Idaho Small Claims Court Forms — Every CAO Form You Need to File
The Forms You Actually Need
Idaho's Court Assistance Office (CAO) publishes standardized forms for every step of a small claims case. They're free to download from courtselfhelp.idaho.gov. Here's every form involved, in the order you'll use them.
CAO SC 1-2 — Claim of Plaintiff (Your Complaint)
This is the main filing form. You fill in:
- Your name and address (the plaintiff)
- The defendant's legal name and address
- The amount you're claiming (up to $15,000)
- A statement of facts — what happened, why the defendant owes you
The facts section is the most important part. Be specific: "Defendant received a $6,000 deposit on March 15, 2026 for a kitchen remodel. No work was performed. Defendant refused to return the deposit after a written demand on April 20, 2026."
Vague statements like "defendant owes me money" get rejected or weaken your case at hearing.
CAO SC 1-1 — Summons
The summons is the court's official notice to the defendant that they're being sued. The clerk issues this after accepting your complaint. You don't fill in the hearing date — the court sets that.
CAO SC 2-1 — Affidavit of Service
After the defendant is served, whoever delivered the papers (the sheriff, a private process server, or the court clerk via certified mail) completes this form under oath. It proves that the defendant actually received the lawsuit documents.
File this with the clerk after service. Under I.R.S.C.A. Rule 10, if the summons has not been issued and served within 30 days, the court may dismiss the action without prejudice after notice. The court may reopen it without another filing fee if you request this within six months of the original filing and it appears the defendant can be served. This rule does not set a 30-day deadline for filing the affidavit.
CAO SC 3-1 — Answer (Defendant's Form)
You don't fill this out — the defendant does. A blank copy gets served alongside your complaint and summons so the defendant knows how to respond. They have 21 calendar days to file their answer.
CAO SC 2-2 and SC 2-2B — Service Information
These forms give the process server or sheriff the details they need to find and identify the defendant. SC 2-2 is for individual defendants; SC 2-2B is for business entities (it includes registered agent information).
CAO SC 5-1A — Affidavit of Competence and Non-Military Service
Required in Ada County (and sometimes requested in other counties). This form certifies that the defendant is not on active military duty and is competent to respond. You sign it under penalty of perjury.
CAO FW 1-9 and FW 1-10 — Fee Waiver Application and Order
If you can't afford the $69 filing fee, Form FW 1-9 is your application. You disclose household income, assets, and expenses. A magistrate judge reviews it and issues Order FW 1-10, either granting or denying the waiver. The waiver covers filing fees but not necessarily service costs.
Where to Get Them
All forms are available at the CAO website: courtselfhelp.idaho.gov. You can also pick up paper copies at your county magistrate clerk's office. Business entities must e-file small-claims documents; Guide & File can prepare and file Court Assistance Office forms when available, while other documents must be filed through File & Serve.
The Gap Between Having the Forms and Knowing What to Do
The CAO forms are free and legally valid. What they don't include is guidance on how to write your claim statement persuasively, how to calculate damages with interest, how to organize your evidence for the hearing, or what to do if the defendant doesn't respond within 21 days.
Our Idaho Small Claims Filing Guide walks through every form with line-by-line instructions, damage calculation worksheets, and a deadline calendar that tracks your case from filing through judgment.
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