Multnomah County
Multnomah County, which was created in 1854 from Washington County's eastern section and Clackamas County's northern section, is located in Oregon. It is the state's most populous county, with a population of 789,698. Although ranking smallest in size, its county seat, Portland, is also the state's most populous city.
The trial court system in Multnomah County is composed of a circuit court and a municipal court. The Multnomah County Circuit Court has various divisions according to case type, including Family, Criminal, Probate, Civil, Juvenile, and Small Claims. They hear felonies, initial hearings, capital murder, civil claims without financial caps, small claims for $10,000 and less, marriage dissolutions, land title disputes, and child custody suits. Juvenile cases, adoptions, injunction requests, involuntary commitments, and probate matters, including guardianships and conservatorships, also fall within the Circuit Courts' jurisdiction.
The Municipal Court in Multnomah County exercises limited jurisdiction court over civil and criminal cases, including traffic infractions and municipal ordinance violations. Other Municipal Court cases include vehicle impoundments and non-felony traffic crimes. Finally, the Multnomah Municipal Court shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over cases relating to ordinance violations and criminal misdemeanors.
Court records in Multnomah County refer to legal documents and files containing details about the various trials held in the Circuit and Municipal Courts. Court records, which can exist in paper, microfilm, or digital format, usually include the following contents:
- Charges
- Dockets
- Notices and calendars
- Case transcripts
- Court minutes
- Court Orders and Judgements
Multnomah County case information is generally maintained as the following court records:
- Divorce records
- Civil records
- Family law records
- Probate records
The Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Department manages and maintains court records in the county. Interested persons can access basic case information at no cost using the Online Record Search portal. They can also conduct record searches by submitting completed Records Request Forms in person, through email, or by mail to the records department. The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) also offers a subscription-based case records lookup service to interested persons. Finally, requesters can obtain record copies by visiting the Trial Court Administrator in person at the Multnomah County Circuit Courthouse, where their cases were heard, and paying the applicable copy fees.
