Multnomah County Circuit Court Filing Fees and Waivers

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Applies to

Initial filing

Most initial filings require payment of a filing fee before a case number is assigned.

Most initial filings in cases require payment of a filing fee. These fees must be paid before a case number is assigned.

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Applies to

Trial or hearing

Trial and hearing fees must be paid before the trial or hearing begins.

Trial fees and hearing fees must be paid prior to the beginning of the trial or hearing. SLR 6.025.

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A party unable to pay case fees may apply for a fee deferral or waiver.

If a party to a case is unable to pay the case fees, that party may apply for a fee deferral or waiver.

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Applies to

Trial fee reimbursement

Trial fees may be reimbursed when all claims are decided without trial, but a motion supported by an affidavit must be presented in person at ex parte within 15 days after judgment.

Trial fees may be reimbursed if all claims in the action or proceeding are decided without the commencement of a trial. The court’s authority to reimburse trial fees is provided by ORS 21.225. A refund requires a motion, supported by an affidavit, requesting an order allowing the reimbursement. This should be presented in person at ex parte. The motion must be filed not more than fifteen (15) days after entry of judgment disposing of the action or proceeding.

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

A third-party plaintiff must pay a filing fee when filing a complaint that adds another individual or entity to the case.

A filing fee is required from a third-party plaintiff who files a complaint which adds an additional individual or entity into the case.

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

A third-party defendant appearing in a circuit-court civil action must pay the filing fee if the defendant has not already appeared.

When a third-party defendant files an appearance in a civil action or proceeding in circuit court, and defendant has not already appeared in the action or proceeding, the defendant must pay the filing fee.

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Applies to

Motion

Any hearing fee must be paid when the motion is filed.

Hearing fees must be paid at the time the motion is filed. ORS 21.200.

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Applies to

Writ of execution

A judgment creditor seeking a writ of execution must file the writ and pay the appropriate issuance fee.

To obtain the writ, a judgment creditor must file a writ of execution along with the appropriate issuance fee.

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

A party unable to pay because of financial limitations should apply for a fee deferral or waiver.

If a party cannot pay due to financial limitations, the party should apply for a fee deferral/waiver.

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Each separate case filed conventionally requires its own check or credit-card transaction.

If multiple separate cases are filed using conventional filing, a separate check or credit card transaction is required for each case.

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Filing fees are nonrefundable under all circumstances.

Filing fees are not refundable under any circumstances. ORS 21.100.

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A fee deferral or waiver applies only to the specific case, so the party must reapply for each new case.

A Fee Deferral/Waiver is case specific, and the party seeking deferral must reapply for each new case.

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

Unless the court orders otherwise, deferred fees are due 30 days after judgment or final disposition, including dismissal.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, deferred fees become due thirty (30) days after judgment or final disposition of the case, including dismissal.

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A party may receive a Fee Deferral/Waiver in no more than five active cases.

There is a limit of five active cases in which a party can receive a Fee Deferral/Waiver.

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If deferred fees remain unpaid about 45 days after they are due, the court will send a letter requiring payment within 10 days.

Approximately forty-five (45) days after the fees are due, if the deferred amount has not been paid, the court will send a letter to the party indicating that the fees must be paid within ten (10) days.

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Filing fees ordinarily are not refundable.

Ordinarily, “[f]iling fees are not refundable under any circumstances. . . .” ORS 21.100.

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Applies to

Appearance

Any filing fee required for an appearance filed in another consolidated case must accompany the copy or separate document filed there.

If an appearance is made in only one of the cases under an order of consolidation, that appearance will not automatically be entered in any other consolidated case. A copy or separate document, together with any required filing fee, must be filed in each other case under an order of consolidation.

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

Registering a foreign subpoena currently has no cost, but the court may assess filing or motion fees if the discovery becomes contentious and motions are filed.

Currently, there is no cost for this service. However, if the discovery becomes contentious and motions are filed, then the court may assess a filing fee or motion fees.

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

Applies to

Certified copy of writ

To obtain a certified copy of a writ, contact the Cashier to pay the fee because it cannot be paid through an eFiling envelope.

You must contact the Cashier to pay fees for a certified copy of your writ if you need one, as these fees cannot be paid in an eFiling envelope.

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

Fees processed through File & Serve are authorized using the credit card on file or eCheck.

Fees processed under File & Serve will be authorized by the credit card on file or eCheck.

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In a File & Serve envelope containing multiple fee-bearing documents, each fee is charged separately when its document is accepted.

In File & Serve, there may be more than one document with a filing fee payment required in the same envelope. Each filing fee will be assessed against the credit card separately when the document is accepted for filing.

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

A party with an approved fee deferral or waiver may select the “Waiver” payment account type in File & Serve when paying for a filing.

If a fee deferral/waiver is granted, and the party is using File & Serve, then a payment account type of “Waiver” is available in File & Serve to select when the party is given the option to pay for a filing.

