Court records in Umatilla County, Oregon, are maintained by the district court clerk's office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. UmatillaCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about the county's court records. Additionally, you can use the Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) system, the Umatilla & Morrow County Circuit Courts records portal, or contact the Umatilla County records office directly.
Umatilla Court System Overview
Umatilla County is part of the 6th judicial district of Oregon, which serves two counties — Umatilla and Morrow. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction and handles all categories of cases: criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters. In Oregon, there is no separate magistrate court as an independent structure — magistrate judges work within the circuit court and handle less complex cases. Courtrooms and offices are located on the second floor of the courthouse in Pendleton.
Documents can also be submitted through drop boxes located near the courthouse.
Courts Serving Umatilla
Residents of Umatilla County are served by several courts at the state and federal levels.
State Circuit Court
U.S. District Court
Federal Bankruptcy Court
Bankruptcy cases from Umatilla County are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in Portland.
Municipal Courts
Individual cities in the county (Pendleton, Hermiston, Milton-Freewater, and others) may have municipal courts to handle violations of city ordinances. For clarification, contact the administration of the respective city.
What Types of Cases Umatilla Courts Hear
The Umatilla County Circuit Court hears a wide range of cases:
- Criminal cases — felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil lawsuits of any scale, including small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, protective orders
- Probate cases — wills, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases — offenses and child protection
- Traffic violations, including DUI
- Adoptions and termination of parental rights
District Court Cases in Umatilla
In Oregon, the Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that hears all cases without division into "higher" and "lower" levels. Serious criminal cases (felonies) begin with a complaint or grand jury indictment and go through a full trial process before a circuit court judge. Civil cases without a claim limit, appeals from administrative bodies, and post-criminal proceedings also fall under this court's jurisdiction. Cases are distributed among judges according to the internal rules of the 6th judicial district. One of the judges appointed to the Umatilla County Circuit Court presides.
Magistrate Court Cases in Umatilla
Magistrate judges in Oregon work within the Circuit Court and hear cases that do not require a full trial before a circuit court judge. These include:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil cases with claims up to $50,000 (by chief judge's appointment)
- Small claims — up to $10,000 according to ORS 46.405
- Traffic violations
- Initial DUI hearings
The actual distribution of cases among magistrate judges depends on the court's workload and decisions of the county's administrative judge.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Umatilla
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity establishment, protective orders, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Umatilla County Circuit Court. For certified copies of divorce records, contact the Oregon Health Authority or the court clerk's office at 541-278-0341.
Probate Matters
Probate proceedings — wills, estate management, guardianship, and conservatorship — also fall under the jurisdiction of the circuit court. The court appoints a personal representative to manage the estate and oversees the distribution process.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile offense and child protection cases (Child Protective Act) are handled separately from adult cases. Juvenile case records are confidential under Oregon law. For juvenile case inquiries, contact the court clerk's office.
How Cases Move Through the Umatilla Court System
- Case Initiation: A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment; a civil case starts with a complaint; a family or probate case begins with a petition.
- Judge Assignment: The clerk's office assigns the case to a judge according to the court's internal rules.
- Initial Hearings: In criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — planning conference.
- Pre-trial Phase: Filing motions, exchanging evidence (discovery), plea negotiations (in criminal cases), or settlement (in civil cases).
- Trial or Resolution: The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Decision: Sentencing, filing appeals, enforcement of the court's decision.
Documents at each stage can be submitted in person or through the drop box near the courthouse.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Umatilla
The administrative judge of the 6th judicial district is responsible for managing the courts in Umatilla and Morrow counties. The Trial Court Administrator coordinates the daily operations of the clerk's office and courtrooms.
The local court rules (Supplementary Local Rules) for the 6th judicial district are published on the Oregon Judicial Department website. These rules govern the filing of documents, conduct of hearings, and other procedural matters.
Public Access to Records
Under the Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.311–192.478), most court records are public. Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, sealed cases, adoption records, and some family cases with protective orders. A request for public records in the county can be submitted through the Umatilla County public records request page.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings in the Umatilla County Circuit Court require in-person attendance unless remote participation is specifically allowed by the judge. Confirm the possibility of remote connection with the court clerk's office before the scheduled hearing.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Umatilla
- Online Case Search: The Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) system contains action registers for all Oregon circuit courts. Basic case information is available for free through the OJD Records and Calendar Search.
- Court Calendar: The schedule of hearings can be viewed on the Oregon Judicial Department case search portal.
- Court Forms and Self-Help Resources: The Oregon Judicial Department publishes standard forms for civil, family, criminal, and probate cases on its website.
- Court Clerk's Office and Record Requests: For copies of criminal, civil, family cases, fine records, and probate, contact the Umatilla County records office (phone: 541-278-0341). The Umatilla & Morrow County Circuit Courts records page contains additional information.
- Sheriff's Records: The Umatilla County Sheriff's records department provides access to police reports and arrest records in accordance with the Oregon Public Records Law (email: ucsorecords@umatillacounty.gov, phone: 541-966-3606).
- Oregon Department of Corrections Inmate Search: Oregon Offender Search allows you to find information about individuals under the state's correctional system supervision.
- Sex Offender Registry: The Oregon State Police maintains the Sex Offender Public Safety System with search capabilities by residence.
- Criminal History Check: The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Oregon State Police is the central repository for the state's criminal records according to ORS 181A.220.
- Historical County Records: The Oregon State Archives preserves historical documents of Umatilla County, including circuit court records starting from 1889.
- Vital Records: The State Archives holds historical records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. For birth certificates, call 1-888-896-4498.