Oregon Court Records: Where They Actually Live and How to Request Them

You searched a name, found a docket number, and hit a wall when the document you need wasn't clickable. In Oregon, court records are split across a few official systems and offices, and what you see depends on which door you use. Here is how the Oregon Judicial Department stores trial, appellate, and Tax Court files, where historical case files were moved, and the exact steps and fees to request copies, certifications, audio, or transcripts.

What counts as an Oregon "court record," and where is it kept?

At the trial level, Oregon's 36 circuit courts and the Oregon Tax Court keep their registers of actions and judgment dockets in the Oregon eCourt Case Information system, commonly called OECI. For the public, free "basic case information" and daily calendars are available online and at courthouses; the official register for circuit and Tax Court cases lives in OECI and is considered the court's record of events.

Appellate case files for the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court are managed in the Appellate Case Management System, or ACMS. The appellate courts also maintain a dedicated Appellate Court Records Section that fulfills copy and certification requests for those two courts. As of today, anonymous users can search public appellate cases and view the register of actions in ACMS without an account; attorneys of record receive additional access tied to their bar information.

Older and non-current records may not be at the courthouse where the case was heard. Oregon's State Archives in Salem stores historical county and state court records that have been transferred for permanent preservation, including many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century case files and microfilm. The Archives operates by appointment at 800 Summer St NE, Salem. The reference room is open 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding state holidays.

Finally, municipal courts and justice courts are separate from the state circuit courts. Their records are not in OECI. For example, the Eugene Municipal Court maintains its own records unit and online docket lookup; requests for those files go to that court, not to a state circuit court clerk.

Which system should you search first, and what do you get for free?

Before paying for a subscription or placing a copy order, most people begin with the free tools the courts already provide. Every circuit court maintains at least one public access terminal in its records lobby where you can view case registers at no charge and identify exact document titles and filing dates. Marion County Circuit Court lists six public terminals in its downtown courthouse lobby, with free viewing hours from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. You can write down the precise document name and date from the register before submitting a copy request.

For online research beyond the basic calendar and case-title search, Oregon offers two distinct paths. First, the ACMS public portal lets any user search appellate cases and read the register of actions without charge. Second, to see more than "basic case information" for trial-level cases and to view many document images, you can subscribe to OJCIN Online (the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network). OJCIN includes both OECI and ACMS under one login and is designed for frequent users.

What do copies cost, and how do certifications work?

Copy fees are governed by statewide Chief Justice Orders and local court practices. Two statewide rules matter for most requests. First, there is a per-request handling charge for regular copies from circuit court files, commonly $3.00 per case request plus $0.25 per page for printing. Multnomah County Circuit Court's published fee sheet uses that structure and waives the charge for very small requests, which leads to the second rule: under a Chief Justice Order, copy orders totaling less than $5.00 are processed at no charge in participating courts.

When you need a certified copy for an agency or recording office, Oregon courts add a fixed certification fee of $5.00 on top of the per-page cost. An exemplified copy (sometimes called a triple certification) adds $10.00 on top of per-page charges and includes additional signatures by court officials. Marion County Circuit Court publishes the full menu: standard copies at $3.00 + $0.25 per page, certified copies at $5.00 + $0.25 per page, and exemplified copies at $10.00 + $0.25 per page for paper documents; electronic certified copies can be issued under statewide order and are priced per request rather than per page.

Appellate records have their own fee page. The Appellate Courts list $5.00 for an official certificate or certification, plus $0.25 per page for paper copies. If you are ordering from the Appellate Courts Records Section, use their published form and contact the office if you do not have an exact case number; the section lists a 503-986-5555 phone line and an [email protected] email for assistance with identifying documents before billing.

Practical comparison you won't see in a generic search: if the only thing you need is a one-page judgment or register printout to show a dismissal, the "under $5.00 free" rule can make an in-person or email copy request to a circuit court records unit the cheapest route. Subscribing to OJCIN Online involves the $170 setup cost and an ongoing monthly fee, which only makes economic sense if you need regular access or document images that the public terminals do not provide.

How do I request audio or a transcript, and what do those cost?

