Nez Perce County, Idaho Court Records

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    Nez Perce County occupies north-central Idaho, with Lewiston as the county seat. The county's court system operates within the Idaho Second Judicial District and covers the full range of legal matters — felony prosecutions, family law disputes, civil litigation, and probate proceedings. The Clerk of the District Court maintains official records for all of these cases.

    If you need court records here, you have a few options: search online through the state's case portal, visit the courthouse in person, or submit a written request by mail. IdahoStateCourts.us is a useful place to start for navigating Idaho's judicial structure and finding publicly available case information. The Idaho iCourt Portal also lets you search cases, check court calendars, and pay citations and fines online.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Nez Perce County?

    Start with the iCourt Portal, Idaho's statewide online case management system. It covers trial court case information from 1995 to the present for all Idaho counties, including Nez Perce, and lets you search by case number, party name, or citation number.

    If you need copies of specific documents from a case file, contact the District Court Clerk directly. The office is on the first floor of the Nez Perce County Courthouse.

    Nez Perce County Court Clerk

    Physical AddressCourthouse, 1st Floor, 1230 Main Street, Lewiston, ID 83501
    Mailing AddressP.O. Box 896, Lewiston, ID 83501
    Phone(208) 799-3020
    Fax(208) 799-3070

    When making a written or in-person request, have as much detail ready as possible:

    • Full name of one or more parties in the case
    • Case number, if known
    • Approximate filing date or year of the proceeding
    • Type of case (criminal, civil, family, or probate)

    Bulk or statistical data requests can go by email to DataRequests@idcourts.net or through the Idaho Supreme Court data request page. If you need help completing court forms without an attorney, the Nez Perce County Court Assistance Office offers walk-in support at the Nez Perce County Courthouse and can be reached at (208) 799-3191.

    Are Court Records Public in Nez Perce County?

    Idaho law starts from a strong presumption that government records — including court records — are open to the public. Under Idaho Code 74-102, every person has the right to examine and obtain copies of public records. The Idaho Public Records Act applies to all government agencies, including courts, and places the burden of justifying non-disclosure on the agency withholding the record — not on the person requesting it.

    That said, certain categories of records are restricted from general public access. Common exemptions for Nez Perce County court records include:

    • Juvenile proceedings — Records involving minors in delinquency and child protective matters are generally sealed or restricted.
    • Adoption records — These are confidential by statute.
    • Mental health commitment proceedings — Protected from disclosure to preserve patient privacy.
    • Certain family law records — Including some guardianship and child welfare matters.
    • Redacted personal identifiers — Social security numbers, financial account numbers, and medical information are routinely redacted from court filings before public access is granted.

    Beginning January 1, 2024, Idaho's Clean Slate Act allows individuals convicted of certain nonviolent, non-assaultive offenses to petition a court to shield their criminal case records from public view. This is codified at Idaho Code 67-3004(11) and represents a meaningful expansion of record restriction options for eligible individuals. Parties who believe a filing contains sensitive information may also request that confidential and redacted versions of documents be filed separately. The Idaho Court Assistance Office redaction instructions explain the correct method for submitting these paired filings.

    Nez Perce County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal court records in Nez Perce County cover the full range of offenses under Idaho law — traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. The Nez Perce County District Court and its Magistrate Division handle these cases, with magistrate judges presiding over lower-level matters and district judges handling felonies and appeals. The Nez Perce County Criminal Court division of the Clerk's Office manages records related to:

    • Traffic citations and infractions
    • Misdemeanor charges
    • Felony indictments and convictions
    • Driver's license reinstatement matters
    • Bail bond information
    • Juvenile criminal matters (subject to access restrictions)

    Searching Criminal Records Online

    The iCourt Portal is the main tool for searching criminal case information statewide. You can look up cases using a party name, citation number, or case number. The portal covers records from 1995 forward and allows online payment of fines and citations.

    In-Person and Mail Requests

    For copies of criminal court documents, contact the Nez Perce County Court Clerk at the address listed above. For court date information or questions about a specific criminal case, the District Court can be reached at (208) 799-3040.

    Keep in mind that Idaho criminal history background checks — used for employment, licensing, or tenancy screening — are administered separately through the Idaho State Police, not the county clerk. Arrest records may appear in court case records when charges have been formally filed, but they are not standalone records maintained by the Clerk's office.

