How to Search Washington County Court Records
Court cases in Washington County are filed with the Circuit Court, and the Oregon Judicial Department runs the public search tools. The main free tool is the OJD Records and Calendar Search. It is the gateway for circuit and tax court case search, court calendars, appellate record search, and the paid OJCIN Online service. Basic case information is free where the record is public. A fuller subscription option exists for people who need broader access.
The Records and Calendar Search page links every tool in one place. Before you start, gather the case number if you have it, or the exact party names as they appear in the filing.
Court records for Washington County are organized through the state portal at the OJD Records and Calendar Search page.
From that gateway, the "Circuit and Tax Record Search" button opens the case lookup used for Washington County files.
- Open the OJD Records and Calendar Search and choose Circuit and Tax Record Search.
- Enter a party last name or business name, or type the exact case number if you know it.
- Select Washington County Circuit Court when a court or location filter is offered.
- Review the matching result for case number, type, filing date, parties, and docket events.
- Request a copy from the court if a document image is not available online.
The free record portal is shown below for reference.
You can read more on the dedicated Washington County court records page, which walks through each search field in detail.
The Washington County Judicial System
Oregon runs a unified state court system. The Circuit Court is the general trial court in each county, and Washington County is the 20th Judicial District. The local court handles felony and misdemeanor crimes, civil suits, family law, probate, juvenile cases, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, protective orders, and most traffic matters. Appeals from the Circuit Court go to the Oregon Court of Appeals. The Oregon Supreme Court is the court of last resort and reviews select cases.
The court's main information page lists hours, buildings, and the Trial Court Administrator, Richard E. Moellmer.
The official home of the local court is the Washington County Circuit Court page.
That page is the best starting point for hours, notices, and links to records, programs, and payments.
Case flow: Municipal Court › Circuit Court › Oregon Court of Appeals › Oregon Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Supreme Court | Statewide, last resort | Select appeals, direct matters set by law |
| Oregon Court of Appeals | Statewide, intermediate | Most appeals from circuit courts and agencies |
| Washington County Circuit Court | 20th Judicial District | Criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, small claims |
| Municipal Courts | City limits | City code, parking, some traffic and violation cases |
More detail on each level appears on the Washington County Circuit Court page.
Washington County Courthouses
The court is clustered in downtown Hillsboro. The main courthouse handles most filings and public counters. The Juvenile Services Building handles juvenile matters, which carry strong confidentiality rules. The Law Enforcement Center is used for some criminal and custody-related proceedings. A person may have business in more than one building on the same day, so plan extra time.
Contact details and a map link for each building are posted on the court's contact and locations page.
Use the addresses below for filing, hearings, and in-person record requests.
Note: The court mailing address uses 150 N 1st Avenue, MS 37, so use 145 NE 2nd Avenue only for navigation and in-person visits.
Types of Court Records Available in Washington County
The Circuit Court produces most of the court records people search in Washington County. Each case type creates its own file. Civil cases hold complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments. Criminal cases hold charges, plea records, judgments, and sentencing. Family cases cover divorce, custody, support, and protective orders. Probate covers estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. Traffic cases hold citations, pleas, fines, and dispositions.
Access is broad for most civil and criminal files. Some categories are closed by law, and juvenile records are the clearest example.
- Criminal records - charges, pleas, convictions, and sentencing in adult cases.
- Civil records - lawsuits, small claims, evictions, and money judgments.
- Family and divorce records - dissolution, custody, support, and parenting time.
- Probate records - estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships.
- Traffic records - citations, pleas, fines, and case outcomes.
For dockets and hearing dates rather than full files, the Washington County court dockets page explains the calendar search.
What Washington County Court Records Show
A public case record gives a clear snapshot of the case. The exact fields depend on the case type and what the law allows the public to see. Most records open with a case number and the court name, then list the parties and the chronological docket. The docket, also called the register of actions, lists every filing, hearing, order, and disposition in date order. Some documents are viewable online, while others must be requested from the court.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The unique court identifier; use it when you request copies. |
| Filing Date | The date the case was opened with the Circuit Court. |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant, or petitioner and respondent, by role. |
| Charges / Cause | The crime charged or the civil claim that started the case. |
| Disposition | The outcome, such as dismissed, judgment, or convicted. |
| Sentence / Judgment | The penalty or final order the court entered. |
Search fields on the free portal map closely to these record fields, so a name or case number is usually enough to start.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name / Business Name | Text | No | Party last name or entity name. |
| First Name | Text | No | Narrows person searches. |
| Case Number | Text | No | Exact Oregon circuit court case number. |
| Court / Location | Dropdown | No | Select Washington County Circuit Court. |
| Case Type | Dropdown | No | Civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic. |
Public Access Laws for Washington County Court Records
Oregon's public records framework starts with ORS chapter 192, the Oregon Public Records Law. Court case records also follow court-specific statutes, judicial department policy, and confidentiality rules. A court-record request is not the same as a general county request. Case files go through the court, sheriff records go through the sheriff, and agency administrative records go through that agency's process. Fees may apply for copies, certification, search time, or subscription access where the law allows.
Several statutes shape what you can find and what stays closed. Each one is linked to the official Oregon Legislature text.
Key Statutes:
ORS Chapter 192 - the Oregon Public Records Law sets general access rights and exemptions for public bodies.
ORS Chapter 7 - governs court records, clerks, and seals in the circuit courts.
ORS Chapter 21 - sets court filing fees and other court fees.
ORS 137.225 - lets eligible people set aside, or clear, certain arrests and convictions.
ORS Chapter 419A - keeps most juvenile court records confidential.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every case shows up in a public search. The Oregon Judicial Department states that adoption, juvenile, mental health, and cases under the Violence Against Women Act are not provided through the public records and calendar service. Sealed records, set-aside convictions, grand jury materials, and trade secrets may also be closed. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers and minors' names are redacted. If a case you expect is missing, a restriction or a recent filing delay may be the reason.
To view a sealed or restricted record, a person usually needs statutory authority or a court order. The set-aside process under ORS 137.225 is the common path for clearing eligible adult criminal records, and it requires a petition, proof of eligibility, and notice to prosecutors.
Specialty Courts in Washington County
The Circuit Court runs problem-solving programs that work differently from a standard criminal case. These are not walk-in alternatives. Each one requires screening, a referral, judicial approval, supervision, and steady compliance with treatment and court terms. Common categories statewide include adult drug or treatment court, mental health treatment court, veterans treatment court, and family treatment court. The local Specialty Court program page lists the programs the county offers.
Records in these programs can include program contracts, review notes, sanctions, and graduation or termination orders, and treatment details are often restricted. The court describes its options on the Washington County Specialty Court page.
Washington County Sheriff and Jail
The Washington County Sheriff's Office serves more than 600,000 community members and runs the only jail in the county. Jail records, booking reports, and the arrest and release log are sheriff records, and they are separate from the court case file. The sheriff site links to the custody list, bail posting, visitation, and deposit pages.
The Sheriff's Office home page is the hub for jail and law enforcement services.
From there, the "Who is in custody?" page lists adults currently held in the jail.
The roster uses a security challenge, then A-to-Z last-name links, and it is generally updated every two hours. Full details are on the Washington County inmate records page, and active orders appear on the warrant records page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage licenses in Washington County are handled by Assessment and Taxation, not by the court records desk. Divorce is a Circuit Court family case, so divorce judgments are court records you can search and request through the court. Probate is also a Circuit Court program, covering estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. For more, see the marriage and divorce records and probate records pages.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to manage the estate.
- Conservator
- A person the court appoints to manage another person's money or property.
Washington County Court Records Fees
Fees depend on the service. Basic case information through the free state search is no cost where the record is public. Fuller access through OJCIN Online is a paid subscription. Filing fees vary by case type and are set on the statewide OJD Court Fees page. Copies and certified copies of case files are requested through the court, and the amount follows the current court fee schedule. Always confirm the current fee before you pay.
The paid subscription service is shown below for reference.
Most people do not need the paid service, since the free search covers basic public case data.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Free basic case search | No cost where the record is public |
| OJCIN Online access | Paid subscription |
| Court filing fees | Varies by case type; see OJD Court Fees |
| Case-file and certified copies | Set by the OJD fee schedule; request through the court |
How to Interpret Washington County Court Records
Court files use shorthand that can confuse first-time readers. A charge is only an accusation. A conviction is a finding or admission of guilt. A disposition is the outcome of a charge or claim. "Dismissed with prejudice" means the case cannot be refiled, while "without prejudice" leaves the door open. Oregon often uses "set aside" instead of "expungement" for clearing eligible records. Reading the docket in date order is the easiest way to follow what happened.
If a code or term is unclear, the court counter or an attorney can explain it before you rely on the file.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online court data can lag behind the courtroom. New filings, recent hearings, and updated dispositions may take time to post. Name searches can also miss a case if a name was entered with a typo or a different spelling. The sheriff custody report is generally updated every two hours, which is why a recent booking or release may not show right away.
Note: Confirm any case detail with the Circuit Court or the originating office before you rely on it for legal, financial, or personal decisions.
History of Washington County Courts
Hillsboro has long served as the county seat, and the court still sits in the downtown core. As Oregon moved to a unified state court system, the local court became the 20th Judicial District of the Oregon Judicial Department rather than a county-run court. The modern courthouse cluster splits work among the main courthouse, the Juvenile Services Building, and the Law Enforcement Center. Recent court notices reflect current issues, including a statewide order on immigration enforcement in courts and a local notice about cases affected by a shortage of public defense attorneys.
For older county record series, the Oregon State Archives keeps a county records guide that helps locate historical files.
That growth, shown in Census QuickFacts for the county, is part of why the local court carries a heavy and varied caseload.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Washington County Court records?
Use the OJD Records and Calendar Search, then choose Circuit and Tax Record Search. Search by case number if you have it, or by party name with Washington County Circuit Court selected. Basic public case data is free. Some case types are not shown online.
Why can't I find a case online?
Adoption, juvenile, mental health, and VAWA-related cases are not provided through the public search. Sealed, set-aside, or recently filed cases may also be missing. A name typed slightly differently can hide a result, so try other spellings or contact the court with a case number.
Where is the Washington County Courthouse?
The main courthouse is at 145 NE 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124. The court also uses 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.
More answers are on the Washington County Court Records FAQ page.