Clatsop County Court Records Search

Clatsop County occupies the northwestern corner of Oregon where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, and its court system reflects a mix of state circuit court jurisdiction and several active municipal courts spread across the coastal communities of Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Gearhart. Whether you are conducting legal research, verifying a case outcome, tracing a property chain of title, or obtaining a certified copy of a vital record, understanding where records are held and how to request them is the practical first step.

Court records in Clatsop County originate from criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law matters, and probate proceedings, all of which are governed at the state level by the Oregon Judicial Department. Those records are maintained by the circuit court clerk and, for land and marriage documents, by the Clatsop County Clerk. Each office has distinct procedures, fees, and access rules that are outlined in the sections below.

Court Search Introduction:

Residents and researchers looking to locate Clatsop County case information have several official channels available to them. The Oregon Judicial Department operates public access tools that cover circuit courts statewide, including free case searches and a subscription-based system for deeper document retrieval. OregonCourts.us can serve as a starting point to orient yourself before reaching out to the clerk’s office directly. Records can also be searched at the physical public terminal in the courthouse lobby, requested by phone or email, or accessed remotely through the state’s online portals, all of which are described in detail below.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Clatsop County?

The Clatsop County Circuit Court is the primary repository for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate case records in the county. It sits in the 18th Judicial District of Oregon and is presided over by three elected judges: Presiding Judge Beau Peterson, Judge Dawn McIntosh, and Judge Kirk Wintermute.

Court Location and Contact

Detail	Information
Address	749 Commercial Street, Astoria, OR 97103
Mailing Address	P.O. Box 835, Astoria, OR 97103
Phone	(503) 325-8555
Fax	(503) 325-8677
Customer Service Windows	Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phones	Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Note that the court closes from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month for an internal team meeting.

Online Case Search Options

There are two primary online tools for finding Clatsop County case information:

• Free OJD Case Search: The Oregon Judicial Department’s OJD Records and Calendar Search provides free public access to basic case details, court calendars, and the register of actions for circuit court cases, Tax Court cases, and appellate proceedings. You can run a Smart Search by party name or case number, or use advanced filters to narrow results.
• OJCIN OnLine (Subscription): For researchers and legal professionals who need more comprehensive case documents and history, the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) OnLine is a low-cost subscription service covering all 36 Oregon circuit courts. Once subscribed, you can filter results specifically to Clatsop County using the county drop-down. The OJCIN FAQs manual explains registration and usage.

In-Person Access

A public computer terminal is available in the courthouse lobby. Court documents from cases filed after 2009 can be viewed on that terminal at no cost. For cases predating 2009, or when you need personal copies of any document, a records request form must be completed and submitted. You can submit that form in person, by phone, or by email. Most requests are fulfilled within five business days. The court can provide paper copies, emailed PDFs, audio recordings of hearings in MP3 or FTR format, certified copies, and exemplified copies.

Municipal Courts

Beyond the circuit court, four municipal courts handle traffic offenses and minor ordinance violations within their respective city limits:

• Astoria Municipal Court — 1095 Duane Street, Astoria, OR 97103 | (503) 325-3939
• Cannon Beach Municipal Court — 163 East Gower Street, P.O. Box 368, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 | (503) 436-2046
• Gearhart Municipal Court — 698 Pacific Way, P.O. Box 2510, Gearhart, OR 97138 | (503) 738-5501
• Seaside Municipal Court — 989 Broadway, Seaside, OR 97138 | (503) 738-5511

Are Court Records Public in Clatsop County?

Oregon’s Public Records Law, codified primarily under ORS Chapter 192, establishes the default rule that government records — including court records — are open to any member of the public, regardless of citizenship or residency. Custodians of those records are legally obligated to respond to requests without unreasonable delay, and requesters are entitled to inspect or receive copies upon payment of any applicable fees.

However, the law identifies categories of records that are exempt from routine public disclosure. For Clatsop County court records, the most relevant exemptions include:

• Juvenile case records — sealed by statute to protect minors
• Adoption proceedings — confidential under Oregon law
• Mental health commitment records — restricted from general public access
• Cases filed under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) — protected to ensure victim safety
• Active criminal investigation materials — withheld until the investigation concludes or charges are resolved
• Trade secrets and certain personal financial information — conditionally exempt

When a record falls into an exempt category, a court may still exercise discretion to release it if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the privacy interest at stake. Requesters who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek review from the Oregon Attorney General’s office or pursue relief in circuit court under ORS 192.

For the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office specifically, body-worn camera footage is conditionally exempt from disclosure under ORS 192.345(40) and is not released unless the public interest requires it. When such footage is released, faces of all persons within the recording must be rendered unidentifiable prior to disclosure.

Fees for most county public records requests start at $25.00 for a basic request. More complex requests are priced according to the Clatsop County Fee Schedule, with specific rates beginning on page 25 of that document. Payment is accepted in exact cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (with a $2.00 processing fee for card transactions).

Clatsop County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases — including felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic offenses — are filed and adjudicated in the Clatsop County Circuit Court. The circuit court case record includes charging documents, motions, minute entries, sentencing orders, and any judgments entered. Those records are part of the publicly searchable case database for cases opened after 2009.

To search for a criminal case online, use the OJD’s free case search tool or subscribe to OJCIN OnLine for access to the underlying documents. For older cases or certified copies, submit a completed records request form to the circuit court.

Sheriff’s Office Criminal Records

The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office maintains incident reports and arrest records separately from the circuit court. To request a copy of a Sheriff’s Office report, submit a public records request through the county’s NextRequest portal. Important procedural notes:

• If criminal charges have been filed, the report will not be released until the case has been closed or adjudicated.
• Child abuse reports are governed by ORS 419B.035 and may only be released by the Oregon Department of Human Services; a court order or subpoena may be required.
• Body-worn camera footage is exempt from routine disclosure under ORS 192.345 and requires a specific request identifying the approximate date and time of the incident.

The Clatsop County Jail Roster is publicly accessible online and provides information on individuals currently lodged in the county jail.

Arrest Records

Arrest records are maintained by Clatsop County law enforcement agencies rather than the circuit court clerk. For court-entered matters, including arraignment dates and criminal case status, the online case search portal is the most efficient starting point.

Clatsop County Civil Court Records

The Clatsop County Circuit Court handles all civil matters within its general jurisdiction, including personal injury claims, contract disputes, property disputes, small claims cases, and landlord-tenant matters. Civil case filings, pleadings, orders, and judgments are part of the court’s public record and are searchable through the OJD free portal for cases after 2009.

Filing Fees

Oregon circuit court fees are established by statute under ORS Chapter 21. The Oregon Judicial Department’s fee schedule page provides the current statewide schedule with statutory citations for each fee category. Fee deferral or waiver is available to qualifying individuals; the application packet can be downloaded from the Fee Deferral and Waiver page.

Small Claims

Small claims cases in Clatsop County are handled through the circuit court’s small claims department. Oregon law caps small claims at $10,000. Filing fees are $37 for claims at or below $2,500 and $50 for claims between $2,501 and $10,000. Parties in small claims court typically represent themselves without attorneys.

Requesting Civil Case Documents

To obtain copies of civil case documents, parties and members of the public may:

1. Use the free online portal to identify the case number and specific documents needed.
2. Submit the records request form online, by phone at (503) 325-8555, or in person at the courthouse.
3. Await fulfillment within the court’s standard five-business-day window.

For court calendars, including civil hearing schedules, the Oregon eCourt Circuit Court Calendars page provides free public access.

Land and Property Records

Land records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are not held by the circuit court but by the Clatsop County Clerk’s Records Division. Documents from 1995 to the present can be searched online through the Clatsop County Records Search portal at no cost. Viewing records at the clerk’s public terminal in the second-floor office at 820 Exchange Street, Astoria is also free of charge. Copies of recorded documents are available per the current fee schedule.

For requests by mail, send the completed Records Research/Copy Request Form with payment to:

Clatsop County Clerk
Suite 220
820 Exchange Street
Astoria, OR 97103

Email requests can be submitted to clerk@clatsopcounty.gov with payment by credit or debit card.

