Idaho Divorce Forms

Where Idaho Divorce Forms Come From

Every official divorce form in Idaho is published by the Court Assistance Office (CAO), a branch of the Idaho Supreme Court. The forms are free — you can download them from courtselfhelp.idaho.gov or pick up printed copies at your county courthouse. Idaho's forms use a standardized naming system: "CAO" followed by a category code (D for divorce, FL for family law) and a form number.

The state also runs Guide & File, an interactive online tool that generates completed forms for simple divorces without minor children. Think of it like TurboTax for court paperwork — it asks questions and fills in the blanks for you. But it only handles the simplest case type, so most filers still need to work with the raw form packets.

The Core Forms Every Divorce Requires

Regardless of whether you have children, every Idaho divorce starts with these three documents:

Family Law Case Information Sheet (CAO FL 1-1) — A one-page administrative data sheet the clerk uses to set up your electronic file. It collects basic information: names, dates of birth, addresses, and the nature of the action. This form is exempt from public disclosure, so your personal details stay out of the searchable court record.

Petition for Divorce — The foundational pleading that states your residency, date of marriage, grounds for divorce, and what you are asking the court to decide (property, debts, custody, support). There are two versions:

• CAO D 1-6: No minor children
• CAO D 1-5: With minor children

Summons (CAO FL 1-3) — The formal notice that tells the respondent a divorce action has been filed and gives them 21 days (in-state) or 42 days (out-of-state) to respond. An automatic preliminary injunction is printed on the Summons, preventing both spouses from dissipating community assets or removing children from the state while the case is pending.

Additional Forms When Children Are Involved

If your marriage produced minor children, Idaho requires several additional documents:

Parenting Plan (CAO FL-3) — A detailed schedule covering legal custody (who makes major decisions), physical custody (the residential schedule, holiday rotations, and transition logistics), and dispute resolution methods. This is the most complex form in the packet and the one most likely to cause delays if done poorly.

Affidavit Verifying Income (CAO FL 1-11) — A sworn statement listing all monthly income, childcare costs, and health insurance premiums. The court uses this to calculate child support.

Child Support Worksheet — Use CAO FL 1-12 for standard custody arrangements or CAO FL 1-13 for shared/split custody. The worksheet applies the Idaho Child Support Guidelines formula to your income figures.

UCCJEA Affidavit — Documents where the minor children have physically lived for the past five years, confirming Idaho has jurisdiction over custody.

Service of Process Forms

After you file, you need to legally serve the respondent. Which form you use depends on how service happens:

Acknowledgment of Service (CAO FL 2-1) — For cooperative spouses. The respondent signs this in front of a notary, confirming they received all documents and waiving formal service. This is the fastest and cheapest option.

Affidavit of Service (CAO FL 2-2) — Used when a sheriff, process server, or other third party physically delivers the papers. The server completes this under penalty of perjury and returns it for filing with the clerk.

Service by Publication packet (CAO FLPi 1-4, 1-5, 1-6) — For missing spouses whose location is genuinely unknown. Requires a Motion and Affidavit for Service by Publication, a court order, and four consecutive weekly newspaper publications.

Finalization Forms

How your divorce wraps up determines which forms you file:

Sworn Stipulation for Entry of Decree (CAO D 6-8) — Both spouses sign this when they agree on all terms. Submitted with the proposed decree, it lets the judge sign in chambers without a hearing.

Decree of Divorce — CAO D 8-1 (with children) or CAO D 8-3 (without children). This is the final order that legally dissolves the marriage.

Motion and Affidavit for Entry of Default (CAO FLPi 7-1) and Default (CAO FLPi 7-4) — Filed when the respondent never responds within the 21-day window. Paired with an Affidavit in Support of Default Decree and a proposed decree. If the respondent filed a Notice of Appearance but no other response, also use the Notice of Intent to Take Default (CAO FLPi 7-5).

Certificate of Divorce or Annulment (HWH-611) — A vital statistics form required by the state. Available in physical form at the clerk's office.

Fee Waiver Forms

If you cannot afford the $207 filing fee, these two forms let you request a waiver:

• Motion and Affidavit for Fee Waiver (CAO FW 1-9) — Details your income and expenses under oath.
• Order Re: Fee Waiver (CAO FW 1-10) — A proposed order for the judge to sign if your financial affidavit qualifies.

Filling Out the Forms Without Errors

Complete all forms in black ink or typed. The most common rejection reasons are leaving required fields blank (especially the grounds for divorce and the property-and-debt schedule), failing to sign where notarization is required, and submitting the wrong petition version (CAO D 1-5 vs. 1-6).

A single packet can run 15–30 pages when children are involved. Knowing which forms to file, in what order, and which signatures need notarization is the difference between a smooth filing and a rejected packet that costs you weeks.

The Idaho Divorce Filing Process Guide sequences every form in the exact order the clerk expects, with fill-in instructions and a tracking sheet so nothing gets missed.

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