What to Do When Someone Dies in Washington County, Oregon
Probate in Washington 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 Washington 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
Circuit Court
Washington County · 20th Judicial District
Address
145 NE 2nd AvenueHillsboro, OR 97124
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCash, Check, Money order, Credit card. In person by cash, check, or credit card at the Accounting counter (First Floor, Justice Services Building, 150 N 1st Avenue); by phone via the Central Services payment line at 1-888-564-2828; mailed payments must be check or money order payable to 'State of Oregon'. OJD Courts ePay adds a $1.50 processing fee per transaction.
Departments
- Probate Department503-846-8888, Option 3, 2, 2Located on First Floor, Justice Services Building, 150 N 1st Avenue.
Simple estates: personal property ≤$75,000 and real property ≤$200,000. Mailing: 150 N 1st Avenue MS37.
Verified July 4, 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 145 NE 2nd 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 monthsORS 114.510 & 114.515 (simple estateVerified Jul 15, 2026View source to 12 monthsORS 114.510 & 114.515 (simple estateVerified Jul 15, 2026View source to move through this process. The 4 monthsORS 115.005Verified Jul 15, 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 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 145 NE 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro. The court is part of the 20th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through the Probate Department. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court: Ex parte matters typically resolve without court appearance. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Oregon charges $278 - $1,176 (based on estate value)ORS 21.170(1)Verified Jul 15, 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 Jul 15, 2026View source to 3.2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in Oregon, typically 2%ORS 116.173 (7% first $1K, 4% $1K-$10K, 3% $10K-$50K, 2% over $50K; +1% of non-jurisdictional estate-tax-reportable property; + reasonable for extraordinary services)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source to 7%ORS 116.173 (7% first $1K, 4% $1K-$10K, 3% $10K-$50K, 2% over $50K; +1% of non-jurisdictional estate-tax-reportable property; + reasonable for extraordinary services)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source of estate value. 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 Jul 15, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Oregon typically runs 6 monthsORS 114.510 & 114.515 (simple estateVerified Jul 15, 2026View source to 12 monthsORS 114.510 & 114.515 (simple estateVerified Jul 15, 2026View source, and costs accrue throughout. The 4 monthsORS 115.005Verified Jul 15, 2026View source creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
How to File Probate at the Circuit Court
If you're handling probate yourself in Washington 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 20th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through the Probate Department. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
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 Washington 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.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
- •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.
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.
Court Appearances
Ex parte matters typically resolve without court appearance
Court appearances typically not required for ex parte matters; matters resolve through File & Serve/Odyssey system.
SourceBefore You Go
Accepted payment
Cash, Check, Money order, Credit card. In person by cash, check, or credit card at the Accounting counter (First Floor, Justice Services Building, 150 N 1st Avenue); by phone via the Central Services payment line at 1-888-564-2828; mailed payments must be check or money order payable to 'State of Oregon'. OJD Courts ePay adds a $1.50 processing fee per transaction.
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 Washington County
Clearing title to real estate after a death—recording a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order—happens at the County Clerk.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Washington County
Address
155 North First Avenue, Suite 130Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
E-recording
Available via Simplifile
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $86 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
First-page total of $86 (effective Aug 1, 2025), $5 each additional page. Washington County is the only Oregon county with a local transfer tax ($1 per $1,000 of consideration), grandfathered under ORS 306.815(4). TOD deeds are exempt — no consideration passes at recording.
ORS 205.320(1)(d)(A); ORS 205.323(1)
Transfer tax
None. Oregon levies no state real estate transfer tax, and ORS 306.815(1) bars cities, counties, and districts from imposing one. State; Washington County transfer tax: $1 per $1,000 of consideration. Grandfathered by ORS 306.815(4), which exempts any transfer tax whose ordinance was "in effect and operative on March 31, 1997" — Washington County's predates that date and is the only such tax still operative in Oregon. local. Transfer-on-death deeds are generally exempt (A TOD deed conveys nothing at recording (ORS 93.967: it does not transfer any interest during the transferor's life) and carries no consideration, so there is no consideration to measure the $1/$1,000 tax against. Transfers by gift, devise, or inheritance are separately exempt.). Washington County is the only Oregon county with a real estate transfer tax. The grandfather clause in ORS 306.815(4) is keyed to a DATE (March 31, 1997), not to the county by name — no new local transfer tax can be created. Tax due within 15 days of recording.
Second-largest county by population. Only Oregon county with a local real estate transfer tax, grandfathered by ORS 306.815(4). Fee of $86 effective Aug 1, 2025. Washington has NOT raised its PLC fee post-HB 3175. Credit/debit card payments incur 2.45% fee (minimum $1.50).
Verified July 14, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Washington County
Oregon uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Washington 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 Jul 15, 2026View source to 3.2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source of the estate's value, 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.
Portland Metro Firms
Hillsboro Law Group PC
FirmHillsboro 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.
Location
5289 NE Elam Young Pkwy, Ste 110Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone
(503) 648-0707
Established
1973
Service Area
2 counties
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationWillsGuardianshipConservatorshipReal EstateBusiness Law
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Kirkendall Law, LLC
Solo PracticeKirkendall 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.
Location
9250 SW Tigard StreetTigard, OR 97223
Phone
(503) 308-1438
Service Area
3 counties
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationWillsGuardianshipConservatorship
Free consultationVisit site
Law Office of Wendell L. Belknap
Solo PracticeThe 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.
Location
411 5th StreetOregon City, OR 97045
Phone
(503) 657-8946
Service Area
3 counties
Estate PlanningProbateWillsTrust AdministrationReal EstateFamily Law
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Caress Law, PC
FirmCaress 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.