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

Reimbursements are sent by mail; if the original payment was by check, reimbursement is not mailed until at least three weeks after the payment was received.

All reimbursements are made by mail, and, if the underlying payment was made by check, no reimbursement will be mailed until at least three weeks have passed since the date of receipt of the payment.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Initial filing

Most initial filings in cases require payment of a filing fee. These fees must be paid before a case number is assigned. If a party cannot pay due to financial limitations, the party should apply for a fee deferral/waiver. See Section C, below.

Summary: Filing fees for most initial filings must be paid before a case number is assigned, but parties who cannot afford them should apply for a fee deferral/waiver.

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Applies to

Conventional filing ?

A document may be returned (or rejected in file and serve) and not filed if the fee or an order waiving or deferring the fees does not accompany the document. SLR 2.015(1)(b).

Summary: A document may be returned or rejected and not filed if it is not accompanied by the fee or an order waiving or deferring the fees.

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Fee

$139

Applies to

Trial or hearing

Trial fees and hearing fees must be paid prior to the beginning of the trial or hearing. SLR 6.025. Currently, trial fees are $139 a day or partial day for a bench trial; $167 a day or partial day for a

Summary: Trial and hearing fees must be paid before the trial or hearing begins; bench trial fees are currently $139 per day or partial day (jury trial fee amount is cut off in the source text).

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Fee

$111

Applies to

Uncontested motion for relief from judgment

Currently, there is no specific fee for most ex parte motions. However, certain motions heard during ex parte are subject to a fee, such as an uncontested motion for relief from judgment under ORCP 71, which is subject to a $111 fee under ORS 21.200(1)(d).

Summary: Most ex parte motions carry no specific fee, but an uncontested motion for relief from judgment under ORCP 71 requires a $111 fee.

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Applies to

Fee deferral or waiver application ?

If a party to a case is unable to pay the case fees, that party may apply for a fee deferral or waiver. The application forms are available in on the second floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse. If this application is granted, throughout the duration of the case, any applicable fees will be deferred. After a final disposition in the case, the party must appear at ex parte for a final waiver of fees. Failure to do so may result in any outstanding fees being entered as a judgment against the non-paying party.

Summary: Parties unable to pay case fees may apply for a deferral or waiver, and after final disposition they must appear at ex parte for a final waiver or the outstanding fees may be entered as a judgment against them.

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Applies to

Deferred fees

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, deferred fees become due thirty (30) days after judgment or final disposition of the case, including dismissal. If the financial situation of the party granted a deferral has not changed, the party may apply to the presiding judge for that deferral to be converted into a waiver.

Summary: Deferred fees become due 30 days after judgment or final disposition unless otherwise ordered, and a party whose finances have not changed may apply to the presiding judge to convert the deferral into a waiver.

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Applies to

Third party complaint ?

A filing fee is required from a third-party plaintiff who files a complaint which adds an additional individual or entity into the case.

Summary: A third-party plaintiff who files a complaint adding a new individual or entity to the case must pay a filing fee.

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Applies to

Appearance

When a third-party defendant files an appearance in a civil action or proceeding in circuit court, and defendant has not already appeared in the action or proceeding, the defendant must pay the filing fee. This fee requirement is in ORS 21.165.

Summary: A third-party defendant filing a first appearance in a circuit court civil action must pay the filing fee (ORS 21.165).

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Applies to

Motion

Hearing fees must be paid at the time the motion is filed. ORS 21.200.

Summary: Hearing fees must be paid at the time the motion is filed (ORS 21.200).

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Applies to

Writ of execution

To obtain the writ, a judgment creditor must file a writ of execution along with the appropriate issuance fee.

Summary: A writ of execution requires filing the writ with the appropriate issuance fee.

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Applies to

Funds paid into court ?

If payment is made by check, the check must be payable to the State of Oregon and the case number to which the funds apply must be written on the check.

Summary: Checks paying funds into court must be payable to the State of Oregon with the applicable case number written on the check.

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Applies to

Conventional filing

If multiple separate cases are filed using conventional filing, a separate check or credit card transaction is required for each case.

Summary: When filing multiple separate cases conventionally, a separate check or credit card transaction is required for each case.

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Filing fees are not refundable under any circumstances. ORS 21.100.

Summary: Filing fees are never refundable under ORS 21.100.

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Applies to

Judicial settlement conference

Fees for judicial settlement conferences range from $111 to $223. ORS 21.215(1) and (3).

Summary: Fees for judicial settlement conferences range from $111 to $223.

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Applies to

Fee waiver or deferral application ?

The completed application for a fee waiver or deferral in a circuit court civil case should be presented by the requesting party to the clerk on the second floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse.

Summary: Completed fee waiver or deferral applications in civil cases must be presented to the clerk on the second floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse.

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Applies to

Efiling fee payment ?

