Coos County Divorce Decree
Coos County sits on the southern Oregon coast. The county seat is Coquille, a small town on the Coquille River about 20 miles inland from the ocean. Around 64,000 people live in the county. Divorce decree records are held at the Circuit Court on Baxter Street in Coquille. This page covers how to search for, request, and get a copy of a Coos County divorce decree. You will find the right office, phone number, and steps to take.
Coos County Quick Facts
Coos County Circuit Court
The Coos County Circuit Court is at 250 N Baxter Street in Coquille, OR 97423. This is where all divorce decree records are filed and stored. The court handles family law, civil, criminal, and probate cases for the county. Call 541-396-8372 with questions about your case or to check on hours.
Court hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The office closes for lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. On Thursdays, the lunch break runs from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Plan your visit around these closures. If you show up at noon, you will have to wait.
The Coos County court shares some administrative functions with Curry County to the south. However, each county keeps its own case files. A Coos County divorce decree is only on file in Coquille. Family law hearings take place at the Coquille courthouse.
Below is a look at the Coos County Circuit Court page with contact info and hours for divorce decree requests.
Call before you drive out to make sure the office is open.
| Court | Coos County Circuit Court 250 N Baxter St Coquille, OR 97423 Phone: 541-396-8372 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm Closed 12-1pm (12-1:30pm Thursdays) |
| Admin | Shares administration with Curry County |
Search Coos County Divorce Decree
You have several options for searching Coos County divorce records. Online tools give you a fast start. In-person visits let you see the full case file and get copies on the spot.
The court has an Online Records Search portal. You can look up cases from your own computer. Search by party name or case number. The portal shows case type, filing date, and status. This is a good way to find a case number before you call or visit. For copies of the full divorce decree, contact the clerk at the courthouse.
The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network also covers Coos County cases. This statewide system lets you search all 36 Oregon counties at once. Use it if you are not sure which county has the case on file.
Walk-in searches are welcome during business hours. Bring your ID.
Coos County Divorce Decree Copies
Copy fees at the Coos County Circuit Court are simple. Plain copies cost 25 cents per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document plus the per-page charge. Ask at the clerk window which type you need. Many banks, schools, and government offices want a certified copy. A plain copy may work for your own records.
Payment methods vary. Call 541-396-8372 to ask what forms of payment the court accepts before your visit. Have your case number ready when you call. It speeds up the process.
Coos County Clerk Office
The Coos County Clerk is also at 250 N Baxter Street in Coquille. The Clerk handles marriage licenses, land records, and other county documents. The phone number for the Clerk is (541) 396-7600. This is a different office from the Circuit Court even though they share an address.
The County Clerk does not keep divorce records. Marriage licenses are at the Clerk. Divorce decree records are at the Circuit Court. If you call the Clerk by mistake, they can transfer you to the right office. But calling the court line at 541-396-8372 is the fastest route for any divorce decree question in Coos County.
Do not confuse the two. It is a common mix-up.
Divorce Decree vs Divorce Certificate
A divorce decree is the full court order signed by the judge. It lays out every term of the dissolution. Property, debts, custody, and support are all spelled out in the decree. This is the document that carries legal weight for all the terms of the split.
A divorce certificate is a short summary from the state. The Oregon Center for Health Statistics issues these. It shows names, date, and county. It does not list the terms. The cost is $25 for the first copy. Records go back to 1925. Under ORS 432.350, divorce certificates are not public for 50 years.
If you need proof a divorce happened, the certificate works. If you need the full terms, get the decree from the Coos County Circuit Court.
Filing for Divorce in Coos County
Oregon law governs how divorce works in Coos County. Under ORS 107, at least one spouse must have lived in Oregon for six months before filing. Oregon uses a no-fault system. The only ground for dissolution is that the marriage cannot be saved. You do not need to prove fault or wait through a separation period.
Once the petition is filed at the Coquille courthouse, a 90-day waiting period begins. The judge cannot sign the final divorce decree until those 90 days pass. During that time, both sides work on terms. If they agree, the decree can be signed as soon as the wait ends. If not, the case goes to trial. After the judge signs the decree, it becomes part of the permanent court record in Coos County.
Each filing adds to the case record. The petition, response, any motions, and the final decree are all kept on file at the clerk office in Coquille.
Coos County Divorce Decree Records
Coos County was formed in 1853 and named after the Coos people who lived in the area. The county covers about 1,629 square miles from the coast inland through dense forest. Coos Bay is the largest city in the county, but the courthouse is in Coquille. North Bend, Bandon, and Myrtle Point are also part of the county. All residents file for divorce at the same courthouse in Coquille regardless of which town they live in.
Older case files may be on microfilm or stored at the Oregon State Archives in Salem. For records you cannot find at the Coquille courthouse, contact the Archives at 800 Summer Street NE in Salem or call (503) 373-0701. Historical records from the 1800s and early 1900s are most likely to be found there.
Coos County Records Access
Divorce records in Coos County follow the same access rules as the rest of Oregon. Records older than 50 years are open to the public. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to qualified parties. That means you must be named in the case or have legal authority to view the file.
- Bring a valid photo ID when you visit
- Know the case number or full names of both parties
- Ask for plain or certified copies at the clerk window
Staff at the Coos County Circuit Court can help you figure out what you are allowed to access. They deal with these requests every day. Do not hesitate to call 541-396-8372 with questions before your visit.
Nearby Counties
Coos County borders Curry County to the south, Douglas County to the east, and Lane County to the north. If you are not sure which county covers your address, check before you file. The court must have jurisdiction over your case for a divorce decree to be valid. Filing in the wrong county can cause delays.