Oregon trial courts generally record proceedings using the For The Record (FTR) system. Many courts will sell you an audio copy if the case type is not restricted by law. Local fee schedules vary slightly:

• Multnomah County Circuit Court lists FTR audio at $10.00 per case, ordered through the records department on the third floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Room 3315, Portland. Walk-in counter hours are 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
• Clackamas County Circuit Court lists $10.00 for an electronic audio copy and $11.00 for a compact disc, charged per request/hearing/day. The court asks for up to 10 business days to fulfill the request and accepts in-person payment at its Public Service Center at 1000 Courthouse Rd, Oregon City.
• For the appellate courts, the published miscellaneous fees list a recording of a judicial proceeding at $9.00 if delivered electronically, or $10.00 on compact disc, with other delivery media billed at actual cost.

If you need a written transcript for an appeal or a motion, the trial court's records office will typically refer you to a roster of outside approved transcribers. As one example, Jackson County Circuit Court notes that transcripts are prepared by outside transcribers and that the records office can provide a list. Transcription is billed by the transcriber, not by the court, and the timeline depends on case length and the transcriber's workload.

Where did older case files go, and how do I use the State Archives?

When county or state courts transfer inactive or permanent records, the destination is usually the Oregon State Archives in Salem. The Archives maintains original paper case files, microfilm, and published volumes for many historical courts. One example from their holdings guide is Divorce Case Files, Circuit Court, 1861-1920 among other nineteenth- and early twentieth-century series. Researchers can search the Oregon Historical Records Index from home, then request file pulls by email, or book an appointment to review the files in person.

The Archives requires a quick registration and a valid photo ID on your first visit. As of now, the reference room is by appointment during weekday business hours, and self-service photocopies are priced at $0.25 per page. Archives staff can also fulfill remote requests; fees for research time and special media are published in Oregon Administrative Rules. If a file you need was microfilmed and transferred, staff can usually retrieve the reel from on-site storage or the Security Copy Depository and provide copies at the posted per-page rates.

One practical distinction: the State Archives cannot issue a "current certified copy" from a live court case file. If you need a certified or exemplified copy for a legal filing today, that request must go to the court that currently holds the case record or, for appellate matters, the Appellate Courts Records Section. The Archives can provide reference copies and scans from historical files, but it is not the certifying custodian for ongoing court dockets.

What if the court file is restricted, or the case isn't in OECI at all?

OJD's online search tools and courthouse terminals do not display certain case types and filings that are confidential by statute. Juvenile dependency and delinquency matters, adoption files, mental health commitment records, and sealed items will not appear or will display with limited information. Audio of juvenile cases is also restricted and requires identity verification to request.

Separate courts maintain their own records. If a citation or charge was filed in a municipal court, you will not find the case in OECI. For example, the Eugene Municipal Court runs its own records unit and publishes a policy for requesting court documents through a city public-records process. It also offers an online docket lookup specific to that court. Justice courts likewise maintain their own files, separate from the OJD circuit courts.

Federal cases are outside Oregon's state-court systems. Records from the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon are accessed through the federal judiciary's PACER service or in person at the federal clerk's office. The subscription and fee model there is different from OJCIN.

How to place a request that gets filled on the first try

Identify the correct custodian first

Decide whether your case is a circuit court, Tax Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, municipal court, or justice court matter. For circuit and Tax Court cases, confirm the case number in OECI at a courthouse terminal or through the basic online search. For appellate matters, confirm the appellate case number in ACMS.

Use the right request form and include exact details

OJD publishes a statewide Records Request form that circuit courts accept by email, mail, or in person. The appellate courts publish a separate Appellate Record Request form. Every request should list the case number, the exact document title, and the filing date as shown on the register. If you are unsure of the exact document or number in an appellate case, the Appellate Courts Records Section answers identification questions at 503-986-5555 or by email at [email protected] before you submit payment.

Choose the delivery and certification you actually need

Oregon courts can provide regular copies, certified copies, and exemplified copies. Certified copies carry a $5.00 certificate fee plus per-page charges. Exemplified copies carry a $10.00 add-on plus per-page charges. Under a statewide order, many courts can issue an electronically certified copy that is delivered by email; check with the receiving agency to confirm that this format is accepted for your purpose before you choose it.

