How probate works in Clackamas County: the Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Clackamas County · 5th Judicial District
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Files probate
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Self-represented filing
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About the court
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Clackamas County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 1000 Courthouse Road, Oregon City. The court sits in the 5th Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Oregon intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Oregon estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsORS §§ 113.155, 115.003, 115.005, 115.125Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What probate costs in Clackamas County, Oregon comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Circuit Court at 1000 Courthouse Road, Oregon City. The court is part of the 5th Judicial District.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Attorney and fiduciary fees paid from the estate are approved in advance on an itemized affidavit; Fee waiver and deferral requests go to a collection clerk by 11:30 a.m.
Oregon charges $278 - $1,176 (based on estate value)ORS 21.170(1)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Oregon are negotiated, typically 2%Modeled estimate under ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%Modeled estimate under ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Oregon sets executor compensation by statute — about $10,630 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.1%ORS 116.173 (7% first $1K, 4% $1K-$10K, 3% $10K-$50K, 2% over $50K, on property subject to the court’s jurisdiction; 1% of other property reportable for estate tax; extraordinary services)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Oregon requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under ORS 113.105Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Oregon typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate cases in Clackamas County, Oregon are filed at the Probate of the Circuit Court. The court sits in the 5th Judicial District.
The county law library is in the courthouse building, and the Probate Department names it as a place to find forms the court does not provide. Fee waiver and deferral applications are available at the Court Help Desk in the first-floor Public Service Center.
Oregon has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Clackamas County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Non-professional personal representatives take the Guardian Partners fiduciary class
A non-professional personal representative registers within 15 days of appointment and completes the fiduciary education class within 90 days. Guardian Partners runs the pre-recorded class and files the certificate of completion; the fee is a cost of administration. A personal representative appointed only to pursue a wrongful death claim is exempt.
SourceA personal representative without an attorney gives notice and demonstrates competency
A personal representative who intends to appear without an attorney gives the court notice of that intent and demonstrates competency in probate matters. The court acts if the showing does not assure it the estate will be protected.
SourceThe court generally requires a bond for the full estate plus a year of income
The court generally requires a fiduciary to be bonded for the full value of the assets plus the income expected in a year. Waiver needs consent and assurance of protection for all interested parties, and restricting assets is the alternative, with the acknowledgment of restriction filed within 30 days of the judgment.
SourceDischarge papers are filed within 90 days of the judgment of distribution
The closing documents that discharge the personal representative are filed within 90 days of the general judgment of distribution, or of any amended judgment, unless the court finds good cause.
SourceEstate petitions state the petitioner's full legal name and each heir's relationship
A petition to open an estate states the petitioner's full legal name, shows how each heir is related to the decedent, and discloses any devise that will fail and why. A request to waive bond explains why waiver is proper given the known assets and creditors and is filed with consents from all known heirs and devisees.
SourceA petition for an estate already open in another state includes the other state's papers
Where an estate for the same decedent is open in another state, the Oregon petition includes a certified copy of the other state's judgment of appointment, the will if there is one, and the letters.
SourceA missed filing deadline brings a citation hearing
When a required filing is late or deficient, the court sends a notice and sets a citation hearing, usually held by video. The personal representative and counsel appear unless the problem is cured at least three judicial days before the hearing.
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Circuit Court: Original will and any codicils, with an affidavit of attesting witness or affidavit of genuine signature (ORS 113.055); Petition for appointment of personal representative stating decedent, venue, heirs/devisees, and nominee (ORS 113.035) — typed pleading, no statewide form; Proposed limited judgment of appointment of personal representative; Bond unless waived by the will or because the PR is the sole heir/devisee (ORS 113.105)ORS 113.035 (petition for appointment), 113.105 (bond), 113.125 (issuance of letters)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
In Oregon a death is registered locally, and in Clackamas County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clackamas County Vital Records as well as by Oregon Health Authority - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Clackamas County · Clackamas County Vital Records
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Certified copies
Order online
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Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Clackamas County · Clackamas County Medical Examiner
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Office
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Clackamas County are recorded with the County Clerk at 1710 Red Soils Court, Suite 110, Oregon City, OR 97045. Phone: 1-503-655-8551. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk charges $113 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Clackamas County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Clackamas County
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| Base fee (first page) | $113 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
ORS 205.320(1)(d)(A); ORS 205.323(1)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Oregon allows independent administrationORS 114.275Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Oregon are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Clackamas County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Solo PracticeTigard, OR
Kirkendall Law, LLC is the Tigard solo practice of attorney Valerie Ingram Kirkendall, who holds a certificate of mastery in Taxation and has over 20 years of Oregon practice. The firm focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 2 more
Solo PracticeOregon City, OR
The Law Office of Wendell L. Belknap is a solo practice in downtown Oregon City handling probate, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, alongside real estate, family law, and personal injury matters for Clackamas County clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateFamily Lawand 2 more
FirmPortland, OR
Caress Law offers a full suite of probate and trust administration services, including trust and estate administration, asset distribution, and tax returns for Portland area clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmPortland, OR
Gevurtz Menashe has been at the forefront of estate planning in the Pacific Northwest for more than four decades, counseling countless clients to ensure their affairs are in order. The firm serves clients in Portland and Vancouver.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Law
FirmPortland, OR
Kell, Alterman & Runstein has provided personalized and effective trust and estate counsel to a diverse clientele in Portland, Oregon, and nationally for more than 80 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation
FirmPortland, OR
Serves Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties from Southwest Portland. Handles wills and trusts, probate and trust administration, elder law, and Medicaid and long-term care planning, including planning for a family member already in care. Practicing over 35 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Oregon statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Free tools for settling an estate in Oregon: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Oregon.
Settling an estate in Oregon: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysORS 113.165, ORS 113.175Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsORS §§ 113.155, 115.003, 115.005, 115.125Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
Settling a trust in Oregon happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeORS 130.001 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
Oregon has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Browse vetted Oregon attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Oregon attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Oregon lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
