Multnomah County Circuit Court Electronic Filing Rules

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Oregon State Bar members must electronically file court documents unless a rule requires presentation in court.

Members of the Oregon State Bar must electronically file any documents filing with the court, except for materials that, by rule, must be presented in court. UTCR 21.140.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Probate requires ex parte and short matters to be e-filed and no longer holds court sessions for ex parte matters.

Probate has recently moved to require all ex parte and short matters to be eFiled, and no longer holds court sessions to deal with ex parte matters.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for continuance

The first motion for continuance must be filed electronically; subsequent requests must be presented at ex parte.

The first motion for continuance must be eFiled, and subsequent requests must be presented at ex parte.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre assignment request letter

The pre-assignment request letter must not be e-filed.

Do not eFile this letter, because the presiding judge will not receive any notice of the eFiled letter and will not specially assign a judge to the trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

To obtain an order for appearance in a circuit court civil case other than small claims, e-file the motion, supporting documentation, and proposed order.

In circuit court civil cases (except small claims), to obtain an order for appearance, eFile a motion, supporting documentation, and proposed order to the court.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

Applies to

Joint status report

If parties confer before the Pretrial Conference, e-file a Joint Status Report by 9:00 am the day prior, and call or email the high-volume case processing unit by 10:30 am the day prior, the conference will be cancelled.

If parties have conferred prior to the Pretrial Conference, e-filed a Joint Status Report by 9:00 am the day prior and called the high-volume case processing unit (971-274-0545) or emailed them at MUL.Criminal@ojd.state.or.us by 10:30 am the day prior, the Pretrial Conference will be cancelled.

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Applies to

Motion for alternative service

Straightforward motions for alternative service should be e-filed.

Straight forward motions for alternative service should be eFiled.

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Applies to

Supplemental judgment

A supplemental judgment should be eFiled when there is no objection.

The supplemental judgment should be eFiled if there is no objection.

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Applies to

Writ of execution

Writs of execution are preferably eFiled, but conventional filings will also be processed.

The court prefers that writs of execution be eFiled, but conventional writs will be processed if submitted.

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Applies to

Motion

Self-represented litigants may file motions on paper or electronically.

Pro se litigants may file motions in paper form or by eFiling.

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Applies to

Petition

Ballot-title petitions may be e-filed, and a judge is specially assigned after acceptance.

These may be eFiled, and after acceptance, the court will specially assign a judge.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026INFO

Applies to

Ex parte motion

Certain ex parte motions that do not require an in-person appearance may be eFiled; the listed examples are nonexclusive.

The following is a list of ex parte motions that do not require in person appearance and may be eFiled. This is an example list and not exclusive.

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Applies to

All documents ?

Members of the Oregon State Bar must electronically file any documents filing with the court, except for materials that, by rule, must be presented in court. UTCR 21.140.

Summary: Members of the Oregon State Bar must e-file all documents filed with the court, except materials that by rule must be presented in court.

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Applies to

Documents designated for conventional filing ?

“Conventional Filing” is defined in UTCR 21.010 (1) and means presenting a paper document to the clerk for filing. Certain documents must be presented conventionally. These are designated in UTCR 21.070. This requires presentation of the complaint or other documents to the presiding judge at the scheduled time for ex parte.

Summary: Certain documents designated in UTCR 21.070 must be filed conventionally by presenting the paper complaint or other documents to the presiding judge at the scheduled ex parte time.

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Applies to

Civil case initiation guardian ad litem or pseudonym ?

To file a civil case that requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem, please bring the complaint, petition to appoint a guardian ad litem, supporting documents, and order appointing the guardian ad litem to ex parte to obtain a case number. This process must also be used if you request to file a case using a pseudonym under SLR 2.035.

Summary: Civil cases requiring a guardian ad litem, and pseudonym-filing requests under SLR 2.035, must be presented at ex parte with the complaint, petition, supporting documents, and order to obtain a case number.

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Applies to

Petition for writ of review

Petitions for writ of review must be presented at ex parte for judicial signature and assignment of a case number.

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Required

Always ?

The court does not accept filing by fax or email.

Summary: The court does not accept filings submitted by fax or email.

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Applies to

Undertaking on appeal or supersedeas ?

An undertaking on appeal for costs or a supersedeas undertaking must be filed with the cashier. There is no way to pay for these appeal bonds using File & Serve.

Summary: Appeal and supersedeas undertakings must be filed with the cashier and cannot be paid through File & Serve.

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Applies to

Fee waiver or deferral application ?

Applying for a fee waiver or deferral is a conventional, paper process, even if the party is using eFiling. Chief Justice Order 14-036 requires that all applications for a fee waiver or a fee deferral must be prepared and filed as a conventional filing. See also, Chief Justice Order 12-078 and ORS 21.682.

Summary: Fee waiver and deferral applications must be prepared and filed as conventional paper filings, even by parties who otherwise use eFiling.

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Applies to

Motion for continuance

The first motion for continuance must be eFiled, and subsequent requests must be presented at ex parte. SLR 2.501.

