La Grande Civil Court Records

Union County civil court records are held at the Circuit Court in La Grande, the county seat. The court is part of the 10th Judicial District, which it shares with Wallowa County. You can search civil court records in Union County by visiting the courthouse or using online tools from the Oregon Judicial Department. The courthouse is open mornings and afternoons with a midday break. A drop box at 1105 K Avenue in La Grande accepts filings after hours. The County Clerk at 1001 4th St handles property recordings and vital records for Union County.

Union County Circuit Court

The Union County Circuit Court is part of the 10th Judicial District. This district also serves Wallowa County. Civil court records in Union County include lawsuits, contract disputes, property claims, and other non-criminal matters filed with this court in La Grande.

The courthouse has split hours. Public service counters are open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The counters close from noon to 1:00 PM and again at 4:30 PM. Courtrooms continue to run until 5:00 PM or as the presiding judge sees fit. Plan visits for morning or early afternoon to avoid arriving during the midday break at the Union County courthouse.

The Union County Circuit Court website lists hours, forms, and details about civil court records in La Grande.

This page covers court hours, contact details, and links to forms used in Union County civil cases.

Under ORS 7.110, the clerk or court administrator holds formal custody of all court records and files in Union County.

Union County Court Drop Box

Union County has a drop box at 1105 K Avenue in La Grande. Staff check it each day at 5:00 PM. Items left between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM are treated as received that same business day. Items left after 5:00 PM are treated as received the next business day.

The drop box is useful when you need to file civil court records or payments outside of counter hours. Make sure all forms are filled out and signed before you use the drop box. Include your case number on every page. The Union County courthouse will process items in the order they arrive.

Because the courthouse closes its public counters at 4:30 PM, the drop box gives you an extra half hour each business day to get filings in on time. This matters for deadline-sensitive civil court records in Union County.

Search Union County Civil Records

There are a few ways to search for civil court records in Union County. Your choice depends on what you need. Each option gives a different level of detail about cases on file in La Grande.

The quickest way to start is the free online records search from the Oregon Judicial Department. Go to the OJD records search page to look up basic case data for Union County. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. This tool covers civil, small claims, domestic, and criminal cases. It does not show adoption, juvenile, mental health, or VAWA cases. Those are sealed by law.

For deeper access, the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network offers a paid service. OJCIN gives you the official Register of Actions and judgment dockets for Union County civil court records. Setup costs $160. Monthly fees range from $27 to $1,620 based on your access level. As noted in ORS 7.020, the register is where the clerk enters every action and suit filed in court.

You can also visit the courthouse in La Grande. A public kiosk lets you look up recent civil court records at no cost. Older files must be pulled by staff. Bring a case number or party name. Call (541) 962-9500 to confirm hours before you visit the Union County courthouse.

Union County Court Record Copies

You can get copies of Union County civil court records at the courthouse, by mail, or through a written request form. Under ORS 192.324, any person may submit a written request to inspect or copy public records held by the court. The custodian must respond within five business days.

Union County uses the standard Oregon fee schedule for copies. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies add $5.00 per document. If costs may exceed $25, the court will give you a written estimate first. You pay before copies are made.

To request copies by mail, write to Union County Circuit Court in La Grande, OR. Include the case number, party names, and the documents you need. Specify if you want certified copies. Under ORS 192.314, every person has the right to inspect public records in Union County unless a specific exemption applies. In-person requests can be handled at the courthouse during the morning or afternoon hours.

Union County Clerk Office

The Union County Clerk handles a different set of records from the Circuit Court. The Clerk oversees real property recordings, elections, marriages, and other vital records. Civil court records such as lawsuits and judgments go through the Circuit Court, not the County Clerk.

The Union County Clerk's website provides details on county services and records access.

You can find links to recording services, elections, and county departments on this site.

Reach the Union County Clerk at 1001 4th St, La Grande, OR 97850. The phone number is (541) 963-1006. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The Clerk handles property recordings, marriage licenses, and vital records. For all civil court case files in Union County, contact the Circuit Court at (541) 962-9500 instead.

Access Rights for Union County Records

Oregon law gives strong rights to people who want to view civil court records. Under ORS 192.311, court records are defined as public records. Civil case files in Union County are open to the public. You do not need to be a party in the case to view them. Anyone can ask to see or copy these files.

Some records have limits on access. Adoption and juvenile cases are not open to the public in Union County or elsewhere in Oregon. Mental health records and cases under the Violence Against Women Act are also sealed. Outside of these groups, civil court records in Union County are available for review.

Court staff cannot give legal advice. They can help you find records and make copies. If your request is denied, you may appeal to the District Attorney for local records in Union County. The Attorney General handles appeals of state agency denials.

Union County Historical Court Files

Union County sits in the Grande Ronde Valley of eastern Oregon. Early civil court records reflect the county's history of farming, ranching, and timber. Land disputes, water rights claims, and property matters fill the older archives. La Grande grew as a railroad town, and the commerce that followed created a steady stream of civil court records over the decades.

The Oregon State Archives in Salem holds historical records from Union County. These may include early court proceedings, land records, and vital records. Call 503-373-0701 to set up a visit. Reference staff can help with research into older civil court records from Union County.

For more recent civil court records in Union County, use the Circuit Court office in La Grande. The free records search and OJCIN online tools cover cases from recent decades. Older paper files are stored at the courthouse and can be pulled by staff when you ask.

Civil Court Forms for Union County

The Oregon Judicial Department provides court forms for civil cases filed in Union County. Forms are available online in PDF format. If a Union County version of a form exists, use that one rather than the statewide form. Form groups include civil law, small claims, probate, family, and fee waivers.

You can file forms in person at the La Grande courthouse or use the drop box at 1105 K Avenue. Interactive forms called iForms let you fill in details on screen before printing. Court staff can answer questions about which forms to use, but they cannot give legal advice on how to fill them out. Fee waiver forms are available for people who cannot afford filing costs in Union County.

• Civil complaint forms for lawsuits
• Small claims filings for minor disputes
• Fee waiver and deferral request forms
• Subpoena and summons forms
• Judgment forms for civil cases

Visit the OJD Forms Center to download forms accepted in all 36 Oregon circuit courts, including Union County.

Nearby Counties

Union County borders Wallowa County, Baker County, Umatilla County, and Grant County. The 10th Judicial District is shared with Wallowa County. If you are not sure which county holds the civil court records you need, check the address where the case was filed. Oregon law requires you to file in the correct county for the court to have jurisdiction.