Court records in Josephine County, Oregon, can be accessed through several channels. JosephineCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, official resources such as the Oregon Judicial Department, the county court clerk's office, and public terminals in the courthouse in Grants Pass provide access to case registers, hearing calendars, and court documents.
Josephine Court System & Jurisdictions
In Oregon, there are no separate district or magistrate courts at the county level. The only court of general jurisdiction in the county is the Josephine County Circuit Court. This court handles virtually all categories of cases.
Criminal cases — from felonies to misdemeanors — start here. Traffic violations and fines for traffic rule violations also fall under this court's jurisdiction.
Civil disputes of any scale, including small claims (up to $10,000), are handled by the same Circuit Court. Here are the main categories of cases:
- Family law — divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate cases — will validation and estate management of deceased persons
- Mental health and involuntary commitment cases
- Juvenile cases — juvenile offenses and child protection
The family court operates in a separate wing of the building but remains administratively part of the Circuit Court. The working hours are the same: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Federal cases related to Josephine County are handled by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in Medford.
Josephine Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out about scheduled hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use the Oregon eCourt system. This free online tool shows the calendars of all county courts in the state, including the Josephine County Circuit Court.
How to find the desired hearing:
- Open the Oregon eCourt Circuit Court Calendars page.
- Select "Josephine" from the list of counties.
- Enter a date or date range, party name, or case number.
- The system will display the schedule of sessions, indicating the room, judge, and type of hearing.
For an advanced search — with access to the Register of Actions and court decisions — there is a paid system called OJCIN (Oregon Judicial Case Information Network). It contains data from all state courts.
If online access is inconvenient, call the court clerk's office at 541-476-2309 to confirm the date and time of a specific hearing.
How to Get a Copy of a Josephine Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types: uncertified and certified. A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature — usually required by other institutions, employers, or attorneys.
Online
Basic case information can be viewed through Oregon eCourt for free. To obtain full documents or certified copies, you need to contact the court clerk's office. The Court Records page on the Oregon Judicial Department website contains instructions for requesting documents from divorce cases, protective orders, and other categories.
In Person
Visit the Circuit Court clerk's office at 510 NW 5th Street, Grants Pass. Bring the case number or the full name of the party and the approximate filing date. The clerk will conduct a search and prepare the copies.
By Mail
Send a written request specifying the case number, party names, and document type to:
Include payment (check or money order made out to "State of Oregon — OJD"). Certified copies will be mailed after the request is processed.
Recorded County Documents
Documents related to real estate — deeds, mortgages, liens — are maintained by the Josephine County Clerk. Unofficial copies of such documents are available through the Digital Research Room on the county's website. Certified copies are ordered from the county clerk's office.
Note: For divorce cases, the county directs requests directly to the Circuit Court.
Access Restrictions
Some records are closed by state law: juvenile cases, adoptions, certain mental health cases, sealed and expunged materials. The clerk will inform you if the requested document is unavailable.
Josephine Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are determined by administrative orders of the Oregon Judicial Department (Chief Justice Orders) and local rules. Below are approximate rates — it's advisable to confirm the current amount with the court clerk's office at 541-476-2309 before making a request.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Document copy (uncertified) | $0.25 per page |
| Document certification | $5.00 per document |
| Case register search (by clerk request) | Depends on volume; confirm |
| OJCIN access (online) | Subscription or per-page fee |
| Certified copy of recorded document (County Clerk) | Confirm with county clerk's office |
Payment is accepted by check, money order, and in some cases, credit or debit card for in-person requests. For mail requests, use a check or money order.
According to the Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.311–192.478), the county has the right to charge the requester for the cost of compiling records if the request requires significant processing time. A preliminary cost estimate is provided before work begins.