Expect and budget for the correct fee structure

Across Oregon circuit courts, a common pattern is $3.00 per case request for regular copies plus $0.25 per page for printing, with $5.00 per document for certification. Multnomah County publishes an "orders under $5.00 are free" note consistent with a statewide Chief Justice Order; Marion County posts the same base charges and lists exemplified copies at $10.00 plus per-page. For audio, Multnomah lists $10.00 per case, Clackamas lists $10.00 electronic and $11.00 CD per hearing day, and the appellate courts list $9.00 electronic and $10.00 CD. These are stable, posted fees rather than volatile marketplace prices.

Examples from actual counters and offices

Multnomah County Circuit Court Records serves walk-in customers 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, at the Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Room 3315, Portland. Its sheet lists $3.00 per request plus $0.25/page for printed copies and notes that orders under $5.00 are free. Audio is $10.00 per case. Certified and exemplified options are available.

Marion County Circuit Court Records lists six public terminals for free viewing and posts copy charges of $3.00 plus $0.25/page for standard paper copies, $5.00 plus per-page for certified copies, and $10.00 plus per-page for exemplified copies. The office accepts in-person, mail, and email requests, and the lobby is open for viewing from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Clackamas County Circuit Court Records prices FTR audio at $10.00 if delivered electronically and $11.00 on CD, per hearing day, with payment accepted by phone, mail, or at the Public Service Center cashier at 1000 Courthouse Rd, Oregon City. The office asks requesters to allow about 10 business days for fulfillment.

Appellate Courts Records Section fulfills Supreme Court and Court of Appeals copy orders, lists $5.00 certification and $0.25/page copy charges, and provides identification help by phone at 503-986-5555. Anonymous users can search appellate registers for free before ordering.

Oregon State Archives operates by appointment in Salem, with reference-room hours 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Self-service photocopies are $0.25/page, and staff can retrieve microfilm or case files for on-site use. Historical court files are available for copying but are not issued as current certified court copies.

Key things to know

• The official register for circuit and Tax Court cases lives in OECI; appellate registers live in ACMS. Both are searchable without charge in limited ways, but document images generally require an OJCIN Online subscription or a one-off copy order.
• OJCIN Online charges a $170 one-time setup fee and monthly tiers such as $36 for general access with no documents or $117 for access that includes documents.
• Common circuit-court copy pricing is $3.00 per request plus $0.25/page; certification adds $5.00, and exemplification adds $10.00. Many courts waive charges when the total is under $5.00.
• Audio copies of hearings are available in many courts: examples include Multnomah at $10.00 per case and Clackamas at $10.00 electronic or $11.00 CD per hearing day. The Appellate Courts list $9.00 for electronic recordings.
• Marion County's records lobby lists six public terminals with free viewing hours 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-5:00 p.m. Multnomah's walk-in records counter runs 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on weekdays.
• The Oregon State Archives reference room is by appointment in Salem with 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. hours; self-service copies are $0.25/page. Archives copies are not a substitute for a current certified court copy.
• If your case is in a municipal court or justice court, request records from that court. Those files are not in the state's OECI system.

Reader Q&A

Can I view a simple case outcome without paying for OJCIN Online?

Yes. Each circuit court provides free public terminals where you can read the register of actions, and OJD's online tools show basic case information and calendars at no charge. Appellate registers are also searchable without an account in the appellate portal. If you later need a one- or two-page copy, many courts process orders under $5.00 at no cost.

Are municipal court cases (like Eugene or Beaverton) in OECI?

No. Municipal courts and justice courts maintain their own systems and records. For example, the Eugene Municipal Court has its own records request process and online docket lookup. To obtain those records, you contact the municipal court directly rather than a state circuit court records unit.

Can a certified copy be emailed to me?

Often, yes. Under a statewide Chief Justice Order, courts can electronically certify and email certain filings. Multnomah County's records page specifically references electronic certification. Always confirm that the receiving agency accepts electronically certified copies before choosing that delivery method.

Where do I get old case files that aren't in the courthouse anymore?

Historical case files transferred from courts are held by the Oregon State Archives in Salem. The reference room is by appointment on weekdays, and self-service copies cost $0.25 per page. For a certified or exemplified copy needed for a current legal purpose, request it from the court that is the official custodian, not from the Archives.

To narrow your next step, decide whether you only need to verify a result or you need a certified document. For quick verification, use a courthouse terminal or the appellate public portal; for a record you must file or record elsewhere, place a targeted copy order with the right court and request certification only if the receiving office requires it.

Published: September 25, 2026 · Reviewed by the State Of Oregon editorial team