Washington County Court Records
Washington County court records are documents that contain information on cases that are filed or generated by courts in Washington County, Oregon. According to the Oregon Court Rules, court records can be paper or electronic. The Circuit Court Clerk is the custodian of court records in Washington County. Court records are vital for several reasons:
- The existence of court records makes it possible for members of the public to learn how the legal system works and question and hold the system accountable.
- Court records provide a reliable source of evidence for court proceedings and hearings. This is particularly important, especially in cases where there are disputes about the evidence presented at the court or the events that transpired. This evidence is also useful for future proceedings, as past records sometimes need to be reviewed to make informed decisions about current cases.
Are Court Records Public in Washington County?
According to the Oregon Public Records Law, court records are part of Washington County Public Records. This law grants every member of the public the right to access records maintained by Washington County courts freely. However, some court records are ruled confidential and are thus exempt from the public, as their exposure to public access can jeopardize the privacy or safety of the involved parties. Court records under this category can only be accessed with a court order. They include adoption and juvenile records and cases under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
What Do Washington County Court Records Contain?
The following information can be found in a Washington County court record:
- Case information (case number, court, file date, case type, and case type)
- Party information (plaintiff and defendant's names, aliases, date of birth, and attorneys' names)
- Charge information (charges, description, statute, level, and date)
- Disposition events (the judicial officer's name, plea, disposition name, judgment sentence, and converted disposition)
- Events and hearings (arraignment, hearing time, and comment)
- Financial information (total financial assessment and payments and credits
Where to Conduct a Washington County Court Case Lookup?
Requesters can conduct a court case lookup in Washington County at the following courthouses:
How to Conduct a Washington County Case Records Search
A requester can conduct a Washington County case records search from the Circuit Court online, by phone, in-person, and by mail. Requesters can use the Oregon Judicial Department Online Record Search Portal for online searches. The search criteria are name or case number. Phone requests can be made by calling (503) 846-8888. Copies of court records can be obtained by filling out the Court Records Request form. The desired record will be emailed or delivered to the requester's address for a fee, which varies depending on the delivery format.
To retrieve court records in person, requesters can visit the Washington County Circuit Court to use the free public access terminal. The Court is located at:
First Floor Justice Services Building
Public Records Review Room #110J
150 N 1st Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: (503) 846-8888
Mail requesters must fill out a Records Request form with the following information:
- The name and contact number of the requester
- The names of the individual(s) involved
- Case number or the year it was filed
- Exact documents needed
- If regular or certified copies are needed
- If the records should be mailed or sent as an email.
Mail requesters must include a check payable to the State of Oregon in the mail envelope. If the exact fee is unknown, requesters should make it a not-to-exceed check with a maximum of $30. The form, check, and a self-addressed stamped envelope should be sent to the following address:
Washington County Circuit Court
Attention: Records Department
150 N 1st Avenue MS 37
Hillsboro, OR 97124
If individuals wish to search confidential court records, such as adoption or juvenile records, the request must be submitted by letter or motion. Additional paperwork and a valid government-issued form of identification might be required. Due to the sensitivity of the documents, they can only be picked up in person at the court by the requester and not sent by mail or email. However, it is important to note that the court may deny the request.
Washington County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court records contain information about legal disputes between two or more individuals or organizations. These records include small claims, landlord and tenant disputes, and juvenile and family cases. The Washington County Circuit Court Civil Department maintains civil court case records. The Department has a public access terminal where individuals can view civil records for free. Alternatively, requesters can use the Search Portal provided by the Oregon Judicial Department to view civil case records. The search criteria are by case number or name. For a better search, click the Advanced Filtering Options beneath the search area to expand additional search fields.
Washington County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records are documents that provide information gathered by the courts about the criminal activity of individuals. The Washington County Circuit Court Criminal Department is the custodian of criminal records. The Department handles criminal cases like felonies, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors. Interested persons can visit the Department during office hours to view criminal case records through their public access terminal. The Department is located at:
Law Enforcement Center
215 SW Adams Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Phone: (503) 846-8888
Alternatively, criminal records requests can be made online via the Oregon Judicial Department Search Portal. The search parameter is by name or case number.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Requesters can find Washington County court records online for free on the official website of the Oregon Judicial Branch. This can be done using the Online Records Search option, which allows them to access basic court case information for the Oregon Circuit Courts and the Oregon Tax Court remotely. Alternatively, requesters can visit their local circuit court to use the public access terminal to look up information on court cases for free. Requesters are advised to use the Quick Reference Guide provided by the Oregon Judicial Department for information and guidelines on how to conduct searches with ease.
Courts in Washington County
There are four different courts that serve different purposes in Washington County. The courts, as well as their addresses and contact information, are listed below as follows:
Washington County Circuit Court
Washington County Courthouse
145 NE 2nd Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: (503) 846-8888
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Services Building
222 N 1st Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: (503) 846-8861
Washington County Justice Court
Murray Place
3700 SW Murray Boulevard. Room 2400
Beaverton, OR 97005
Truancy Court
Juvenile Services Building
222 N 1st Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: (503) 846-8861
