General
The Civil Unit is located in Room 135 at the courthouse.
Civil law includes statutes and case law that define or interpret individual's and organization's private rights, in their relationships and disputes that involve property, contracts, personal injury, family relationships, tax, or government rules and regulations.
Numerous civil matters come before the Court. Because of the number of possible civil actions and the potential complexity of each, it is strongly recommended that you consult an attorney before commencing legal action concerning civil matters.
Arbitration
In all civil cases, arbitration is mandatory for any claim of less than $50,000 and the referral will be coordinated by the court clerk.
Arbitration is a fast way to get a decision when you are in a dispute. Arbitration is like a trial but less formal. In arbitration, two sides present their evidence to an arbitrator. The arbitrator decides who wins and who loses. An arbitrator does the job that a judge or jury would normally do in court.
Resources:
Arbitrator Selection List
Reference Judge List
Application to Become an Arbitrator
Name and Sex Changes
WHERE DO I FILE?
Name Change – If you are filing for yourself, file in the circuit court for the county where you
live. If you are filing for a minor child, file in the county where the child lives.
Sex Change – You can file in any circuit court in Oregon. If you are also asking for a name
change, you can file for both at the same time in any circuit court in Oregon.
Oregon law provides a process whereby a person may change their name and/or sex and receive a decree from the court officially recording the changes. The following name change forms are specific to Yamhill Circuit Court.