Hillsboro Law Group is a full-service Washington County firm serving Oregon clients since 1973. Estate planning, probate, and trust administration are core practice areas, handled by a multi-attorney team alongside business, real estate, and family law.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Washington County, Oregon
How probate works in Washington County: the Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Washington County Circuit Court
Washington County · 20th Judicial District
Phone
1-503-846-8888 (option 3, then option 2, then option 2)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
150 North 1st Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Website
Files probate
Probate Department
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.The Accounting counter on the first floor of the Justice Services Building takes cash, checks and credit cards. Checks and money orders are payable to State of Oregon, a returned check carries a $35 fee, and card payments by phone go through the Central Services payment line at 1-888-564-2828.
150 North 1st Avenue
MS37
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Departments
- Probate Department1-503-846-8888 · Takes probate filings · (option 3, then option 2, then option 2)The Probate Department answers case status questions and issues fiduciary letters.
- Civil, Probate and Family Records1-503-846-8888 · (option 3, then option 7, then option 3)Copy requests are made online or in person at the Records Office on the first floor of the Justice Services Building.
- Accounting1-503-846-8888 · (option 3, then option 4) · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
About the court
- Probate filings are taken on the first floor of the Justice Services Building, where the Probate, Records and Accounting offices are; most courtrooms are in the main courthouse at 145 NE 2nd Avenue. Free two-hour parking is available around both buildings.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Washington 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 Washington County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 150 North 1st Avenue, Hillsboro. The court sits in the 20th 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 Washington County
What probate costs in Washington 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 150 North 1st Avenue, Hillsboro. The court is part of the 20th Judicial District.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Accountings follow UTCR Form 9.160 and are filed with vouchers under UTCR 9.180 unless the court has ordered otherwise (SLR 9.161).
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 Washington County, Oregon are filed at the Probate Department of the Circuit Court. The court sits in the 20th 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 Washington County Self-Filing Assessment.
Washington County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Document Requirements
Assets restricted by court order in place of a bond need a filed acknowledgment of restriction of assets (SLR 9.051).
SourceCourt Appearances
Ex parte probate matters are decided on the filings, without an appearance before a judge.
The probate commissioner sets all probate hearings, and questions about resets, appearances or settlements go to the Probate Department rather than to a judge's chambers. When every party has an attorney, the court sets a status conference on a matter to frame the issue and set docket time.
SourceA show cause hearing over a missing statutory filing stays on the calendar after the filing is cured, and the fiduciary still appears.
SourceRecords Access
Certified copies of fiduciary letters come from the Probate Department, only to the appointed fiduciary or the attorney of record.
Copies and certification of other documents in the case are requested through the Records Department.
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 Washington County
In Oregon a death is registered locally, and in Washington County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Washington County Vital Records as well as by Oregon Health Authority - Center for Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
County Registrar
Washington County · Washington County Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM (first Wednesday from 11:00, fifth Wednesday from 13:00, second Friday from 13:00)
Office
155 North First Avenue, Suite 170, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Local rule
- The county takes applications until the day before the six-month mark: for a death on January 10, until July 9.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Washington County · Washington County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
155 North First Avenue, Suite 160, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Website
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Washington 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 Washington County are recorded with the County Clerk at 155 North First Avenue, Suite 130, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Phone: 1-503-846-8752. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Clerk charges $86 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Washington County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Washington County · Department of Assessment & Taxation, Recording Division
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
155 North First Avenue, Suite 130, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $86 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
ORS 205.320(1)(d)(A); ORS 205.323(1)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Washington 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 Washington 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.
Kirkendall Law, LLC is the Tigard solo practice of attorney Valerie Ingram Kirkendall, who holds a certificate of mastery in Taxation and has over 20 years of Oregon practice. The firm focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships.
The Law Office of Wendell L. Belknap is a solo practice in downtown Oregon City handling probate, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, alongside real estate, family law, and personal injury matters for Clackamas County clients.
Caress Law offers a full suite of probate and trust administration services, including trust and estate administration, asset distribution, and tax returns for Portland area clients.
Gevurtz Menashe has been at the forefront of estate planning in the Pacific Northwest for more than four decades, counseling countless clients to ensure their affairs are in order. The firm serves clients in Portland and Vancouver.
Myatt & Bell, P.C. has an estate planning legacy dating back to 1960 and has drafted thousands of wills and trusts. The firm practices estate planning, probate, trust administration, and elder law with offices in the Portland metro area and Vancouver, Washington.
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)
- Washington County Circuit Court, official page
- Washington County Clerk, official page
- Washington 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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