How to Serve Family Court Papers in Oregon

If you just started a court case, you must serve all your court papers on the other side (except for the confidential information form—this is just for the court). 

If you’re not sure which forms to serve, refer to your court instructions or get help from your local court facilitator. 

Option 1: Hand your ex the papers and have them sign a form

If you and your ex are on good terms, you can serve them yourself. Here’s how to do that: 

1. Download and print the court’s "Acceptance of Service" form. Complete the top section of the form.
2. Hand your ex a copy of your court papers and ask them to sign the "Acceptance of Service" and add their contact information.
3. File the completed "Acceptance of Service" and "Summons" at the same courthouse where you filed your case. 

Tip: Be sure to tell your ex that signing the form means they are agreeing they got the court documents, not that they are agreeing to what's in them. 

Option 2: Have another adult hand your ex the papers

If your ex refuses to sign the "Acceptance of Service" form, you can have someone else serve them. Here’s how to do this: 

1. Find someone to serve your ex. This person must be at least 18 years old, live in Oregon, and not be involved in your case.
2. Have your server personally hand your ex a copy of the papers. This can be done anywhere—whether at home, at work, or in a public place.
3. Have your server fill out the court's "Proof of Service" form.
4. File the Proof of Service and your Summons form at the courthouse where you filed your case. 

Option 3: Have another adult serve someone who lives or works with your ex 

If your server tries to give the papers to your ex at their home or work, but they aren’t there, your server can give the papers to another adult instead. 

• If it’s someone who lives with your ex, that’s called substitute service.
• If it’s someone who works with your ex, that’s called office service. 

Here’s how to do this: 

1. Find someone to serve your ex. This person must be at least 18 years old, live in Oregon, and not be involved in your case.
2. Have your server personally hand a copy of your court papers to someone who lives or works with your ex. You must do this at either your ex’s office or your ex’s home.
3. Have your server mail a second copy of your court papers to your ex by first-class, regular USPS mail.
4. Have your server fill out the court's Proof of Service form.
5. File the Proof of Service and your Summons form at the courthouse where you filed your case. 

Option 4: Options for tricky situations 

If your ex can’t be served using the methods above—for example, if they are avoiding you, in jail, in the military, or living in another country—there are more options for serving them. 

For help with these complicated situations, refer to Part 2 of the Oregon court's in-depth guide to service.  

If you are served with family court papers, and you don’t agree with what’s in them, you need to file a document called a Response. You can find free Response forms on the Oregon Court website. 

Serving your Response is simple. You don’t need to formally serve it on the other side. Mailing it to them is enough.  

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Before filing your Response with the court, make a copy.
2. Mail the copy to the other side by first-class, regular USPS mail (not certified or registered).
3. Complete the Certificate of Mailing at the end of your Response form.
4. File your Response with the court. 

Temporary orders are short-term court orders that set rules for both sides during a case.   

However, every county handles temporary orders a little differently, so it’s best to talk with your local family court facilitator for specific instructions on how and when to serve your temporary orders.  

During your case, you might need to file other papers with the court, such as: 

• Motions
• Uniform Support Declaration
• Evidence (for a remote hearing or trial)
• Letters to the court 

Any time you file something with the court—even a simple letter—you must serve the other side with a copy. 

Here’s how: 

1. Mail the document to the other by first-class USPS mail (not certified or registered).
2. Tell the court you mailed a copy. For example, if you write a letter to the court, include a note at the end that says: “I mailed a copy of this letter to [name], at [address], on [date].”