Clackamas County Court Records
In Clackamas County, a court record is defined as any documentation generated or preserved by the court regarding a legal case filed in the county. Per Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 7.110, court clerks or Trial Court Administrators are the primary custodians of these records, retaining them as mandated by law and facilitating access when required.
Court records are vital instruments for ensuring the transparency and accountability of the judiciary. These formal accounts of case activities offer crucial insight into events and resulting outcomes. Consequently, they are frequently consulted for a variety of purposes, including researching legal precedents, tracing the development of law, and investigating any outstanding legal duties owed to a specific person.
Court records in Clackamas County include a variety of documents from legal proceedings, such as pleadings, motions, and verdicts. It is also common for these records to also contain public documents maintained by other official entities, particularly when such documents are used to support a claim or argument. These external records may include birth certificates, land documents, tax information, and forensic reports.
Are Clackamas County Court Records Public?
Yes. Oregon’s Public Records Law bestows the statutory right of access to governmental records, including court records, on members of the public. Any person requesting a Clackamas County court record is not required to identify themselves or state their purpose for requesting the documents. However, the public’s access is limited to the extent the law designates, as certain records are exempt under ORS 192.345, ORS 192.355, other Oregon statutes, federal laws/regulations, or by court order. Some examples include
- Medical or similar records
- Sealed records
- Juvenile records
- Trade secrets
- Adoption files
- Financial statements
What Information is Available in Clackamas County Court Records?
Typical information captured in Clackamas County court records includes
- Party names
- Attorney of record details
- Case number
- Court name and division
- Hearing dates and locations
- Filing date
- Assigned judge or judicial officer
- Final disposition date
In addition, court records also include various documents filed during legal proceedings, such as pleadings, judgments, motions, verdicts, warrants, interrogatories, transcripts, notices, and orders. The precise set of case documents found in a court file generally varies by the case type.
Clackamas County Court Records Search
A Clackamas County court records search retrieves records/information pertaining to cases heard by the Clackamas County courts. The documents can be accessed as follows:
- Online Access: Members of the public can utilize the OJD (Oregon Judicial Department) Records and Calendar Search or the OJCIN (Oregon Judicial Case Information Network) Online portal to look up Clackamas County court records on the internet.
These systems are mostly accessible by party name or case number. However, while the Records and Calendar Search is free to view court calendars and basic case information, users of the OJCIN Online portal must have an active subscriber account. More details are available on the OJCIN Online homepage.
Additionally, individuals can submit a Copy Request Form online to obtain copies of court records from the Clackamas County Circuit Court.
-
In-Person Access: In-person visits at the presiding
courthouse (where a legal matter was filed) may be used to obtain Clackamas
County court records. At the courthouse, individuals can stop by the clerk
of court or the Trial Court Administrator’s office to request record
inspection or document copies. It should be noted that public terminals may
also be available to review records at no charge, but charges may apply to
retrieve copies.
- Mail and Phone Requests: Mail-in procedures for obtaining Clackamas County court records vary by the court that maintains the records. As such, it is recommended to find the applicable procedures by contacting the relevant clerk or the Trial Court Administrator’s office. Nonetheless, parties will most likely need to submit a written request, a fee paid by check or money order, and an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to the courthouse.
Also, to inquire about the option of requesting Clackamas County court records by phone, one can reach out directly to the appropriate clerk or administrator’s office.
Fees for Court Records in Clackamas County
The total amount payable for obtaining copies of court records in Clackamas County varies based on several factors, such as the presiding court, the volume of the request, and the document format/type.
For example, the following fees apply to obtain circuit court records in Clackamas unless the requesting party qualifies for a fee waiver:
- Photocopy: 25 cents per page
- Certified Copy: $5, plus the per-page copy charge
- Exemplified Copy: $10, plus the per-page copy charge
Other applicable costs are specified on the OJD’s Records Request website.
It should be noted that courts in Clackamas County are not the custodians of vital records. Individuals seeking birth or death certificates can inquire at the Clackamas County Public Health Department (for events within the past 6 months) or the Oregon Health Authority (for events more than 6 months old).
