The Idaho Falls courthouse — formally the Bonneville County Courthouse — is located at 605 North Capital Avenue, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. The Clerk’s office can be reached at (208) 529-1350.1Bonneville County, Idaho. Clerk, Auditor, and Recorder Court hearings, case filings, fine payments, record requests, marriage licenses, and passport applications all run through this one building.
Address, Parking, and Phone
The street address and mailing address are the same: 605 North Capital Avenue, Idaho Falls, ID 83402.2Idaho Court Self-Help Center. Idaho Court Self-Help Center – Bonneville Street parking is available around the building, and city lots nearby offer additional spaces, but they fill quickly on busy court mornings. Give yourself 20 to 30 minutes before a hearing to park and clear security.
For questions about hours, departments, or an upcoming hearing, call (208) 529-1350 during business hours.1Bonneville County, Idaho. Clerk, Auditor, and Recorder If you need help finding the right form or figuring out which court handles your matter, the Idaho Court Self-Help line at (208) 589-9872 is a separate resource.2Idaho Court Self-Help Center. Idaho Court Self-Help Center – Bonneville
Which Courts Are Inside
Two levels of the Idaho court system operate out of the building: the Seventh Judicial District Court and the Magistrate Division.3Idaho Judicial Branch. Idaho District Courts Knowing which one your case belongs to saves confusion at the filing counter.
District Court
District judges handle the more serious matters: felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits where the amount in dispute exceeds $10,000, and appeals from magistrate court decisions.4Ballotpedia. Idaho District Courts
Magistrate Court
The magistrate division covers most of the everyday work: infractions, misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, divorces, adoptions, probate and estate cases, guardianships, conservatorships, juvenile cases, and civil disputes of $10,000 or less. Small claims filings also fall here, with a $5,000 maximum claim amount.5Ada County Judicial Court. Magistrate Court Most people walking in for a hearing will appear before a magistrate judge.
Security and Courtroom Rules
Everyone entering passes through a metal detector, and bags are subject to search. Weapons are prohibited, including firearms and knives. A concealed weapons permit does not create an exception, so leave anything questionable in your vehicle.
Cell phones are allowed in the building but must be silenced before you enter a courtroom. Recording a proceeding is prohibited without the judge’s permission. Attorneys and self-represented parties sometimes get permission to use a laptop or tablet during a hearing; members of the public should assume devices need to stay off and out of sight once proceedings begin.
Dress the way you would for a job interview. Deputies at the entrance can turn away anyone whose clothing or behavior falls short of the building’s standards.
Clerk’s Office: Filings, Fines, and Records
The Clerk of the Court’s office is where paperwork gets filed, fines get paid, and copies of records are requested.
Filing Fees
Filing a civil case in district court costs $175. Magistrate division civil filings are $120. Small claims filings carry a separate, lower fee. Some case types have no filing fee at all, including civil protection orders, juvenile cases, and petitions for judicial consent.6Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 31-3201A – Court Fees If you’re not sure which fee applies to yours, clerk staff can look it up based on the case type.
Paying Fines and Fees
Traffic fines, restitution, and other court-ordered payments can be made at the Clerk’s windows. Bonneville County also accepts online payments through the iCourt portal linked from the county’s court fines and fees page.7Bonneville County. Court Fines and Fees Online is faster, but confirm the payment posts before your deadline.
Court Records
Non-confidential court files are open to the public. You can search cases online through Idaho’s MyCourts portal before making the trip.8Bonneville County. Court Records For certified copies or to inspect a physical file, come to the Clerk’s office during business hours. Expect a small per-page fee for paper copies.
Marriage Licenses
Both parties must appear together at the Clerk’s office with valid photo identification. The license fee is approximately $28, payable by cash, check, or card. You complete the paperwork on site, and the license is good for use within Idaho. There’s no waiting period and no blood test. If you’re planning to come by on a Friday afternoon, call first to confirm the office can process the application before closing.
Passport Applications
The Clerk’s office is a passport acceptance facility for the U.S. Department of State. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday until 2:00 p.m., so don’t arrive late in the day expecting to finish.9Bonneville County. Passport
Bring:
- A completed application. Print and fill it out beforehand, but don’t sign it until instructed by the clerk.
- A passport photo taken within the last six months, meeting State Department size and background requirements.
- Proof of citizenship: an original certified birth certificate or naturalization papers.
- A valid driver’s license or state-issued photo ID.
- The $35 acceptance fee, payable by cash or card to Bonneville County.
- A separate check or money order for the passport fee, made payable to “U.S. Department of State.”
The acceptance fee stays with the county for processing; the passport fee goes to the federal government.9Bonneville County. Passport
Jury Duty
If you receive a jury summons for Bonneville County, you report to this courthouse. Under Idaho law, jurors receive at least $5 for a half day of service or $10 for a full day, plus mileage reimbursement from home to the courthouse at the county employee rate.10Idaho Supreme Court. Jury Information That won’t replace a day’s wages, but Idaho employers are generally prohibited from penalizing workers for jury service.
Ignoring a summons has consequences. A judge can hold you in contempt for failing to appear, which carries a fine of up to $500 and up to five days in jail.11Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 7-610 If you have a genuine conflict, contact the court before your reporting date to request a postponement instead of skipping.
What Happens If You Miss a Court Date
Missing a scheduled hearing creates problems fast. Under Idaho law, failing to appear on a misdemeanor citation is itself a separate misdemeanor, regardless of what happens with the original charge.12Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 19-3901A – Failure to Obey The judge will usually issue a bench warrant, and bail conditions on the underlying case may be revoked. You could be arrested at a traffic stop weeks later.
Disruptive conduct inside a courtroom carries its own penalties. A judge who finds you in contempt can impose a fine of up to $5,000, up to five days in jail, or both.11Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 7-610 Show up on time, follow instructions, and if something prevents you from attending, call the court before the hearing.
Probate and Guardianship
If a family member has died and left property in Bonneville County, probate takes place in the magistrate division of this courthouse. The process involves validating a will, notifying creditors, settling debts, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries. If there was no will, Idaho’s intestacy laws determine who inherits, and the court oversees that process too.
Guardianship and conservatorship petitions for minors or incapacitated adults are also filed through the magistrate division.5Ada County Judicial Court. Magistrate Court These cases involve detailed paperwork and often court-appointed investigators, so budget extra time. The Clerk’s office can point you to the right forms, and Idaho’s Court Self-Help Center provides additional guidance if you’re proceeding without an attorney.
Federal Cases Go Elsewhere
This building handles only state-level matters. Federal crimes, lawsuits against the federal government, bankruptcy filings, and disputes under federal law such as patent or immigration cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, which has offices in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Pocatello but no permanent location in Idaho Falls.13U.S. Courts, District of Idaho. United States Courts District of Idaho Federal cases with connections to eastern Idaho are typically handled from the Pocatello office.
ADA Accommodations
As a government building, the courthouse is required under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide accessible facilities and equally effective communication for people with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for a hearing — an assistive listening device, wheelchair-accessible seating, or a sign language interpreter — contact the court as far in advance as you can so staff have time to arrange it.
Trained service dogs are allowed inside. Emotional support animals are not covered under the ADA and may be denied entry. A service animal must be under your control at all times and trained to perform a specific task related to your disability.