About the Clackamas County Court Records Office
Oregon runs a unified, state-funded court system, so the trial court handles its own case records. In Clackamas County, that means the Circuit Court Records Center, not a separate elected clerk. The office sits in the first-floor Public Service Center of the new courthouse. The Trial Court Administrator, Debbie Spradley, leads court operations.
This office is the place for court case files. It is different from the elected County Clerk, who handles recording, marriage, and elections.
Circuit Court Records Center
Trial Court Administrator: Debbie Spradley
1000 Courthouse Rd., Room 1060
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8447, option 7
Counter: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; phones 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
What the Court Records Office Does
The Records Center keeps the court's case files and helps the public reach them. It runs the public viewing stations, fills copy requests, and collects court fees. It also retrieves older files from off-site storage when asked.
- Maintain Circuit Court case files and the official register
- Run first-floor public viewing stations for recent records
- Fill copy, certification, and exemplification requests
- Retrieve pre-December 2015 files from off-site storage
- Accept filings and payments at the Public Service Center drop box
The drop box is a practical detail many people miss. Items placed in it by 5:00 p.m. on a weekday, excluding legal holidays, are date-stamped and treated as received that day. That gives filers a hard deadline that does not depend on reaching a counter before it closes.
Three Ways to Reach Court Records
The records office offers three levels of access, each with a different depth. Picking the right one saves both time and money.
- Free online search - the OJD Online Records Search portal shows limited case information at no cost.
- Courthouse public stations - the first-floor stations show fuller non-confidential registers for records filed since December 2015.
- OJCIN subscription - the paid official register service gives remote access to the register of actions and judgment records.
The free portal is not the official record, so for anything that must be authoritative, a courthouse station or OJCIN is the better source. The official file always stays at the court where the case was filed, which is why a certified copy from this office carries weight that a printout does not.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy proves a record is a true court copy. Courts, agencies, and other states often require one. A plain printout will not do for legal use. People most often need certified copies for divorce judgments, name changes, and probate orders, where another office wants proof that the document is genuine and unaltered.
- Identify the case name and case number you need.
- List the exact documents, and note which need certification.
- Submit in person, by mail, or through the statewide OJD records request form.
- Pay the per-page copy fee plus the certification fee.
- Pick up the copy, or include a self-addressed stamped envelope for mail.
Payment is due when the copy work is complete and before delivery. If the exact cost is unknown, the court can estimate it first, and for larger requests it will not proceed until you confirm and pay in advance, with any excess refunded.
Delivery can be by mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope, by in-person pickup, or by email where available. A request that is missing details can be returned, so list the case number and the exact documents up front.
Records Request Form Fields
The Clackamas Circuit Court request form asks for specific details. The clearer the request, the faster the copy. The table lists what to include.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requester name and signature | Yes | In the contact section |
| Mailing address, phone, email | Yes | For contact and delivery |
| Inspect or copy | Yes | Choose inspect, copy, or both |
| Type of record and subject | Yes | Describe the record |
| Case name and number | If known | OJD caption and case number |
| Documents requested | Yes for copies | Title, date filed, and entry number |
| Certify or exemplify | Optional | List documents needing each treatment |
Clackamas County Court Copy Fees
Copy fees follow the court's set rates. The base charge is per page, with add-on fees to certify or exemplify. Large or complex jobs can carry staff-time charges.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | $0.25 |
| Certification fee | $5.00 plus per-page charge |
| Exemplification fee | $10.00 plus per-page charge |
| Staff time / actual costs | May apply to large requests |
The court takes cards, personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, and in-person cash. Two-party checks are not accepted, and you should never mail cash. When the exact amount is unknown, the court accepts a blank check marked "not to exceed" a stated maximum.
Older Files and Off-Site Storage
The courthouse keeps recent files on hand. Documents filed on or after December 4, 2015 can be viewed at the first-floor public stations. Records before December 2015 are stored off site. To view an older file, call the records team at least three days ahead so staff can bring it in.
This off-site rule matters for older divorce, probate, and civil cases, which are common requests. Build the extra wait into your timeline and have the case number ready when you call.
Common Court Records Forms
The court uses a few standard forms for records work. The statewide form covers most requests when you cannot come in person.
- OJD records request form - statewide request for circuit, tax, and appellate records.
- Clackamas Circuit Court records page - local viewing rules and copy fees.
The statewide form is the right choice when you cannot reach the courthouse in person. It routes through OJD and lets you ask for copies or audio recordings, with the same fee rules the Records Center applies at the counter.
Court Records Office vs County Clerk
These two offices get confused often. The court records office handles court case files. The County Clerk is a separate elected office that records property documents, issues marriage licenses, and runs elections. A court case copy comes from the Records Center, while a recorded deed or marriage record comes from the County Clerk.
For recording, marriage, and election records, see the Clackamas County Clerk page. For court case searches, see court records.
Note: A court case copy comes from the Records Center, while a recorded deed or marriage record comes from the County Clerk, so confirm which office holds your record first.