It costs $25 to order a birth/death certificate from the Clackamas County Public Health Department. Fees for vital records maintained by the Oregon Health Authority, including those assessed to order copies of marriage and divorce records, are available on the agency’s website.
Clackamas County Courthouse Locations
Clackamas County is home to the following courts:
- A circuit court
- A justice court
- Several municipal courts
The circuit court is the state’s trial court that hears a wide array of legal cases, such as criminal (felonies and misdemeanors), protective orders, landlord-tenant disputes, personal injury claims, divorces, civil commitments, and juvenile dependency. The Oregon State Courts Overview document can be reviewed for other cases the court may handle.
The "local" courts, which include justice and municipal courts, operate outside the state-funded court system and retain the legal jurisdiction defined by statute. Justice courts in Oregon operate under the authority outlined in ORS Title 6, Chapter 51, with their jurisdiction also detailed in the Oregon Bluebook. In contrast, municipal courts, as described in the Oregon Bluebook, handle cases involving municipal codes and ordinances. Their jurisdiction also extends to traffic, parking, and pedestrian violations, as well as vehicle impoundments and forfeitures.
The Clackamas County courts, which collectively maintain jurisdiction within the county, have their physical addresses and contact details listed below.
Clackamas County Circuit Court
1000 Courthouse Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone: (503) 655-8447
Clackamas County Justice Court
11750 Southeast 82nd Avenue
Suite D
Happy Valley, OR 97086
Phone: (503) 794-3800
Fax: (503) 794-3808
Municipal Courts in Clackamas County
Canby Civic Building
222 NE 2nd Avenue
Canby, OR. 97013
Phone: (503) 266-4027
Fax: (503) 263-0019
475 Southeast Main Street
Estacada, OR 97023
Phone: (503) 630-8289
Gladstone Municipal Court (Located within theGladstone Civic Center)
18505 Portland Avenue
Gladstone, OR 97027
Phone: (503) 656-5225 ext. 3
Fax: (503) 557-2761
16000 Southeast Misty Drive
Happy Valley, OR 97086
Phone: (503) 886-8422 or 886-8448
Lake Oswego City Hall
380 A Avenue
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Phone: (503) 635-0217
Fax: (503) 697-6570
10501 Southeast Main Street
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Phone: (503) 786-7543
Fax: (503) 786-7528
Molalla Civic Center
315 Kennel Avenue
Molalla, OR 97038
Phone: (503) 829-7711
The above is the Molalla Municipal Courthouse location. The court office is located at Molalla City Hall, 117 North Molalla Avenue, Molalla, OR 97038
1234 Linn Avenue
PO Box 3040
Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone: (503) 905-3675
Fax: (503) 657-1303
Sandy City Hall
39250 Pioneer Boulevard
Sandy, OR 97055
Phone: (877) 534-8192
West Linn City Hall
22500 Salamo Road
West Linn, OR 97068
Phone: (503) 656-4263
Fax: (503) 742-8599
29799 SW Town Center Loop East
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Phone: (503) 570-1587
Fax: (503) 682-1015
Criminal Records Access in Clackamas County
In Clackamas County, criminal records are primarily available through two sources: the courts and law enforcement.
The courts, which include the circuit, justice, and municipal courts-all of which possess some criminal jurisdiction in Clackamas-maintain the official criminal court records. These records contain the exact accounts of criminal proceedings, including the charges and their final outcomes. Inquiries for these court records should be directed to the specific court that handled the case. Fees apply to obtain copies of court records. The free OJD Records and Calendar Search and paid OJCIN Online portals are also available for remote criminal case access.
Meanwhile, the Oregon State Police (OSP), Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, compiles comprehensive criminal history records from reports submitted by various criminal justice agencies, including those within Clackamas County. However, these OSP-maintained records are confidential and not subject to public inspection, as stipulated by ORS 181A.220, unless specific legal authority or statute permits access.
