Rule 219.Contact Information

Part II. Pleadings · Last amended July 1, 2021 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 219 requires parties and attorneys to keep the court supplied with current contact information and to report any change within 14 days.

Full Text of Rule 219

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Family Law Actions. During the pendency of the case, a party who is not represented by an attorney must keep the court apprised of their current contact information including mailing address, phone number, and email address (if previously provided). Each attorney and unrepresented party must notify the court within 14 days of any changes in the attorney’s or party’s mailing address, phone number, or previously provided email address.

(b) Civil Protection Order Actions. During the pendency of the case and at all times a civil protection order is in effect, each party must keep the court apprised of his current mailing address, phone number, and email address (if previously provided) and must notify the court within 14 days of any changes.

End

Rule History

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

Plain-English Summary

Rule 219 is short, and it is the rule most often broken by accident.

Family law actions

During the pendency of the case, a party not represented by an attorney must keep the court apprised of current contact information — mailing address, phone number, and email address if one was previously provided. And each attorney and unrepresented party must notify the court within 14 days of any change to those details.

Civil protection order actions

The obligation is broader in two ways. It binds each party, not only the unrepresented ones. And it runs during the pendency of the case and at all times a civil protection order is in effect — which can be long after the case itself has ended. The same 14-day notification applies.

Why it matters

Rule 205(c)(2)(C) makes service by mail complete upon mailing to the last known address. A party whose address is stale is served whether or not the paper arrives. Rule 111(b)(1) sends the withdrawal order that starts a 21-day countdown to dismissal or default to that same address, and Rule 809 sends notice of orders and judgments there. An out-of-date address does not pause any of it.

Rule 205(c)(2)(D) supplies the fallback the system needs: where a person has no known address, a paper is served by leaving it with the court clerk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to tell the court I moved?

Rule 219(a) requires each attorney and unrepresented party to notify the court within 14 days of any change in mailing address, phone number, or previously provided email address.

Does the duty continue after a protection order is entered?

Yes. Rule 219(b) requires each party to keep the court apprised during the pendency of the case and at all times a civil protection order is in effect.

What happens if my address is out of date?

Rule 205(c)(2)(C) makes service by mail complete upon mailing to the person's last known address, so deadlines run whether or not the mail reaches you.

Does the rule apply to represented parties?

In family law actions Rule 219(a) places the ongoing duty on unrepresented parties, while requiring each attorney and unrepresented party to report changes within 14 days. In civil protection order actions Rule 219(b) applies to each party.

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: contact informationaddress change14 dayscurrent addressnotifying the courtemail address