Oregon Probate Statistics: Filings by County (2026)

Oregon courts handled 13,736 probate filings in 2025, and roughly one in four deaths in the state leads to a probate estate case. Multnomah County files the most by a wide margin, and most Oregon estates take close to a year to close, with some running well past two years.

Below, we break down Oregon's probate numbers county by county using the state's own court data, show what share of deaths actually go through probate, explain how long the process takes, and compare Oregon to four other states.

How Many Probate Cases Does Oregon File Each Year?

Oregon circuit courts recorded 13,736 probate filings in 2025. About 11,300 of those were estate and trust cases, and the rest were guardianships and conservatorships for living people.

The distinction matters. The Oregon Judicial Department groups several different case types under one probate heading. Roughly 88% are estates and trusts, meaning matters that open because someone died and left assets to transfer. The other 12% are adult and minor protective proceedings, which are guardianships and conservatorships for people who cannot manage their own affairs. Those are not death-related, so we separate them out when we talk about estates.

Filing volume has been remarkably steady. Oregon recorded 13,364 probate filings in 2021, 13,694 in 2022, 13,609 in 2023, 13,889 in 2024, and 13,736 in 2025. That is a flat line, not a surge, even as Oregon's population ages. These figures come from the Oregon Judicial Department's Circuit Court Statistics (opens in a new tab). For heirs going through the process, our overview of probate advances in Oregon explains what to expect.

Oregon Probate Filings by County

Multnomah County files the most probate cases in Oregon at 2,219 a year, followed by Clackamas, Lane, Washington, and Marion. The top five counties account for more than half of all filings in the state.

The table below shows 2025 probate filings for every Oregon county that recorded them, alongside the filing rate per 1,000 residents age 65 and older and the share of local deaths that resulted in a probate estate case. Two of Oregon's 36 counties recorded no probate filings in 2025, and the 34 counties shown reconcile exactly to the statewide total of 13,736.

County	Probate filings (2025)	Per 1,000 seniors (65+)	Share of deaths
Multnomah	2,219	19.19	33.7%
Clackamas	1,434	17.56	37.7%
Lane	1,217	15.55	28.1%
Washington	1,193	13.87	29.5%
Marion	1,113	19.58	33.1%
Jackson	882	17.28	33.2%
Deschutes	570	13.47	31.8%
Douglas	535	18.24	29.8%
Linn	489	19.66	32.4%
Klamath	451	29.26	45.7%
Josephine	434	18.39	31.1%
Coos	382	21.52	34.8%
Yamhill	364	18.37	32.8%
Polk	302	18.16	32.8%
Lincoln	285	18.08	36.2%
Benton	241	14.56	37.8%
Umatilla	220	16.99	27.6%
Clatsop	207	20.61	41.9%
Columbia	185	17.72	32.9%
Tillamook	152	20.19	36.8%
Union	135	24.55	35.6%
Curry	114	13.66	23.2%
Crook	114	17.71	34.5%
Wasco	100	17.99	24.6%
Baker	93	20.03	33.8%
Hood River	80	18.83	44.9%
Jefferson	71	14.39	24.5%
Lake	56	27.3	37.8%
Wallowa	39	17.83	27.9%
Morrow	36	18.11	27.7%
Malheur	10	1.85	2.7%
Grant	9	3.93	8.8%
Harney	3	1.55	3.3%
Gilliam	1	1.57	2.5%

Concentration is heavy. The five largest counties, all in the Portland metro and Willamette Valley, carry 52% of the statewide caseload. The remaining half is spread across 29 mostly rural counties, some of which file only a handful of estate cases in a year.

What Share of Oregon Deaths Go Through Probate?

About one in four Oregon deaths leads to a probate estate filing. Put another way, the courts open roughly one estate case for every four deaths recorded in the state each year.

The math is simple. Oregon logged 11,326 probate estate and trust filings in 2025 against 42,519 deaths in 2024, which works out to about 27%. We checked that death count against the Oregon Health Authority's (opens in a new tab) official total of 42,253, and the two agree within one percent. This is a ratio of two yearly totals, not a personal prediction, so the honest way to read it is that for every four deaths, the courts open about one estate case.

Not every death goes through probate. Assets that pass by beneficiary designation, joint ownership, or a living trust skip the court entirely, and estates small enough for Oregon's simple estate affidavit avoid full administration. That is why the rate is a minority of deaths rather than most of them.

Oregon's rate looks high next to some states and low next to others, and the reason is state law. We ran the same calculation for four other states using each state's own court statistics.

