Oregon · Roommate money dispute

Roommate money dispute in Oregon small claims

Ex-roommate owes you money? Recover it in small claims.

When a roommate leaves without paying their share of rent, utilities, or other agreed expenses — or when money was lent and not repaid — small claims court is an accessible option to recover. Your case turns on showing what was agreed, what was paid by each person, and what remains unpaid. A written roommate agreement or lease addendum is the strongest evidence, but texts, emails, and payment records can also establish the arrangement.

In Oregon, small-claims cases are heard in the Small Claims Department of the Circuit Court and you can sue for up to $10,000 (claims of $750 or less must be filed in small claims; claims up to $10,000 may be).

Good to know: Oregon small claims cases are handled by the small claims department of the county circuit court. File in the circuit court for the county where a defendant lives or can be found, where the events occurred, or where a contract was to be performed.

Roommate money dispute: steps that matter

1. Gather your roommate agreement, lease, and any written communications about shared expenses, payments made, and what was owed.
2. Compile payment records showing what you paid and what the other person did or did not pay.
3. Send a written demand for the amount owed and keep proof you sent it.
4. File in the court for the county where the rental property is located or where the defendant currently lives.

Filing your Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim form in Oregon

1. Make a bona fide effort to collect first. Before filing, you must make a good-faith effort to collect from the defendant, and your claim form must include a sworn statement that you tried to resolve it first.
2. Complete the Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim form. Fill out the Small Claim and Notice form: the county at the top, all defendants named correctly, and itemized money damages (not a lump sum). Also fill in the party names on the Defendant's Response form.
3. File in the correct circuit court and pay the fee. File in the circuit court for the proper county with the Claim and Response forms and the fee. The clerk gives you a case number for every page. If you cannot pay, file a Fee Deferral or Waiver Application.
4. Serve the defendant and file proof of service. Serve each defendant by acceptance of service, personal service, substituted or office service, or certified mail (return receipt, restricted delivery). File a Certificate of Service; if proof is not filed within 63 days of filing, the case may be dismissed.
5. Respond to the defendant's action or attend the hearing. The defendant has 30 days to pay or file a response demanding a hearing. If they dispute it, you are mailed a hearing date; if they do not respond, you can request a default within 51 days of filing proof of service.

Filing fees: Filing fees are set statewide by statute (ORS chapter 21), not by county; current plaintiff and defendant fees are listed on courts.oregon.gov. Service is paid separately to the sheriff or process server. A Fee Deferral or Waiver Application is available.

Deadline that applies to your roommate money dispute

A roommate money dispute is usually a contract or debt claim — unpaid shared expenses, a loan between roommates, or one roommate leaving the other holding the lease. The statute of limitations is typically the contract or debt period, starting from when the money was due or the last payment was made.

Written contract: 6 years (ORS 12.080(1))

Answering a lawsuit: 30 days from the date of service.

Serving the defendant: You must serve each defendant by acceptance of service, personal service (sheriff, process server, or an uninvolved Oregon adult 18+), substituted service, office service, or certified mail (return receipt, restricted delivery). File a Certificate of Service; if proof is not filed within 63 days of filing, the case may be dismissed without notice.

Appeals: There is no appeal from a small claims judgment in Oregon; the judge's decision is final. (A defendant can demand a jury trial only if the claim exceeds $750, which moves the case out of small claims; that is not an appeal.)

All Oregon small-claims deadlines

The table below lists the filing deadlines Small Claims Department of the Circuit Court applies by claim category. Confirm the exact rule that applies to your roommate money dispute claim with your court before relying on any figure.

Oregon small-claims forms for your roommate money dispute case

These forms are published by the Small Claims Department of the Circuit Court. Download and complete them before filing.

• Small Claim and Notice of Small Claim (Form 05-01): The initial document the plaintiff files to start a small claims case, including the sworn statement of a bona fide effort to collect.
• Small Claims - Plaintiff's Instructions (Form 05-77, Jan 2026): Official step-by-step OJD instructions for plaintiffs covering filing, venue, fees, service, default, trial, judgment, and collection.
• Small Claims - Defendant's Instructions (Jan 2026): Official OJD instructions explaining the defendant's response options and deadlines (useful for the plaintiff to understand the 30-day response process).
• Fee Deferral or Waiver Application and Declaration: Used by a plaintiff who cannot afford the filing fee to ask the court to defer or waive fees.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Oregon Judicial Department: Small Claims Forms Center. Last reviewed 2026-06-24.