| Clerk of the District Court | Ada County Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Ada County Courthouse, 200 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702 |
| Phone | (208) 287-6879 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy fee | $1.00 per page, plus $1.00 per document for the clerk's certificate and seal |
Ada County is Idaho's most populous county and home to Boise, the state capital. One office, the Ada County Clerk of the District Court, keeps the record for both the district court (felonies, larger civil suits, divorce and custody) and the magistrate division (misdemeanors, small claims, probate, and evictions) — Idaho does not split trial-court records between a separate district clerk and county clerk the way some states do.
The clerk's office is inside the Ada County Courthouse in downtown Boise. Case information statewide, including Ada County, is searchable for free through the iCourt Portal, but document images are not uniformly available online, so certified copies and many filed documents still require a request to the clerk directly.
Ada County also has a separate Clerk, Auditor, and Recorder office for county government records (deeds, marriage licenses, county commission minutes); that is a different office from the court records division and is not covered here.
Search Ada County court records online
Clerk of the District Court
Ada County Clerk of the District Court
- Cost
- Free case search through iCourt; fees apply for copies and certification
- Coverage
- District court and magistrate division cases filed in Ada County, including felony, civil, family, probate, and misdemeanor matters
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
The clerk's office also posts a public-records-request form and a separate form for inspecting sealed or exempt records.
Other courts
Ada County Clerk — Public Records Request
- Cost
- Free to submit; per-page copy fee applies
- Coverage
- Online public-records-request form for court records held by the clerk's office
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Use this form for records not available through iCourt, or to request certified copies.
What is available online
The iCourt Portal indexes Ada County district and magistrate cases, generally from the mid-1990s forward, and shows the register of actions for most cases. Document images are not consistently available online for older or sensitive filings; use the clerk's public-records-request form or visit the courthouse to obtain copies or certified copies.
Which clerk has your record
In Idaho, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Idaho page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| District Courts (7 judicial districts) | Felony criminal cases; Civil suits over $10,000; Divorce, custody, and other family cases | Clerk of the District Court (the county clerk, acting ex officio) |
| Magistrate Division | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Small claims and civil cases up to $10,000; Probate, guardianship, and estate matters | Clerk of the District Court (the same county office keeps magistrate records) |
Request records in person or by mail
Ada County clerk offices
Ada County Courthouse, 200 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6879
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
In person or by mail. Submit a public-records request through the online form on the clerk's website, or visit the Ada County Courthouse at 200 W Front St, Boise. Include the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing year, and specify whether you need plain or certified copies.
Sealed or exempt records. The clerk's office publishes a separate "Request to Inspect, Duplicate, or Transcribe Exempt or Sealed Records" form for records that are not open to the general public; these requests are decided by the custodian or a judge under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.
Fees. Copy and certification fees follow the statutory schedule in Idaho Code § 31-3201; confirm the current per-page amount with the clerk's office before sending payment.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Idaho |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy | $1.00 per page, plus $1.00 per document for the clerk's certificate and seal |
Idaho Code § 31-3201 sets the clerk of the district court's fee for making a copy of any file or record at $1.00 per page (and $0.50 per page for comparing and conforming a copy you prepare yourself). The statute lists a separate certificate-and-seal charge for certifying a copy without printing a fixed amount in the online text; the court records request forms published by Bonneville, Bingham, and Madison counties all state that charge as $1.00 per document. Some counties add a flat request or card-processing fee (Canyon County charges $5 per request), so confirm the total with the clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Idaho court records are presumed open under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32 (I.C.A.R. 32), which governs public access to judicial records statewide. Several categories are not available to the public:
The Idaho guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Ada County court records online?
Use the statewide iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov, which is free and covers Ada County's district and magistrate cases. For documents not shown online, submit a records request to the Ada County Clerk of the District Court.
Which office has my Ada County divorce or custody file?
The Ada County Clerk of the District Court. Family-law matters are generally heard in the magistrate division, but the same clerk's office keeps the record for both the district court and the magistrate division.
How do I get a certified copy of an Ada County court record?
Submit a request in person at the Ada County Courthouse or through the clerk's online public-records request form, specifying that you need a certified copy. There is a per-page copy fee plus a certification fee.
Is the Ada County Clerk of the District Court the same office as the County Clerk?
Yes, for court records. The elected Ada County Clerk serves ex officio as the Clerk of the District Court. A separate division of the same office, the Clerk, Auditor, and Recorder, handles county government records such as deeds and marriage licenses.
Can I access sealed Ada County court records?
Only in limited circumstances. Sealed records require a separate request form decided by the record custodian or a judge under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32, and access is generally limited to the parties and their attorneys.
Sources
- Ada County Clerk's Office — https://adacounty.id.gov/clerk/
- Ada County Clerk — Public Records Request — https://adacounty.id.gov/clerk/public-records-request/
- iCourt Portal — https://mycourts.idaho.gov/
- Idaho Courts — About the Courts — https://isc.idaho.gov/about-the-courts
- Idaho Courts — Cases & Opinions — https://isc.idaho.gov/cases-opinions
- Idaho State Police — Criminal History (BCI) — https://isp.idaho.gov/bci/criminal-history/
- Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32 — Records of the Judicial Department — https://isc.idaho.gov/rules-procedure/icar#rule-32
- Idaho Code § 31-3201 — Clerk of District Court, Fees — https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title31/t31ch32/sect31-3201/
- Bonneville County Clerk, Auditor, and Recorder — copy and certification fees — https://www.bonnevillecountyidaho.gov/administration/clerk-auditor-and-recorder
- Bingham County Court Record Request Form (PDF) — copy and certification fees — https://www.binghamid.gov/media/Departments/DistrictCourt/Fillable%20Courts%20Updated%20Record%20Request%20form-2025.pdf
- Idaho Code § 31-3201A — Court Fees — https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title31/t31ch32/sect31-3201a/
- Idaho Code § 67-3004 — Expungement of Non-Conviction Records — https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title67/t67ch30/sect67-3004/
- Idaho Code § 20-525A — Sealing of Juvenile Records — https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title20/t20ch5/sect20-525a/
- United States District Court for the District of Idaho — https://www.id.uscourts.gov/clerks/Welcome.cfm
See also: all Idaho counties.