Small claims court in Oregon (2026)
In Oregon you can sue for up to $10,000 in small claims. Court: Small claims department of the Circuit Court. Lawyers: limited. Appeal: no appeal. For a broken written agreement you generally have 6 years to sue. Last checked .
Oregon small claims at a glance
- Most you can sue for
- $10,000
- Court
- Small claims department of the Circuit Court
- Filing fee
- $57–$102
- Lawyers
- Limited
- Appeal
- No appeal
- Ask for payment first
- Required
Can you sue in Oregon small claims?
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Oregon small claims limit
$10,000
Enter the amount to compare it with the limit.
The rule: Claims for money, damages or specific personal property of up to $10,000 may be filed in small claims. Claims of $750 or less must be filed in small claims (with an exception for some cases with statutory attorney fees). All amounts from a single transaction must be included in one claim. Class actions and suits between adults in custody are not allowed.
Deadline to sue (general rule)
6 years for this kind of claim in Oregon. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.
Contracts, written or oral (express or implied): 6 years. Taking or injuring personal property, or injury to real property: 6 years. Personal injury: 2 years. Negligence claims have an outside limit of 10 years from the act. Sale-of-goods contracts follow ORS 72.7250.
Lawyers: Lawyers can take part only in limited cases.
Before you file: The claim must state that the plaintiff made a good faith effort to collect the claim from the defendant before filing, backed by an affidavit or declaration.
Appeal: A small claims judgment is conclusive on the parties, and no appeal may be taken from it. A default judgment or dismissal may be set aside for good cause shown within 60 days.
Filing fee: Statewide fees: $57 when the claim is $2,500 or less, and $102 when it is more than $2,500. A defendant who demands a hearing pays the same fee. The OJD Circuit Court Fee Schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026 lists these amounts.
The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Where to file and how much
- Court. Each county circuit court has a small claims department (in a few cities a justice court runs it instead under an agreement). File in the county where a defendant lives or can be found; for a tort, also where it happened; for a contract to be performed in a set county, also that county.
- Limit. Claims for money, damages or specific personal property of up to $10,000 may be filed in small claims. Claims of $750 or less must be filed in small claims (with an exception for some cases with statutory attorney fees). All amounts from a single transaction must be included in one claim. Class actions and suits between adults in custody are not allowed.
- Filing fee. Statewide fees: $57 when the claim is $2,500 or less, and $102 when it is more than $2,500. A defendant who demands a hearing pays the same fee. The OJD Circuit Court Fee Schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026 lists these amounts.
Who can sue and who can speak in court
- No attorney or other person may appear for a party without the judge's consent. A business or public body may appear without an attorney. Assignees may bring assigned claims to the same extent as in other courts. One spouse may appear for both with the other's consent.
- Before you file. The claim must state that the plaintiff made a good faith effort to collect the claim from the defendant before filing, backed by an affidavit or declaration.
- Jury and moving the case. If the total claimed (including interest, fees and costs) is over $750, the defendant has a right to a jury trial and may ask for one within 30 days of service. The case then leaves small claims: the plaintiff must file a formal complaint in circuit court within 20 days. A counterclaim over $10,000 moves the case to circuit court if the defendant asks.
How long you have to sue in Oregon
The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Contracts, written or oral (express or implied): 6 years. Taking or injuring personal property, or injury to real property: 6 years. Personal injury: 2 years. Negligence claims have an outside limit of 10 years from the act. Sale-of-goods contracts follow ORS 72.7250.
| Kind of claim | Time to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 6 years |
| Damage to property | 6 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
Law: ORS 12.080, 12.110(1), 12.115
After the hearing: appeals and collecting
- Who can appeal
- Neither side can appeal a small claims judgment.
- Deadline
- A small claims judgment is conclusive on the parties, and no appeal may be taken from it. A default judgment or dismissal may be set aside for good cause shown within 60 days.
- Collecting the money
- A small claims judgment is a circuit court judgment and is collected with the usual remedies such as writs of garnishment and execution. A judgment of $3,000 or more becomes a lien on land automatically; a smaller one (from $10) does so only after the creditor pays a fee and asks the clerk. Judgment remedies for a civil judgment expire 10 years after entry.
Good to know in Oregon
- No appeal is allowed in small claims, for either side.
- Some courts (for example Multnomah County) schedule pre-trial mediation; parties must appear for it, but a trial is set if no agreement is reached.
- limit.effective: ORS 46.405 does not state when the $10,000 figure took effect (last limit amendment shown as Oregon Laws 2011, c. 595).
- If a defendant demands a jury and loses, the plaintiff gets reasonable attorney fees (capped at $1,000 unless a contract or statute provides otherwise).
Official help and forms
- Oregon courts: small claims self-help
- Oregon small claims forms
- Write a demand letter before you file (free, stays in your browser)
Sources
- ORS Chapter 46 (Small Claims Department, ORS 46.405-46.570) (read October 18, 2026)
- ORS Chapter 12 (limitations of actions) (read October 18, 2026)
- ORS Chapter 18 (judgments, ORS 18.180) (read October 18, 2026)
- OJD Circuit Court Fee Schedule effective 2026-01-01 (read October 18, 2026)
- Oregon Law Help: How to File a Case in Small Claims Court in Oregon (read October 18, 2026)
- Multnomah County Circuit Court small claims page (read October 18, 2026)
- OJD small claims forms (read October 18, 2026)
Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.
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