Lane County Court Records
Lane County court records are official documentation about legal cases heard in Lane County. These records cover proceedings and judicial actions on cases, such as criminal, civil, family, and probate matters adjudicated in the county. The Lane County Circuit Court is the custodian of most of the county’s court records. In Lane County, court records promote openness and transparency and serve as a valuable repository of case information, including filings, decisions, and outcomes.
The courts in Lane County, including the Circuit Court, Justice Court, and Municipal Courts, generate, preserve, and release court records in adherence to relevant state laws and court rules, such as the Oregon Public Records Law, the Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR), and ORS Chapter 7 (Records and Files of Courts).
Lane County court records contribute to the county’s broader criminal justice and public records, which encompass arrest and jail records from law enforcement agencies, federal case files, and vital records (such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates). Like others, the custodians of arrest and court records differ; however, in criminal cases, arrest and court records hold related information and often appear together on a "rap sheet."
Are Lane County Court Records Public?
Yes. Lane County court records are public pursuant to the Oregon Public Records Law (codified in ORS 192.001 to 192.513), which statutorily provides that government records, including court records, are public records and should be made available to any requesting party, unless otherwise stated by law or court order.
Most Lane County court records are public under the law, including those of adult criminal, civil, small claims, estate, and certain family law matters. However, the law restricts certain court records or cases from public access. Examples of these confidential records include juvenile records, sealed cases, adoption records, child abuse/neglect records, paternity records, and mental health cases.
What Information is Available in Lane County Court Records?
Typical information in Lane County court records includes, but is not limited to:
- Party names (e.g., plaintiff/defendants)
- Case number and type
- Docket/Register of Actions (ROA)
- Transcripts
- Filing dates
- Complaint/petition/brief
- Motions
- Orders and judgments
- Exhibits
- Affidavits
- Subpoenas/summonses
Lane County Court Records Search
The options for Lane County court records searches include online access, in-person access, mail requests, and e-mail requests.
- Online Access - Interested persons can use the Oregon Judicial Department’s (OJD) Online Records Search to find case information on civil, criminal, family, and probate matters adjudicated in the Lane County Circuit Court. Searches can be performed by name or case number. Case information via the OJD portal is limited; as such, a full register of actions may not be available. The full official register of actions is accessible at the courthouse public terminals or, for certain business entities, through a subscription to OJCIN Online. Otherwise, requesters should use the online statewide Court Records Request form to request full case files from the county’s circuit court.
- In-Person Access - The Lane County Circuit Court offers public terminals at the courthouse for viewing full registers and documents for non-confidential case types. Interested persons who wish to access full official case files and ROA should visit the Lane County Circuit Court at 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, to use the public terminals or request physical copies from the clerk’s office. The courthouse hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Mail and E-mail Requests - Interested persons can, as an alternative to the other options, make formal copy requests to the Lane County Circuit Court for case files/documents by mail or via e-mail to LANCopyRequest@ojd.state.or.us. A self-addressed stamped envelope must be included with mail requests, along with a check or money order to cover copy costs. For further information, call the court’s archives department at (541) 682-7487.
Fees for Court Records in Lane County
Per the Lane County Circuit Court records request costs, a paper copy of court records mailed or picked up in person costs $3.00 + $0.25 per page for a standard copy, $5.00 + $0.25 per page for a certified copy, and $10.00 + $0.25 per page for an exemplified copy. For electronic copies delivered via email, the fees are $3.00 per request (standard copy), $5.00 per request (certified copy), and $10.00 per request (exemplified copy). However, for copies delivered via CD, the cost is $1.00 per CD. No fee is charged to view court records with public terminals at the courthouse.
The above fees apply to divorce records from the Lane County Circuit Court. However, different fees apply to other vital records, such as marriage, birth, and death records. Marriage records are handled by the Lane County Deed & Records Office and cost $7.75 per certified copy, with each additional copy requested at the same time as the first costing $4. On the other hand, birth and death records are maintained by the Lane County Vital Records Office and the Oregon State Vital Records Office and cost $25-$47.50/certificate, depending on the agency and the ordering method.
