Rule 3(a). Commencement of action.
(1) A civil action is commenced by the filing of a complaint with the court,
   which may be denominated as a complaint, petition or application, and any 
   party filing the same shall be designated as the plaintiff or petitioner, 
   and any party against whom the same is filed shall be designated as the 
   defendant or respondent.  Complaints, petitions or applications in family 
   law cases, including divorce, custody, paternity, modification, minor 
   guardianship, adoption, termination of parental rights, civil protection 
   orders and child protection act shall not be filed unless and until the filing 
  party furnishes to the clerk a completed family law case information sheet 
  on a form adopted by the Supreme Court and furnished by the clerk.  This 
  family law case information sheet shall be exempt from disclosure according 
  to I.C.A.R. 32(d).  No claim,  controversy or dispute, may be submitted to any 
  court in the state for determination or judgment without filing a complaint or 
  petition as provided in these rules; nor shall any judgment or decree be entered 
  by any court without service of process upon all parties affected by such judgment 
  or decree in the manner prescribed by these rules.
(2) Commencement of a protection order proceeding. An action for a domestic 
  violence protection order may not be filed unless accompanied by information 
  in whatever form required by the court to allow entry of the protection order 
  into the Idaho Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (to be transferred 
  by the court to the appropriate law enforcement agency with any signed order). 
  A copy of this sheet shall not be maintained in the court file.  Such action may 
  be commenced or defended on behalf of a minor as set forth in I.R.C.P. 17(c). 
  (Amended March 17, 2006, effective July 1, 2006.)

  Rule 3(b). Designation of party.
  Any civil action for or against a person in an individual capacity 
  shall designate such person by name and any action against a person 
  in a representative capacity shall indicate the nature of the 
  representative capacity for which the person is made a party to the 
  action. Provided, all civil actions by or against a governmental 
  unit or agency, or corporation, shall designate such party in its 
  governmental or corporate name only, and individuals constituting 
  the officers of the governing boards of governmental units, boards 
  or agencies or of corporations, shall not be designated as parties 
  in any capacity unless the action is brought against them 
  individually or for relief under Rules 65 or 74. An action against 
  a partnership or unincorporated association shall designate the 
  name of the partnership or association as defendant, in which case 
  any judgment obtained shall be enforceable against the partnership 
  or association property; but no such judgment shall be entered 
  personally against an individual partner or member unless named as 
  an individual defendant in an individual capacity and served with 
  process.  

  [Amended July 2, effective October 1, 1976; amended April
  22,2004, effective July 1, 2004; amended March 24, 2005,
  effective July 1, 2005.)