Who may serve a summons and complaint in Oregon?

Any competent person who is 18 years of age or older and a resident of Oregon or the state where service is made, as long as that person is not a party to the action, or any party's officer, director, employee, or attorney, under ORCP 7 E. Oregon has no statewide process-server license, registration, or certification requirement. A sheriff or deputy may also serve, but sheriff service is optional, not required.

Can a party serve their own summons in Oregon?

No. ORCP 7 E excludes a party to the action from serving the summons and complaint. A party's attorney is also generally barred from personally hand-delivering it, though the attorney may personally handle the service-by-mail method and certain required follow-up mailings.

Does Oregon have an official proof of service form?

Yes. The Oregon Judicial Department publishes a Certificate of Service (ORCP 7D(2)) as an official statewide form. It is not mandatory, so a separate certificate stating the facts ORCP 7 F(2)(a) requires may also be used. A Certificate of Alternative Service is also available for service made under a court order.

Does an Oregon proof of service need to be notarized?

Not for personal, substituted, office, or mail service. A non-sheriff server's proof is an unsworn certificate under ORCP 7 F(2)(a), with no oath or notarization required in the rule itself, though the official OJD form voluntarily adds penalty-of-perjury language. Notarization applies only if the server chooses the affidavit format for publication proof, which a declaration may also satisfy.

How long do I have to serve a summons in Oregon?

ORCP 7 sets no fixed day count that forces dismissal for late service. Instead, ORS 12.020(2) gives a 60-day window after the complaint is filed during which service relates back to the filing date for statute-of-limitations purposes; service completed later is still valid but is deemed to commence the action on the actual date of service.

Is there a deadline to file the proof of service in Oregon?

ORCP 7 F(1) requires the summons to be promptly returned to the clerk with proof of service, mailing, or a statement that the defendant could not be found, but states no fixed day count. ORCP 7 F(4) also provides that if the summons was properly served, failing to make or file a proper proof does not itself affect the validity of the service.

Does this Oregon proof of service cover federal court, service abroad, or a government defendant?

No. Service on the federal government, a foreign country, or under the Hague Service Convention, and service in federal court under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, follow separate rules not covered on this page.

Oregon Proof of Service

Q: Is ordinary mail enough to serve an Oregon summons?

No. Ordinary first-class mail alone does not serve a summons in Oregon. Mail service under ORCP 7 D(2)(d) must combine first-class mail with certified, registered, or express mail, return receipt requested, sent together, and for an individual defendant it is only effective if the defendant actually signs the receipt.

Q: How do I serve later papers like motions in an Oregon case?

Once a party is represented, later papers generally go to the attorney, not the party, unless the court orders otherwise. Methods under ORCP 9 B include hand delivery, leaving a copy at the office with the person in charge, leaving a copy at the dwelling with a resident 14 or older if the office is closed or there is no office, mail, email under ORCP 9 G, or fax under ORCP 9 F. Proof may be a written acknowledgment, an affidavit or declaration, or an attorney's certificate, filed within a reasonable time.

Oregon imposes no license or registration on private process servers but bars a party from serving their own summons; a server proves service by an unsworn certificate, not a notarized affidavit, and ordinary first-class mail alone never completes service.

Find out where you stand in Oregon

Where are you with service?

DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.

Introduction

Oregon imposes no license or registration on private process servers. Under ORCP 7 E, any competent adult 18 or older residing in Oregon or the service state may serve a summons, so long as the server is not a party or a party's officer, director, employee, or attorney. A party cannot serve their own summons, and a party's attorney cannot hand-deliver it either. The Oregon Judicial Department's Certificate of Service (ORCP 7D(2)) is an official statewide form, but it is not mandatory, so a separate certificate may be used. A non-sheriff server's proof is an unsworn certificate under ORCP 7 F(2)(a), with no notarization required; only publication proof in affidavit form needs notarization, and a declaration also works. Substituted service leaves copies at the dwelling with a resident 14 or older, plus a follow-up mailing; office service is the parallel method at a business address. Mail service must combine first-class mail with certified, registered, or express mail, return receipt requested, and for an individual defendant is effective only if the defendant signs the receipt; ordinary first-class mail alone never completes service. Oregon has no fixed serve-or-dismiss deadline; ORS 12.020(2) instead gives a 60-day relation-back window tied to the statute of limitations, and the summons must be promptly returned with proof of service, with no fixed day count stated. Later papers go to the attorney of record by hand delivery, mail, email, or fax. Federal, foreign, and government service follow separate rules. Attorney review is available before you file.

