Rule 2.Form of documents; caption; name of parties; language; abbreviation; and numbers
Title I: General Administration · Last amended July 1, 2016 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2 sets the formatting requirements — paper, ink, spacing, captions, and identifying information — that every document filed in an Idaho civil case must follow.
(a)Form, caption and name -- Generally. The following requirements apply to all documents filed with the court:
(1)they must be printed in black ink using a computer printer, word processor or typewriter on 8 1/2" by 11" white paper, except that:
(A)prisoners incarcerated or detained in a state prison or county jail may file documents under this rule that are legibly hand-printed in black ink; and
(B)forms approved by the Supreme Court or the Administrative District Judge or distributed through the Court Assistance Office in the county where the action is pending may be completed by legibly hand-printing in black ink or by typing;
(2)they must contain a caption setting forth the names of the parties, the title of the court, the case number, the title of the document;
(3)the title of the court must commence not less than 3 inches from the top of the first page;
(4)the name, address, phone number, email address and currently valid Idaho State Bar Number of the attorney appearing of record or, if unrepresented, the address, phone number and email address (if any) of the self-represented party, must appear above the title of the court in the space to the left of the center of the page and beginning at least 1.2 inches below the top of the page;
(5)if an attorney is representing a party pro bono, this may be indicated immediately below the attorney's bar number with the words "pro bono" and an indication of any program sponsoring the pro bono appearance, such as Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program, Idaho Legal Aid Clinic, or a law school clinic;
(6)the body of the document must be printed with double line spacing or one-and-one-half (1 1/2) line spacing with a font of not less than 11-point size and with margins of not less than 1.2 inches at the top and sides and not less than 1 inch at the bottom unless slightly smaller margins will allow a document to fit on a single page;
(7)the title of the document must appear at the bottom of each page;
(8)all attached exhibits must be clearly legible;
(9)all handwritten exhibits must be accompanied by a machine-printed duplicate;
(10)the nature of the document, filing fee category, and filing fee prescribed by Appendix "A" to these rules, must be stated if the document requires a filing fee; and
(11)the title of the action in the complaint must include the names of all of the parties, but in subsequent pleadings it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of the other parties.
(b)Language of pleadings. Pleadings must be in the English language.
(c)Abbreviations and numbers. Common abbreviations may be used, and numbers may be expressed by words or numerals.
Amendment History
(Adopted March 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2016; amended April 27, 2016, effective July 1, 2016.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 2 spells out the physical and visual requirements for anything filed with an Idaho court. Documents must be printed in black ink on 8 1/2" by 11" white paper, with two narrow exceptions: incarcerated or detained people may hand-print legibly in black ink, and forms approved by the Supreme Court, an Administrative District Judge, or a Court Assistance Office may be hand-printed or typed. Every filing needs a caption with the parties' names, the court's title, the case number, and the document's title, and the court's title must begin at least three inches from the top of the first page.
The rule also dictates where identifying information goes: an attorney's name, address, phone number, email, and Idaho State Bar number — or a self-represented party's contact information — must sit above the court's title, to the left of center, starting at least 1.2 inches from the top of the page, with room to note a pro bono appearance just below the bar number. The body of the document needs double or one-and-one-half line spacing, at least 11-point type, and set margins (which can shrink slightly to keep a document on one page), and the document's title must repeat at the bottom of every page. Exhibits must be legible, and any handwritten exhibit needs a machine-printed duplicate attached. A filing that requires a fee must state the nature of the document, its fee category, and the fee itself. The complaint's title must list every party, though later filings can shorten that to the first party on each side.
Two final requirements round out the rule: pleadings must be written in English, and common abbreviations and either words or numerals for numbers are both acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I handwrite a document I am filing with an Idaho court?
Only in two situations: if you are incarcerated or detained in a state prison or county jail, or if you are filling out a form approved by the Supreme Court, an Administrative District Judge, or a local Court Assistance Office.
What font size and line spacing does Idaho require for court filings?
The body of the document needs at least 11-point type with double or one-and-one-half line spacing.
Where does my contact information go on a filing if I am representing myself?
Above the court's title, in the space left of center, starting at least 1.2 inches below the top of the page — the same spot the rule reserves for an attorney's information.
Do I need to list every party's name on every document I file?
Only the complaint's title needs every party listed; later filings can name just the first party on each side with an indication that others are included.
What do I do if one of my exhibits is handwritten?
Attach a machine-printed duplicate of it along with the original handwritten exhibit so the record stays legible.
Source & verification. Rule text
are reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Idaho. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
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