The Dalles Court Records

Wasco County civil court records are housed at the Circuit Court in The Dalles. The county was created in 1854 and was the largest county ever formed in the United States at that time. Its borders once stretched from the Cascade Range to the Rocky Mountains. Wasco County takes its name from the Wascopam Indian Tribe. The county seat is The Dalles, a city along the Columbia River Gorge. The Circuit Court clerk maintains all civil court records filed in Wasco County. This includes lawsuits, contract claims, foreclosures, and other civil matters brought before the court.

Wasco County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court at 511 Washington Street in The Dalles handles all civil court records for Wasco County. Trial Court Administrator Rian Beach oversees court operations. Staff at the clerk window can look up civil court records by name or case number. The court keeps files for contract disputes, debt claims, property actions, and all other civil matters.

Wasco County Circuit Court is open Monday through Friday. Hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The court closes for lunch each day. Call (541) 506-2700 before you visit to confirm hours and ask about the civil court records you need.

The Wasco County courthouse has deep roots. The historical courthouse was built in 1914 and still stands in The Dalles. Civil court records from Wasco County go back many decades. Older files may take more time to find. Ask the clerk about the age of the records you seek so they can guide you to the right place.

Below is the Wasco County Circuit Court page on the Oregon Judicial Department website.

Check this site for local rules, court forms, and updates on civil court records access in Wasco County.

Search Wasco County Civil Court Records

You can search civil court records in Wasco County online or at the courthouse. The Oregon eCourt system lets you look up basic case details from any computer. You search by party name or case number. Results show filing dates, case events, and judgment entries. Go to courts.oregon.gov to begin your search for Wasco County civil court records.

Free public access terminals sit inside the Wasco County courthouse. These screens let you browse civil court records at no cost. You can view the register of actions for any public case. The register lists each filing, motion, hearing, and order in a civil case. No fee applies for looking at this data on the terminal.

For copies of civil court records in Wasco County, ask the clerk. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. A certified copy adds $5.00 per certificate. Staff can print pages for you while you wait. Larger requests may take more time. Under ORS 192.324, the court can charge for staff time if your request takes more than ten minutes to fill.

Wasco County Clerk Office

The Wasco County Clerk sits at 511 Washington Street in The Dalles. This office handles property records, elections, and marriage licenses. It does not hold civil court records. Those stay with the Circuit Court clerk. But property documents from the County Clerk can tie into a civil case, such as a lien or deed transfer.

The Wasco County Clerk website shows what services are open to the public.

Contact the County Clerk for property or vital records that may relate to civil court records in Wasco County.

Wasco County Public Records Access

Oregon law makes civil court records open to the public. Under ORS 192.314, any person can inspect public records. You do not have to be named in the case. You do not have to give a reason for your request. Civil court records in Wasco County follow this rule.

Some records have limits. Sealed cases are not open to the public. Certain financial details or protected party data may be blacked out in copies. Under ORS 7.110, the trial court administrator serves as custodian of all court records. In Wasco County, that means Rian Beach oversees access to civil court records.

You can request civil court records in Wasco County by visiting the courthouse, calling, or sending a written request. The court handles requests in the order they arrive. If the cost will be over $25, you get an estimate first. Most in-person lookups at the Wasco County clerk window take just a few minutes.

The 7th Judicial District

Wasco County is part of the 7th Judicial District. This district also includes Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties. Each county has its own courthouse. Each keeps its own civil court records. A case filed in Wasco County stays at the courthouse in The Dalles.

The 7th Judicial District spans a wide stretch of north-central Oregon. It runs from the Columbia River Gorge to the high desert. Despite the vast area, every court in the district follows the same Oregon rules. Filing fees, copy costs, and access rights are the same in Wasco County as in any other part of the state. All civil court records are governed by the same statutes.

Civil Cases in Wasco County

The Wasco County Circuit Court handles many types of civil matters. Common civil court records filed here include:

• Contract and debt disputes
• Property and boundary claims
• Small claims cases
• Foreclosure proceedings
• Injunctions and restraining orders
• Probate and estate matters

Each civil case creates a file at the courthouse. The file holds the complaint, summons, motions, orders, and any judgment. Small claims files are shorter. Larger civil suits may have hundreds of pages. All of these civil court records in Wasco County are available to the public unless a judge has sealed the file.

Wasco County also has a long history of land and water rights cases tied to its farming and orchard heritage. These civil court records can date back many years. The clerk can help you find older files, though some may have been sent to the Oregon State Archives for long-term storage.

Copies of Wasco County Records

You can get copies of civil court records in Wasco County at the clerk window. Bring the case number or party name. Staff will pull the file and print what you need. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 fee per certificate.

For records requests by mail, send a written letter to the Wasco County Circuit Court at 511 Washington St., STE 305, The Dalles, OR 97058. Include the case number, the documents you want, and your return address. The court will send you a cost estimate if the total is over $25. You must pay before they send the civil court records.

The Oregon Judicial Department also offers the Find a Case or Court Record tool online. This helps you locate civil court records in Wasco County and across the state before you request physical copies.

Nearby Counties

Wasco County borders Hood River County, Sherman County, Jefferson County, and Wheeler County. If you need civil court records from one of these counties, contact that county's Circuit Court directly. Make sure you file in the correct county for the court to have proper jurisdiction over your case.