Key Things to Know

1
Any competent adult who is 18 or older and a resident of Oregon or the state where service is made may serve a summons, as long as the server is not a party, or a party's officer, director, employee, or attorney; Oregon imposes no process-server license, registration, or certification requirement. The Oregon Judicial Department's Certificate of Service (ORCP 7D(2)) is an official statewide form, but it is optional, so a separate certificate with the required facts may be used instead (ORCP 7 E; ORCP 7 F(2)(d)).
2
A party to the case cannot serve their own summons. A party's attorney is also generally barred from personally hand-delivering the summons and complaint, though the attorney may personally handle the service-by-mail method and the required follow-up mailings after substituted or office service (ORCP 7 E).
3
A non-sheriff server's proof of service is an unsworn certificate under ORCP 7 F(2)(a), with no notarization required. Notarization applies only if a server chooses the affidavit format for publication proof; a declaration is allowed there instead, and the rule's declaration template includes penalty-of-perjury language.
4
Personal delivery of true copies to the defendant requires no minimum number of attempts. Substituted service leaves copies at the defendant's dwelling with a resident who is 14 or older, plus a required follow-up first-class mailing; office service follows the same pattern at a business address, and both are complete upon that mailing (ORCP 7 D(2)).
5
Mail alone does not serve a summons. Service by mail must combine first-class mail with certified, registered, or express mail, return receipt requested, sent together. Service is complete on the day the defendant signs the receipt, or 3 days after mailing to an in-state address or 7 days after mailing to an out-of-state address, whichever comes first; for an individual defendant, mail service is effective only if the defendant actually signs the receipt (ORCP 7 D(2)(d); ORCP 7 D(3)(a)(i)).
6
Oregon sets no fixed serve-or-dismiss deadline for the summons. ORS 12.020(2) instead gives a 60-day window after filing during which service relates back to the filing date for statute-of-limitations purposes; the summons must otherwise be promptly returned to the clerk with proof of service, with no fixed day count stated for that filing (ORCP 7 F(1)).
7
Later papers such as motions and notices generally go to the attorney of record by hand delivery, leaving a copy at the office or, if the office is closed or there is none, at the dwelling with a resident 14 or older, by mail, email, or fax; proof is a written acknowledgment, affidavit or declaration, or attorney certificate filed within a reasonable time (ORCP 9 A-C).

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Proof of Service in Oregon, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Proof of Service guide walks through them.

Open the Proof of Service guide

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

[PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff, v. Case No. [CASE NUMBER] [DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The Oregon Judicial Department's Certificate of Service (ORCP 7D(2)) is an official statewide form. It is not mandatory, so this certificate may be used instead.

SHERIFF OR DEPUTY CERTIFICATE

[IF APPLICABLE: I certify that I am a sheriff or deputy sheriff for [COUNTY] County, Oregon. I served a copy of the Summons and Complaint, together with [LIST OF ADDITIONAL PAPERS SERVED, IF ANY], on [NAME OF PERSON SERVED] by [PERSONAL DELIVERY, OR LEAVING COPIES AT THE DWELLING HOUSE OR USUAL PLACE OF ABODE WITH A PERSON 14 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER RESIDING THERE, OR LEAVING COPIES AT THE OFFICE WITH THE PERSON APPARENTLY IN CHARGE] on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [TIME OF SERVICE], at [ADDRESS OR OTHER PLACE OF SERVICE]. If not personally served, copies were also mailed by first-class mail to [ADDRESS] on [DATE OF MAILING], together with a statement of the date, time, and place service was made.]

NON-SHERIFF CERTIFICATE

[IF APPLICABLE: I certify that I am a competent person 18 years of age or older, a resident of [OREGON OR THE STATE WHERE SERVICE WAS MADE], and not a party to this action, or any party's officer, director, employee, or attorney, as ORCP 7 E requires. I knew the person served to be the person named in this action. I served a copy of the Summons and Complaint, together with [LIST OF ADDITIONAL PAPERS SERVED, IF ANY], on [NAME OF PERSON SERVED] by [PERSONAL DELIVERY, OR LEAVING COPIES AT THE DWELLING WITH NAME OF CO-RESIDENT, A RESIDENT 14 OR OLDER, OR LEAVING COPIES AT THE OFFICE WITH NAME, THE PERSON IN CHARGE, DURING WORKING HOURS] on [DATE OF SERVICE] at [TIME OF SERVICE], at [ADDRESS OR OTHER PLACE OF SERVICE].

[IF APPLICABLE: As soon as reasonably possible after substituted or office service, I mailed true copies of the Summons and Complaint by first-class mail to [DEFENDANT'S MAILING ADDRESS] on [DATE OF MAILING], together with a statement of the date, time, and place service was made.]

