MaritalLaws
Idaho
Divorce Law Guide
Idaho Divorce Guide :: Table of Contents
Idaho Divorce Overview
The facts about divorce in Idaho
Divorce, or dissolution of marriage, is the legal process of severing a marriage contract, which is overseen by a court of law in the state in which one or both of the divorcing spouses live. The process for getting a divorce and acceptible grounds for divorce vary from state to state.
In Idaho, a divorce can be completed on average in a minimum of 62 days, with court fees of $129.00. The state has divorce residency requirements that require the spouse filing for the divorce to have lived in Idaho for a minimum of one months.
On this page, you can learn about Idaho's grounds for divorce, how the divorce process works, and about other parts of the divorce process, such as Idaho alimony calculation, the property division process and more.
Idaho Divorce Court Considerations Table
This is the default dialog which is useful for displaying information. The dialog window can be moved, resized and closed with the 'x' icon.
Idaho Divorce Law Summary
Unlike most states, Idaho has straightforward divorce laws. They recognize both a fault and no-fault divorce. Much like many states, a no-fault is simply a spouse declaring the marriage irreconcilable and requesting a divorce. Most of the time this is when both sides separate amicably.
The fault based complaint is also available, but the courts in Idaho only recognize adultery, extreme cruelty, willful desertion, willful neglect, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and permanent insanity as reasons.
Idaho also allows a spouse to file for divorce if they have been separated for five years continuously.
Idaho Divorce Guide - Frequently Asked Questions
In state of Idaho a number of factors are taken into account when ending a marriage.
1. Idaho Grounds for Divorce FAQ
- Is Idaho a no-fault divorce state?
- Does Idaho allow at-fault divorces?
- Does the state of Idaho allow incompatibility as grounds for divorce?
- Can you get a divorce in Idaho for living separate and apart?
2. Idaho Divorce Process FAQ
- Does state of Idaho allow legal separation?
- What's the difference between a divorce and an annulment?
- How long do I have to live in in the state of Idaho to get a divorce?
- What is the filing fee for a divorce in Idaho?
- How long does it take to get a divorce in Idaho?
3. Idaho General Divorce FAQ
1. Idaho Grounds for Divorce FAQ
Is Idaho a no-fault divorce state?
Idaho allows no-fault divorces, which means that a divorce is granted without establishing the fault of either spouse for causing the divorce. Grounds for a no-fault divorce in Idaho may be "irreconcilable differences", or similar grounds.
Does Idaho allow at-fault divorces?
In addition to no-fault grounds for divorce, Idaho is a fault divorce state which provides the option to file for a traditional at-fault divorce. Suing for an at-fault divorce alleges that the filer's spouse is the cause of the divorce due to engaging in one of Idaho's at-fault divorce grounds, such as adultery, abuse, or insanity.
In some cases, an at-fault divorce is pursued because it can entitle the suing spouse to a greater share of marital property or even punitive alimony payments if their partner's fault is proven. If their spouse contests these allegations, they may be challenged in court, which can lead to a lengthy and expensive legal process.
Does the state of Idaho allow incompatibility as grounds for divorce?
Yes, Idaho does allow incompatibility to be used as grounds for having a divorce.
Can you get a divorce in Idaho for living separate and apart?
In divorce law, "living seperate and apart" refers to married spouses who are living separate from each other, not engaging in a traditional marital relationship, and do not intend to repair the marriage.
In Idaho, married couples who have been living separate and apart for a minimum of 60 months may be granted a divorce on these grounds when sued for by either spouse.
2. Idaho Divorce Process FAQ
Does state of Idaho allow legal separation?
Legal separation (otherwise known as "judicial separation") is a legal process that enables spouses to be de facto separated while remaining legally married.
Idaho does not grant judicial separation orders to married couples who wishes to live separately, so a divorce petition should be pursued instead.
What's the difference between a divorce and an annulment in Idaho?
While a divorce is the process of exiting a legally valid marriage, an annulment is the process of rendering a marriage null and void. An annulment makes it legally as if a marriage never took place to begin with.
Generally, annulment is used to conclude a marriage that should not have been legally recognized in the first place, such as a marriage where one of the spouses was unable to consent (by virtue of being underage, due to mental incapacity, or even intoxication), a marriage that was entered into under duress or via fraudulent means, or when one of the spouses was already legally married.
How long do I have to live in in the state of Idaho to get a divorce?
The state of Idaho requires that spouses suing for divorce to have lived in the state for a minimum of one months prior to filing divorce papers. Otherwise, Idaho courts are not considered to have jurisdiction over the divorce case.
What is the filing fee for a divorce in Idaho?
The court fees for filing the paperwork for a basic divorce in a Idaho court is $129.00. However, the total costs for a divorce can be much higher - especially in the case of a contested divorce, where attorney fees and mediation costs average from $15,000 to $20,000 or more.
How long does it take to get a divorce in Idaho?
If the process moves along without holdups, the paperwork for a divorce in Idaho can be processed in a minimum of 62 days. However, if the spouses are not in agreement about the divorce process, a contested divorce can take significantly longer.
3. Idaho General Divorce FAQ
Can my spouse stop me from getting a divorce?
Even if one spouse is opposed to getting a divorce, they cannot stop their partner from filing for and receiving a divorce in Idaho. While filing a non-contested joint petition for divorce speeds up the process, either spouse can file for divorce individually at any time.
Idaho permits spouses to sue for an at-fault divorce, and in this case their partner can contest the allegations in court. A non-fault petition for divorce, however, can generally not be contested by an unwilling spouse in Idaho.
Does Idaho have any limitations on remarriage after a divorce?
Idaho has no mandatory waiting period between the finalization of a divorce and either of the ex-spouses getting remarried. Remarriage following a divorce may affect the continued payment of alimony.
What is the divorce rate in Idaho?
According to the most recent CDC study, the yearly divorce rate in Idaho is 8 per 1,000 total population. The national divorce rate is 6.9 per 1,000 total population. Various studies suggest that nationwide, 30% to 50% of all marriages end in divorce.
Does Idaho recognize same sex divorces?
Since same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide in 2015, all states that previously did not allow same sex marriages, including Idaho, are required by federal law to perform both same sex marriages and same sex divorces. In some cases, court forms or procedures may still need to be updated to support same sex couples.