If a fee deferral/waiver is granted, and the party is using File & Serve, then a payment account type of "Waiver" is available in File & Serve to select when the party is given the option to pay for a filing. The File & Serve clerk will verify the existence of a Fee Deferral/Waiver in the case when reviewing submissions with a selection of "Waiver" as the fee option. A Fee Deferral/Waiver is case specific, and the party seeking deferral must reapply for each new case.

Summary: Parties with a granted fee deferral/waiver using File & Serve must select the 'Waiver' payment account, which the clerk verifies against the case, and the waiver is case-specific requiring reapplication for each new case.

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Applies to

Deferred fees

Unless the judgment specifies otherwise, the fees are payable by the person for whom the fees were deferred. The court will, without further notice, make the deferred amount a part of the judgment or enter a supplemental judgment for the fee amounts owing, and collection fees will be added automatically as required by ORS 1.202. See ORS 21.692 regarding judgments for deferred fees.

Summary: Deferred fees are payable by the person for whom they were deferred and will be added to the judgment or a supplemental judgment with collection fees automatically added.

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Applies to

Deferred fees

Approximately forty-five (45) days after the fees are due, if the deferred amount has not been paid, the court will send a letter to the party indicating that the fees must be paid within ten (10) days. If the fees are not paid as required, the court will turn the account over to the Department of Revenue or a private collection agency for collection; all further contact regarding the payment of the deferred fees should be made with the Department of Revenue or collection agency and not the court.

Summary: Unpaid deferred fees trigger a demand letter requiring payment within 10 days about 45 days after the fees are due, after which the account is sent to the Department of Revenue or a private collection agency.

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Applies to

Petition for writ of review ?

The petitioner will then be assigned a case number after paying the filing fee.

Summary: A writ of review petitioner is assigned a case number after paying the filing fee.

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Applies to

Notice of appearance ?

A copy or separate document, together with any required filing fee, must be filed in each other case under an order of consolidation.

Summary: A copy or separate document filed in each other consolidated case must be accompanied by any required filing fee.

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Applies to

Certified copy of writ ?

You must contact the Cashier to pay fees for a certified copy of your writ if you need one, as these fees cannot be paid in an eFiling envelope. Please make a comment in your eFiling envelope that you have done this.

Summary: Certified copy fees for writs must be paid to the Cashier outside the eFiling envelope, with a comment in the envelope noting this.

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Applies to

Complaint and small claims forms ?

Forms for Complaints and Summons in Forcible Entry and Detainer (Landlord/Tenant) cases and claims in small claims cases are available for a fee at the counter on the second floor of the Multnomah County Courthouse.

Summary: FED complaint/summons forms and small claims forms are available for a fee at the second-floor counter of the Multnomah County Courthouse.

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Applies to

Initial filing ?

For those able to pay, the court accepts cash, money orders, VISA, or Master Card. Checks should be made to "State of Oregon."

Summary: The court accepts cash, money orders, VISA, or Master Card, with any checks made payable to 'State of Oregon.'

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Applies to

Efiled document ?

Fees processed under File & Serve will be authorized by the credit card on file or eCheck.

Summary: Filing fees for File & Serve eFilings are authorized via the credit card on file or eCheck.

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Applies to

Efiled document ?

In File & Serve, there may be more than one document with a filing fee payment required in the same envelope. Each filing fee will be assessed against the credit card separately when the document is accepted for filing. The reconciliation report for the lawyer or firm will reflect these individual transactions.

Summary: In File & Serve, each document with a required filing fee in the same envelope is assessed separately against the credit card upon acceptance, with individual transactions shown on the reconciliation report.

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Ordinarily, "[f]iling fees are not refundable under any circumstances. . . ." ORS 21.100.

Summary: Filing fees are ordinarily not refundable under any circumstances.

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Applies to

Fee deferral waiver request ?

Deferral/Waiver of Court fees

Summary: Deferral/waiver of court fees must be presented at ex parte in person so the judge can swear in the applicant and ask questions about ability to pay.

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A document may be returned (or rejected in file and serve) and not filed if the fee or an order waiving or deferring the fees does not accompany the document. SLR 2.015(1)(b).

Summary: A document may be returned or rejected and not filed unless accompanied by the fee or an order waiving or deferring it.

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Applies to

Writ of review ?

The petitioner will then be assigned a case number after paying the filing fee.

Summary: A petitioner is assigned a case number after paying the filing fee.

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Trial fees may be reimbursed if all claims in the action or proceeding are decided without the commencement of a trial. The court's authority to reimburse trial fees is provided by ORS 21.225. A refund requires a motion, supported by an affidavit, requesting an order allowing the reimbursement. This should be presented in person at ex parte. All reimbursements are made by mail, and, if the underlying payment was made by check, no reimbursement will be mailed until at least three weeks have passed since the date of receipt of the payment.

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

For those able to pay, the court accepts cash, money orders, VISA, or Master Card.

Summary: The court accepts cash, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard for payment of filing fees.