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Idaho Small Claims Court

Small Claims Department of the Magistrate Division, for claims up to $15,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$15,000
LawyersLawyers not allowed
Time to sue on a contract5 years
Good to know

Raised from $5,000 to $15,000 on July 1, 2026. The limit applies to people and businesses. The court can't award punitive or pain-and-suffering damages.

Lawyers: You can talk to a lawyer before and after trial, but a lawyer can't speak for you in court. A business uses an owner or a non-lawyer employee.

How it works in Idaho

  1. Fill out the Claim form and Summons, online through Guide & File or on paper.
  2. File in the county where the defendant lives or where the problem happened, and pay the $69 fee. A business must e-file where e-filing is available.
  3. Have someone other than you serve each defendant. If service is wrong, the court will close the case.
  4. Wait 21 days for the defendant to answer. If there's no answer, you'll get a trial date or can ask for a default.
  5. Go to your trial with your evidence and witnesses. A lawyer can't speak for you.

What it costs

$69, plus the cost of serving the defendant.

How long you have to sue

Written contract5 years
Spoken agreement4 years
Damage to property3 years
Personal injury2 years

Idaho Code §§ 5-216, 5-217, 5-218, 5-219. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

Either party can appeal within 30 days of judgment for a new trial before a lawyer magistrate, but a party who defaulted or didn't appear can't appeal, and an appellant who loses may owe the other side's attorney fees.

Senate Bill 1330 (2026 Session Law ch. 196), signed March 27, 2026, raised the limit from $5,000 to $15,000 for money and personal property claims, effective July 1, 2026. It also changed the attorney-fee wording in § 1-2311. Idaho Rule for Small Claims Actions 15 (appeals) was amended effective July 1, 2026. Older guides and commercial sites still say $5,000.

Sources

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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.