Oregon ยท Unpaid invoice

Unpaid invoice in Oregon small claims

Client won't pay your invoice? Collect it in small claims.

If a client or customer has not paid an invoice for work you delivered or goods you sold, small claims court is a low-cost way to collect. You do not need a lawyer. The strength of your case usually comes down to clear proof: the agreement or terms, the invoice, evidence the work or goods were delivered, and a record of your attempts to collect.

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).

Unpaid invoice: steps that matter

  1. Send a final written demand (a clear statement of what is owed and a payment deadline) and keep proof you sent it.
  2. Gather your contract or written terms, the invoice, delivery/completion proof, and any messages showing the other side accepted the work.
  3. Confirm you are within the statute of limitations below before you file.
  4. File in the correct court for where the defendant is or where the work happened, and keep every date and document together.

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 unpaid invoice

An unpaid invoice is usually a contract or account claim. If you had a signed agreement or written terms, the written-contract statute of limitations below typically applies; a purely verbal deal usually falls under the oral-contract period. That statute is the deadline to file, so do not wait too long.

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.)

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.