Rule 3.Commencement of action

Title II: Commencement of Action; Service · Last amended October 3, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 3 creates one form of civil action commenced by filing a complaint, petition, or application, designates the filing party as plaintiff or petitioner, and requires most parties to file a confidential case information sheet.

Full Text of Rule 3

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

(a) Form of action. There is one form of action to be known as "civil action".

(b) Filing of action. A civil action must be commenced by filing a complaint, petition or application with the court.

(c) Designation of parties. Any filing party must be designated as the plaintiff or petitioner, and any party against whom the same is filed must be designated as the defendant or respondent.

(d) Case information sheet.

(1) Requirement for all parties. With the exception of governmental entities as defined in Idaho Code § 6-902(3) and the case types listed in subsection (2) of this rule, all parties must file a completed Supreme Court approved case information sheet with that party's first appearance in the case. This case information sheet is exempt from disclosure according to Rule 32, Idaho Court Administrative Rules.

(2) Requirement for initiating party only. In the following actions, a completed Supreme Court approved case information sheet must be filed with the complaint or petition by the initiating party:

(A) guardianship,

(B) conservatorship,

(D) termination of parental rights,

(E) involuntary commitment, and

(F) child protection act proceedings.

This case information sheet is exempt from disclosure according to Rule 32, Idaho Court Administrative Rules.

Amendment History

(Adopted March 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2016; amended May 5, 2017, effective July 1, 2017; amended October 3, 2017, effective October 3, 2017.)

Plain-English Summary

Idaho does away with the old distinctions between different forms of legal action: whatever the underlying claim, it proceeds as a single "civil action." Rule 3 says the case begins when a complaint, petition, or application is filed with the court, and it fixes the labels the parties carry going forward: whoever files is the plaintiff or petitioner, and whoever the filing is directed against is the defendant or respondent.

The rule also builds in a privacy safeguard by requiring a case information sheet, a Supreme Court-approved form kept confidential and exempt from public disclosure. In most cases, every party files one with that party's first appearance, though governmental entities are excused. In a shorter list of case types, including guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, termination of parental rights, involuntary commitment, and child protection act proceedings, only the party initiating the case has to file the sheet, and it must come in with the complaint or petition rather than later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a "civil action" under Idaho Rule 3?

It is the single form Idaho uses for civil litigation. Rule 3 abolishes older distinctions between separate types of actions, so every civil case proceeds under this one label regardless of the underlying claim.

How does a civil case get started in Idaho?

By filing a complaint, petition, or application with the court. Rule 3 identifies that filing as the act that commences the action.

What is the Idaho case information sheet, and who has to file one?

It is a Supreme Court-approved form that most parties file with their first appearance in a case, though governmental entities are excused. In guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, termination of parental rights, involuntary commitment, and child protection act proceedings, only the party initiating the case files it, and it must accompany the complaint or petition.

Is the case information sheet available to the public?

No. Rule 3 states that the case information sheet is exempt from disclosure under Rule 32 of the Idaho Court Administrative Rules.

Do government entities have to file a case information sheet?

No. Rule 3 exempts governmental entities, as defined in Idaho Code Section 6-902(3), from the requirement to file a case information sheet.

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

Also known as: how to start a lawsuit idahoidaho case information sheet requirementfiling a complaint idaho civil actionplaintiff petitioner designation idaho rule 3