Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. has created a Custody Basics Guide to explain legal and physical custody in Idaho, as well as joint v. sole custody. Please view the attached document for more information.

The Uniform Family Law Interrogatories are questions to ask the other party to gain information and evidence regarding your family law case. You can edit this document as necessary for your case. 

You can have up to 40 questions in your interrogatories and you can delete any question in the Uniform Interrogatories that is not applicable to your case. Interrogatories and their subparts can count as additional questions toward the 40 questions (please read Rule 413 of Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure, linked below). You can ask specific questions in your interrogatories that are relevant to your case (so relevant to property (if a divorce case), physical or legal custody, visitation, or child support issues). For example, one non-uniform question may be: "Who is the minor child's counselor? Please provide name and contact information for the counselor and the length of time the minor child has been seeing this counselor."

Please note that you will likely have to answer Interrogatories sent by the opposing party or his or her attorney as well. These will have to be filled out, your signature must be notarized, and then you must send them to opposing  party or his or her attorney within 30 days of being served with them.

For information regarding Interrogatories, please read Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure 413: https://isc.idaho.gov/irflp413 and 414:  https://isc.idaho.gov/irflp414 which specify rules regarding Interrogatories. 

For the most up to date Uniform Family Law Interrogatories, please visit the Idaho Supreme Court's website and view Form 2: https://isc.idaho.gov/irflp

The attached packet contains templates you can use to file an Ex Parte Emergency Custody Motion in your child custody or divorce case. 

Example brief where issues include relocating out of state with children in a custody dispute.

Technology Safety Statement: Use of your home computer to visit this site can be tracked by someone in your home. You may want to use a computer in a public library or internet café.

Interactive Forms

Interactive forms are free to low income people in Idaho with certain family law issues. Interactive forms allow a person to input information which automatically enters into the appropriate forms. Interactive forms are available on the Idaho Guide & File website.  Click "Start Your Legal Process" to to generate forms you can use to e-file or print to file in person at your local courthouse.

Fillable PDF Forms

Fillable PDF forms are also available if you prefer not use to the interactive forms process. You may find fillable PDF forms and instructions here: https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/. Please click on the "Forms" tab in the top-right corner and then select the type of issue you are having (such as divorce, custody, or change of custody) and it will bring you to the appropriate forms for that issue. Don't forget to view the instructions for each form before filing out the forms.

Fee Waiver Forms

In addition to your family law forms, you may want to consider filing for a fee waiver with the court if you cannot avoid the filing fees for your case. You can find instructions and forms regarding filing a fee waiver at the bottom of this webpage: https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/civil

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has created a guide on How to Gather Technology Abuse Evidence for Court, whether as evidence in a civil protection order case, a custody case, or a divorce case. 

To view this guide, please visit: https://www.ncjfcj.org/publications/how-to-gather-technology-abuse-evidence-for-court/.

The attached PDFs describe the Idaho child custody court process generally and in more detail for custody and divorces with minor children cases. These PDFs show the stages of a court case you will go through before the judge enters an order regarding a divorce with custody, visitation, and/or child support or a custody, visitation, and/or child support judgment.

Attached is a Word.doc template for a Motion for Temporary Orders for temporary custody, visitation, and/or support in a pending family law matter. You may use this template to draft your own motion. 

Please review the advice and additional documents needed for this motion in the Temporary Orders Packet, created by Idaho Legal Aid Services, the Idaho Law Foundation, and the Women's and Children's Alliance, attached. 

Idaho Legal Aid Services will hold a pre-filing workshop for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to provide assistance in filling out forms associated with divorce, custody, child support and protection orders. The event will be held at the Ada County Victim Services Center, 417 S 6th Street, Boise from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on July 11, 2024.  Call 208-577-4400 to RSVP.

At the Women's and Children's Alliance (WCA) in Ada County, Court Advocates are able to provide a number of services to those that have experienced domestic abuse and/or sexual abuse. Court Advocates are able to assist petitioners in seeking protection orders by helping them fill out protection order petitions and accompanying them to court. Individuals may also contact the WCA for divorce and/or custody referrals to legal agencies, information regarding family law processes, as well as for opportunities to access free legal information from volunteer attorneys. Lastly, Court Advocates are able to provide Safety Planning appointments. This is a personalized safety planning session to talk about ways a person may be able to feel a bit safer around the home, in the community, and many other scenarios. All WCA resources are free and confidential.

For assistance with any of these matters, please contact a Court Advocate at: (208) 343-3688, Extension 200.

For more information regarding the Women's and Children's Alliance, please view the attached brochures available in English and Spanish (Espanol).