What to Do When Someone Dies in Curry County, Oregon

How probate works in Curry County: the Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

Probate Court Record

Curry County Circuit Court

Curry County · 15th Judicial District

Phone

1-541-373-6894 (ext. 27004)

Hours

Monday-Wednesday, Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM; Thursday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:30 PM-5:00 PM

Office

29821 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97444

Files probate

Probate

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.The circuit court takes cash, checks and Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards in person, checks and money orders by mail, and card payments by phone at 1-541-373-6894, extension 27001. Payments are due in full, and the Coos and Curry courts offer no payment plans.

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Curry 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 Curry County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 29821 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach. The court sits in the 15th 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 Curry County

What probate costs in Curry 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 29821 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach. The court is part of the 15th Judicial District.

Procedures at this court that affect cost: An estate not ready to close explains why at each annual accounting.

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 Curry County, Oregon are filed at the Probate of the Circuit Court. The court sits in the 15th 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 Curry County Self-Filing Assessment.

Curry 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

A written request extends a filing deadline by up to 30 days

The court allows an extension of up to 30 days to file any document when the extension is requested in writing and filed. A longer extension takes a motion, a supporting declaration and a proposed order.

Source

Court Appearances

A missed filing brings a delinquency notice, then an order to show cause

The court sends the fiduciary a delinquency notice for each document not filed on time. If the notice is not followed, the court orders the fiduciary and any attorney to appear and show cause why the fiduciary should not be removed.

Source

What 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 Curry County

In Oregon a death is registered locally, and in Curry County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Curry County Clerk as well as by Oregon Health Authority - Center for Health Statistics.

Vital Records Office Record

County Registrar

Curry County · Curry County Clerk

Hours

8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

Office

29821 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97444

Mail

94235 Moore Street Suite 212 Gold Beach, OR 97444

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

District Medical Examiner

Curry County · Curry County Medical Examiner

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

13309 Southeast 84th Avenue, Suite 100, Clackamas, OR 97015

Serves this county

Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Curry 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 Curry County are recorded with the County Clerk at 29821 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97444. Phone: 1-541-247-3295. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to 94235 Moore Street, Suite 212, Gold Beach, OR 97444.

The County Clerk charges $136 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.

Curry County does not offer e-recording.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Curry County

Hours

Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Office

29821 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR 97444

Mail

94235 Moore Street Suite 212 Gold Beach, OR 97444

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Curry 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 Curry 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 PracticeBrookings, OR

K. R. Olin, Attorney at Law

Serves 1 county

K. R. Olin is a Brookings solo practitioner serving Curry County on the southern Oregon coast, in private practice since 1997. Services include revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney, advance directives, probate, and trust administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills

Office
624 Fleet StreetBrookings, OR 97415

Day, Driver, Fournier & Reinhart LLP has served the Grants Pass and Southern Oregon community for over 50 years. The firm helps clients create estate plans including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and transfer-on-death deeds, and handles probate and trust administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateFamily LawLitigation

Office
600 NW 5th StGrants Pass, OR 97526

Solo PracticeKlamath Falls, OR

Diana Jean Bettles Attorney at Law

Diana Jean Bettles Attorney at Law provides estate law services in Klamath Falls, Oregon, including estate planning, estate administration, wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. The office serves clients throughout Klamath County.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateFamily Law

Office
706 Main St, Suite 3AKlamath Falls, OR 97601

Solo PracticeKlamath Falls, OR

Law Offices of Melinda M. Brown PC

The Law Offices of Melinda M. Brown PC provides estate planning and probate services from fully staffed offices in Klamath Falls and Albany, Oregon. The firm handles living wills, estates, guardianships, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, estate administration, and conservatorships. Melinda Brown is licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipFamily Law

Office
419 Main StKlamath Falls, OR 97601
Free consultation

FirmKlamath Falls, OR

Oakes Law Offices, P.C.

Serves Klamath, Jackson, Lake, Josephine, Curry, Coos, and Douglas counties from Klamath Falls, with virtual appointments for the outlying counties. Handles wills and trusts, probate, and deed preparation, alongside a consumer bankruptcy practice that matters when an estate carries more debt than assets. Free initial consultation for estate planning matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills

Office
122 South 5th StreetKlamath Falls, OR 97603
Free consultation

FirmRoseburg, OR

Rubin & Wickersham, Attorneys at Law PC

Since 2003

Rubin & Wickersham, Attorneys at Law PC practices family law, estate planning, and property litigation in Roseburg, Oregon. Founded in 2003, the firm serves Douglas County residents with trust and estate planning, real estate transactions, and business organization matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness Lawand 2 more

Office
766 SE Kane StRoseburg, OR 97470
See all 14 firms serving Curry County →

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.

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Legal Sources

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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.

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