Common Questions About Washington County Court Records
How do I search Washington County Circuit Court records?
Use the Oregon Judicial Department Records and Calendar Search, then choose Circuit and Tax Record Search. Search by case number if you have it. If not, search by party name and select Washington County Circuit Court when a location filter appears. Basic public case data is free. Some case types are not shown online. For a full walkthrough of the search fields and copy requests, see the Washington County court records page.
Why can't I find a case online?
The Oregon Judicial Department states that adoption, juvenile, mental health, and cases under the Violence Against Women Act may not appear through the public search. Sealed, set-aside, confidential, or very recently filed cases can also be missing. A name typed with a different spelling can hide a result too. If you have a case number and still cannot locate it, contact the court. More on restricted files is on the court records page.
How do I find a court date?
Use the OJD Circuit and Tax Court Calendars from the Records and Calendar Search page. Search by court, date, case number, or party name where those fields are offered. The calendar shows hearing schedules, not full case documents. Pick Washington County Circuit Court when a court filter appears. For more on calendars and the register of actions, see the Washington County court dockets page.
Is OJCIN free?
No. OJCIN Online is the Oregon Judicial Department's paid subscription service for broader court-record access. Free basic case information is available through the public record search where records are public. Fuller access, or copies of documents, may require OJCIN or a court copy request. Most people do not need the paid service. The free and paid options are compared on the court records page.
Where is the Washington County Courthouse?
The main Washington County Courthouse is at 145 NE 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124. The court also lists the Juvenile Services Building at 222 N 1st Avenue and the Law Enforcement Center at 215 SW Adams Avenue. The main court phone is 503-846-8888. Use the NE 2nd Avenue address for visits, not the mailing address. The Circuit Court page covers each building and its program areas.
What are the court hours?
The court lists courthouse hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding legal holidays. There is a lunch closure in the middle of the day, so plan around it. The main phone is 503-846-8888. For records counter details and in-person request tips, see the Clerk of Court page.
How do I request an ADA accommodation?
Use the Washington County Circuit Court Accessibility page or contact the ADA Coordinator at 503-846-8767. Make the request as early as you can before a hearing or courthouse visit, since some accommodations take time to arrange. Interpreter requests go through OJD Court Language Access Services, and you should not rely on family members to interpret. More court-office contacts are on the Clerk of Court page.
How do I see who is in custody?
Use the Washington County Sheriff's Office "Who is in custody?" page. Complete the security challenge first, then click the first letter of the person's last name to browse the list. The report is generally updated every two hours, so a recent booking may not show right away. For the full search steps and booking-report fields, see the Washington County inmate records page.
What does "security" mean on the custody list?
The sheriff custody page states that the "security" amount is the amount of bail that must be paid. It is the money needed to secure release in that case. Use the official posting-bail page for payment methods and instructions, and never pay anyone who calls demanding bail by phone. More on bail and active orders is on the warrant records page.
How do I verify someone was released?
Use the 24-hour arrest and release log, the live custody list, VISOR or VINE notification, or call the jail at the number shown on the custody report, 503-846-2600. Allow time for updates, since the custody report refreshes about every two hours. Release can lag a posting or court order. Detailed steps for state and federal release checks are on the released inmates page.
Can I search Oregon and federal inmates?
Yes. Use the Oregon Department of Corrections Offender Search for state prison status, with fields for first, middle, last name, and SID number. For federal inmates, use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator and search by register number or name. County jail custody and state or federal custody are separate systems. Both locators are explained on the released inmates page.
Where do I get divorce records?
Divorce case records are Circuit Court records. Search OJD case records or request copies from Washington County Circuit Court records. A divorce judgment is a court record, while a vital-record certificate may require the state vital records office. Search by party names or case number. See the marriage and divorce records page for the divorce filing and search steps.
Where do I get a marriage license?
Marriage licensing in Washington County is handled by Assessment and Taxation, not the Circuit Court records desk. Apply through the county marriage-license process, pay the county fee, and request certified copies from the county recording office after recording. Divorce records, by contrast, stay with the court. The county recording office is profiled on the Washington County Recording Office page.
Are probate records public?
Many probate case records are public, but guardianship and conservatorship files can include protected-person details that are restricted. Probate is a program of the Circuit Court, covering estates, wills, small estates, and fiduciary appointments. Search OJD case records by decedent or fiduciary name, then request copies from the court. The full process is on the probate records page.
How do I clear a criminal record?
Oregon uses a set-aside process under ORS 137.225 for many eligible arrests and convictions, rather than the term expungement. Eligibility is technical and depends on the offense, waiting periods, and whether obligations are paid. Prosecutors may receive notice and object. Because the rules are detailed, consider legal help. Background on set-aside records is on the arrest records page.
Are juvenile records public?
Generally no. The Oregon Judicial Department identifies juvenile records as excluded from public records and calendar search, and ORS chapter 419A governs juvenile confidentiality. Most juvenile dependency and delinquency files stay closed to the public. Access usually requires statutory authority or a court order. The restricted-records section on the court records page explains which categories are closed.
How do I resolve a warrant?
Confirm the warrant through official court or sheriff channels first, and speak with an attorney if you can. Do not ignore a court date or warrant notice. Review the case and any bail or security amount, then follow the court's instructions or the sheriff's turning-yourself-in guidance. Post bail only through official methods. Step-by-step guidance is on the warrant records page.
What is the difference between court records and police reports?
Court records are filed in a case and kept by the court. Police and sheriff reports are law-enforcement records requested through the sheriff's public-records process, and they may carry investigatory exemptions. The two are separate, so a jail booking record is not the court case file. For non-court agency files and how to file an open records request, see the public records page.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the Clerk of Court page. For broader access rules, see public records. To search by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate.