Oregon Court Records Lookup
Oregon court records are public documents held by the state's 36 circuit courts, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, and the Tax Court. These records cover civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases filed across the state. You can search court records online through free and paid tools run by the Oregon Judicial Department. The OJD Records and Calendar Search gives free access to basic case data. For full case details, the OJCIN subscription system provides deeper access. You can also visit any courthouse in person to look up case files at a public access terminal.
Oregon Court Records Quick Facts
How to Search Oregon Court Records
Oregon gives the public three main ways to find court records. The first is the free OJD Records and Calendar Search. This tool shows case numbers, filing dates, party names, case types, and hearing schedules for all circuit courts, the Tax Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. You can search by case number or party name. It costs nothing and works from any web browser. The data shown is basic but enough for many searches.
The second way is through OJCIN OnLine, the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network. This is a paid subscription service. It holds the judgment dockets and official Register of Actions from all Oregon state courts. OJCIN gives access to two systems: OECI for circuit court and Tax Court records, and ACMS for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records. Setting up an account costs $150 and requires a signed Terms of Use Agreement and a New Customer Information Form. Monthly fees vary by user type. Subscriber support is available at 1-800-858-9658, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Oregon Judicial Department also lets you visit any local circuit court in person. Each courthouse has a free public access terminal where you can look up case data for most cases. Court staff can help with basic searches by phone or email too. They can not give legal advice, but they can point you to the right case files.
Note: Court staff updates case data daily, but there may be short delays between when a document is filed and when it appears in the system.
Oregon Court System Overview
Oregon has a four-level court system. At the base are 36 circuit courts. These are the trial courts. They hear all types of cases: civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and more. Because some counties have small populations, the state groups them into 27 judicial districts for staffing purposes. State law sets the number of judges in each district based on population and case volume.
Circuit courts are courts of record. An official court reporter or recording system captures every word of most proceedings. Small claims cases and minor violations are exceptions. The recorded "record" is what the appellate court reviews on appeal. Most appeals rely on this record rather than holding a new trial.
Above the circuit courts sits the Oregon Court of Appeals. It has 13 judges and hears almost all appeals from circuit court rulings. The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. It has seven justices and reviews decisions from the Court of Appeals. The Oregon Tax Court handles state and local tax disputes. All of these courts maintain records accessible through OJCIN.
Types of Oregon Court Records
Oregon circuit courts handle a wide range of case types. Each type produces its own set of court documents. Criminal case records include arraignments, plea entries, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and judgments. Civil case records cover lawsuits over money, property, or contracts. Family court records deal with dissolutions, custody, child support, and restraining orders. Probate records address the distribution of a deceased person's property and guardianship matters.
Traffic court records are also part of the circuit court system in Oregon. These range from simple violations to serious driving offenses. Appellate court records contain briefs, oral argument recordings, and published opinions that serve as binding precedent on lower courts in Oregon.
Criminal court records in Oregon include arrest data, charges, and case outcomes. You can look up civil matters through Oregon civil court records search tools. Family court records in Oregon contain personal information and are critical for anyone who needs to make legal changes.
The OJCIN OnLine system provides access to criminal, civil, and family case records across all Oregon circuit courts.
Each court maintains a register of actions for every case. Under ORS 7.020, this register is the official record. It lists the date and nature of each filing, each order or judgment, and each proceeding. The register does not include copies of the actual documents. It only shows that they were filed.
OJCIN Court Records Access
OJCIN OnLine is the main paid tool for searching Oregon court records in depth. It covers all 36 circuit courts plus the Tax Court and appellate courts. The system runs two platforms. OECI handles circuit court and Tax Court data. ACMS handles Supreme Court and Court of Appeals data. Both require an active subscription.
To sign up, you must submit a signed Terms of Use Agreement and a completed New Customer Information Form along with a $150 setup fee. You can email these forms to ojcin.online@ojd.state.or.us or mail them to the Oregon Judicial Department at 1163 State Street, Salem, OR. Payment can be made by check, money order, or through OJCIN's electronic payment system.
All documents obtained through OECI are considered official court records. They are managed by the Oregon State Court Records Management division. However, OJCIN's disclaimer notes that information shown is in "near real time" and may not match the physical record at the courthouse. The official record always remains at the court site where the case was filed.
