Linn County Court Records
Linn County court records are stored at the Circuit Court in Albany, Oregon. The county sits in the center of the Willamette Valley, with the Willamette River as its western border and the Cascade Range to the east. Linn County has five elected circuit court judges who handle all case types. You can search for court records online, visit the courthouse, or submit a written request. The clerk office maintains filings, orders, and judgments going back many years in Linn County.
Linn County Quick Facts
Linn County Circuit Court
The Linn County Circuit Court operates from the Linn County Courthouse at 300 SW Fourth Avenue in Albany. The current courthouse was built in 1940 next to earlier courthouse buildings. The court has five elected judges who hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. The Records Department is open from 8:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Linn County Circuit Court serves the entire county from this location. The mailing address is PO Box 1749, Albany, OR 97321. The courthouse is closed on legal holidays. Trial Court Administrator James Belshe oversees court operations at 541-967-3802.
Documents in newer Linn County cases can be viewed using the kiosk computers on the first floor in Room 107 during business hours. Older case files that have not been digitized can be reviewed by requesting the file in advance from the clerk.
| Court |
Linn County Circuit Court 300 SW Fourth Avenue Albany, OR 97321 Phone: (541) 967-3845 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Records: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday |
| Website | courts.oregon.gov/courts/linn |
Requesting Linn County Court Records
The Linn County Circuit Court records page has the statewide Records Request Form you need to submit. Fill out the form and submit it online. You will receive an email with a confirmation ID. Use this ID when you contact the Copy Center with questions or payment. The court may take up to 5 business days to respond and 10 or more days for some requests.
If the court reaches out and you do not respond within 60 business days, they will close your request. Paper or electronic documents usually take 5 to 7 judicial days to complete. Older cases may need more time. Audio recordings take 7 to 10 judicial days. Questions about Linn County records requests can be sent to lin.copycenter@ojd.state.or.us or by phone at 541-812-8770.
Copy fees for Linn County court records vary by type. Any request under $5.00 has the fee waived.
- Paper copies: $3.00 per case plus $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 per document plus $0.25 per page
- Emailed copies: $3.00 per case
- Certified emailed copies: $5.00 per document
- Audio by email: $10.00
- Audio on CD: $11.00
Payment options for Linn County include cash, check, money order, debit, or credit card. Make checks payable to "State of Oregon" and include the case number. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
Note: Certified and exemplified copies delivered by email must be printed in color to remain valid.
Linn County Court Records Online
You can search for Linn County case information online through the OJD Records and Calendar Search. This free tool lets you look up basic case details by case number or party name. It covers all Oregon circuit courts including Linn County. If you cannot find a case number, type "unknown" when filling out the records request form.
The OJCIN OnLine system provides deeper access. Through OJCIN, subscribers can view the official Register of Actions and judgment dockets for Linn County cases. A $150 setup fee and monthly charges apply. Court staff update the system daily. The data is near real time but is not the official record under ORS 7.020.
The state court website provides guidance on how to find a case or court record in any Oregon county, including Linn County.
The Oregon Judicial Department sends all documents and audio requests through encrypted emails. Once you get the email, you have 14 days to download your files.
Types of Linn County Court Copies
Linn County offers several types of court record copies. Regular copies are simple reproductions for personal record keeping. They are not used to verify information with third parties. Certified copies carry a stamp, the court seal, and the clerk's signature. They prove the document is a true copy of the original. Paper certified copies are stamped and signed in ink, and removing the staple on multi-page documents makes them invalid.
Electronic certified copies are digitally stamped in red or blue ink and signed by the clerk. Exemplified copies, also called three-way certificates, carry extra verification. Paper certified copies are often required by Social Security, the Secretary of State, and for estate and probate cases in Linn County. Court records that are not confidential or sealed are available to the public under ORS 192.311.
Related Records in Linn County
Some records people look for are not held by the Linn County Circuit Court. Police reports are maintained by the responding or arresting law enforcement agency, not the court. Birth and death records are kept by the Vital Statistics Department at 541-967-3888. Marriage licenses and land deeds are held by the Linn County Clerk's Office at 541-967-3831.
The Albany Municipal Court at 333 Broadalbin Street SW handles traffic violations, city ordinance violations, and misdemeanor crimes within Albany. That court is separate from the Linn County Circuit Court. Contact the Albany Municipal Court at 541-917-7500 for records from that court.
Note: The Linn County Circuit Court does not offer written transcripts of court proceedings.
Linn County Record Expungement
Oregon law allows some criminal records to be set aside. Under ORS 137.225, you can petition the Linn County Circuit Court to expunge certain convictions and arrest records. Waiting periods vary by case type. Arrests with no charges filed can be cleared after 60 days. Dismissed charges can be expunged right away. Class A misdemeanors require three years. Class B and C misdemeanors need one year.
To start, file a motion with the court in Albany. You will need a fingerprint-based criminal history check from the Oregon State Police. The court reviews each request. If the judge grants the motion, the record is sealed from public view and removed from standard court record searches in Linn County.
Nearby Counties
Linn County borders Lane County, Benton County, Marion County, Jefferson County, and Deschutes County. Each county has its own Circuit Court that handles cases filed in that area. If you live in Linn County, your cases are filed at the courthouse in Albany. Contact the Linn County clerk if you need help finding where your case was filed.