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Courts in Oregon
- General Jurisdiction / Upper Courts
- Circuit Courts - one court for each county in Oregon. These courts handle the following case types:
- Civil - $750 minimum, no maximum claim amount. Torts, contracts, real property rights, estate, mental health,
adoption, civil appeals.
- Tort and contract claims to $5,000.
- Domestic relations and divorce.
- Criminal felony, criminal appeals.
- Traffic and other violations.
- Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, criminal appeals.
- Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.
- Tax Court - one court for the State of Oregon. This Court handles:
- Tax appeals - Income, property, and excise taxes, budget law and property tax limitations.
Search Oregon Court Records
- Limited Jurisdiction / Lower Courts
- Justice Courts - one or more courts in each Oregon county. These courts handle the following case types:
- Small civil claims to $2,500.
- Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, domestic violence.
- Traffic, parking, and infractions.
- Preliminary hearings.
- Municipal Courts - one or more courts in most incorporated cities. These courts handle the following case types:
- Criminal misdemeanor and drunk driving.
- Traffic, parking, infractions, and ordinance violations.
- District Courts - Oregon had a third state trial court called the district court, which handled smaller civil cases and lesser crimes. On January 15, 1998, the district courts merged into the circuit courts.
- County Courts - Only 7 counties remain with County Courts. All others have been replaced by Justice Courts. These courts handle the following case types:
- Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, domestic violence.
- Traffic, parking, and infractions.
Property Tax Records
Oregon real and personal property tax records are kept by the Assessment & Taxation Department in each county.
Deeds and Document Recording
Oregon deeds and general document recording are handled by the County Clerk in each county. Larger offices have separate divisions for recording. Records kept include deeds, mortgage documents, easements, powers of attorney, marriage licenses, and liens.
Vital Records
Most county vital records offices in Oregon issue birth and death records for six months following the date of the event. You will find vital records offices in the county health department or the county clerk's office.
The Oregon Center for Health Statistics is responsible for issuing certified copies of vital records, including birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates. The office has birth and death records dating from July, 1903; marriage records from 1906 and divorce certificates (not decrees) from 1925.
Access to birth records is restricted for 100 years to the registrant, immediate family members and legal representatives. Access to death, marriage and divorce records filed in the State Vital Records office is restricted for 50 years after the date of the event to family members and their legal representatives.
Divorce decrees are issued by the Circuit Courts.
Search Oregon Divorce Court Records
Marriage license records are kept by the County Clerk in each county.
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