Washington County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Washington County is the 2nd most populous county in Oregon. It has an estimated population of 599,541 residents. Washington County was created in 1843 and named after George Washington, one of America's Founding Fathers. Its county seat and largest city is the City of Hillsboro. Washington County has three trial courts: Circuit, Municipal, and Justice Courts.

The Washington County Circuit Court hears all legal issues outside the jurisdiction of other lesser courts in the county. It has a Criminal Division tasked with handling felony-related cases and some misdemeanor trials. The Civil Division resolves general civil claims without financial limits, small claims involving not more than $10,000 in financial disputes, and landlord-tenant issues. Divorce cases, adoptions, marriage dissolutions, and other family law cases are within the authority of the Circuit Court Family Division. On the other hand, the probate department oversees legal matters regarding the handling of wills, guardianships, name/gender changes, conservatorships, and protective proceedings. Washington County's Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency and dependency cases. There is also a Justice Court in Washington County tasked with hearing felony pretrials, minor misdemeanors, and ordinance violations. The county's municipalities created Municipal Courts to handle traffic offenses and ordinance violations in their respective cities and towns. Washington County's Municipal Courts are located in:

• Beaverton
• Forest Grove
• Gaston
• Hillsboro
• King City
• Sherwood
• Tigard
• Tualatin

Washington County experiences at least 32,000 crimes annually between 2020 and 2023. Annually, the County's Circuit and Justice Courts finalize about 23,000 court cases, including 8,000 criminal proceedings and 11,000 civil cases. The County Courts allow public access to criminal, civil, probate, and some family law court records. To obtain copies of court records, requesters can complete the public records request form. Afterward, send completed forms via mail or in-person to the Records Department. Accessing court online is also possible using Oregon's Online Record Search. Note that the records department in Washington County provides court documents filed in the Circuit and Justice Courts. Municipal Court records are obtainable by visiting the local courthouses. Sealed and confidential court records, including juvenile case files, are not accessible to the public.

In summary, the circuit, municipal, and justice courts work collectively to deliver an efficient and smooth judicial process in Washington County. These courts provide timely resolution across a wide range of legal matters. They also maintain public trust and transparency by providing access to court records.