Want it filled in for you? Answer a few plain-English questions and get a completed draft of the CAO SC 1-1 Small Claims Complaint — every field filled in from your answers, ready to copy onto the official form — plus a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your Idaho claim qualifiesThe Idaho Small Claims Form
📄 CAO SC 1-1 Small Claims Complaint
The form that opens your case. Download it free from courtselfhelp.idaho.gov.
Idaho Limit, Fee and Filing Rules
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Magistrate Div., Small Claims Dept. |
| Claim limit | $15,000 |
| Claim form | CAO SC 1-1 Small Claims Complaint |
| Filing fee | $69 — confirm the current fee with the clerk before filing |
| Serving the defendant | Sheriff or process server; not by a party (confirm the current service rules with the clerk) |
| Law that sets the limit | Idaho Code § 1-2301 |
| Court data verified | August 4, 2026 |
A claim of exactly $15,000 is within the limit.
Filing Deadlines in Idaho
How long the law gives you to file. When the clock starts depends on the claim, so do not leave it late: a claim filed after the deadline can be dismissed however strong it is.
| Type of claim | Time to file | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 5 years | Idaho Code § 5-216 |
| Oral / verbal agreement | 4 years | Idaho Code § 5-217 |
| Damage to property | 3 years | Idaho Code § 5-218(2), (3) |
| Personal injury | 2 years | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) |
| Unpaid debt or account | 4 years — 5 years where the debt is founded upon an instrument of writing — Idaho Code § 5-216. | Idaho Code § 5-217 |
Not sure which type yours is? The statute of limitations lookup covers more claim types.
Being Sued in Idaho Instead?
Do you file an answer? You must file the court's answer form with the court within 21 days after service, or the court will enter judgment against you. (I.R.S.C.A. 2)
If they owe you money: Counterclaims are not allowed in Idaho small claims. You may file your own separate action against the plaintiff in the same court. (I.R.S.C.A. 5)
The been-sued deadline lookup covers what happens if you do nothing.
Where to Get the Official Idaho Forms
Court forms are free from the official sources below. Use the current version from your court.
- Official claim form — courtselfhelp.idaho.gov
- Official source — courtselfhelp.idaho.gov
- Official source — courtselfhelp.idaho.gov
- The clerk of the Magistrate Div., Small Claims Dept. — can give you the current form and tell you whether your court adds any local paperwork.
Appealing an Idaho Small Claims Decision — What Changed on 1 July 2026
The same legislation that raised the claim limit also changed what losing an appeal can cost you, and the Idaho Supreme Court amended I.R.S.C.A. Rule 15 on 30 June 2026 to match, effective 1 July 2026.
The change that matters: attorney fees on appeal. Under the old Idaho Code sec. 1-2311, a party who appealed and lost paid the winner an attorney's fee “in the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).” Senate Bill 1330 struck that flat figure and replaced it with fees “as provided in section 12-120(6), Idaho Code.” Rule 15(f) now reads: “A prevailing party represented by an attorney may be awarded attorney fees pursuant to Idaho Code section 12-120(6).”
What that means in practice. A losing appeal used to expose you to a token $25 of the other side's legal costs. It can now expose you to a reasonable attorney fee set by the court — determined after the other side files a memorandum of fees, using the factors in Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 54(e)(3). If the other side has a lawyer and you appeal and lose, the downside is no longer nominal. Weigh that before filing a notice of appeal.
The rest of Rule 15, as it currently stands:
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who may appeal | Any aggrieved party — but a party who defaulted or did not appear has no right to appeal the judgment (Rule 15(a)) |
| Deadline | Notice of appeal within the 30-day statutory period, filed in the court that heard the case (Rule 15(b); sec. 1-2311) |
| Appeal fee | Filing fee due with the notice unless waived under Idaho Code sec. 31-3220; sec. 1-2311 also sets a $20 fee paid by the party taking the appeal |
| What happens | A trial de novo — the case is heard fresh, not reviewed for error (Rule 15(c)) |
| Jury | Available on the de novo trial if requested within 14 days of service of the notice setting the hearing; 6 jurors unless the parties agree to fewer (Rule 15(d)(6)) |
| Costs on appeal | Awarded to the prevailing party, capped at $50.00 (Rule 15(e)) |
| Attorney fees on appeal | Reasonable fees under Idaho Code sec. 12-120(6) — no longer a flat $25 (Rule 15(f)) |
Section 12-120(6) is worth knowing about even if you never appeal: it entitles the party who wins a small claims money judgment to reasonable postjudgment attorney fees and costs incurred trying to collect on it. Appeals get technical, and attorneys are barred in the small claims department itself but not on a de novo appeal — if the other side lawyers up, consider talking to one too.
Source: isc.idaho.gov. Confirm with the court before you rely on it.
How does Idaho compare? See the small claims limits and filing fees for every state.
Idaho Small Claims Forms: FAQ
❓ What form do I file to start a small claims case in Idaho?
The form that opens the case is the CAO SC 1-1 Small Claims Complaint. The official source is courtselfhelp.idaho.gov. Court-issued forms are free; you pay only the filing fee.
❓ How much can you sue for in Idaho small claims court?
In Idaho you can claim up to $15,000 in the Magistrate Div., Small Claims Dept.. If your claim is larger, you can usually reduce it to the limit or file in a higher court instead.
❓ How much does it cost to file small claims in Idaho?
The filing fee is $69 — confirm the current fee with the clerk before filing. Serving the defendant usually costs extra.
❓ Can you fill in the Idaho small claims form for me?
Yes. Answer a few plain-English questions and we produce a completed draft of the CAO SC 1-1 Small Claims Complaint, with every field filled in from your answers, ready to copy onto the official form and file. It comes with a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist.
Want it filled in for you?
A few plain-English questions about your Idaho case, then review and file. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your Idaho claim qualifiesGeneral information, not legal advice. SmallClaimsHelper prepares documents; it is not a law firm.