Find Bend Court Records
Bend court records come from the Bend Municipal Court and the Deschutes County Circuit Court. The Municipal Court at 555 NE 15th Street handles city violations and traffic offenses under Judge Erin Zemper. The Deschutes County Circuit Court at 1100 NW Bond Street is the trial court for all other case types in Bend. You can search for Bend court records online through state tools, visit either court in person, or submit a records request to get copies of case documents and docket entries.
Bend Quick Facts
Bend Municipal Court Records
The Bend Municipal Court is the judicial branch of the city government. Judge Erin Zemper, appointed by the City Council, oversees the court's operations. The court handles violations of the Bend City Code and Oregon traffic laws within city limits. Court clerks can help with case procedures but are not allowed to give legal advice.
The Municipal Court is inside the Bend Police Department building at the base of Pilot Butte, on the corner of Greenwood Avenue and 15th Street. Office and phone hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court is closed on weekends and legal holidays. A 24-hour locked drop box near the entrance accepts payments and documents outside of business hours.
The official Bend Municipal Court page provides details on court procedures, hours, and contact information.
Call (541) 388-5572 and press 9 to reach a court clerk in Bend.
Note: The Bend Municipal Court is not a court of record, which means it does not create official transcripts of proceedings like the circuit court does.
Appeals from Bend Municipal Court
Because the Bend Municipal Court is not a court of record, appeals work differently than they do at the circuit court level. If you want to appeal a judgment from the Bend Municipal Court, you file the appeal with the Deschutes County Circuit Court. The circuit court charges a fee for filing an appeal. For city code infractions, see Bend City Code Chapter 1.40.060 along with Oregon Revised Statutes Chapters 34.102, 221.359, and 221.390. For state traffic violations, see ORS 138.057.
The Deschutes County Circuit Court is at 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97701. Phone is (541) 388-5300. There is also a Deschutes County Justice Court at 411 SW 9th Street, Room 230, Redmond, OR 97756, reachable at (541) 617-4758. The circuit court handles appeals as a new trial rather than a review of the Municipal Court record.
Bend Court Forms and Documents
The Bend Municipal Court has several forms available for people with cases in the city. Forms can be picked up at the court entrance at 555 NE 15th Street. The court does not accept forms by email or online. All forms must be printed, filled out, and submitted in person or by mail to the court address.
The Bend Municipal Court forms and information page lists all available documents for download.
Available forms include the No Contest Plea form, Not Guilty Plea form, Payment Plan Agreement, Motion to Postpone Trial, and several others. The court also posts its local rules and general orders on the forms page, including the Violations Bureau and Fine Reduction schedule.
- No Contest Plea form
- Not Guilty Plea form
- Payment Plan Agreement
- Motion to Postpone Trial
- Motion for Relief from Failure to Appear
Note: The Bend Municipal Court cannot give legal advice about which form to use or how to fill it out.
Bend Court Online Payments
The Bend Municipal Court accepts online credit card payments for certain violation types. You can enter your plea during the payment process. Written pleas can also be mailed or placed in the 24-hour drop box at the court.
The online payment portal for the Bend Municipal Court lets you pay fines and fees from home.
Visit municipalonlinepayments.com/bendor to make a payment on a Bend Municipal Court case. Phone payments can also be made by calling the court during business hours.
Deschutes County Circuit Court in Bend
The Deschutes County Circuit Court is at 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97703. Phone is (541) 388-5300. Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The courthouse was built in 1978 and has courtrooms, a jury assembly room, and a Records File Room on the first floor. You must pass through a security checkpoint to enter the building.
The circuit court handles cases that go beyond the scope of the Bend Municipal Court. These include felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, family law matters, probate, and juvenile cases. Under ORS 7.020, the circuit court keeps a Register of Actions for each case that logs every filing, hearing, and order. This register is the official court record for cases in Bend.
The court also has a Juvenile Community Justice Building at 63360 NW Britta Street, Building 1, Bend, OR 97703. Juvenile records are confidential under ORS 419A.255 and not open for public viewing.
Requesting Court Records in Bend
The Records File Room at the Deschutes County Circuit Court handles all document requests. Staff help with record searches and copies on a first-come, first-served basis. You can make requests in person at the first floor Information Kiosk, by mail, or through the statewide online request form.
For mail requests, send a letter with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Deschutes County Circuit Court, Attn: File Room Department, 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97703. Include the full names of parties, the case number or filing year, the specific documents you want, and whether you need certified or plain copies. Attach a check payable to the State of Oregon. If you do not know the exact amount, send a not-to-exceed check with a maximum of $30.00.
Fees follow the state schedule. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Exemplified copies are $10.00 per document. Under ORS 21.345, these fees are set by state law. The Deschutes County court provides copies only by email, in person, or by mail. It does not provide copies on CD or other media formats.
Note: Payment must be made in full before the court will process your copy request for Bend cases.
Searching Bend Court Records Online
The free OJD Records and Calendar Search covers all Oregon circuit courts including Deschutes County. Select Deschutes from the dropdown to find Bend cases. Search by party name, case number, or date. The tool shows basic case data like filing dates, case types, and hearing schedules.
For detailed access, OJCIN OnLine provides the official Register of Actions and judgment dockets for a subscription fee. This covers criminal, civil, family, and probate records filed at the Deschutes County Circuit Court in Bend. You can also visit the courthouse to use the free public access terminals during business hours.
The court maintains case files, audio recordings of hearings, and traffic citation records. You can conduct a name search at the circuit court's first floor viewing window or by visiting in person at 1100 NW Bond Street in Bend. Under ORS 192.311, most court records are public and available for anyone to view.
Legal Resources in Bend
The Bend Municipal Court suggests contacting the Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 452-7636 or (503) 684-3763 if you need legal help. Court clerks in Bend cannot provide legal advice on your case. Legal Aid Services of Oregon serves the Bend area and can help qualifying residents with free legal assistance. Visit lasoregon.org for more information.
The Oregon Judicial Department at courts.oregon.gov has free downloadable court forms and instructions for people handling their own cases. These forms work for both the Deschutes County Circuit Court and the Bend Municipal Court depending on the case type. For appeals-related forms, the court has specific documents for filing Notices of Appeal and Writs of Review in Bend.
Bend Parking Citations
Parking citations in Bend are issued when a vehicle is parked in violation of city rules. Fines vary based on the type of violation. Overtime and meter violations get a $13 discount if paid within 72 hours. A $20 late fee applies to overtime and meter violations not paid or appealed within 10 days. All parking tickets not paid or appealed within 10 days of the date they were issued are considered late and can no longer be appealed in Bend.
Deschutes County Court Records
Bend is the largest city in Deschutes County. Cases beyond the Municipal Court go through the Deschutes County Circuit Court. The county court handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile matters for Bend and the surrounding area. For more about the county court system, record access, and fees, visit the Deschutes County court records page.