Clatsop County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Clatsop County — including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody, child support, parenting time, domestic violence restraining orders, and adoption — are filed with and adjudicated by the Clatsop County Circuit Court. The court’s probate and family law division can be reached directly by emailing CLT.Probate.Clatsop@ojd.state.or.us.

Divorce Records

Dissolution of marriage cases are part of the circuit court’s civil record and generally accessible to the public. However, because divorce decrees frequently contain sensitive financial disclosures, certain exhibits or attachments may be sealed by court order. Certified copies of divorce records can also be obtained from the Oregon Vital Statistics Office for decrees that have been registered with the state.

Divorce records in Clatsop County that are fewer than 50 years old are accessible only to the parties named in the proceeding, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Records more than 50 years old are generally open to the public.

Marriage Licenses

Marriage licenses are issued by the Clatsop County Clerk, not the circuit court. Applicants must:

1. Complete the Marriage License Application online (available in English and Spanish).
2. Schedule an appointment at the Clerk’s office to finalize the application in person. The appointment takes approximately 20 minutes.
3. Bring a valid photo ID and the applicable fee.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Medical examinations and blood tests are not required. Out-of-state applicants may contact the Clerk’s office by phone at (503) 325-8511 or by email at clerk@clatsopcounty.gov to complete the process by mail if necessary. A three-day waiting period waiver is available if needed and requires an in-person appointment.

Marriage records become fully public 50 years after the marriage date. Prior to that threshold, access is limited to the couple, their immediate family, and their legal representatives. Eligible individuals may submit document requests through the Clatsop County Clerk’s online recorded document request form, or contact the clerk’s office in person, by mail, or by email.

Domestic Violence and Protective Orders

Domestic violence restraining orders and other protective proceedings are handled through the circuit court. These records may be subject to access restrictions depending on the nature of the case, particularly when filed under the federal Violence Against Women Act.

Birth and Death Records

Certified copies of birth and death certificates for events occurring within Clatsop County within the past six months are available from the Clatsop County Public Health Department. Each certificate costs $25.00. For events that occurred more than six months ago or outside the county, contact the State of Oregon Vital Records through the Oregon Health Authority. Birth records carry a 100-year access restriction, and death records carry a 50-year restriction.

Clatsop County Probate Court Records

Probate proceedings in Oregon are heard in the circuit court. The Clatsop County Circuit Court’s probate division handles matters including:

• Decedent estate administration (testate and intestate)
• Will contests and will probate
• Guardianships of incapacitated adults
• Conservatorships
• Protective proceedings

Probate records are generally public under Oregon’s Public Records Law, with the same exceptions that apply to other civil records. However, records containing juvenile information or those sealed by court order are restricted from public access.

Searching Probate Records

Probate case information for cases filed after 2009 can be located through the OJD free online case search by searching the party’s name or case number. Older probate records — Clatsop County’s probate files date back to 1880, with marriage records from 1860 and court records from 1875 — may require an in-person visit to the courthouse or a formal written records request.

To request probate documents, contact the circuit court by phone at (503) 325-8555, email the probate division at CLT.Probate.Clatsop@ojd.state.or.us, or visit the court at 749 Commercial Street, Astoria during customer service window hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Use the OJD’s records request form when requesting personal copies or accessing older case files.

Fees and Self-Help

Circuit court filing fees for probate actions are governed by ORS 21.300, which sets, for example, a $263 filing fee for adoption petitions. For other probate matters, consult the Oregon Judicial Department’s current circuit court fee schedule, which lists each action with its statutory authority. Fee deferral applications are available through the court for those who qualify. Self-represented individuals navigating probate can access Oregon Judicial Department forms and guidance through the OJD iForms and Guide & File tool, which supports filing in certain case types without an attorney.

For property-related probate matters such as estate deeds, the Clatsop County Clerk’s Records Division handles recorded instruments and can assist with locating relevant land records through the county’s online records portal or in person at 820 Exchange Street, Suite 220, Astoria.