The Oregon State Police, in accordance with state law, is authorized to fulfill open record requests for an individual’s Oregon Criminal History Record. The fee for each request is $33. The results provided will encompass any Oregon conviction record and any Oregon arrest record less than one year old that has not resulted in a reported acquittal or dismissal. The specific details that are disclosed include
- Arrest date
- Arresting agency
- Offense for which the arrest occurred
- Court of origin
- Disposition, including the sentence imposed, the date of parole (if applicable), and any parole revocations (if applicable)
However, as the search is name-based, it may be prone to errors associated with shared names or identity theft.
For a fee of $33, individuals can also request their own Oregon criminal history records via a fingerprint-based search, which provides more reliable, accurate results. The results of this search are kept confidential and are mailed only to the requester.
Necessary forms and instructions for obtaining either of the checks (public or personal) are available on the CJIS’s Criminal History Record Checks page.
Clackamas County Probate Records
Probate in Clackamas County is a legal proceeding where the court supervises the distribution of a deceased individual’s (decedent’s) assets according to their will or via the state’s laws of intestacy (where the person dies without a will). Also referred to as an estate case, probate jurisdiction is vested in the Clackamas County Circuit Court, as established under ORS 111.075. The court’s probate jurisdiction (ORS 111.085) covers:
- Probate and will contests
- Trusts
- Adult and minor guardianships
- Adult and minor conservatorships
Clackamas County probate records are available for viewing at the Circuit Court during normal business hours:
For records dated on or after December 4, 2015:
- Viewing is available at the public viewing stations at the Records Center of the courthouse, located on the 1st floor, Public Service Center (Room 1060).
For records dated prior to December 2015:
- Contact the court’s trial court administrator’s office at least three days in advance to confirm the file’s availability.
To obtain copies of estate records and other probate case filings, one can submit a request at the Records Center or send a mail inquiry to the Clackamas County Circuit Court, 1000 Courthouse Road, Room 1060, Oregon City, OR 97045. Each request should contain sufficient information about the sought-after record(s), such as case names, case numbers, the specific documents needed, and whether plain or certified copies are desired. Requesters will also need to pay any court-ordered fees for their requests.
The Clackamas Circuit Court also provides a Public Records Request Form for submitting copy requests online, and individuals can use the free OJD Records and Calendar Search and the paid OJCIN Online portals to view probate case information.
It should be noted that certain probate records, such as guardianship reports, are confidential or restricted by law and can only be viewed or copied by authorized parties.
Clackamas County Family Court Records
Family law is a specialized area of law that governs domestic or family relationships. In Clackamas County, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over family law cases, including divorce, annulment, legal separation, child custody, support, name change, and paternity. Family court records are the documents that stem from these cases.
Under Oregon’s Public Records Law, Clackamas County family court records are accessible to the public through the Circuit Court. Interested parties can visit the Records Center at the circuit courthouse during normal hours of operation to view or obtain copies of records. They can also
- Access the free OJD Records and Calendar Search and paid OJCIN Online portals to view family case information online.
- Send a written request for copies by mail to Clackamas County Circuit Court, 1000 Courthouse Road, Room 1060, Oregon City, OR 97045.
- Make copy requests online using the Clackamas Circuit Court’s Public Records Request Form (linked in the previous section).
However, it should be noted that some family court records, such as financial statements, are exempt from general review.
Federal Court Records in Clackamas County
The U.S. District Court with jurisdiction over Clackamas County, Oregon, is the District of Oregon federal court in Portland. This court has trial jurisdiction over all federal cases originating in Clackamas County. The court is located at the following address:
Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse
1000 Southwest Third Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
Phone: (503) 326-8000
Federal court records in Clackamas County encompass the official documentation generated because of federal cases filed in the District of Oregon federal court’s Portland Division. These records can be retrieved by visiting the courthouse to use public access terminals for case viewing or printing.
At the same time, parties can access federal court records online through the Public Access to Electronic Records (PACER) system. PACER is a paid public service, costing 10 cents per page and $2.40 per audio file for access. However, it is free of charge in certain scenarios.