    Nez Perce County Civil Court Records

    Civil court records in Nez Perce County document non-criminal legal disputes handled by both the District Court and the Magistrate Division. These proceedings cover contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, landlord-tenant actions, and small claims cases. The Nez Perce County Civil Court section of the Clerk's office maintains all civil filings and associated documents.

    Filing Fees

    Civil filing fees in Idaho are set by Idaho Code 31-3201A. As of the most current statutory schedule, the base fee for filing a civil case in the District Court is $175. Additional fees apply for specific filings, motions, and services such as document certification.

    Searching Civil Records

    • Online: Use the iCourt Portal to search civil cases by party name or case number.
    • In-Person: Visit the Nez Perce County Courthouse, 1st Floor, 1230 Main Street, Lewiston.
    • By Mail: Submit a written request to P.O. Box 896, Lewiston, ID 83501, with identifying information about the case.

    Self-Help Resources

    The Nez Perce County Court Assistance Office provides free guidance to self-represented litigants seeking civil court forms for landlord-tenant disputes, name changes, and other civil matters. Idaho Legal Aid Services also offers interactive online forms for common civil proceedings. The statewide Idaho Legal Aid phone number is (208) 746-7541.

    Nez Perce County Family Court Records

    Family law cases in Nez Perce County are heard by both district and magistrate judges and cover divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, domestic violence protection orders, adoptions, and guardianship of minors. The Second Judicial District administers Family Court Services to support families working through these proceedings.

    Focus on Children Class

    All parties in a divorce or custody case involving minor children in Nez Perce County must complete the Focus on Children class, which has been offered exclusively online since 2024. The mandatory fee is $40, payable to the county where the case is filed. To register, call (208) 799-3052 or use the online registration form on the Second Judicial District website. A downloadable guide is also available: Steps for Online Focus on Children Class (2025).

    Available Self-Help Forms

    The Nez Perce County Court Assistance Office provides forms and guidance for the following family law proceedings:

    • Divorce
    • Paternity, custody, visitation, and child support
    • Modifications of existing orders
    • Name changes
    • Civil Domestic Violence Protection Orders

    Interactive forms for these and other family matters are also available through Idaho Legal Aid.

    Marriage and Divorce Certificates

    Certified copies of marriage and divorce records from Nez Perce County are issued by the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for events registered from May 1947. Both marriage and divorce certificates cost $16 per copy. Death, divorce, stillbirth, and marriage certificates in Idaho are legally confidential for 50 years after the event, which means access is limited to the parties themselves, their immediate family members, legal representatives, or persons who can demonstrate a property rights need.

    Requests must be submitted by mail only, using the Idaho Vital Statistics Certificate Request form, along with a copy of acceptable photo identification and payment made out to Idaho Vital Records:

    Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
    P.O. Box 83720
    Boise, ID 83720-0036

    Standard processing takes 3–5 weeks; express service (with an additional $10 fee) takes 2–3 weeks. Online ordering through VitalChek is available and typically results in faster processing.

    Nez Perce County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Nez Perce County are filed with the District Court and overseen by magistrate judges under the supervision of the Second Judicial District. Proceedings include the administration of decedents' estates, validation of wills, appointment of personal representatives, conservatorships, and guardianships of adults. The Nez Perce County Court Clerk maintains all probate case files and associated documents.

    Probate records are generally accessible to the public through the same channels used for other court record types. The iCourt Portal allows online searches for probate case information by party name or case number. For copies of specific probate documents — such as filed wills, inventories, letters testamentary, or court orders — contact the Clerk directly.

    Requesting Probate Records

    In-Person1230 Main Street, 1st Floor, Lewiston, ID 83501
    By MailP.O. Box 896, Lewiston, ID 83501
    Phone(208) 799-3020
    Fax(208) 799-3070

    When researching a deceased person's estate, have the decedent's full name and approximate date of death or case filing year ready. Because Idaho probate proceedings are filed in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, estates for Nez Perce County residents will typically be on file here.

    If you're handling an estate without an attorney, the Idaho Court Assistance Office statewide network offers general guidance. The Idaho Supreme Court website also maintains forms and informational resources for probate and guardianship matters. For attorney referrals in complex probate disputes, contact the Idaho State Bar.