[IF APPLICABLE: Service was by mail. I sent true copies of the Summons and Complaint by both first-class mail and [CERTIFIED, REGISTERED, OR EXPRESS] mail, return receipt requested, to [DEFENDANT'S ADDRESS] on [DATE OF MAILING]. [NAME OF PERSON SERVED] signed the receipt on [DATE RECEIPT SIGNED], and the signed receipt is attached to this certificate.]

I hereby declare that the above statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I understand they are made for use as evidence in court and I am subject to penalty for perjury.]

[SIGNATURE] [NAME OF SERVER] [ADDRESS OF SERVER] [CITY, OREGON ZIP]

ALTERNATIVE SERVICE BY COURT ORDER

[IF APPLICABLE: Service was made under a court order authorizing alternative service under ORCP 7 D(6), by [PUBLICATION FOR FOUR SUCCESSIVE WEEKLY INSERTIONS, OR POSTING AT THE COURTHOUSE, OR E-MAIL, OR TEXT MESSAGE, OR FACSIMILE, OR POSTING TO A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT] as the order dated [DATE OF ORDER] directed. A supporting affidavit or declaration showing diligent inquiry accompanied the motion for that order.]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE OF LATER PAPERS

[IF APPLICABLE: I certify that on [DATE], I served a copy of [NAME OF DOCUMENT] on [NAME OF PARTY OR ATTORNEY OF RECORD] by [HAND DELIVERY, OR LEAVING A COPY AT THE OFFICE WITH THE PERSON IN CHARGE, OR LEAVING A COPY AT THE DWELLING WITH A RESIDENT 14 OR OLDER, OR MAIL, OR E-MAIL, OR FACSIMILE], at [ADDRESS, EMAIL ADDRESS, OR FAX NUMBER].

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true.]

[SIGNATURE] [NAME]

Oregon Requirements for Proof of Service

No Process-Server License Required
Any competent adult who is 18 or older and a resident of Oregon or the state where service is made may serve a summons, as long as the server is not a party or a party's officer, director, employee, or attorney, with no statewide process-server license, registration, or certification requirement (ORCP 7 E).
Party and Party's Attorney Barred From Personal Delivery
A party to the case cannot serve their own summons. A party's attorney is also generally barred from personally hand-delivering it, though the attorney may personally handle the service-by-mail method and required follow-up mailings after substituted or office service (ORCP 7 E).
Mail Service Requires a Signed Receipt
Service by mail must combine first-class mail with certified, registered, or express mail, return receipt requested, sent together. Service is complete when the defendant signs the receipt, or 3 days after mailing in-state or 7 days after mailing out of state, whichever comes first; for an individual defendant it is effective only if the defendant signs the receipt (ORCP 7 D(2)(d); ORCP 7 D(3)(a)(i)).
No Fixed Serve-or-Dismiss Deadline
ORCP 7 sets no fixed day count that forces dismissal for late service. ORS 12.020(2) instead gives a 60-day window after filing during which service relates back to the filing date for statute-of-limitations purposes.
No Fixed Deadline to File the Proof
ORCP 7 F(1) requires the summons to be promptly returned to the clerk with proof of service, with no fixed day count stated; ORCP 7 F(4) provides that a defective or missing proof does not itself affect the validity of otherwise proper service.
Unsworn Certificate, Not a Notarized Affidavit
A non-sheriff server's proof of service is an unsworn certificate under ORCP 7 F(2)(a), with no notarization required; notarization applies only if the server chooses the affidavit format for publication proof, where a declaration is also allowed.
Certificate of Service Form Is Optional
The Oregon Judicial Department's Certificate of Service (ORCP 7D(2)) is an official statewide form, but it is not mandatory, so a separate certificate with the required facts may be used instead.
Court-Ordered Electronic and Social Media Alternative Service
On a motion supported by an affidavit or declaration showing diligent inquiry, a court may authorize alternative service of a summons by email, text message, facsimile, or posting to a social media account (ORCP 7 D(6)(b)).
Certificate of Service for Later Papers
Proof of service of later papers may be a written acknowledgment, an affidavit or declaration of the server, or a certificate of an attorney, filed within a reasonable time after service (ORCP 9 C(1)-(3)).

Find out where you stand in Oregon

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Proof of Service Template with DocDraft

Oregon Requirements for Proof of Service

No Process-Server License Required

Party and Party's Attorney Barred From Personal Delivery

Mail Service Requires a Signed Receipt

No Fixed Serve-or-Dismiss Deadline

No Fixed Deadline to File the Proof

Unsworn Certificate, Not a Notarized Affidavit

Certificate of Service Form Is Optional

Court-Ordered Electronic and Social Media Alternative Service

Certificate of Service for Later Papers

Frequently Asked Questions