Process serving · Oregon
How to serve small claims papers in Oregon
Oregon's Small Claims Department (Circuit Court; also Justice Courts) lists this method: As for a summons (personal, substituted, office service by sheriff, process server or eligible non-party adult) or certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery (ORS 46.445; OJD plaintiff instructions). Defendant may sign an Acceptance of Service. If that method lets you use a private process server or another adult, we can arrange a vetted local server in Oregon, quoted per job and confirmed before any work starts.
Before you hire anyone in Oregon, check whether the court serves the papers itself. Its own guide says:
| Court | Small Claims Department (Circuit Court; also Justice Courts) |
|---|---|
| Service | As for a summons (personal, substituted, office service by sheriff, process server or eligible non-party adult) or certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery (ORS 46.445; OJD plaintiff instructions). Defendant may sign an Acceptance of Service. |
| Where the case is filed | County where a defendant resides or may be found; for tort claims also where the claim arose; for contracts to be performed in a county, also that county (ORS 46.560). |
| Small claims limit | $10,000. ORS 46.405 (2025 edition): small claims department available for claims up to $10,000; claims of $750 or less must be filed in small claims (except where the law allows attorney fees). Claims between $750 and $10,000 may go to small claims or general civil court. Senate Bill 484 (2025 session) proposed raising the limit to $20,000, but the 2025 ORS edition still shows $10,000; no enacted change was confirmed. |
| Filing fees | claim of $2,500 or less: $57; claim over $2,500: $102 |
| Who can file | Plaintiff must make a good-faith effort to collect before filing and state it under oath. Business entities and government bodies may appear without an attorney; assignees may prosecute assigned claims (ORS 46.415). Debt buyers/collectors must meet UTCR 5.180(2) and ORS 646A.670. |
When we can help in Oregon
Where Oregon leaves delivery to the plaintiff, we line up a local server, pass along your deadline and send back the signed proof of service when it's done.
The full Oregon small claims page, with limits and fees, is here.
Alabama · all states · serving someone in another state
If you represent yourself, you are responsible for your documents: what they say, that they are complete and signed, which court they go to and that they are filed on time. We are not lawyers, we do not give legal advice or draft pleadings, and we cannot guarantee any legal outcome. We file, serve or pull exactly what you send.
Sources
Before you send
- Send the papers to serve as a PDF, with every page in order.
- Give the best address, a description or photo of the person, and the times they're usually home.
- Up to three attempts at different times of day are included.
- You get a notarized affidavit of service once service is made.
- Rules on who may serve papers vary by state. The desk confirms them for your state before assigning a server.
Prefer to talk?
Call the desk and we'll take the request by phone.
Questions
Who serves small claims papers in Oregon?
The court's guide says: As for a summons (personal, substituted, office service by sheriff, process server or eligible non-party adult) or certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery (ORS 46.445; OJD plaintiff instructions). Defendant may sign an Acceptance of Service.
What does a Oregon serve cost?
Outside New Jersey every serve is quoted per job, because local server rates and travel differ. We confirm the price before any work starts.
Can you tell me if service was done correctly?
No. The Oregon court decides whether service was proper. We send you the server's proof of service so you can file it.