Summary: The first motion for continuance must be eFiled; subsequent continuance requests must be presented at ex parte instead.

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All matters delivered to the court for filing shall be submitted only by counsel and signed exclusively by counsel, except for the petition or amended petition and any exhibits. The only exception to this requirement is for a Church v. Gladden, 224 Or 308, 417 P 2d 933 (1966), notice filed by the petitioner.

Summary: Under SLR 7.206(2), represented petitioners' filings must be submitted and signed only by counsel, except the petition or amended petition with exhibits and a Church v. Gladden notice filed by the petitioner.

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Applies to

Motions presented at scheduling conference ?

Motions that are presented at scheduling conferences should not be e-Filed.

Summary: Motions presented at scheduling conferences must not be e-Filed.

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Applies to

Ex parte motion

In Multnomah County ex parte motions may be eFiled or presented in person, depending on the current Supplementary Local Rules (SLR). SLR 2.501 lists which ex parte motions must be presented in person with paper originals during the ex parte court sessions.

Summary: Ex parte motions may be eFiled or presented in person; SLR 2.501 lists motions that must be presented in person with paper originals.

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Applies to

Motion for alternative service

Straight forward motions for alternative service should be eFiled. If there are questions or deficiencies in the eFiled motion, the order will be unsigned and the party will be instructed to present the motion at ex parte.

Summary: Straightforward motions for alternative service should be e-filed; if the e-filed motion has questions or deficiencies, the order will be unsigned and the party will be instructed to present the motion at ex parte.

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Applies to

Default judgment ?

For foreclosure proceedings not assigned to a foreclosure panel judge, the original note must be presented at ex parte. Reason: the original note must be signed and stamped by the court. The default order and judgment are still e-filed...

Summary: In foreclosure proceedings not assigned to a foreclosure panel judge, the default order and judgment are still e-filed, but the original note must be presented at ex parte so the court can sign and stamp it.

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Applies to

Pre assignment request letter ?

For actions which are not yet specially assigned to a judge prior, and for which the trial is estimated by the parties to require more than four trial days (more than one trial week), the plaintiff should mail, hand deliver, or email as an attachment a letter to the presiding judge requesting that a trial judge be pre-assigned. SLR 7.055(14). Do not eFile this letter, because the presiding judge will not receive any notice of the eFiled letter and will not specially assign a judge to the trial.

Summary: For civil trials estimated to require more than four trial days, the plaintiff's pre-assignment request letter must not be eFiled and instead must be mailed, hand delivered, or emailed as an attachment to the presiding judge.

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Applies to

Supplemental judgment

The supplemental judgment should be eFiled if there is no objection. If there is an objection, then the moving party should set the hearing before the judge who signed the judgment.

Summary: Supplemental judgments for fees/costs should be e-filed absent an objection; with an objection, the hearing is set before the judge who signed the judgment.

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Applies to

Motion to disburse money

Motions to disburse money deposited with the court must be presented at ex parte. SLR 2.501.

Summary: Motions to disburse money deposited with the court must be presented at ex parte (SLR 2.501) rather than filed through regular channels.

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Criminal cases

Applies to

Joint status report

If parties have conferred prior to the Pretrial Conference, e-filed a Joint Status Report by 9:00 am the day prior and called the high-volume case processing unit (971-274-0545) or emailed them at MUL.Criminal@ojd.state.or.us by 10:30 am the day prior, the Pretrial Conference will be cancelled. If there is any outstanding discovery, or if a pretrial offer has not been transmitted, the parties must appear for the Pretrial Conference to report to the court and may not cancel.

Summary: The Joint Status Report must be e-filed (by 9:00 am the day prior) with notice to the high-volume case processing unit by 10:30 am the day prior to cancel the Pretrial Conference, but parties may not cancel if discovery is outstanding or no plea offer has been transmitted.

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Applies to

Petition for judicial review ?

These petitions should be eFiled and then served on the agency.

Summary: Petitions for judicial review of agency orders should be eFiled and then served on the agency.

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Applies to

Motion to withdraw as attorney ?

If the client objects to the attorney's withdrawal, it is best practice to present the motion at ex parte instead of eFiling so that the client may state their objection.

Summary: If the client objects to the attorney's withdrawal, best practice is to present the motion at ex parte rather than e-filing so the client may state their objection.

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Applies to

All documents ?

Non-attorneys may also electronically file documents.

Summary: Non-attorneys (self-represented parties) may, but are not required to, electronically file court documents.

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Self-represented litigants may file civil, family law, probate and trust administration cases, small claims, and FED cases at the cashier's window on the second floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse.

Summary: Self-represented litigants may file civil, family law, probate and trust administration, small claims, and FED cases at the cashier's window on the second floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse.

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Applies to

Small claims

Self-represented litigants may file small claims cases at the Circuit Court for Multnomah County in Gresham in the East County Courthouse at 18480 SE Stark Street if one of the parties resides, or the cause of action arose, east of 122nd Avenue.

