Probate in Morrow County runs through the Circuit Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Morrow County, settling their estate runs through the Circuit Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Morrow County · 6th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Hours
Accepted paymentCash, Check, Money order, Credit card. In person by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover); checks or money orders accepted by mail (PO Box 609, Heppner); debit or credit card payments taken by phone.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 609, Heppner, OR 97836. Part of the 6th Judicial District with Umatilla County.
Verified July 4, 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 Morrow County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 100 Court Street, Heppner. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District. The same 6th Judicial District also serves Umatilla.
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. The 4 monthsORS 115.005Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Morrow 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 100 Court Street, Heppner. The court is part of the 6th Judicial District.
Oregon charges $278 - $1,176 (based on estate value)ORS 21.170(1)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Circuit Court (https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Pages/file-and-serve.aspx). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Oregon are negotiated, typically 2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in Oregon. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Oregon requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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.
If you're handling probate yourself in Morrow County, Oregon, you can file at the Circuit Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Morrow County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Circuit Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Morrow County Self-Filing Assessment.
Before You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. Public service windows open during normal business hours; all Morrow County Circuit Court documents can be filed at the Heppner courthouse. A drop box in the back covered entrance of the courthouse accepts filings and payments at any time; items received by 5:00 PM are date-stamped the same business day.
Cash, Check, Money order, Credit card. In person by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover); checks or money orders accepted by mail (PO Box 609, Heppner); debit or credit card payments taken by phone.
To file at the Circuit Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
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 Morrow County are recorded with the County Clerk at 100 South Court Street, Suite 102, Heppner, OR 97836. Phone: 541-676-5600. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 338, Heppner, OR 97836.
The County Clerk charges $86 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Morrow County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Morrow County
Address
Phone
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $86 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
ORS 205.320(1)(d)(A); ORS 205.323(1)
Verified September 8, 2026 · Source
Oregon uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Morrow County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Oregon are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Morrow 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.
FirmHermiston, OR
Clooten Law is a family-owned firm with offices in Hermiston and Pendleton serving Umatilla County. Established in 2013, the firm prepares estate planning documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives, and also handles probate, family law, and bankruptcy.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills
FirmPendleton, OR
Grable Hantke Law Group is a Pendleton firm serving Eastern Oregon with estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate, alongside elder law and family law. Attorney Seth Hantke focuses on elder law, including guardianships, conservatorships, and trust and estate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
FirmHermiston, OR
Anderson Hansell PC has served the Hermiston area since 1976, providing estate planning and probate services for farms, ranches, businesses, and individuals throughout Eastern Oregon. The firm assists clients with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, tax planning, probate, and trust administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAgricultural LawBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmPendleton, OR
Works from Pendleton across Eastern Oregon and southeast Washington, including the Umatilla, Morrow, and Union county courts. Handles estate, trust, and probate matters alongside the agricultural and real estate work that shapes farm and ranch estates. Established 1945, and one of the largest firms in the region.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAgricultural LawReal Estate
Solo PracticeLa Grande, OR
Cory Larvik Attorney PC serves clients throughout Northeast Oregon, covering Union, Baker, Wallowa, Grant, and Umatilla Counties. The firm provides estate planning services including simple wills, lifetime gifts, complex trusts, and trust administration. Cory Larvik has been serving the La Grande area for over 16 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmHood River, OR
Jaques Sharp provides legal services in Hood River, Oregon, including estate planning, probate and trust administration, real estate, and business law. The firm serves clients in the Columbia River Gorge region. Se habla espanol.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness LawReal Estate
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. How we research.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Step-by-step tools for families in Morrow County, Oregon.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.
Browse vetted Oregon attorneys handling probate matters.
