The Idaho Supreme Court, having received from the Committee to Increase Access to the Courts, a recommendation to approve forms and instructions which have been developed and approved under the guidance and oversight of said committee, for use and distribution through Court Assistance Offices, and to adopt a policy for the future use and development of additional forms, and having determined to accept and adopt that recommendation,

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

(1)  The forms and instructions listed on the attached Exhibit “A” are adopted for statewide use and distribution through Court Assistance Offices and on the Court’s website.  Although these forms may vary slightly from the strict requirements of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, they are nevertheless approved for use in all counties of the State while amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure are considered.  These forms can be completed by hand, neatly printed in black ink, and by checking boxes.  They are not required to be typewritten, nor are they required to be completed on a computer.  Until further order of this court, the forms listed on Exhibit A shall be accepted by courts and clerks, subject to the right of a judge to refuse to accept a form when, through a change in the substantive law, the form has become out of date or inappropriate.   The local court shall not require modifications of these forms.

(2) The forms and instructions listed in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto, are adopted for “optional” local use and distribution through Court Assistance Offices.  As “optional” forms and instructions, they may be accepted by courts and clerks locally, but their use is not required. 

(3) The Policy for Development of Forms contained in Exhibit “C”, attached hereto, is adopted to control the development and use of additional forms which may, from time to time, be considered for approval by this Court.  Court Assistance Officers are not authorized to develop or distribute forms and instructions independent of this Policy. 

(4) Those forms and instructions which have received final approval from this Court, or temporary approval as provided in the Policy for Development of Forms, shall be made available to the public through Court Assistance Offices.  In addition, such offices shall be able to distribute forms that are contained in the Idaho Code, and those that the Idaho Code expressly authorizes Court Clerks to make available to the public.  

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order shall be effective immediately.

            DATED this _26th___ day of February, 2004.

By Order of the Supreme Court

______________/s/___________
                                                                                     Linda Copple Trout, Chief Justice

ATTEST:_______/s/________________
                Frederick C. Lyon, Clerk