File a small claim for money or property owed Money & Debt Oregon preparation and procedure guide Source review: 2026-10-11 Scope: Shared Oregon or applicable federal procedure; confirm local requirements Prepare a documented claim, file in the correct county and arrange legally effective service. Who this route is for Eligible money or property claims of $10,000 or less. Claims involving debt buyers, consumer debt or public bodies have additional requirements. Timing and notices The packet warns that proof of service not filed within 63 days after the claim is filed may cause dismissal. Other response, default and hearing dates also apply; track the full packet. Prepare (conditional documents may have alternatives) [ ] Itemized loss and supporting receipts or estimates [ ] Defendant’s correct legal name and service address [ ] Good-faith collection attempt record [ ] Small Claim and Notice and defendant response form [ ] Filing fee or fee-relief application [ ] Completed proof of service How to proceed 1. Try in good faith to resolve or collect the claim before filing and document the attempt. 2. Read the plaintiff packet, confirm the amount and proper county, and verify each defendant’s legal identity. 3. Complete the claim with itemized actual losses and required accompanying forms; pay or request relief from the filing fee. 4. Arrange an allowed service method and file the certificate or acceptance of service. 5. Monitor the court’s notices and attend mediation or hearing prepared with witnesses and evidence. Get small-claims plaintiff forms: https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Pages/small-claims.aspx Limits: Winning does not automatically collect the judgment. Do not serve the case yourself using a method requiring a non-party server. Claims outside small-claims jurisdiction need another route. Publisher sources File a small claim for money or property owed - official instructions https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/SC-INSTR-plntf.pdf Evidence type: publisher-pdf SHA-256: 21964e9f53da3914afaf41c2b02ef59905e71685840d95f94d0a0632aa9854b9 Oregon Judicial Department : Small Claims : Forms Center : State of Oregon https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/pages/small-claims.aspx Evidence type: publisher-html-snapshot SHA-256: d1a864b7faaeeb8a2747e3019150dbcf7bc592d518f1ebbf359533127f430655 This site helps you prepare. It does not submit filings, calculate personal deadlines, decide eligibility or replace professional review. A complaint or help request does not pause another case or deadline. Start here First make a good-faith collection attempt. Prepare the Small Claim and Notice, the caption of the Defendant's Response, itemized losses, and defendants' correct legal names and service addresses. Where and how to submit File with the circuit court for a county where a defendant lives or can be found, the damage/claim/injury occurred, or contractual performance was due, as the official plaintiff instructions specify. Self-represented people may file in person, by mail, or through OJD electronic filing. Confirm the selected court's address and local requirements before sending papers. https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Pages/small-claims.aspx What will it cost? 2026 plaintiff filing fee: $57 when the claim is $2,500 or less; $102 when it exceeds $2,500 (small claims cannot exceed $10,000). Service costs are separate. Submit a fee deferral/waiver application if unable to pay. Jury demands or transfer can create additional fees. After submission Arrange legally effective service on every defendant and file the original proof of service or acceptance. Keep the assigned case number and watch for mediation/hearing notices. Read the current packet's service, response, and default provisions; a defendant's silence does not automatically produce a judgment. Corrections, denials and appeals If service by mail lacks the required defendant-signed receipt, use another permitted method. If a jury demand or public-body defendant is involved, follow the packet's special instructions and seek legal advice. Language, disability and offline help Ask the selected court clerk about filing procedures; staff cannot choose your claim or give legal advice. Request an interpreter or contact that court's ADA Coordinator for accommodations. Additional workflow sources (reviewed 2026-10-11) OJD Small Claims Plaintiff Instructions, January 2026 https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/SC-INSTR-plntf.pdf SHA-256: 21964e9f53da3914afaf41c2b02ef59905e71685840d95f94d0a0632aa9854b9 OJD File a Case https://www.courts.oregon.gov/how/Pages/file.aspx SHA-256: 9e8781e8000f2b3baf4638b3e76a84794330afc9182a978fe3fc99387ef62fe0 2026 Circuit Court Fee Schedule https://www.courts.oregon.gov/Documents/2026_CircuitFeeSchedule_public_eff-2026-01-01.pdf SHA-256: 9db4d3e2071c295077ceeac035b5b3f84225422c89349f2d37d3e9bb4db34f4a OJD Accessibility and ADA Coordinators https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/ada/Pages/default.aspx SHA-256: 2feceff44b61bfaf84308ea8ec8b01af5a6ee4b71c36997e98de7eda66bf6e3a