Idaho Small Claims Court Fees — Filing, Service, and Appeal Costs

The $69 Filing Fee

Every small claims case in Idaho starts with a $69 filing fee, paid to the magistrate court clerk when you submit your complaint. This fee is set by Idaho Code § 31-3201A and is the same in all 44 counties.

You pay it at the clerk's window (cash or check), by mail, or through the iCourt electronic filing system if you're filing online. E-filing adds a small convenience fee on top of the $69.

Service of Process Costs

After filing, you need to serve the defendant. Idaho gives you three options, each with its own cost:

Certified mail is the cheapest option, but it only works if the defendant signs for the letter. If the mail comes back "Unclaimed" or "Refused," you haven't achieved valid service and need to switch to personal service through a sheriff or process server.

Appeal Fee

If either side appeals the judgment, the appellant pays an $81 filing fee for the Notice of Appeal. The appeal gets a completely new trial (trial de novo) in front of a different judge — and unlike the original hearing, both sides can bring attorneys.

Fee Waivers for Low-Income Filers

If you can't afford the $69, Idaho allows fee waiver applications under Idaho Code § 31-3220. You'll fill out Form CAO FW 1-9 (Motion and Affidavit for Fee Waiver), disclosing your income, assets, expenses, and debts under penalty of perjury.

A magistrate judge reviews the application. If approved, you receive Form CAO FW 1-10 (the order granting the waiver), and the filing fee is waived or deferred.

Important limits on fee waivers:

• The waiver covers court filing fees — it doesn't automatically waive service costs
• It doesn't cover post-judgment enforcement fees (like a writ of execution)
• If your financial situation changes during the case, the court can revisit the waiver

Total Cost to File and Serve

For most straightforward cases, expect to spend these amounts before any e-filing convenience fee:

• Filing: $69
• Service: $10.10–$75 through Oct. 22, 2026 ($11.35–$75 starting Oct. 23)
• Total: $79.10–$144 through Oct. 22 ($80.35–$144 starting Oct. 23)

Compare that to filing in regular Magistrate Court — where filing fees are higher, you'll likely need an attorney, and the case can drag on for months. The small claims route is designed to be accessible.

Can You Recover Your Costs?

If you win, the judge can award your court costs (filing fee and service costs) as part of the judgment. Ask for cost recovery in your complaint — it's a standard inclusion.

Our Idaho Small Claims Filing Guide includes a cost tracking worksheet and walks you through every fee, from filing through enforcement, so there are no surprise expenses.

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