Lane County Courthouse Locations
The courts in Lane County include the Circuit Court, the Justice Court, and the Municipal Courts. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction, handling civil, criminal, family/domestic relations, juvenile (through the Juvenile Justice Center), and probate matters. The Justice Court handles traffic violations, small claims, evictions, fishing/boating violations, parking violations, etc. Meanwhile, the municipal courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit and justice courts over all violations and misdemeanors occurring within their city limits, such as violations of municipal codes/ordinances, parking and pedestrian violations, and minor tobacco, liquor, and drug violations.
Below are the locations, addresses, and phone numbers of these courts.
125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: (541) 682-4020
900 Greenwood St
Florence, OR 97439
Phone: (541) 997-2535
Fax: (541) 902-0639
Email: LCJC@lanecountyOR.gov
1102 Lincoln St.
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: (541) 682-5400
Fax: (541) 682-5417
91136 N. Willamette St.
PO Box 8146
Coburg, OR 97408
Phone: (541) 682-7859
400 E. Main Street
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Phone: (541) 767-4115
Fax: (541) 357-3285
900 Greenwood Street
Florence, OR 97439
Phone: (541) 997-3123
Fax: (541) 997-4108
680 Greenwood Street,
Junction City, OR 97448
Phone: (541) 998-1113
Fax: (541) 995-0453
Email: court@ci.junction-city.or.us
70 N Pioneer Street
PO Box 490
Lowell, OR 97452
Phone: (541) 937-2157
230 Fourth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, 97477
Phone: (541) 726-3748
Fax: (541) 744-3376
88184 8th Street
Veneta, OR 97487
Phone: (541) 935-2191
Fax: (541) 935-1838
Criminal Records Access in Lane County
Access to official state-level criminal history records in Lane County is managed by the Oregon State Police (OSP). Through its Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, the OSP handles open record requests for Oregon criminal history record checks for individuals and the public. A request for a statewide criminal history record may be completed on the OSP’s Open Record Portal. It costs $33.
While statewide criminal records are only available through the OSP, local case records of felonies and misdemeanors handled in Lane County Circuit Court are available. They may be viewed through the OJD’s Online Record Search, via public terminals at the courthouse, or requested by email, by mail, or online.
Lane County Probate Records
Lane County probate records typically include wills, trusts, decedent estate administrations, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Lane County Circuit Court handles probate proceedings and manages its records under ORS 7.240.
Most probate records are deemed public information under Oregon law. However, sensitive documents in probate records are excluded from public access, including vouchers, bank statements, medical records, and personal information in guardianship proceedings.
Limited access to Lane County estate records, wills, and probate filings is available through the OJD’s Online Record Search. However, full access to a probate matter’s register of actions, files, and documents is available via public terminals at the Lane County Circuit Court. Copies may also be requested in person at the courthouse, by email to LANCopyRequest@ojd.state.or.us, by mail, or via the court records request form online.
Lane County Family Court Records
Access to family court records in Lane County is limited. Family law case records involving juveniles, such as adoption records, child abuse/neglect records, and paternity records, are confidential and not open to the public under Oregon law. However, divorce and custody/support records are generally public.
Interested persons can find public family court records, like divorce records, using the Online Records Search. Alternatively, a full register of actions, case files, and documents of public family cases may be viewed in person with public terminals at the Lane County Circuit Court. Certified copies can also be requested in person, by e-mail, by mail, or online using the request form. Fees apply for standard or certified electronic/paper copies.
Federal Court Records in Lane County
Lane County federal cases are heard in the Eugene Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. To search and/or obtain federal court records of cases handled in this court, use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. The system allows users to search for and view/download federal court filings and documents for a nominal fee of $0.10 per page, limited to $3 per document. Free searches are available under certain thresholds. Alternatively, interested persons can conduct free searches or request standard/certified copies of these records at the federal clerk’s office in the Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse, 405 East Eighth Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401.
