Divorce records in Kootenai County, Idaho, are available through several channels. KootenaiCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about divorces in this county. Additionally, records can be obtained directly from the district court that issued the decree, at the county clerk's office, and also at the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records. Below is a practical guide to searching, requesting, and obtaining these documents.
Kootenai Divorce Records Search
Divorce cases in Kootenai County are handled by the First Judicial District Court of Idaho. The clerk's office of this court maintains full court records: divorce decrees, property settlement agreements, custody orders, and all related procedural documents.
Separate from court records is the divorce certificate — a shortened document maintained by the Bureau of Vital Records at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. These are different documents and are obtained from different institutions.
For online searches of court case information, use the iCourt Portal, supported by the Idaho Supreme Court. The portal allows you to find basic case information — filing date, parties, status.
Kootenai County District Court Clerk's Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Kootenai
The structure for storing divorce records in Idaho involves two levels — judicial and administrative. Each is responsible for its own type of document.
District Court
All divorce cases in Kootenai County are filed with the First Judicial District Court. After a decree is issued by a judge, it remains in the archives of the court clerk's office. This is where you should go if you need:
- The full text of the divorce decree
- A property settlement agreement
- Custody or support orders
- Any procedural documents from the case
Access to court records is regulated by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. Most divorce cases are generally public, but the court may restrict access to certain documents — for example, financial declarations or materials related to minors.
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records
After the court issues a divorce decree, the information is sent to the Bureau of Vital Records. The Bureau maintains divorce certificates — brief documents that confirm the fact of divorce, date, and place. They do not contain the full text of the court decree.
Certified copies of the certificate can be ordered by mail or online through VitalChek.
If you need a court document, contact the district court clerk. If a certificate confirming the fact of divorce is sufficient, contact the Bureau of Vital Records.
Additional Resources
For those filing documents themselves, the Kootenai County page on the Idaho Court Assistance Office website contains court contact information and links to forms. General instructions on the divorce procedure are also available on the main page of the Court Assistance Office.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Kootenai
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $1.00 | During visit or 5–10 business days by mail |
| Certified copy of court document | $1.00 per page + $1.00 for certification | 5–10 business days |
| Divorce certificate (Bureau of Vital Records — by mail) | $16.00 | 4–6 weeks |
| Divorce certificate (via VitalChek — online) | $16.00 + VitalChek service fee | 7–10 business days (standard delivery) |
| Expedited processing via VitalChek | Additional fee for expedited delivery | 2–3 business days |