Oregon Small Claims Court
Owed money in Oregon? Here's the dollar limit, the court that hears it, what filing costs — and a free demand letter to send first, which resolves many disputes without a case. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Oregon small claims · as of 2026
- Maximum claim
- $10,000
- Court
- Small Claims Department of Circuit Court (or Justice Court)
- Filing fee
- Circuit court: $57 for claims of $2,500 or less, $102 for claims over $2,500 (ORS 46.570; defendant pays the same to demand a hearing). Justice court small claims fees are set separately and vary by court.
- Lawyers at the hearing
- NOT allowed without the judge's consent — 'No attorney at law or person other than the plaintiff and defendant and their witnesses shall appear' without leave (ORS 46.415(4) circuit court; ORS 55.090 justice court)
Source: ORS 46.405, 46.415(4) (circuit court); ORS 55.011, 55.090 (justice court) · verify ↗. Limits and fees change — confirm with the Small Claims Department of Circuit Court (or Justice Court) clerk before filing.
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How to file in Oregon — the short version
- Demand first. Send the letter above by a trackable method and keep proof — judges expect it, and it often gets you paid without a case.
- File with the Small Claims Department of Circuit Court (or Justice Court) where the defendant lives or the dispute happened. Fee: Circuit court: $57 for claims of $2,500 or less, $102 for claims over $2,500 (ORS 46.570; defendant pays the same to demand a hearing). Justice court small claims fees are set separately and vary by court..
- Serve the defendant the way Oregon rules require (clerk, sheriff, certified mail, or process server — ask the clerk). Bad service is the #1 way cases get thrown out.
- Bring evidence: contracts, invoices, photos, messages, this demand letter and its delivery proof, and any witnesses.
- Collect. If you win and they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment, levy, and liens.
Check the current Oregon small claims rules before filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I sue for in Oregon small claims court?
The limit is $10,000 (as of 2026). Small Claims Department of Circuit Court hears claims up to $10,000 (ORS 46.405); claims of $750 or less MUST be brought as small claims — the procedure is mandatory, not optional, below that amount. Justice courts (where they exist) have parallel small claims departments with the same structure (ORS 55.011). Source: ORS 46.405, 46.415(4) (circuit court); ORS 55.011, 55.090 (justice court). If you're owed more, you can sue in the regular civil court instead — or waive the excess and stay in small claims, which is usually faster and cheaper.
Where do I file?
In Oregon, small claims cases are heard by the Small Claims Department of Circuit Court (or Justice Court), generally in the county (or district) where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Filing fee: Circuit court: $57 for claims of $2,500 or less, $102 for claims over $2,500 (ORS 46.570; defendant pays the same to demand a hearing). Justice court small claims fees are set separately and vary by court.. Check the exact venue rule when you file — filing in the wrong place gets cases dismissed.
Can I bring a lawyer?
In Oregon: NOT allowed without the judge's consent — 'No attorney at law or person other than the plaintiff and defendant and their witnesses shall appear' without leave (ORS 46.415(4) circuit court; ORS 55.090 justice court). Either way, small claims procedure is deliberately informal — you present your story, your documents, and your witnesses directly to the judge.
What happens if I win but they don't pay?
A judgment isn't a check — if the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you enforce it: wage garnishment, bank levy, or property liens, depending on Oregon law. The court clerk can point you to the forms. Judgments also accrue interest and stay enforceable for years, so a stubborn debtor doesn't run out the clock quickly.
How does Oregon compare? See the small claims limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Oregon compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Oregon: ORS 46.405, 46.415(4) (circuit court); ORS 55.011, 55.090 (justice court) ↗.
- Small claims limit
Small claims limit: $10,000, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 15 other states.
Small claims limit in neighboring states — California ($12,500), Idaho ($5,000), Nevada ($10,000), Washington ($10,000).
The rest of what Oregon requires
The figures below are Oregon's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Oregon page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 31 days after move-out Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 10 days to pay or quit Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.394; § 90.392; § 90.427 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 30 days Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.394; § 90.392; § 90.427 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Oregon Legislature ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Oregon DMV (Form 735-501) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Or. Rev. Stat. §127.005 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules ORS 63.001 (definition); ORS 63.057 (operating agreement optional) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk (county recording officer) · no witnesses ORS 93.410 ↗
Small claims guide in other states
More Oregon legal forms
Different state? See small claims rules by state →