Courts · Small Claims
Small Claims Court Limit in Oregon
The most you can sue for in Oregon small claims — with the filing-fee range and whether a lawyer is allowed, cited to the statute.
The limit, the fee & who can appear in Oregon
The claim ceiling, how the filing fee is set, and whether lawyers are allowed at the hearing.
| Maximum claim | $10,000 |
| How the limit works | One statewide limit |
| Filing fee | $57 or $102 set statewide by claim size under ORS 46.570: $57 when the claim is $2,500 or less, $102 when it is more than $2,500 |
| Lawyers at the hearing | Not allowedSelf-represent only Under ORS 46.415, no attorney may appear for a party in the small claims department without the consent of the judge. So lawyers are the exception here, not the norm. |
| Statute / court rule | ORS 46.405 |
ORS 46.405 splits by amount. A claim of $750 or less must be filed in the small claims department; a claim over $750 up to $10,000 may be filed there or taken to regular circuit court.
A 2025 bill (SB 484) proposed raising the small claims ceiling to $20,000, but it had not been enacted as of mid-2026. The $10,000 cap below is the one in effect now.
Where to file in Oregon
A reference page, not a filing walkthrough — here's the official resource for procedure.
This page is a reference for the dollar limit, fee, and whether a lawyer is allowed — not a step-by-step filing guide. For the forms, where to file, and how service works, use Oregon's official court self-help resource.
→ Oregon Judicial Department (small claims)What Oregon filers get wrong
Oregon runs its small claims department inside each circuit court, and the cap is $10,000 under ORS 46.405. The statute does something most states do not: it splits by amount. A claim of $750 or less must start in the small claims department, while a claim over $750 up to $10,000 may either stay there or be filed as a regular circuit court case. Filing fees are set statewide, not by county. The official Oregon Judicial Department fee schedule lists $57 for a claim of $2,500 or less and $102 for a claim above that. Oregon also limits lawyers: under ORS 46.415, an attorney cannot appear for a party without the judge's consent, so small claims here is built for people to speak for themselves. We confirmed the $10,000 cap in ORS 46.405 and the fees on the state's own 2026 fee schedule.
Common questions
What is the small claims limit in Oregon?
Oregon small claims are capped at $10,000 under ORS 46.405. A claim of $750 or less must be filed in the small claims department; a claim over $750 up to $10,000 may be filed there or in regular circuit court.
Can I bring a lawyer to small claims court in Oregon?
Not automatically. Under ORS 46.415, an attorney cannot appear for a party in the small claims department without the judge’s consent. The process is designed for people to represent themselves.
How much is the filing fee for small claims in Oregon?
The state sets it by claim size: $57 when the claim is $2,500 or less, and $102 when it is more than $2,500, per the Oregon Judicial Department fee schedule. Service costs are billed separately.
Do I have to use small claims court in Oregon, or can I go to regular court?
If your claim is $750 or less, ORS 46.405 requires you to use the small claims department. If it is over $750 up to $10,000, you may choose small claims or file a regular circuit court case instead.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.