Seaside Attorneys (formerly Moberg & Rust) is a general-practice firm serving the north Oregon Coast since 1974. Practice areas include estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and trust administration, elder law, real estate, and business law.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Clatsop County, Oregon
How probate works in Clatsop County: the Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Clatsop County Circuit Court
Clatsop County · 18th Judicial District
Phone
1-503-325-8555 (press 4, then option 2)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (customer service windows)
Office
749 Commercial Street, Astoria, OR 97103
Website
Files probate
Probate
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys file through OJD eFile. A self-represented filer may file on paper at the counter or register for a free individual eFile account, and most courthouses have an eFiling kiosk during business hours. On paper: Self-represented filers are not required to e-file: the rule binds active Oregon State Bar licensees (UTCR 21.140); An original will is filed in its original form; when an image of it is e-filed, the original follows on paper within seven business days (UTCR 21.070(3)(h)).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Oregon Judicial Department's statewide estate forms are the simple estate packet (the small estate affidavit) and the claim against an estate.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.The customer service windows take cash, checks, money orders and Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit or debit cards. Card payments are also taken by phone, and checks by mail.
P.O. Box 835
Astoria, OR 97103
Departments
- Probate1-503-325-8555 · Takes probate filings · (press 4, then option 2) · clt.probate.clatsop@ojd.state.or.usThe probate desk handles estates, guardianships and conservatorships and answers during business hours. Pleadings cannot be filed by email.
- Civil1-503-325-8555 · (option 4) · civil.clatsop@ojd.state.or.us
- Recordscopy.clatsop@ojd.state.or.usCopy requests go through the records request form, online, by phone or at the courthouse, and most are completed within five business days. Public documents in most cases newer than 2009 can be viewed free on the lobby computer.
About the court
- Phones are answered from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The court closes from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month for a team meeting.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Clatsop County
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 Clatsop County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 749 Commercial Street, Astoria. The court sits in the 18th 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 Clatsop County
What probate costs in Clatsop 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 749 Commercial Street, Astoria. The court is part of the 18th Judicial District.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Estate accountings include the opening and closing depository statements.
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.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court
Probate cases in Clatsop County, Oregon are filed at the Probate of the Circuit Court. The court sits in the 18th Judicial District.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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 Clatsop County Self-Filing Assessment.
Clatsop County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Non-professional personal representatives take a fiduciary education class
A non-professional personal representative registers for the court-required fiduciary education class within 30 days of appointment, completes it within 90 days, and has a certificate of completion filed. The class fee is a cost of administration and may be waived or deferred; professional fiduciaries and attorneys serving as fiduciaries are exempt.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed 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.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Clatsop County
In Oregon a death is registered locally, and in Clatsop County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clatsop County Public Health as well as by Oregon Health Authority - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
County Registrar
Clatsop County · Clatsop County Public Health
Hours
Monday-Wednesday, Friday 8:45 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
820 Exchange Street, Suite 100, Astoria, OR 97103
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Fax
1-503-325-8678
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Clatsop County · Clatsop County Sheriff's Office Medical Examiner Division
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Clatsop County
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 Clatsop County are recorded with the County Clerk at 820 Exchange Street, Suite 220, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 1-503-325-8511. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk charges $107 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Clatsop County accepts electronic recording through CSC and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Clatsop County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
820 Exchange Street, Suite 220, Astoria, OR 97103
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $107 |
| 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
Probate Attorneys Serving Clatsop County
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 Clatsop 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.
Blair Henningsgaard has practiced law in Astoria since 1983, serving the North Oregon Coast with estate planning, probate, real estate, and business law. A former Clatsop County Commissioner and Astoria City Attorney, he has appeared in courts throughout Oregon including the Oregon Supreme Court and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Coast Family Law provides personalized estate planning services to clients on the Oregon Coast, including Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln counties. Services include wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and advance directives.
Albright Kittell PC is the longest-standing law firm in Tillamook County, focusing on building and protecting client legacies through estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Costello Law Office has provided professional legal services in Coos Bay since 1977. The firm offers experienced counsel in estate planning, probate, family law, and small business law. Attorney Karen L. Costello serves as City Attorney for Coquille and Associate Judge for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
Newport Law provides thoughtful and dependable legal services for individuals and families on the Oregon Coast. The firm focuses on guiding clients through estate planning, estate administration, family law, and landlord-tenant matters with skill and sensitivity.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- ORS §§ 113.155, 115.003, 115.005, 115.125
- ORS 113.035 (petition for appointment), 113.105 (bond), 113.125 (issuance of letters)
- ORS 114.275
- 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)
- ORS 21.170(1)
- ORS 205.320(1)(d)(A); ORS 205.323(1)
- Clatsop County Circuit Court, official page
- Clatsop County Clerk, official page
- Clatsop County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Oregon statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Oregon
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.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
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.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Oregon has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Get the Answer
Hire an Oregon Probate Attorney
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Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
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