Summary: Self-represented litigants may file small claims cases at the East County Courthouse in Gresham only if a party resides or the cause of action arose east of 122nd Avenue.

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Applies to

Motion

Pro se litigants may file motions in paper form or by eFiling.

Summary: Pro se litigants may file motions either in paper form or electronically.

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Applies to

Ballot title petition ?

Because the statute provides a timeline for review, petitions challenging a ballot title under ORS 250.195 and ORS 250.296 are not subject to UTCR 7.020. These may be eFiled, and after acceptance, the court will specially assign a judge.

Summary: Ballot title petitions under ORS 250.195 and ORS 250.296 are exempt from UTCR 7.020, may be eFiled, and upon acceptance receive a specially assigned judge.

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The following motions are typically eFiled but can – and in some circumstances, should – be presented at ex parte instead.

Summary: Certain motions are typically e-filed but can—and in some circumstances should—be presented at ex parte instead.

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Applies to

Ex parte motion

The following is a list of ex parte motions that do not require in person appearance and may be eFiled. This is an example list and not exclusive.

Summary: The listed ex parte motions do not require an in-person appearance and may be eFiled; the list is illustrative and not exclusive.

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Applies to

Writ of execution

The court prefers that writs of execution be eFiled, but conventional writs will be processed if submitted.

Summary: eFiling of writs of execution is preferred but conventional filing is accepted.

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Certain documents must be presented conventionally. These are designated in UTCR 21.070.

Summary: Documents designated in UTCR 21.070 must be presented conventionally on paper.

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Applies to

Complaint

This requires presentation of the complaint or other documents to the presiding judge at the scheduled time for ex parte.

Summary: Complaints or other documents subject to conventional filing must be presented to the presiding judge at the scheduled ex parte time.

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Applies to

Complaint

To file a civil case that requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem, please bring the complaint, petition to appoint a guardian ad litem, supporting documents, and order appointing the guardian ad litem to ex parte to obtain a case number.

Summary: To obtain a case number for a civil case requiring a guardian ad litem, bring the complaint, appointment petition, supporting documents, and appointment order to ex parte.

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This process must also be used if you request to file a case using a pseudonym under SLR 2.035.

Summary: A case filed using a requested pseudonym must use the same ex parte process to obtain a case number.

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Applies to

Petition

Petitions for writ of review must be presented at ex parte for judicial signature and assignment of a case number.

Summary: Petitions for writ of review must be presented at ex parte for judicial signature and case-number assignment.

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The court does not accept filing by fax or email.

Summary: The court prohibits filing by fax or email.

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Applies to

Fee waiver or deferral application ?

Applying for a fee waiver or deferral is a conventional, paper process, even if the party is using eFiling. Chief Justice Order 14-036 requires that all applications for a fee waiver or a fee deferral must be prepared and filed as a conventional filing.

Summary: Fee waiver and deferral applications must be prepared and filed conventionally on paper, even when the party uses eFiling.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

TRO motion ?

Due to their complexity and the length, the presiding judge will require these motions to be submitted digitally at least 24 hours in advance.

Summary: TRO motions heard at ex parte must be submitted digitally at least 24 hours before the hearing.

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After an order is entered for consolidation, documents must still be filed in each case.

Summary: After consolidation, documents must continue to be filed in each case.

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Applies to

Writ package

If necessary, you may submit the entire writ package to the court (by conventional filing only), which should consist of the writ, the court issuance fee, the sheriff's instructions, the check for the sheriff's fee made out to the sheriff, and a copy of the judgment.

Summary: The entire writ package, including specified documents and fees, may be submitted only by conventional filing.

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Applies to

Petition

These petitions should be eFiled and then served on the agency.

Summary: Petitions for judicial review of agency orders should be e-filed and then served on the agency.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Motion

Motions that are presented at scheduling conferences should not be e-Filed.

Summary: Motions presented at scheduling conferences should not be e-filed.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Ex parte motion

SLR 2.501 lists which ex parte motions must be presented in person with paper originals during the ex parte court sessions.

Summary: Certain ex parte motions listed in SLR 2.501 must be presented in person with paper originals during ex parte court sessions.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Additionally, since there is no cost for this service, the court does not pay for printing, copying, or mailing. Physical copies must either by dropped off and picked up in the Presiding office, or they may be mailed to Presiding with a prepaid return envelope.

Summary: For this no-cost service, the court does not cover printing, copying, or mailing; physical copies must be dropped off and picked up at the Presiding office or mailed to Presiding with a prepaid return envelope.

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Applies to

Complaint

on the same day as presenting your TRO, please do not eFile the complaint, but bring it with you to ex parte. The clerk will take your complaint and get a case number for you.

Summary: On the day a TRO is presented, do not e-file the complaint; bring it to ex parte for the clerk to assign a case number.

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Non-attorneys may also electronically file documents.

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Applies to

Ex parte motion

In Multnomah County ex parte motions may be eFiled or presented in person, depending on the current Supplementary Local Rules (SLR).

Summary: Ex parte motions may be e-filed or presented in person as allowed by the current Supplementary Local Rules.