Process Serving in Oregon

Oregon’s state court system includes a circuit court in each county, along with the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Tax Court; municipal, county and justice courts are not part of the state-funded system. Civil lawsuits are generally filed in circuit court. The Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (ORCP) govern practice and procedure in all circuit courts for civil actions and special proceedings, except in the small claims department, unless a statute or rule sets a different procedure. ORCP 7 governs the summons: who may serve it, how it is delivered to individuals, businesses and public bodies, and how service is proved. ORCP 8 covers other civil process, and ORS 12.020 links the timing of service to the statute of limitations. Court Runner USA connects you with process servers who serve papers across Oregon.

General information, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026.

Sources:

• Oregon Judicial Department — Find a Court
• Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure 1, 7 and 8
• Council on Court Procedures — Current ORCP
• ORS 12.020

Under ORCP 7 E, a summons may be served by any competent person 18 years of age or older who is a resident of the state where service is made or of Oregon, and who is not a party to the action, corporate or otherwise, or any party’s officer, director, employee or attorney (except as provided in ORS 180.260). An attorney for any party may, however, make service by mail under ORCP 7 D(2)(d)(i) and send the follow-up mailings required after substituted or office service.

Sheriffs and their deputies may also serve; their compensation is set by statute or rule, while any other server may be paid a reasonable fee that is recoverable as a disbursement under Rule 68. ORCP 7 B lets the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney deliver the summons directly to any person authorized under section E, so no court appointment is needed. ORCP 7 does not mention a licence or registration requirement for private servers. Subpoenas follow ORCP 55 A(4), which allows service by a party, the party’s attorney or any other person 18 or older.

Sources:

• ORCP 7 B and 7 E; ORCP 55 A

ORCP 7 D(1) permits personal service, substituted service at the defendant’s dwelling house or usual place of abode, office service, service by mail, and service by publication. Substituted service means leaving true copies of the summons and complaint with a person 14 or older who lives there; office service means leaving them during normal working hours with the person apparently in charge of the defendant’s office. Both require the plaintiff to follow up by first-class mail, and service is complete on that mailing.

Mail service uses first-class mail plus certified, registered or express mail with return receipt requested. Corporations and LLCs are served primarily through a registered agent, officer or director (or a manager or member of an LLC); alternatives include mailing to the registered office on file with the Secretary of State or service on the Secretary of State under ORS 60.121 or 60.731 (ORS 63.121 for LLCs). When no listed method works, ORCP 7 D(6) allows a motion for an order permitting alternative service, such as publication four times in successive weeks, posting, e-mail, text message or social media.

Sources:

• ORCP 7 D

ORS 12.020 provides that, for limitation purposes, an action is commenced against a defendant when the complaint is filed and the summons is served. If the summons is served, or first published, within 60 days after the complaint was filed, the action is treated as commenced on the filing date. ORCP 7 B allows the plaintiff to issue summonses any time after the action is commenced.

Under ORCP 7 C(2), a defendant served by any method other than publication must appear and defend within 30 days from the date of service; after publication, the 30 days run from the date of first publication stated in the summons. Substituted and office service are complete on the follow-up mailing. Mail service on an individual is complete when the defendant signs the receipt (ORCP 7 D(3)(a)(i)); otherwise, mail service is generally complete when the receipt is signed, or 3 days after mailing to an Oregon address (7 days to an out-of-state address), whichever comes first (ORCP 7 D(2)(d)(ii)). ORCP 7 F(1) requires the summons to be returned promptly to the clerk with proof of service or mailing, or a statement that the defendant cannot be found.

Sources:

• ORS 12.020
• ORCP 7 B, C, D and F

ORCP 7 E bars parties, and any party’s officer, director, employee or attorney, from serving the summons, and requires the server to be 18 or older and a resident of Oregon or of the state where service is made. ORCP 8 C allows any civil process to be served or executed on a Sunday or other legal holiday, notwithstanding ORS 1.060. ORCP 8 A, however, states that summonses and subpoenas are not “process” for that rule, and ORCP 7 does not itself address Sunday or holiday service of a summons. Office service must be made during normal working hours.

Special rules apply to particular defendants: a minor under 14 is served and a parent, conservator, guardian or other listed person is served as well; an incapacitated or financially incapable person is served along with the conservator or guardian, or a guardian ad litem; and corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and counties have their own methods. ORCP 7 G provides that errors in the form or issuance of a summons, or in who served it, do not defeat service if the court finds the defendant received actual notice of the action.

Sources:

• ORCP 7 and 8

Under ORCP 7 F(2)(a)(i), a server who is not a sheriff or deputy proves service with a certificate stating the specific documents served; the time, place and manner of service; that the server is a competent person 18 or older, a resident of the state of service or Oregon, and not a party or a party’s officer, director, employee or attorney; and that the server knew the person served was the one named in the action. If the defendant was not personally served, the certificate must say when, where and with whom the copies were left, or describe the manner and circumstances of service in detail. A sheriff’s or deputy’s certificate covers the same facts without the eligibility statement.

When copies were mailed, the certificate states the circumstances of mailing and attaches any return receipt. The rule calls for a certificate rather than an affidavit for ordinary service; publication is proved by an affidavit or declaration, and ORCP 1 E allows a declaration under penalty of perjury in place of any affidavit. The proof may be written on the summons or attached to it. A defendant’s written admission is also proof, and failure to file proper proof does not affect otherwise valid service (ORCP 7 F(3)-(4)).

Sources:

• ORCP 1 E and 7 F