use the consultation to compare what's actually in the package. Ask: What exactly is included — will, powers of attorney, medical directive, trust? Is trust funding part of the fee or extra? Who drafts the documents, and who reviews them with me? What will it cost to update the plan in a few years? Do you handle the probate or trust administration later, and how is that billed? How do you store the originals? A clear, written scope and a fixed price are good signs; vague answers about funding or updates are not.
The most common estate-planning mistakes are simple. People set up a trust and never fund it, so it does nothing. They name an out-of-date executor or beneficiary — an ex-spouse on a life-insurance form overrides your will. They forget that retirement accounts and payable-on-death accounts pass by beneficiary designation, not by the will, so those must be coordinated. And they treat the plan as one-and-done; a plan that fit you ten years and two kids ago may not fit now. Build the plan, fund it, keep the beneficiary designations consistent, and revisit it after any major life change.
It depends. A will is enough for many people, but a funded revocable living trust avoids Idaho probate, keeps your affairs private, and helps if you own out-of-state property. A Boise estate lawyer can tell you which fits your assets.
A basic will-based package commonly runs $400 to $1,500 flat. A revocable living trust package usually runs $1,800 to $4,000 or more depending on complexity.
Funding means retitling your assets into the trust so it actually works. Some firms include it in the package and some charge separately — always ask, because an unfunded trust provides no benefit.
An uncomplicated Idaho probate generally takes several months. Disputes among heirs or creditor issues can extend it well beyond a year.
Review your plan after a major life change — marriage, divorce, a new child, a death, a big asset purchase, or a move to another state — and otherwise every three to five years.
Many Boise estate-planning firms offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Confirm when you call.
No. Idaho has no state estate or inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax applies, and it affects estates above the high federal exemption, so most families won't owe it.
Your estate passes by Idaho's intestacy statutes, which divide it among your spouse and relatives in a set order. That may not match your wishes, and it can complicate matters for a blended family.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read recent reviews, then talk to two or three firms before you decide. Ask each how many cases like yours they have handled in the last three years — the answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team