The Oregon Notice to Creditors is the published Notice to Interested Persons that a personal representative must run in a newspaper after a court appoints them, and it tells anyone owed money by the person who died that they have four months to file a claim or lose it. Oregon law does not hand you a fill-in-the-blank state form for this notice. Instead, the personal representative (or their attorney) drafts the notice using the exact wording that ORS 113.155 demands, then files proof of publication with the court.
This matters because a single missing word, a wrong address, or a skipped week of publication can stall an estate for months and even expose the personal representative to a breach of duty claim. Roughly half of all probate estates in Oregon are modest, with personal property under the $75,000 line that triggers full probate, yet the notice rules apply the same way to a small estate as to a large one, per the Oregon State Bar.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 The exact six pieces of information the law forces you to put in the notice, line by line.
- 🗓️ How the four-month creditor deadline starts and why the first publication date controls everything.
- 📰 How to pick the right newspaper, run the notice for three weeks, and file proof with the court.
- ✍️ Three full filled-out examples that follow real families through the whole process.
- ⚠️ The most common mistakes that get a notice rejected and how each one hurts the estate.
What the Oregon Notice to Creditors Is and Who Must File It
The Oregon Notice to Creditors is formally called the “notice to interested persons,” and its job is to warn unknown creditors that the clock is running on any claim they have against the estate. The personal representative must publish this notice after the court appoints them, under ORS 113.155. The notice runs in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the probate is pending, once in each of three consecutive weeks, as confirmed by the Oregon State Bar.
Every personal representative in a full probate must publish this notice. The only exception is when the petition for appointment states that no assets are known. In that case, the duty to publish is paused until assets surface, and then the personal representative has 30 days from filing the inventory to start publication, under ORS 113.155(5).
The notice is one of four moving parts that fit together. The personal representative is the filer. The circuit court of the county is the agency that receives the proof. ORS 113.155 is the statute that requires it. The four-month bar in ORS 115.005 is the deadline it creates. Failing to publish is a breach of duty to creditors, even though it does not undo the appointment itself.
A separate but related path is the simple estate process. For estates under the dollar limits, an affiant files a Simple Estate Affidavit instead of opening full probate, and that affidavit carries its own creditor-notice steps under ORS 114.515 to 114.540. This guide covers the published notice in detail and points out where the simple estate path differs.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you draft the notice or call the newspaper. A missing item is the top reason a notice gets delayed or has to be republished, which costs the estate more money. The four-month creditor clock cannot start until the notice is correct and published.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. These prove the court appointed you. Without them you have no authority to publish, and the newspaper may refuse the legal notice.
- The decedent’s full legal name. You need the exact name, including any “also known as” names. A wrong name can let a creditor argue the notice never reached them.
- The case number and court title. The notice must name the correct circuit court. The wrong court title makes the notice defective.
- The address for presenting claims. This is where creditors mail or deliver claims under ORS 115.005. A bad address means valid claims never reach you.
- The personal representative’s name as appointed. It must match the court order. A mismatch confuses creditors and the newspaper’s legal clerk.
- The attorney’s contact information, if any. The notice can point readers to the attorney for more details. Leaving it out is allowed but reduces the help creditors get.
- The newspaper of general circulation in the county. You must confirm the paper qualifies. Using a paper that does not circulate generally can void the notice.
- The estate inventory or asset list. This tells you whether the no-assets exception applies and when your 30-day clock starts under ORS 113.155(5).
- A list of known creditors. Known creditors get separate mailed notice under ORS 115.003, not just the published notice. Skipping them can keep their claims alive.
- Payment for publication. Newspapers charge for legal notices. No payment means no publication and no proof to file.
Where to Get the Notice and How to Access It
Oregon does not publish a statewide blank “Notice to Creditors” form, so you build the notice from the statute. The required content lives in ORS 113.155(2), which lists the six items word for word. Most personal representatives copy the statute’s language into a short paragraph and fill in the case-specific details.
You have three practical ways to create the notice. First, draft it yourself from the statute, which is allowed and common for pro se filers. Second, ask the newspaper’s legal notices desk, since many Oregon papers keep a standard template that already matches ORS 113.155. Third, use a probate attorney or a service that prepares the notice for your signature.
For the simple estate path, the court does provide a packet. The Simple Estate Affidavit instructions from the Oregon Judicial Department spell out the affidavit’s notice duties. Some counties post local probate help pages too, such as the Lincoln County self-help probate page.
Always confirm you are using the current statute text, since the Legislature has amended ORS 113.155 several times, most recently in 2023 with changes that apply to probates started on or after January 1, 2024, per ORS 115.005. When in doubt, read the statute directly rather than copying an old sample, because an outdated template can omit required wording.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Oregon Notice to Creditors Line by Line
The notice has six required parts, each named in ORS 113.155(2). Build them in the order below. Each part is a “field” you must complete, and skipping or fudging any one of them can make the whole notice defective.
