Multnomah County Public Records

Multnomah County public records are held by offices in Portland, the county seat. As the most populous county in Oregon with over 800,000 residents, Multnomah County handles a large volume of recorded documents, court filings, and property records each year. You can search for records online, by phone, or in person. The Department of Assessment, Recording, and Taxation, the Circuit Court, the Sheriff, and other offices all keep public records. This guide explains how to access records from each Multnomah County office.

Multnomah County Recorded Documents

The Department of Assessment, Recording, and Taxation (DART) handles recorded documents in Multnomah County. The office is at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd #175, Portland, OR 97214. The phone number is 503-988-3326 and the email is clerk@multco.us. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays.

DART records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land documents for Multnomah County. Recorded indices go back to 1965 and are available on public terminals at the office. For documents recorded since February 2002, you can search online through multcorecords.com. This online tool lets you look up recorded documents from your home or office without visiting in person. Multnomah County also offers eRecording, which allows title companies and attorneys to submit documents electronically.

The Multnomah County Recording and Customer Service page has details on fees, hours, and how to search for recorded documents. The public terminals at the office let you browse indices and find document numbers. Staff can pull the actual documents for you and make copies. This is one of the most active recording offices in Oregon because of the high volume of real estate transactions in Multnomah County.

The Multnomah County Recording office provides public terminals, online search tools, and eRecording for property documents.

Note: Multnomah County recorded documents from February 2002 onward are searchable online at multcorecords.com.

Multnomah County Property Tax Records

Property tax records in Multnomah County are available through the Assessment and Taxation division of DART. The website multcoproptax.com lets you search property values, tax information, and assessment history for any parcel in the county. This is a free online tool open to the public.

The assessor sets values on all real property in Multnomah County each year. These values drive the tax bills that go out in the fall. Property tax records show the owner name, assessed value, real market value, tax amount, and any exemptions. You can search by address, owner name, or account number. These records are useful for home buyers, real estate agents, and anyone who wants to know the tax situation on a property in Multnomah County.

If you think your property value is wrong, you can file an appeal with the Board of Property Tax Appeals. The appeal must be filed by the deadline, which is usually in late December or early January. All appeal records are public documents in Multnomah County. Contact DART at 503-988-3326 for questions about assessments, tax bills, or appeals.

Multnomah County Circuit Court

The Multnomah County Circuit Court is the busiest in Oregon. It is at 1021 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204. The phone number is (503) 988-3957. This court handles a massive volume of civil, criminal, family, and probate cases each year. All court filings are public records unless sealed by a judge.

Multnomah County Circuit Court runs specialized courts for certain types of cases. These include drug court, mental health court, and domestic violence court. Each of these programs creates records that become part of the case file. The court also has a self-help center where people without lawyers can get assistance with forms and filing procedures. This center helps many people each day navigate the court system in Multnomah County.

Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) lets you search Multnomah County court records online. You can look up cases by name or case number. The system shows filing dates, case types, and party information. Visit the Oregon eCourt portal to begin your search. A small fee applies for detailed case views. For copies of filed documents, contact the court clerk at the courthouse in Portland. The Multnomah County Circuit Court page has local rules, forms, and court schedules.

The Oregon Judicial Department page for Multnomah County provides court forms, specialized court information, and details about the self-help center.

Multnomah County Sheriff Records

The Multnomah County Sheriff is at 1120 SW 3rd Avenue in Portland. The non-emergency number is (503) 988-3733. The sheriff handles law enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county, runs the jail, and provides court security. Records kept by the sheriff include incident reports, arrest records, booking data, and civil process papers.

Multnomah County offers an online inmate search tool. You can look up who is currently in custody at the county jail. The sheriff also runs river patrol on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. These patrols create marine incident records that are also public documents. For records not available online, file a public records request with the Multnomah County Sheriff. Oregon law requires a response within five business days.

The sheriff handles a high volume of civil process in Multnomah County. This includes serving court papers, enforcing evictions, and executing court orders. Each of these actions creates records that can be requested by the public. Contact the sheriff office for details on how to submit your request and any fees that may apply in Multnomah County.

Vital Records in Multnomah County

Birth and death certificates for Multnomah County residents are held by the Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics. The state manages these records for all 36 counties. You can order certified copies online, by mail, or in person at the state office at 800 NE Oregon Street in Portland. Visit the Oregon vital records page to place an order.

Marriage licenses in Multnomah County are issued through DART. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo ID. The license is good for 60 days once issued. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned to DART for recording. The recorded marriage certificate becomes a public record in Multnomah County. You can get copies of recorded marriage certificates from the DART office in Portland.

For historical records and older vital documents from Multnomah County, the Oregon State Archives may have what you need. They hold a large collection of historical county records going back many years.

Multnomah County Records Requests

Oregon public records law applies to all Multnomah County offices. Under ORS 192.311 through 192.478, you have the right to inspect and copy government records. Most records are open to the public. Some are exempt, such as certain law enforcement investigation files, juvenile records, and information protected by federal law.

To request records from Multnomah County, contact the specific office that holds the documents you need. You can submit your request in writing, by email, or in person. Each department may have its own forms and procedures. The office must respond within five business days. Fees may apply for staff time and copies. The Oregon Attorney General's public records guide explains your rights and the appeal process if a request is denied.

Multnomah County handles thousands of public records requests each year. Because of the volume, some requests may take longer to process. Be as specific as you can when describing what you need. Include names, dates, and case numbers if you have them. This helps staff find your records faster in Multnomah County.

Cities in Multnomah County

Multnomah County contains Portland and several smaller cities. Portland is the largest city in Oregon and the county seat. All county-level records are kept at offices in Portland.

Other cities in Multnomah County include Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, and Maywood Park. County records for residents of all these cities are held at the Multnomah County offices in Portland.

Nearby Counties

Multnomah County borders Washington County, Clackamas County, Columbia County, Hood River County, and Clark County in Washington state. If you need records from a neighboring county, contact their offices directly. Check the property address or event location to find which county holds the records you need. Each Oregon county keeps its own set of public records.