| Circuit Court | Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Department (Trial Court Administrator's Office) |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Multnomah County Circuit Court, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204 (Records Department, Room 3315) |
| Phone | 971-274-0570 |
| Hours | Walk-in counter: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm. Phone lookups: Monday-Friday, 8:30-10:30am and 1:30-4:00pm. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $3.00 per copy request in a case, plus $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 per certified copy, plus $0.25 per page if provided on paper |
Multnomah County is Oregon's most populous county and home to Portland, so its Circuit Court is also the state's busiest. Because Oregon runs a single, unified trial court in every county, there is only one clerk's office to know: the Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Department, run under the court's Trial Court Administrator, which keeps felony and misdemeanor criminal files, divorces and other family cases, civil suits of any size, and probate and guardianship matters, all in one place.
The Records Department operates a public counter on the third floor (Room 3315) of the Multnomah County Circuit Courthouse at 1200 SW 1st Ave in downtown Portland, plus limited phone hours for case lookups. Most people start with the free, statewide OJD Online Records Search to check whether a case exists and get basic information, then contact the Records Department directly for copies or for anything the online search does not show.
A common source of confusion is assuming a case that does not turn up online does not exist. The free statewide search excludes adoption, juvenile, mental-health, and VAWA-protected cases by design, and it only shows summary information even for cases it does include. For the complete file, or for a case type the online tool omits, you need to go through the Records Department or an OJCIN Online subscription.
Search Multnomah County court records online
Circuit Court
Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Department (Trial Court Administrator's Office)
- Cost
- Free public-terminal search; per-page and certification fees for copies
- Coverage
- All circuit court case types filed in Multnomah County — felony and misdemeanor criminal, family law, civil, probate, and guardianship
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Phone lookups are only available Monday-Friday 8:30-10:30am and 1:30-4:00pm at 971-274-0570; the walk-in counter (Room 3315) is open 8:00am-4:00pm weekdays. Requests can also be emailed to MUL.Records@ojd.state.or.us.
What is available online
The free OJD Online Records Search shows basic case information and calendars for Multnomah County circuit cases, but it excludes adoption, juvenile, mental-health, and VAWA-protected matters, and it does not display the full register of actions. Registered OJCIN Online subscribers can search the complete official record through the OECI portal. Same-day filings may not appear online immediately.
Which clerk has your record
In Oregon, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Oregon page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Tax Court | State and local tax disputes; Property valuation appeals; Income and corporate tax appeals | Tax Court Clerk |
| Circuit Courts (36, one per county) | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family-law cases; Civil suits of any amount | Trial Court Administrator / Circuit Court Records Department |
| Justice Courts (where they still exist) | Traffic citations issued by county officers; Small claims; Minor misdemeanors and violations in unincorporated areas | Justice of the peace's court clerk |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued by city police; Some misdemeanors within city limits | City municipal court clerk |
Request records in person or by mail
Multnomah County clerk offices
Multnomah County Circuit Court, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204 (Records Department, Room 3315)
Phone: 971-274-0570
Hours: Walk-in counter: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm. Phone lookups: Monday-Friday, 8:30-10:30am and 1:30-4:00pm.
In person. Visit the Records Department public counter, Room 3315, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm. Bring the case number if you have it, or the parties' names and an approximate filing year.
By phone. Call 971-274-0570 during the limited records phone hours (8:30-10:30am and 1:30-4:00pm, weekdays) to ask about a case or start a request.
By mail or email. Submit a completed records request form by mail to the courthouse address above, or email MUL.Records@ojd.state.or.us. State the case number or party names, exactly which documents you need, and whether you need certified copies.
Online. Use the OJD Online Records Search first to confirm basic case details before requesting copies, since it can save a trip or a records request for information that is already public online.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Oregon |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $3.00 per copy request in a case, plus $0.25 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per certified copy, plus $0.25 per page if provided on paper |
Figures are from the Oregon Judicial Department's statewide Circuit Court Fee Schedule (public version), effective January 1, 2026, which also sets a $10.00-plus-per-page fee for exemplified copies. Fees are set by the Chief Justice under ORS 21.258 and related statutes and can change; confirm the current schedule or ask the specific court before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Oregon court records are open to the public unless a specific statute, court rule, or judge's order restricts them. Categories that will not show up in a routine search include:
The Oregon guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Are Multnomah County court records available online?
Basic case information for Multnomah County Circuit Court cases is available through the free, statewide OJD Online Records Search. It omits adoption, juvenile, mental-health, and VAWA-protected cases, and shows summary information rather than the complete file.
Which office has my Multnomah County divorce or custody case?
The Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Department. Oregon's unified court system means the same clerk's office keeps family-law files, criminal cases, and civil suits, so there is no separate family court clerk to search.
How do I get a certified copy of a Multnomah County court record?
Request it from the Records Department in person, by mail, or by email at MUL.Records@ojd.state.or.us. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.25 per page under the statewide circuit court fee schedule.
Can I look up a Multnomah County case by phone?
Yes, but only during the Records Department's limited phone hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30-10:30am and 1:30-4:00pm, at 971-274-0570. Outside those hours, use the online records search or visit in person.
Are Portland traffic tickets in the Multnomah County Circuit Court records?
No. Tickets written by Portland police for city ordinance violations go to Portland Municipal Court, a separate city system not searchable through the circuit court or OJD.
Sources
- Multnomah County Circuit Court (Oregon Judicial Department) — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/multnomah/pages/default.aspx
- Multnomah County Circuit Court — Court Records — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/multnomah/records/pages/default.aspx
- OJD Online Records Search — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/pages/records-calendars.aspx
- Oregon Judicial Department — Find a Court — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/pages/default.aspx
- OJD — OJCIN Online — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/pages/ojcin.aspx
- OJD Appellate Courts — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/appellate/pages/default.aspx
- Oregon State Police — Criminal History Record Checks (CJIS) — https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/cjis/pages/cch.aspx
- Oregon State Police Open Records Portal — https://openrecords.osp.oregon.gov/orportal/login
- United States District Court for the District of Oregon — https://www.ord.uscourts.gov/
- Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 137 (ORS 137.225 — Setting Aside a Conviction) — https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors137.html
- Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules (current) — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/programs/utcr/pages/currentrules.aspx
- Oregon Judicial Department — 2026 Circuit Court Fee Schedule (Public Version) — https://www.courts.oregon.gov/Documents/2026_CircuitFeeSchedule_public_eff-2026-01-01.pdf
See also: all Oregon counties.