How to Order Copies of Court Documents

• To Obtain Copies in Person
• To Obtain Copies by Mail
• Difference between Plain, Certified and Exemplified Copies
• How to Order CDs of Hearings Recorded Electronically
• How to Order a Transcript (Typed Copy) of a Trial or Hearing
• How Long Files are Kept and in What Form
• Locations of Court Records
• Exhibits

To obtain copies in person go to Lane County Courthouse at 125 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401. Cases that were filed two years ago or less can be found on the second floor of the courthouse at the Records Center.  Cases more than two years old are located in the basement of the courthouse in Archives.

To obtain copies by mail send a letter with a self-addressed stamped envelope and the following information:  

1. The complete name of person or persons involved, approximate year in which the case was filed and a case number if one is available.
2.   State what you would like copied, for instance, do you need the complete file or just certain documents?
3.   State whether or not the document(s) need to be certified.

• Copies are 25 cents per page.
• Certified copies are $5.00 per document plus 25 cents per page.
• Exemplified copies are $10.00 per document plus 25 cents per page

4.   Include a check made payable to Lane County Circuit Court, leave the amount blank (since we do not know how many pages there are to be copied). Write in at the bottom left hand corner of the  check ``not to exceed $10.00" or an amount you feel would be appropriate.  We will fill in the total amount and send you a receipt so that you can adjust your checkbook.
5.   Mail the letter, check and self-address stamped envelope to:

Lane County Circuit Court
125 E 8th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401

Difference between Plain Copies, Certified Copies and Exemplified Copies

• Plain Copies are photocopies of any document in the file.
• Certified Copies are photocopies of a filed document in its entirety (everything within a staple) that is sworn to be a true copy by a court clerk. The certified copy should not be taken apart. If the staple is removed, the certification becomes invalid.   
• Blue Backer photocopies are a collection of filed documents from the same file that are listed on a Blue Backer by pleading title and are certified as a group with a seal and signature of a court clerk. Documents that are to be used as exhibits are usually certified individually.
• Exemplified Copy, also called a 3-Way Certificate, is a photocopy of a pleading in its entirety with it's authenticity sworn to by the Court Administrator. The signature of the Court Administrator is sworn to by the Presiding Judge, then the Court Administrator swears to the authenticity of the judge's signature. These copies are often required by other states and countries when copies are being submitted for filing in their local court. It takes two to three days to process an exemplified copy request.

How to Order CD's of Hearings Reported Electronically

The court will make a copy of electronically reported hearings on request. The request may be made in person or in a letter sent to the court by mail.  If you are requesting CDs by letter to the court, please refer to the How to Obtain Copies by Mail for more information on where to send your letter and how to prepay the cost. The court will need the following information:

1. Your name and phone number,
2. The case name,
3. The case number,
4. The date, time and type of proceeding,
5. The Judge who held the hearing and
6. Whether a certified copy of the log of the hearing is desired.  An uncertified copy of the log is provided without charge.

The cost, which must be prepaid, is $10.00 per CD and $5.00 to certify the log if requested. If the CD is to be mailed a $3.00 shipping fee applies.

Allow one to three days from the receipt of your request for processing. The clerk will phone you with the cost and will have the CD copied one to three days after receiving payment.

How to Order a Transcript (Typed Copy) of a Trial or Hearing

How Long Files are Kept and In What Form

Today's retention standard on most civil, domestic and criminal cases is 75 years for the Judgments, Satisfactions and Final Orders. Probate, Adoptions, Naturalization, Name Changes and Water Rights files are kept permanently.

Cases with low impact on legal issues such as traffic violations, small claim and evictions are kept between seven and ten years.

Lane County Circuit Court staff is currently scanning cases more than 10 years old.  Once the record is checked the paper files are destroyed.

Locations of Court Records

File Center/Records Viewing Room

The File Center/Records Viewing Room is located on the 2nd floor of the Lane County Circuit Courthouse, 125 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401. It is open to the public Monday through Friday, except court holidays, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The File Center contains all the files started in the last 2 years (except for active probate cases which are located in the basement/archives in the Probate office).  These files may be requested by case number and viewed immediately in the viewing room. The file clerks will make copies as requested .

The Records Viewing Room has four public computers.    The computers can access the name index and case register from mid-1982 within Lane County and at least 10 years for other counties in the State. The computers are user friendly with simple instructions for various operations and clerks are available to help when needed. Two additional record viewing computers are located in Archives.

Archives

Archives is located in the basement of the courthouse. All files over two years old (other than open probate cases) are stored there either in paper, digitally scanned, or microfilm form. Archive hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except court holidays.

Exhibits