Understanding Civil Court Records in Oregon

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    Civil court records in Oregon are files generated when a person sues another person because of a dispute or problem between them. They are typically non-criminal cases that are considered public under the Oregon Public Records Law. Civil court records in Oregon are maintained by the Judicial Department and include all documents filed with the court or created during the course of the case proceeding. Oregon circuit courts maintain a transparent record of civil case proceedings and outcomes, enabling the public to observe how courts interpret the law.

    Civil Court Record Statistics Reported by Oregon Courts

    As of 2024, the Oregon Circuit Court Case Statistics show about 189,885 civil case filings, with 73,910 pending cases and 187,448 terminated civil cases. The table below shows the breakdown of civil cases by case type:

    Civil Case Type

    Civil Filing

    Civil Case Pending

    Civil Case Terminated

    Civil

    60,714

    21,543

    59,909

    Landlord Tenant

    28,079

    5,985

    26,356

    Small Claims

    38,248

    9,834

    37,884

    Dissolution

    14,424

    5,332

    14,789

    Other Domestic Relations

    8,571

    3,731

    8,616

    Protective Order

    18,134

    1,132

    18,093

    Probate

    13,889

    25,962

    14,041

    Civil Commitment

    7,826

    		 

    7,760

    How Civil Records Differ from Criminal Records in Oregon

    Civil records and criminal records have different legal purposes and are organized differently within the Oregon court system. While civil records contain case documents relating to private parties' disputes, criminal records document proceedings initiated by the state against individuals accused of violating Oregon's criminal laws.

    Category

    Civil Record

    Criminal Record

    Legal Focus

    Disputes between private parties

    Violations prosecuted by the state

    Case Titles

    Plaintiff vs. Defendant

    State of Oregon vs Defendant

    Potential Outcome

    Monetary compensation, injunctions, or custody orders

    Fines, imprisonment, probation, or community service

    Public Access

    Generally public, but some are automatically sealed

    Generally public, but may be sealed or expunged

    Case Type

    Contract, small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, domestic relations dissolution, estate, and tort

    Offense violations, municipal parking, felony, and misdemeanor

    Structure of the Civil Court System in Oregon

    The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) comprises trial courts, appellate courts (including the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals), and the Tax Court (OR Rev Stat, vol. 01, title 1). The Oregon Circuit Courts are the trial court of general jurisdiction, where civil cases are filed. The Oregon Court of Appeals decides civil appeals from the circuit courts, while the Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and the court of last resort for civil appeals. Justice Courts are not part of the OJD, but they have limited jurisdiction over civil cases. Circuit courts follow the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (ORCP) in handling civil cases, which differ from those of criminal cases.

    Court

    Type of Civil Cases

    Supreme Court

    Civil appeals for the court of appeals, labor disputes, and mandamus petitions.

    Court of Appeals

    Civil appeals from circuit courts

    Circuit Court

    Civil, domestic relations, small claims, abuse prevention act, adoption, probate, mental commitments, and guardianship cases.

    Justice Courts

    Civil claims with a monetary value of $10,000 or less, and eviction cases.

    Public Access to Civil Court Documents in Oregon

    According to the Oregon Public Records Law, everyone has the right to inspect the civil records of any court in the state. However, the court is authorized to redact any exempted information from the record before such release. Certain civil records, including those related to adoption and mental health, are exempt from public disclosure.

    Interested persons may find public civil court records through the following means:

    • Online: Oregon has various means for accessing civil court records online. Users may conduct a free search via the Records Search Portal. The search criteria are record number or name. To narrow the search, provide a case type, filing date, and location. To obtain plain or certified copies of civil court records, please submit a Court Records Request Form online for a fee. Provide sufficient information that may help locate the record. Copies ordered will be delivered by email, mail, or in person. The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) also provides paid subscription-based access to judgment dockets and the official register of actions from circuit courts.
    • Phone or Email: Individuals who wish to obtain copies of civil case documents without a raised seal may submit a request via email. Some courts also provide civil case information over the phone.
    • Clerk of Court offices: Individuals may request to inspect or copy civil court case files at the court clerk's counter in each court in Oregon. Paper copies of civil court records cost $0.25 per page, while certified copies cost $5 plus a per-page copy charge.
    • On-site public access terminals: Each circuit court in Oregon has public access terminals that requesters may use to view civil court records without charges. However, printing documents from the terminal attracts a copy fee.

