Ty Ketlinski

Attorney

Mr. Ketlinski has been practicing law for over 25 years in Idaho. Although his legal background is expansive and diverse, he now limits his practice to estate planning, elder law, and probate.

Mr. Ketlinski has resided in Idaho since 1977, where he came up through Boise schools and graduated from Borah High School in 1989. He then continued his education at the University of Idaho, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1994, and a degree in law in 1997.

Out of law school, Mr. Ketlinski served a judicial clerkship for then-District Judge Daniel T. Eismann, who is now a retired Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court. Following his clerkship, Mr. Ketlinski worked for 4 years as an associate attorney practicing mostly civil municipal litigation, but also general civil defense litigation and family law. Mr. Ketlinski then continued his municipal litigation practice with the City of Boise, and began prosecuting criminal offenses as well. During his tenure at the City of Boise, Mr. Ketlinski conducted numerous jury trials and hundreds of court trials.

In 2005, Mr. Ketlinski formed the law firm of Ketlinski, Massoth, Rebholtz & Soper in Caldwell, Idaho. During this period, he diversified his practice further, and in addition to civil litigation and family law, began an estate planning and probate practice.

In 2009, Mr. Ketlinski was recruited to the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as a senior staff attorney in the Civil Division. Mr. Ketlinski continued municipal litigation on behalf of the elected officials of Canyon County, and worked a diverse range of civil matters, including defending tax appeals, child protection, mental commitment, and termination of parental rights cases.  Mr. Ketlinski has appeared before both the Idaho Supreme Court (Kimbrough v. Idaho Bd. of Tax Appeals, 150 Idaho 417 (2011)) and Idaho Court of Appeals (Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare v. Doe, 148 Idaho 832 (Ct.App. 2010).

In late 2010, Mr. Ketlinski began working in the criminal division of the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, where he eventually would become a Unit Chief of both the CAPP Division (Crimes Against Persons and Property) and the Alpha Unit (prosecuting a complete array of criminal cases). Mr. Ketlinski tried dozens of felony jury trials, including homicide, conspiracy to commit 1st degree murder, robbery and other major violent crimes. He also focused on prosecuting elder abuse offenses.

Mr. Ketlinski was a three-time challenge coin recipient while at Canyon County, which is an award given by the elected prosecuting attorney for trial excellence. Upon leaving the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Mr. Ketlinski was given an award of outstanding service to the citizens of Canyon County.

In 2015, Mr. Ketlinski started Ketlinski Law Office, PLLC in Meridian, Idaho. Because of his previous satisfaction helping people plan for their futures, Mr. Ketlinski has limited his practice exclusively to estate planning, elder law, and probate. He is a member of both the premier national groups WealthCounsel® and ElderCounsel®. He is also a member of the Idaho State Bar’s Taxation, Probate and Trust section, where he had served as the president.

When not practicing law, Mr. Ketlinski’s personal interests are also expansive and diverse. Mr. Ketlinski volunteers his legal time helping veterans and their families in the Idaho Military Legal Alliance, and works for the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Programs. He is a grand champion barbecue contest winner, a 1st degree black belt in Songham Taekwondo, and an ultra-distance bike packing racer.  Ty is also a USA Cycling category 4 road racing cyclist, and is distinguished as one of Idaho’s slowest racers.  Beginning in 2021, Mr. Ketlinski started competing in the Idaho Senior Games, in both the road racing and mountain biking disciplines.  While winning 3 gold medals in 2021-2022, Ty unfortunately also finished last place since he was the only person registered in his age division.  In 2023, Ty has his sights on a full season of mountain bike racing in the “Clydesdale” class – for those on the “heavier” side.

Mr. Ketlinski resides with his wife Kelli, two children, and three dogs (Pixie, Leila, and Oskar) in Meridian, Idaho.

Areas of Practice Expertise

  • 90% Wills and Probate
  • 5% Litigation
  • 5% Business and Commercial

Bar Admissions

  • Idaho, 1997
  • U.S. District Court District of Idaho, 1997
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2004

Education

  • University of Idaho College of Law, Moscow, Idaho
    Juris Doctor – 1997
  • University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture, Moscow, Idaho
    Bachelor of Science, Architecture – 1997

Representative Cases

  • State v. Jane Doe, 148 Idaho 832 (Idaho Court of Appeals 2010)
  • Kimbrough v. Board of Tax Equalization, 150 Idaho 417 (Idaho Supreme Court)

Past Employment Positions

  • Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, Unit Chief, 2009 – 2015
  • Ketlinski, Massoth, Rebholtz & Soper, Managing Partner, 2005 – 2009
  • Boise City Attorney’s Office, Senior Staff Attorney, 2003 – 2005
  • Ketlinski Law Offices, Chartered, 2002 – 2003
  • Hamlin & Sasser, P.A. / Naylor, Hales & McCreedy P.C., Associate Attorney, 1998 – 2002
  • Fourth Judicial District Court, Ada County, Law Clerk for District Judge Daniel T. Eismann

Pro Bono Activities
Idaho Volunteer Lawyer Program, 1998 – 2015