What to Do When Someone Dies in Union County, Oregon
Probate in Union 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 Union 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.
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysWalk-ins acceptedSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCash, Check, Credit card. Pay in person at the circuit court by cash, check, or credit card; checks accepted by mail (1105 K Ave); credit card payments taken by phone at 541-962-9500.
Public service counters are closed 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday; courtrooms continue to run until 5:00 PM.
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 Union County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 1105 K Avenue, La Grande. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District. Union County shares the 10th Judicial District with Wallowa.
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 Union County
What probate costs in Union 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 1105 K Avenue, La Grande. The court is part of the 10th 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.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Union 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 10th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Union County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
•Self-represented (pro se) filers are exempt from mandatory e-filing. UTCR 21.140 requires only active Oregon State Bar members to e-file; pro se filers may file conventionally on paper or in person.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Circuit Court is realistic.
You can file in person without an appointment. Public service counters open 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM. A drop box at 1105 K Avenue is checked daily at 5:00 PM: items left between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM are received the same business day; items left after 5:00 PM are received the following business day.
Accepted payment
Cash, Check, Credit card. Pay in person at the circuit court by cash, check, or credit card; checks accepted by mail (1105 K Ave); credit card payments taken by phone at 541-962-9500.
What to Bring
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.
Transferring Property in Union 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 Union County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Lisa Feik, at 1001 4th Street, Suite D, La Grande, OR 97850. Phone: 541-963-1006. Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM for lunch).
The County Clerk charges $90 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Oregon uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Union 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 Union 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.
Baum Smith LLC is a La Grande law firm representing individuals, businesses, and public-sector clients across Eastern Oregon, with practice areas including estate planning, civil litigation, municipal law, eminent domain, criminal defense, and real estate and land use. The firm serves Union, Wallowa, Baker, and Umatilla counties.
Centennial Law LLC serves Eastern Oregon from its La Grande office, focusing on trusts and estates, estate planning, probate, and trust administration, along with guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. Attorney Glenn Null brings more than 20 years of Oregon practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 2 more
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Enter estate details
Select your state and enter an estate value to see a detailed cost estimate.
Quick examples:
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.
$
Total probate assets (exclude beneficiary-designated accounts)
Can you self-file probate?
Enter your state and estate value to get a personalized recommendation with estimated cost savings.
Score-based assessment with reasoning
Cost comparison vs. hiring an attorney
This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Union County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Union County, Oregon.
