Bear Lake County, Idaho: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Sixth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Bear Lake County) in Paris. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $5,000. Idaho return time: 21 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $628. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Sixth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Bear Lake County)
City	Paris
Address	7 East Center St, Paris, ID 83261
Phone	(208) 945-2212
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$5,000 (Magistrate Division small claims; $5,000 limit (Idaho Code 1-2301) only)
State deposit return deadline	21 calendar days after surrender of the premises by the tenant. Applies when: default when no return time is fixed by agreement. 30 calendar days after surrender of the premises by the tenant. Applies when: outer maximum; agreement may set a time other than 21 days but may not exceed 30 days. 3 business days after landlord receives tenant's written three-day demand under § 6-320. Applies when: pre-suit cure: tenant must give 3 days written notice listing the failure (return of security deposit) and demand performance before filing under § 6-320; Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded from the 3-day count per practice guides.
Time limit to sue	5 years
Deposit statute	Idaho Code §§ 6-321, 6-320

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $5,000 (Magistrate Division small claims; $5,000 limit (Idaho Code 1-2301) only).

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Details of the return rules

Idaho statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
My lease doesn't say how long the landlord has to return the deposit	21 days	after surrender of the premises by the tenant
My lease sets its own return time (the law caps it at 30 days)	30 days	after surrender of the premises by the tenant

Idaho return rule: 21 calendar days (default when no return time is fixed by agreement). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Sixth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Bear Lake County). Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Bear Lake County.
The Idaho business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Idaho Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Bear Lake County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$335	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$628	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$950	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Bear Lake County compare with other Idaho counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $628: rank 43 of 43 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 15% of households rent in Bear Lake County.

Bear Lake County two-bedroom rent $628, rank 43 of 43 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Lewis County	$727
Owyhee County	$684
Power County	$677
Caribou County	$674
Custer County	$647
Bear Lake County	$628

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 43 of 44 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Bear Lake County

Bloomington
Georgetown
Montpelier
Paris
St. Charles

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Idaho Legal Aid Services: free civil legal help for eligible Idaho tenants through a Housing Legal Advice Line covering evictions, repairs, security deposits, and housing discrimination
Idaho Housing and Finance Association: HUD-approved housing counseling for renters, including rent advice, lease-agreement help, utility solutions, and referrals to Idaho Legal Aid for landlord-tenant issues
NeighborWorks Boise: HUD-approved housing counseling including rental housing counseling and rental workshops, plus financial coaching with HUD-certified counselors

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Bear Lake County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Bear Lake County?

Sixth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Bear Lake County) is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.