Serves the Mid-Columbia region on both sides of the river from The Dalles, covering Wasco and Hood River counties in Oregon and Klickitat County in Washington. Handles estate planning, probate, elder law, and business and farm succession, including passing down a family farm. The practice traces to 1917.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Wasco County, Oregon
How probate works in Wasco County: the Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Wasco County Circuit Court
Wasco County · 7th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM
Office
511 Washington Street, The Dalles, OR 97058
Website
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, Credit card.The court takes cash, checks and credit cards in person, checks by mail to the accounting office, and credit card payments by phone at 1-541-506-2700.
511 Washington Street
Suite 305
The Dalles, OR 97058
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Wasco 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 Wasco County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 511 Washington Street, The Dalles. The court sits in the 7th 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 Wasco County
What probate costs in Wasco 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 511 Washington Street, The Dalles. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District.
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 Wasco County, Oregon are filed at the Circuit Court. The court sits in the 7th 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 Wasco County Self-Filing Assessment.
Wasco County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Records Access
Copies from a case file are requested on the statewide records request form, by email, mail or pickup.
Certified copies of documents used to administer an estate, such as fiduciary letters and small estate affidavits, may need to be certified on paper rather than electronically. A paper certified copy is stapled, and removing the staple voids the certification.
SourceOther Requirements
A non-professional personal representative registers for the court's fiduciary class within 15 days and completes it within 60 days of appointment (SLR 9.076).
The certificate of completion is filed with the court. A waiver for good cause is requested by motion within 15 days of the court's notice, and the class fee is a cost of administration of the estate.
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 Wasco County
In Oregon a death is registered locally, and in Wasco County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by North Central Public Health District, Wasco County as well as by Oregon Health Authority - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
County Registrar
Wasco County · North Central Public Health District
Phone
Office
419 East 7th Street, The Dalles, OR 97058
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Fees
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Wasco County · Wasco-Sherman County Medical Examiner
Phone
Serves this county
Hood River County Medical Examiner
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Wasco 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 Wasco County are recorded with the County Clerk at 401 East 3rd Street, Suite 100, The Dalles, OR 97058. Phone: 1-541-506-2530. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM (closed for lunch).
The County Clerk charges $123 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Wasco County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Indecomm, Simplifile, ValueCheck and Hopdox.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Wasco County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM (closed for lunch)
Office
401 East 3rd Street, Suite 100, The Dalles, OR 97058
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $123 |
| 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 Wasco 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 Wasco 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.
NW Heritage Law PC (formerly Campbell Phillips PC) is a specialized law firm in The Dalles serving clients throughout the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington. The firm focuses on estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, and family asset preservation.
Serves Deschutes County and Central Oregon from Bend. Handles estate planning, trust drafting, probate administration, and guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and reports more than 590 estates planned and 290 probate engagements.
Bend firm serving Deschutes County and Central Oregon. Handles wills, trusts, and probate, and reviews plans for clients who move to Oregon so their existing documents meet Oregon requirements.
Serves Bend, Redmond, La Pine, and the rest of Deschutes County from Bend. Handles wills and trusts, probate, trust administration, and estate and gift tax, plus elder law including VA long-term care planning, guardianships, and conservatorships. Practicing in Central Oregon since 1995.
Serves Deschutes County from Bend. Structures revocable and irrevocable trusts, partnerships, LLCs, and charitable entities for estate tax planning and probate avoidance, and handles probate, blended-family planning, business succession, and digital-asset 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.
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)
- Wasco County Circuit Court, official page
- Wasco County Clerk, official page
- Wasco 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
Browse vetted Oregon attorneys handling probate matters.
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Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
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