Location
9400 SW Barnes Rd, Suite 300Portland, OR 97225
Phone
(503) 292-8990
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationEstate Administration
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Gevurtz Menashe
FirmGevurtz 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.
Location
115 NW First Ave, Suite 400Portland, OR 97209
Phone
(503) 227-1515
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationElder Law
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Kell, Alterman & Runstein, LLP
FirmKell, Alterman & Runstein has provided personalized and effective trust and estate counsel to a diverse clientele in Portland, Oregon, and nationally for more than 80 years.
Location
520 SW Yamhill Street, Suite 600Portland, OR 97204
Phone
(503) 360-0554
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationEstate Litigation
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Law Offices of Nay & Friedenberg LLC
FirmLaw Offices of Nay & Friedenberg LLC provides comprehensive estate planning services in Oregon with over 35 years of experience, including wills, trusts, probate, Medicaid planning, and elder law.
Location
6500 S Macadam Ave, Suite 300Portland, OR 97239
Phone
(503) 245-0894
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationMedicaid PlanningElder Law
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Myatt & Bell, P.C.
FirmMyatt & 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.
Location
7650 SW Beveland St, Suite 250Portland, OR 97223
Phone
(503) 641-6262
Established
1960
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationElder LawMedicaid Planning
Free consultationVisit site
Oregon Legal Center
FirmOregon Legal Center has provided Oregonians with high-quality legal representation for over 50 years, specializing in wills, trusts, probate law, and trust administration.
Location
2875 Marylhurst DrWest Linn, OR 97068
Phone
(503) 635-6234
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationWills
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Skinner Law
Solo PracticeSkinner Law was founded in 2013 to help Oregon families create estate and succession strategies. Attorney Ginger Skinner holds an LL.M. in taxation and provides tax-sensitive estate planning, trust formation, probate, charitable gifts planning, and special needs trusts.
Location
9600 SW Barnes Rd, Ste 125Portland, OR 97225
Phone
(503) 719-6603
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationTax PlanningCharitable PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningInternational Estate Planning
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Southwest Portland Law Group
FirmSouthwest Portland Law Group provides estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and other legal services with highly skilled attorneys delivering services in wills, trusts, and probate matters.
Location
8455 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale HwyPortland, OR 97225
Phone
(503) 206-6401
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationCivil Litigation
Free consultationVisit site
Tonkon Torp LLP
FirmTonkon Torp LLP is a 90+ lawyer Portland firm providing personalized assistance with estate and business succession planning, including all aspects of wills, trusts, probate, and gift/estate tax planning. The estate planning attorneys develop flexible and personalized plans to minimize taxes on wealth transfer.
Location
1300 SW 5th Ave, Suite 2400Portland, OR 97201
Phone
(503) 221-1440
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationTax PlanningCharitable PlanningBusiness Succession
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White Oak Wills & Trusts, LLC
FirmWhite Oak Wills & Trusts, LLC is based in Portland and helps individuals and families plan for the future with clarity and confidence. They provide wills, trusts, probate, and asset protection services.
Location
1314 NW Irving St, Suite 301Portland, OR 97209
Phone
(503) 928-8664
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationAsset ProtectionWills
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Statewide Practices
Ballard Spahr LLP (formerly Lane Powell)
FirmAs of January 2025, Lane Powell combined with Ballard Spahr to form a nationally recognized firm of more than 750 lawyers across 18 U.S. offices. The Private Client Services Team counsels clients on estate and gift planning, estate administration, family business governance, transition planning, and dispute resolution.
Location
601 SW Second Avenue, Suite 2100Portland, OR 97204
Phone
(503) 778-2100
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationFiduciary LitigationBusiness SuccessionTax Planning
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Miller Nash LLP
FirmMiller Nash is a nationally recognized, industry-focused law firm with over 150 attorneys. Their estate-related practice is focused on trusts and estates litigation, including will contests, fiduciary disputes, and contested probate matters. They no longer offer transactional estate planning or probate administration.
Location
1140 SW Washington St, Suite 700Portland, OR 97205
Phone
(503) 224-5858
Service Area
Statewide
Trust LitigationEstate Litigation
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Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
FirmSchwabe, Williamson & Wyatt has over 170 attorneys and provides goal-oriented tax, trust, and estate planning services. The firm assists clients in Oregon and Washington with wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and business succession strategies.
Location
1211 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1800Portland, OR 97204
Phone
(503) 222-9981
Service Area
Statewide
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationTax PlanningBusiness SuccessionCharitable Planning
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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
- ORS 113.105
- ORS 114.510 & 114.515 (simple estate
- ORS 115.005
- ORS 116.173 (7% first $1K, 4% $1K-$10K, 3% $10K-$50K, 2% over $50K; +1% of non-jurisdictional estate-tax-reportable property; + reasonable for extraordinary services)
- ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- ORS 21.170(1)
Data sourced from Oregon statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
You open probate by filing a petition with the Circuit Court in Washington County, attaching the original will (if any), the death certificate, and the filing fee (about $591). Once the court issues letters, the personal representative can act.
Total probate costs on a $500,000 estate run about $26,416 statewide in Oregon. For Washington County, that means filing fees (about $591 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
Yes. The Circuit Court in Washington County accepts e-filing through the state portal. In-person filing at the courthouse is still available for those without digital access.
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The Oregon self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
A simple Oregon probate typically closes in 4–6 months; average estates run 6–12 months. The mandatory creditor-claim period accounts for much of that, so even uncontested estates rarely close quickly.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Washington County probate.
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