    Types of Civil Cases Filed in Oregon Courts

    Below are the most common civil case types filed in Oregon:

    • Domestic relations: These civil cases include divorce, unmarried parents, child support, separation, child custody, and parenting time. Oregon circuit courts are the custodians of domestic relations cases.
    • Contract disputes: These civil cases arise when a person alleges that another person has failed to honor the terms of a legally binding agreement or contract. Examples are breach of contract, failure to deliver goods or services, nonpayment, or disagreements over contract interpretation. Oregon circuit courts handle contract disputes.
    • Torts: Civil cases involving wrongful acts or omissions that cause harm or injury to another person, property, or reputation. Torts are filed at the circuit court.
    • Property disputes: Civil cases involving disagreements over the ownership, use, boundaries, or rights to real or personal property. For example, boundary disputes, easement conflicts, property damage, or claims of unlawful possession. Property disputes are filed with the circuit courts.
    • Landlord-tenant matters: This relates to legal disputes or cases between a landlord and a tenant. Such cases are handled by the civil department in circuit courts.
    • Probate:This civil case type deals with estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trusts. Circuit courts in Oregon have probate departments that handle probate cases.
    • Small claims: These are cases filed with a circuit court to resolve disputes without a lawyer where the amount claimed is $10,000 or less. Some counties handle small claims through their justice courts, while other counties handle them through their circuit courts.

    Information Captured in Oregon Civil Court Files

    Civil court files are accessible at the circuit court where the case was handled. These files include various civil filings (such as complaints, motions, and notices) as well as documents generated during the proceedings (including judgments and final orders). Most civil court records capture the following information:

    • Case information (case number, court, case status, filing date, case title, and case type)
    • Party (plaintiff's name, defendant's name, and attorneys' names)
    • Disposition events (judgment date, judicial officer's name, judgment type, and monetary award)
    • Events and hearing (hearing date and time, comment, and events)
    • Financial (financial assessments, payments and credits, receipt number, amount, and date)

    Retention and Archiving of Civil Court Records in Oregon

    According to the Oregon Records Retention Rule, civil court records in which a final judgment or order has been entered and the appeal period has passed are exempt from long-term retention. After a civil case and any appeals are resolved, and a period of inactivity has passed, the court may permanently remove documents that have no ongoing legal, financial, or administrative effect. However, some civil documents, such as judgments, final orders, orders modifying judgments, satisfactions, and preliminary records purge orders, must be retained because they represent the official and legally significant parts of the civil case. These documents are referred to as "WOLFE records" and are kept for much longer periods, often decades or permanently. Oregon courts are allowed to delete non-WOLFE records earlier than WOLFE records, as long as retention rules are followed.

    Below are the timeframes for some civil court records in Oregon:

    • Name change documents are permanent and may be sent to the Oregon State Archives 3 years after the last document entry in the register of actions.
    • Small claims, part of the WOLFE records, are retained for 10 years, while all other records are kept for 1 year.
    • Adoption records are permanent and may be relinquished to the Oregon State Archives 18 years after the entry of a final judgment or final order.
    • Forcible entry and detainer (FED) and the return of a tenant's personal property are part of the WOLFE records, which are retained for 10 years; all other records are kept for one year.
    • All other civil documents, such as complaints, petitions, or other initiating instruments, as well as final judgments or final orders not specified in Section 2.2 of the Oregon Records Retention Rule, part of the WOLFE records, are retained for 75 years. Non-WOLFE records are retained for a period of three years.
    • WOLFE records of most domestic relations are kept for 75 years, while non-WOLFE records are kept for 3 years. Non-WOLFE records of abuse prevention documents are kept for 5 years.
    • WOLFE records of mental health documents are kept for 75 years, but non-WOLFE records are kept for 5 years.
    • Probate records, part of the WOLFE records, are permanent and retained by the court until the Oregon State Archives is willing to accept them. Those that are non-WOLFE records are kept for 10 years. Wills deposited with the court for safekeeping are kept for 75 years.

    References and Official Resources

    Below is a list of official resources and agencies responsible for governing and managing civil court records in Oregon:

    • County Clerk of Court directory: Find the address of the circuit court in the county where the case was heard, and visit the court in person to submit a request.
    • Online Records Search Portal: This tool returns civil case information without charges when users enter a name or record number in the appropriate search box.
    • Public access terminals: All circuit courts in Oregon offer terminals where members of the public may view civil court records at no cost.
    • Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN): This is a paid subscription resource that allows individuals to access civil cases handled in circuit and appellate courts.
    • Self-Help Center: Offers free information and resources to individuals involved in civil cases.