Oregon Small Claims Court: Limits, Fees, Forms, and Where to File
How small claims works in Oregon: the limit, filing fee, forms, where to file, and the basic steps. Checked 2026-10-24.
Checked against official court sources, updated October 2026.
Quick answer: Every Oregon circuit court has a small claims department, with one statewide process. You can sue for up to $10,000; claims of $750 or less generally must be filed there. Filing costs $57 for $2,500 or less and $102 above that. Lawyers can't take part in the hearing without the judge's consent, and there's no appeal. Check your court's rules.
Filing in Oregon? See a filled-in sample first.
Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of Oregon's Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim, using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
How does small claims court work in Oregon?
Oregon has one small claims process statewide. Every circuit court has a small claims department (ORS 46.405). The limits, the claim form, and the filing fees are the same everywhere. What changes locally is the courthouse, whether that court requires mediation, and what the sheriff or process server charges.
Official sources are listed under Sources below.
How much can I sue for in Oregon?
Up to $10,000. Claims of $750 or less generally must be filed in small claims. Between $750 and $10,000 you can choose small claims or the regular circuit court. You can add up amounts from more than one transaction, as long as the total stays at $10,000 or less.
Class actions can't be filed in small claims, and there's no attachment.
Who can sue in Oregon small claims?
- Any person or business. You must state under oath that you made a good-faith effort to collect from the defendant before filing.
- Unlike many states, Oregon lets someone who was assigned a claim file it.
- Debt buyers have extra rules (UTCR 5.180 and ORS 646A.670), and the claim form has a checkbox for them.
Sources: ORS chapter 46; Small Claims Instructions for Plaintiffs (January 2026). Checked 2026-10-24.
Where do I file a small claim in Oregon?
In the county where at least one defendant lives or can be found. For an injury or damage claim, you can also file where it happened. If the defendant agreed to do the work in a particular county, you can also file there (ORS 46.560). In a few places a justice court may handle small claims instead of the circuit court, by agreement between the courts (ORS 46.405(6)); check your court's rules.
How much does it cost to file?
A plaintiff pays $57 for a claim of $2,500 or less and $102 for more than $2,500. A defendant who asks for a hearing pays the same amounts.
| Who | Amount claimed | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Plaintiff | $2,500 or less | $57 |
| Plaintiff | More than $2,500 | $102 |
| Defendant who asks for a hearing | Claim of $2,500 or less | $57 |
| Defendant who asks for a hearing | Claim of more than $2,500 | $102 |
| Sheriff or process server | Check your court's rules | Check your court's rules |
If you can't afford the fee, you can file a Fee Deferral or Waiver Application. Source: Oregon Circuit Court Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, checked 2026-10-24.
What forms do I need in Oregon?
Start the case with the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim. Itemize your money damages instead of giving one lump sum, and include the filing fee in the amount you ask for. Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim (PDF). Read the plaintiff instructions first.
How do I file a small claim in Oregon?
Fill out the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim, file it with the circuit court clerk, pay the fee, and serve every defendant.
- Try to collect from the defendant first. You'll swear that you did.
- Fill out the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim (PDF), and the defendant's response forms with the names filled in.
- File with the circuit court clerk and pay the fee.
- Serve every defendant and file proof of service. The court's instructions say a case can be dismissed without notice if proof of service isn't filed within 63 days of filing.
- The defendant has 30 days after service to pay, ask for a hearing, or ask for a jury if the claim is over $750.
- Many courts send the case to mediation first. If it doesn't settle, the clerk sets a trial.
Ready to do these steps yourself?
Easy to miss: itemize your money damages instead of giving one lump sum, and include the filing fee in the amount you ask for. The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one, with a filled-in sample of the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim and every box explained, plus your Oregon Playbook section: a step-by-step filing walkthrough (made-up example), an Oregon small claims checklist, the timeline and deadlines, what happens if the defendant asks for a jury, what to expect at your hearing, and collecting a judgment.
You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
Can a business sue in Oregon small claims?
Businesses use the same court, limits, form, and fees. A business that isn't a person can appear without a lawyer (ORS 46.415(5)). On the claim, a company uses its full corporate name. A partnership or sole proprietorship names the owners "dba" the business name.
| Who | Who can appear without a lawyer |
|---|---|
| Spouses who are both parties | One spouse can appear for both, with the other's written consent |
| Who | Who can appear for it without a lawyer |
|---|---|
| Corporation, LLC or other business | Can appear without a lawyer (ORS 46.415(5)); who may appear for it: check your court's rules. |
Which court handles small claims in my Oregon county?
In every Oregon county, you file with the small claims department of the circuit court in a county where a defendant lives or can be found, or where an injury or damage happened. Some of Oregon's larger counties:
- Multnomah County
- Washington County
- Clackamas County
- Lane County
- Marion County
- Jackson County
- Deschutes County
- Linn County
- Douglas County
- Yamhill County
Next step
- Confirm the county where a defendant lives or can be found.
- Get the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim.
- Plan how you'll serve every defendant.
Know your next step? Next, get your proof in order.
You can present your own case. The Playbook's exhibit-label guide and hearing-day outline help you put your documents in order and explain them clearly, step by step. General legal information, not advice about your case.
Oregon small claims FAQ
Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Oregon?
No. Lawyers can't take part in the hearing without the judge's consent, and a business can appear without a lawyer.
How long does the defendant have to respond in Oregon small claims?
30 days after service to pay the claim, ask for a hearing, or ask for a jury if the claim is over $750.
Can I appeal an Oregon small claims judgment?
No. A small claims judgment is final, and no appeal may be taken (ORS 46.485(4)).
Related guides
Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).
Sources
- ORS chapter 46 (checked 2026-10-24)
- Oregon Circuit Court Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026 (PDF) (checked 2026-10-24)
- Small Claims Instructions for Plaintiffs (PDF) (checked 2026-10-24)
- Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim (PDF) (checked 2026-10-24)
- Oregon Judicial Department: Small Claims forms (checked 2026-10-24)
What's in the Oregon Playbook section
- How to file a small claim in Oregon, step by step (made-up example)
- Oregon small claims checklist
- Oregon small claims timeline and deadlines
- If the defendant asks for a jury
- What to expect at your Oregon small claims hearing
- Collecting after you win in Oregon
- Common mistakes and a printable checklist
You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.
This page covers the Oregon rules. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim, your Oregon Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. Every state and DC has a filled-in sample claim (for Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming it's a sample layout we made, so you'd get the real form from the court clerk). One membership covers every state.
Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.
Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.