State guide
Oregon
Oregon protective proceedings are handled in circuit court probate departments under ORS chapter 125. Oregon distinguishes between guardianship for personal decision-making and conservatorship for management of assets, and state law requires consideration of less restrictive alternatives.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Petitions are filed in the Oregon circuit court, usually through the county probate department handling protective proceedings.
- What it's called
- guardian (person) and conservator (estate/assets)
- Filing fee
- Guardianship filing fee $124; standard circuit-court filing fee $281; Multnomah County adult guardianship court visitor fee $750.00; Multnomah County conservatorship court visitor fee $550.00.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Oregon requires consideration of less restrictive alternatives, and ODHS identifies supported decision-making as one of those alternatives before guardianship or conservatorship.
- Law
- ORS chapter 125; filing fees at ORS 21.145 and ORS 21.135.
Official resources in Oregon
Oregon Department of Human Services - Supported Decision-Making
State agency page with supported decision-making resources and Oregon law information.
Multnomah County Circuit Court - Probate
Largest-county probate page covering adult and minor guardianships, conservatorships, and visitor fees.
Multnomah County Circuit Court - Forms
Largest-county self-help forms page with probate forms specific to Multnomah County.
Key facts for Oregon
- ORS 21.145 sets the circuit court filing fee for guardianship proceedings at $124.
- ORS 21.135 sets Oregon’s standard circuit court filing fee at $281.
- ORS chapter 125 requires petitions to describe less restrictive alternatives considered and why they are inadequate.
- ODHS says Oregon law has long required exploration of less restrictive alternatives before guardianship or conservatorship.
- Washington County’s probate department says protective proceedings include guardianship and conservatorship.
- Multnomah County’s probate page lists a $750.00 court visitor fee for adult guardianship cases.
County court guardianship pages in Oregon
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County Circuit Court Probate Department Multnomah | Portland | Not published* | Largest-county probate department handling estates, adult and minor guardianships, conservatorships, and trust cases. |
| Multnomah County Circuit Court Forms Multnomah | Portland | Not published* | Largest-county self-help forms page with probate forms specific to Multnomah County Circuit Court. |
| Washington County Circuit Court Probate Department Washington | Hillsboro | Not published* | Official county probate page explaining guardianship and conservatorship protective proceedings and local forms access. |
| Clackamas County Circuit Court Probate Department Clackamas | Oregon City | Not published* | Official county probate page for protective proceedings and local probate forms. |
| Clackamas County Circuit Court Probate Forms Clackamas | Oregon City | Not published* | Largest-county-area self-help forms page with local probate forms for Clackamas County Circuit Court. |
| Multnomah County Public Guardian & Conservator Multnomah | Portland | (503) 988-4567 | County program for adults in Multnomah County who may qualify for public guardian or conservator services. |
| Oregon Department of Human Services - Supported Decision-Making | Not published* | Not published* | State supported decision-making hub with law fact sheets, tools, and school-transition resources. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check your county circuit court’s probate page first, because Oregon has limited statewide guardianship forms and some counties publish local packets.
- Budget for both the filing fee and any required court visitor fee or bond requirements.
- Review supported decision-making and other less restrictive options before filing because Oregon law expects those options to be explored.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Oregon's population center, for comparison only):
- Ex Parte via the Clerk, Washington · about 185 miles
- King County Superior Court Ex Parte & Probate Department, Washington · about 201 miles
- Ex Parte via the Clerk, Washington · about 201 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Oregon Department of Human Services - Supported Decision-Making
Website →Phone: (800) 699-9075 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Association of Oregon Counties →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Oregon page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.