State	Estate filings per death
California	about 1 in 7 (14.5%)
Oregon	about 1 in 4 (26.6%)
Texas	about 1 in 4 (26.2%)
Washington	about 1 in 4 (27.7%)
Florida	about 1 in 3 (32.1%)

Oregon, Texas, and Washington land almost on top of each other, near one in four. California sits far lower at about one in seven because its small-estate limits are the highest in the country, so many more California estates never reach a courtroom. Florida runs a little higher, driven in part by its large retiree population. The pattern is clear. How often probate happens depends heavily on each state's small-estate thresholds.

How Long Does Probate Take in Oregon?

Most Oregon estates close within a year, but only 65% actually hit that mark, short of the state's own 75% goal. About 13% remain open after two years, and Portland-area estates run the slowest.

Oregon sets timeliness standards for its courts, aiming to resolve 75% of probate estate cases within 360 days and 98% within 720 days. In practice, the statewide numbers fall short. Across the roughly 11,300 estate cases the courts closed in 2025, only 65% finished inside a year. Multnomah County is the slowest large county by far, closing just 55% of estates within a year and leaving 18%, nearly one in five, open past the two-year mark.

Estates drag on for concrete reasons. Oregon requires a creditor notice period, real property often has to be appraised and sometimes sold, and any dispute among heirs stops the clock. For families who need their share sooner, that timeline is the whole problem. We see heirs wait month after month for an estate that everyone agrees on, simply because the process takes time. A probate advance puts a portion of an expected inheritance in an heir's hands within days, and because CSF is a direct funder rather than a broker, the decision happens in house. Our guide to how long probate takes covers the national picture.

Which Oregon Counties Have the Highest Probate Rates?

Measured per senior resident, rural counties file probate at the highest rates, roughly 50% above the Portland metro. Statewide, Oregon opens about 17 probate estate cases for every 1,000 residents age 65 and older.

Klamath County has the highest rate in the state at 29 filings per 1,000 seniors, followed by rural counties such as Coos and Union. Multnomah, despite filing the most cases in raw numbers, sits near the statewide average at 19 per 1,000 seniors. Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (opens in a new tab). The rural skew reflects both older populations and the kinds of assets rural families hold, including land and homes that have to pass through court.

Oregon Estate Tax and Estate Size

Oregon is one of the few states with its own estate tax, owed on estates valued above $1 million. State estate-tax revenue reached $339 million in 2024, up 345% since 2011.

Most estates owe nothing, because the $1 million threshold sits well above the value of a typical Oregon estate. Even so, the tax reaches more families over time as home values rise, which is one reason revenue has climbed so sharply. Heirs sometimes confuse Oregon's estate tax, which the estate pays, with an inheritance tax, which Oregon does not have. Our inheritance tax guide explains the difference in plain terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many probate cases does Oregon file each year?

Oregon circuit courts recorded 13,736 probate filings in 2025, according to the Oregon Judicial Department. About 11,300 were estate and trust cases, and the rest were guardianships and conservatorships. Filing volume has held roughly flat since 2021.

What percentage of Oregon deaths go through probate?

About 1 in 4. Oregon recorded 11,326 probate estate filings in 2025 against 42,519 deaths in 2024, roughly 27%. Many estates skip probate through beneficiary designations, joint ownership, trusts, or Oregon's simple estate affidavit.

How long does probate take in Oregon?

Most Oregon estates close within a year, but only 65% meet the state's 360-day goal, and about 13% stay open past two years. Multnomah County is the slowest, closing 55% within a year.

Which Oregon county has the most probate cases?

Multnomah County (Portland) files the most, at 2,219 probate cases in 2025, followed by Clackamas, Lane, Washington, and Marion. The five largest counties together handle 52% of all Oregon probate filings.

Does Oregon have an estate tax?

Yes. Oregon levies its own estate tax on estates valued above $1 million, and the estate pays it rather than the heirs. Estate-tax revenue reached $339 million in 2024. Oregon does not have a separate inheritance tax.

Can I get money before an Oregon estate closes?

Often, yes. A probate advance lets an heir receive part of an expected inheritance before the estate finishes. Catalina Structured Funding is a direct funder, so it uses its own capital and decides in house rather than routing your request to a third party.

How does Oregon probate compare to other states?

Closely. Oregon's rate of about 1 in 4 deaths resulting in a probate estate filing is nearly identical to Texas and Washington. California is much lower, near 1 in 7, because its high small-estate limits keep more estates out of court.