Quick answer: Oregon probate is filed with the county Circuit Court, and the filing fee scales with the value of the estate under ORS 21.135 — roughly $124 to $1,178, uniform statewide. It's a minor cost next to the PR commission and, for larger estates, the estate tax.
The ORS 21.135 filing-fee scale
Probate is filed with the Circuit Court in the county where the person lived — Multnomah (Portland), Washington, Clackamas, Lane (Eugene), Marion (Salem) and the state's 36 counties. Oregon sets a statewide fee tied to the value of the estate, so the amount depends on estate size, not the county:
| Estate value | Filing fee (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Under $50,000 | ~$124 |
| $50,000 – $999,999 | ~$300 |
| $1,000,000 – $9,999,999 | ~$594 |
| $10,000,000 and above | ~$1,178 |
Approximate amounts under ORS 21.135; the Oregon Judicial Department sets the current schedule. Confirm the exact fee with the county Circuit Court before filing.
Other costs to plan for
- Publication to creditors — a newspaper notice; the newspaper sets the price (~$100–$300). The 4-month creditor claim period runs from publication.
- Certified copies of the Letters — needed by banks and title; a few dollars each.
- Bond premium — if a bond is required (not waived by the will or heirs); a fraction of a percent per year.
- Estate-tax return — Form OR-706 is filed with the Oregon Department of Revenue when the estate exceeds $1M (the tax itself, 10–16%, is the real cost).
Where the fee sits in the total
The filing fee is small next to the statutory PR commission and, for estates above $1 million, the Oregon estate tax (10–16%). And Oregon has no inheritance tax. See the whole picture in the Oregon probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the Oregon probate cost calculator.