Ada County Courts

Ada County is the largest county in Idaho, with a population of about half a million (over a quarter of the state population). Boise, the county seat, doubles as the state capital. The county courts handle about 20,000 civil cases annually. Similarly, an average of 12,000 criminal cases are filed in the county yearly, out of which 9,000 are misdemeanors and 3,000 are felony cases.

Ada County courts are part of the Idaho Fourth Judicial District. The courts hear different types of cases, depending on each court's jurisdiction:

• Ada County District Court typically hears felonies, lesser included offenses, civil cases with claims exceeding $10,000, medical malpractice cases, contractual disputes, personal injury cases arising from automobile accidents, and appeals from the magistrate court.
• Ada County Magistrate Court usually handles misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felonies, infractions, traffic offenses, ordinance violations, small claims, probate matters, divorce, adoptions, termination of parental rights, and civil cases with claims under $10,000.
• Ada County Juvenile Court generally deals with juvenile matters, including juvenile delinquency, minors in need of supervision, emancipation, and child abuse and neglect..

All Ada County trial courts are located in Boise.

How To Access Ada County Court Records

Ada County court records are generally accessible to the public. Section 74-102 of the Idaho Statutes gives individuals the right to examine and obtain records of court cases in the county, provided they are not exempt from public disclosure by law or court orders.

Per Idaho Court Administrative Rule (ICAR) 32, exempt records generally include juvenile records, expunged/sealed court records, medical records, child protection orders, and adoption records. Other exempt court records include those related to cases involving parental rights, mental health commitments, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Furthermore, portions of court records may be redacted if they contain restricted information. Such restricted information may include social security numbers, trade secrets, information that may affect personal or public safety, and financial statements.

Typically, a case number is required to find a court record in Ada County, but the party's full name and date of birth may also be used. A record seeker may need to provide a valid government-issued photo ID before they can obtain court records in the county. Ada County court records may be accessed in any of the following ways:

Online

Ada County court records may be accessed through the Idaho iCourt system. Records of all cases handled in the county's courts may be accessed on the portal, including those of criminal, traffic, civil, domestic relations, and probate cases. Individuals interested in Ada County court records must select "Ada" from the list of counties and select "Record Search" from the list of services on the portal. Alternatively, record seekers may use the Request to Inspect or Copy Judicial Records platform provided by the Ada County Clerk's Office to request court records. They may choose to receive such records by email, mail, or in person.

Furthermore, interested persons can search for court records from Ada County through CourtCaseFinder. The platform provides court records from every county in the United States by aggregating publicly available court records.

In addition, records of federal cases heard in Ada County may be accessed on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records service (PACER). Record seekers are required to create accounts on the platform for free, but may be required to pay stipulated fees before they can access court records.

In-Person

Record seekers may access the county court records in person by visiting the Ada County Clerk's Office. They may also visit the relevant courthouse in possession of the records to access them. Furthermore, persons who used the Request to Inspect or Copy Judicial Records platform to request court records but chose to receive the records in person may visit the clerk's office to do so once ready for pickup. This generally reduces their waiting time at the office.

Old and Archived Court Records

While the Idaho iCourt platform only has court records from 1995, one may find pre-1995 court records at the Ada County Clerk's Office. A record seeker can contact the clerk's office with a valid ID to make the request.

Furthermore, the Idaho State Archives maintains old and historic court records, some of which may no longer be in the custody of the Ada County Clerk's Office. Interested persons may contact the state archives at:

Idaho State Archives

How To File a Case in Ada County

Anyone interested in filing a case in Ada County must first identify the relevant court with jurisdiction to hear the case. They may also contact the Ada County Clerk's Office to verify which court can handle the case they intend to file. Once the court has been identified, they can file the case electronically, by mail, or in person.

The Ada County Clerk's Office offers assistance regarding filing different types of cases online, including small claims, landlord/tenant, family law, and civil cases, through their Court Assistance website. All required forms for filing a case are available on the website. Those interested in filing a case online may use the Idaho iCourt e-File system to file and serve a case. Each court may have varying case filing requirements, so it is important to follow the instructions given at the clerk's office or the filing guide provided on the relevant website.

Generally, filing a case in Ada County attracts certain fees depending on the court and case type. For instance, the initial cost of filing a breach of contract case in the District Court is typically $221, while the initial cost for filing a breach of contract case in the Magistrate Court is $166. However, there are provisions for fee waivers for persons who cannot afford the cost of filing a case in the county.

To get a waiver, an individual must complete the Motion and Affidavit for Fee Waiver and Order Re: Fee Waiver forms. The completed forms and other relevant documents should be submitted to the District Court Clerk's Office for a judge to review. The judge may schedule a hearing on the motion or sign the order without a hearing. Small claims cases provide a simplified means of dispute resolution, provided the claim is under $10,000 and may be filed at no cost.

The following steps are usually required to file a case in Ada County:

• Determine the case type and the Court that has jurisdiction.
• Fill out the required forms and make the required number of copies. Ensure that a comprehensive description of the events that necessitated the case is provided, along with the details of the parties involved in the lawsuit. Attach all relevant documents and available evidence to support the case
• Pay the filing fees or obtain fee waivers if eligible. Fees can be paid by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards.
• File the petition or complaint with the relevant court and serve the opposing party (defendant) with a copy of the petition or complaint.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Generally, governmental entities are not allowed to provide legal advice or act as attorneys to individuals. Litigants who cannot afford the services of an attorney in Ada County may get help from local pro bono panels and local legal aid groups. These groups typically assist in such cases as domestic violence, sex trafficking, seniors, public benefits, and housing. The following self-help and legal aid resources are available to those in the county who lack the funds for legal counsel:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Idaho Legal Aid Services
• Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program
• Disability Rights Idaho (provides free legal services for persons with disabilities)
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
• American Bar Association Program

Other legal aid services and self-help resources available to Ada County residents include the following:

• Catholic Charities of Idaho - Assists families and individuals with immigration issues and legal statuses.
• Family Justice Clinic - University of Idaho law students partner with Faces of Hope Foundation to provide free legal services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
• Entrepreneurship Law Clinic - Law students from the University of Idaho provide free legal services to small and startup businesses referred to the clinic by the Idaho Small Business Development Center.
• Low Income Taxpayer Clinic - University of Idaho law students help low-income taxpayers with their tax disputes with the IRS and represent them in court for their tax appeals.

Types of Courts in Ada County, Idaho

The people of Ada County are served by multiple courts, including juvenile, district, magistrate, and federal courts. The jurisdiction of each court and contact information are listed below:

Ada County District Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Felonies, lesser included offenses, civil cases with claims exceeding $10,000, medical malpractice cases, contractual disputes, personal injury cases arising from automobile accidents, and appeals from the magistrate court.
• Address and Contact Information

Ada County Magistrate Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Misdemeanors, infractions, traffic offenses, preliminary hearings for felony, guardianships, conservatorships, probates, divorce, adoptions, termination of parental rights, and civil cases with claims under $10,000
• Address and Contact Information

Ada County Juvenile Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: juvenile delinquency, truancy, minor in need of supervision, and juvenile traffic offenses
• Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in Ada County

The following are the federal courts in Ada County:

United States District Court for the District of Idaho

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Criminal and civil cases about federal laws, the United States Constitution, and the U.S. Government.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Idaho

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ada County Courts

Answers to some frequently asked questions about the courts in Ada County, Idaho, are provided below: