Columbia County
Founded in 1854, Columbia County was named for the Columbia River, one of the largest rivers in the country. The county has a land area of 658.68 square miles and is home to over 52,000 residents. Its government seat is St. Helens.
Columbia County's court system consists of a Circuit Court, a Justice Court, and three Municipal Courts. The Columbia County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over cases arising in the county, including all civil, criminal, family, and juvenile cases. The court also handles probate matters such as cases relating to wills, trusts, administration of estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. The jurisdiction of the Justice Court covers misdemeanor cases, civil claims not exceeding $7,500 in value, traffic citations, county parks violations, and ordinance violations. However, the civil jurisdiction of the Justice Court does not extend to cases relating to title to real property and certain torts. Additionally, cities like Scappoose and St. Helens have municipal courts with jurisdiction over misdemeanors and city ordinance violations.
Columbia County public records include official documents and materials containing information generated during court proceedings in the county. Examples of information that may be found in these records often include party details, docket information, pleadings, court orders, and case numbers. Court staff are responsible for organizing and maintaining these case records. The following types of court records are available for access in Columbia County:
- Civil records
- Small claims records
- Misdemeanor records
- Felony records
- Probate records
- Traffic records
- Family law records
Interested persons can obtain case records of the Circuit Court by completing the Court Records Request form online or by requesting the records in person at the courthouse. Similarly, records of the Justice and Municipal Courts may be accessed at the court where the case was heard. Note that in addition to providing relevant details about the record requested, requesters may have to pay applicable fees. For example, circuit court records cost $3 per request and $5 for certified copies.