Note: Technical support for OJCIN is available at 503-986-5582 or toll-free at 1-877-826-5010, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public Access to Oregon Court Records
Most court records in Oregon are public. The Oregon Public Records Law, ORS 192.311 to 192.478, gives the public the right to inspect government records. This includes court filings, judgments, and docket entries. You do not need to be a party in the case. Anyone can request access.
Some court records are restricted. Juvenile court records are confidential under ORS 419A.255. Only the juvenile, their parents, attorneys, and certain agencies can view them without a court order. Adoption records, mental health proceedings, and cases under the Violence Against Women Act are also excluded from public access. A judge can seal specific records in any case if a party shows good cause. Sealed records are not common, but they do exist.
The Oregon Judicial Department provides an overview of how to access court records across the state.
Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain personal details are redacted from public copies of court documents in Oregon. Under ORS 193.077, the Oregon Judicial Department is authorized to provide electronic access to court records, but these online records may not constitute the official record of the court.
Oregon Court Record Fees
Fees for court records in Oregon are set by statute. Under ORS 21.345, courts charge $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certifications. Filing fees for new cases vary by case type. These fees are consistent across the state.
Fee waivers are available. If you can not afford the fees, you can apply for a waiver or deferral. You must show financial hardship, such as receiving public assistance or having income below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. The court reviews each application.
Note: Fees can change, so contact the court clerk to confirm current costs before sending payment.
Requesting Oregon Court Documents
You can get copies of court records from any circuit court clerk in Oregon. Visit the courthouse in person during business hours. Bring the case number or the names of the parties. The clerk will search the records and provide copies for a fee. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.
Some courts accept requests by mail. Call the clerk's office first to ask about their process. You will need to include the case details and your payment. Wait times for mail requests depend on the workload at that courthouse. In-person requests are usually handled the same day.
The Oregon Judicial Department also supports electronic filing through the OJD eFile system. Attorneys and parties can file documents and retrieve case records electronically. The system is available for circuit court and appellate court filings in Oregon.
The Oregon State Archives holds historical court records from all 36 counties. These include old case files, dockets, judgments, naturalization records, and probate files. Many are on microfilm and can be accessed through the Archives' research room or through interlibrary loan. Historical court records are valuable for legal and genealogical research in Oregon.
Expungement of Court Records in Oregon
Oregon law allows some criminal records to be set aside. Under ORS 137.225, individuals can petition the court to expunge certain convictions and arrest records. The waiting periods vary. Dismissed charges can be set aside at any time. Class A misdemeanors require a three-year wait. Class B and C misdemeanors require one year. Arrests where no charges were filed can be cleared 60 days after notice.
The process starts by filing a motion with the court. You must also get a fingerprint-based criminal history check from the Oregon State Police CJIS Division. Open record requests and personal criminal history checks are handled by CJIS at PO Box 4395, Portland, OR 97208-4395. All requests take up to 14 business days to process.
Oregon Court Forms and Resources
The Oregon Judicial Department provides official court forms on its website. You can find forms for civil cases, family law matters, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and more at the OJD Court Forms page. Forms are free to download and include step-by-step instructions.
Each circuit court in Oregon also has local forms and resources. Check your county court's website for location-specific guides. Many courts post local rules, filing instructions, and contact information online. Court staff can answer procedural questions, though they can not provide legal advice.
The OJD Records and Calendar Search allows you to look up civil case records across all Oregon circuit courts.
For family court matters, the Oregon Judicial Department maintains resources for dissolution, custody, and support cases. The family court records section covers access to these files. Oregon courts provide all required forms for dissolution proceedings, including petitions, responses, and judgment documents.
The Oregon eFiling system supports electronic access to family court records and filings.
Note: All official court forms are available at no charge on the Oregon Judicial Department website.
Browse Oregon Court Records by County
Each of Oregon's 36 counties has its own circuit court that maintains local court records. Pick a county below to find contact details and resources for case records in that area.
Court Records in Major Oregon Cities
Residents of Oregon's largest cities file cases at their county courthouse. Select a city below to find court record resources for that area.