Rule 106.Coordination of Related Family Cases

Part I. General Administration · Last amended July 1, 2021 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 106 requires related family cases to be heard by one judge where practical, and lets a judge read the files of any related case notwithstanding the ordinary confidentiality rule.

Full Text of Rule 106

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Related Family Cases.

(1) A case is a related family case when:

(A) it involves any of the same parties, child, or issues and is pending at the time the party files or reopens a family law action;

(B) it affects the court’s jurisdiction to proceed;

(D) an order may conflict with an order in the earlier litigation.

(2) Any related family cases should be identified on the Family Law Case Information Sheet required under Rule 201.

(A) Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceedings in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.

(b) Assignment of One Judge.

(1) All related family cases and civil protection order actions must be handled before one judge, unless impractical.

(2) If it is impractical for one judge to handle all related family cases and civil protection order actions, the judges assigned to hear the related cases involving the same family or child may confer for the purpose of case management and coordination of the case. In addition to the issues that may be considered, if actions before the court involve a common question of law or fact, the court may:

(A) consolidate as many issues as is practical to be heard by one judge;

(B) coordinate the progress of the remaining issues to facilitate the resolution of the pending actions and to avoid inconsistent rulings;

(C) determine the access of the parties to court records if a related case is confidential or exempt from disclosure pursuant to Idaho Code or other court rules; and

(D) issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost and delay.

(1) In General. Notwithstanding provisions in I.C.A.R. 32, a judge hearing a family law action may access and review the files of any related family case, either pending or closed, to aid in carrying out his adjudicative responsibilities. Authorized court personnel may also access and review the files of any related family case.

(2) Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. A judge or authorized court personnel must not disclose confidential information or documents contained in related family case files except in accordance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws and rules.

(3) Notice of Court Personnel. Authorized court personnel may advise the court about the existence of related legal proceedings, the legal issues involved, and administrative information about such case.

End

Rule History

(Adopted March 29, 2021, effective July 1, 2021.)

Plain-English Summary

Families generate more than one case. Rule 106 keeps them from being decided in ignorance of one another.

What makes a case related

A case is a related family case when it involves any of the same parties, child or issues and is pending when a family law action is filed or reopened; when it affects the court's jurisdiction to proceed; when an order in it may conflict with an order on the same issues in the new case; or when an order may conflict with one in the earlier litigation.

Related cases should be identified on the Family Law Case Information Sheet required by Rule 201 — and each party carries a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current one.

One judge

All related family cases and civil protection order actions must be handled before one judge, unless impractical. Where that is impractical, the assigned judges may confer for case management and coordination. Where the actions share a common question of law or fact, the court may consolidate as many issues as practical before one judge, coordinate the progress of the rest to avoid inconsistent rulings, determine the parties' access to records in a confidential or exempt case, and issue any other order avoiding cost and delay.

Access to the related files

Section (c) is the provision doing real work. Notwithstanding I.C.A.R. 32 — the Idaho Court Administrative Rule governing public and restricted access to court records — a judge hearing a family law action may access and review the files of any related family case, pending or closed, to carry out adjudicative responsibilities. Authorized court personnel may do the same, and may advise the court of the existence of related proceedings, the legal issues, and administrative information.

The limit travels with the access: a judge or court employee must not disclose confidential information or documents from those files except as state and federal confidentiality law and rules allow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes another case a related family case?

Rule 106(a)(1) lists four tests: it involves the same parties, child or issues and is pending; it affects the court's jurisdiction; an order in it may conflict with an order on the same issues in the new case; or an order may conflict with one in the earlier litigation.

Must one judge hear all of a family's cases?

Rule 106(b)(1) requires all related family cases and civil protection order actions to be handled before one judge unless impractical, in which case Rule 106(b)(2) lets the assigned judges confer for case management and coordination.

Do I have to tell the court about a case in another state?

Yes. Rule 106(a)(2)(A) imposes a continuing duty on each party to inform the court of any proceedings in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.

Can the judge read the file in my other case?

Yes. Rule 106(c)(1) allows a judge hearing a family law action, notwithstanding I.C.A.R. 32, to access and review the files of any related family case, pending or closed, to aid in carrying out adjudicative responsibilities.

Can what the judge reads there be disclosed?

Rule 106(c)(2) bars a judge or authorized court personnel from disclosing confidential information or documents contained in related family case files except in accordance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws and rules.

Source & verification. Rule text and Rule History reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Idaho Supreme Court, current through amendments effective July 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Idaho (Idaho Const. art. V, sec. 25). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: related casesone judgecoordinationcase information sheetI.C.A.R. 32consolidationconflicting orderscontinuing duty