Field 1: The Title of the Court Where the Estate Is Pending
This field asks which Oregon circuit court is handling the probate. You write the full court name as it appears on your Letters, such as “In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Multnomah.” Use the exact county and the words “Circuit Court of the State of Oregon,” because that is the court structure Oregon uses for probate.
For example, Janet, who is probating her late father’s estate in Eugene, writes “In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Lane.” She copies it straight from her case caption so nothing differs.
A nuance comes up when the decedent owned property in more than one county. The probate is still pending in only one county, so you name that one court, not every county where assets sit. A common mistake is naming the wrong county, which can make creditors argue the notice was published in the wrong place and reset the clock. A misconception is that the federal court or a “probate court” division must be named; Oregon has no separate probate court, so the circuit court of the county is correct.
Field 2: The Name of the Decedent
This field asks for the legal name of the person who died. Write the full legal name and add any “also known as” names the person used on accounts, such as “In the Matter of the Estate of Robert James Carter, also known as Bob Carter, Deceased.” Match the name to the death certificate and the court file.
For example, Carlos lists his mother as “Maria Elena Vargas, also known as Maria E. Vargas, Deceased,” because her bank accounts used the shorter form. This helps a creditor recognize the debtor.
A nuance is hyphenated or changed names after marriage or divorce. List the name on the debts, not just the current name, so creditors can match it. A common mistake is using only a nickname or only the formal name, which can let a creditor claim they never connected the notice to their debtor. A misconception is that you must list a maiden name in every case; you only add other names if the person actually used them.
Field 3: The Personal Representative’s Name and the Address for Claims
This field asks who you are and where creditors must send claims. Write your name exactly as the court appointed you, then give the mailing address where claims are presented, such as “Janet Carter, Personal Representative, 1450 Willamette Street, Suite 200, Eugene, OR 97401.” This address is the legal point of delivery under ORS 115.005.
For example, Marcus, serving as personal representative for his uncle’s estate, lists his attorney’s office address so claims do not pile up at his home. He writes “Marcus Reed, Personal Representative, c/o Reed Law Office, 88 SW Yamhill Street, Portland, OR 97204.”
A nuance is using a P.O. Box. A box can work, but a street address is safer because some delivery methods need a physical location. The most damaging mistake on this field is a wrong or abandoned address, because ORS 115.005 says a claim is “presented” when mailed to the address in the published notice, so a bad address can wreck your defense to a claim. A misconception is that creditors file claims with the court; they do not, since filing with the court is not presentation, only mailing or delivering to you counts.
Field 4: The Statement of the Four-Month Claim Deadline
This field is the warning that gives the notice its teeth. You must state that all persons with claims must present them within four months after the date of first publication, to the personal representative at the claims address, or they may be barred. A standard line reads “All persons having claims against the estate must present them within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at the address stated below, or the claims may be barred.”
For example, Aisha includes the full sentence word for word in her notice for her grandmother’s estate, because leaving out “or the claims may be barred” weakens the bar.
A nuance is that known creditors you actually find get a separate mailed notice under ORS 115.003, and they may have a 45-day window instead, per ORS 115.005. A common mistake is writing “from the date of death” or “from appointment,” which is wrong, since the clock runs from first publication. A misconception is that the four months bars every late claim forever; ORS 115.005(3) lets some late claims through if they beat the final account and the regular statute of limitations.
Field 5: The Date of First Publication
This field asks for the calendar date the notice first runs in the newspaper. Write it in clear form, such as “Date of first publication: June 12, 2026.” The newspaper sets this date when it schedules your three weekly runs, so confirm it with them before the notice prints.
For example, Robert’s notice for his wife’s estate shows “Dated and first published: June 12, 2026,” and his four-month creditor window then closes on October 12, 2026.
A nuance is that the deadline counts from the first publication, not the last, even though the notice runs three weeks, per the Oregon State Bar. A common mistake is listing the date you wrote the notice instead of the date it first printed, which can mislead creditors about their deadline. A misconception is that the date can be left blank for the newspaper to fill, but the statute lists the date of first publication as required content, so confirm and include it.
Field 6: The Statement Pointing to More Information
This final field tells readers where to learn more. You must include a line advising that anyone whose rights may be affected can get more information from the court records, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative. A standard version reads “All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative.”
For example, Maria’s notice names her attorney and adds the firm phone number so creditors can call with questions, which cuts down on confused claims.
A nuance is that if you have no attorney, you still keep the sentence and just point to the court records and yourself. A common mistake is dropping this sentence to save publication cost, which makes the notice non-compliant with ORS 113.155(2). A misconception is that this line gives legal advice to creditors; it only tells them where records are, not what to do.
Putting the Six Fields Together and Signing
Once you have all six fields, assemble them into one compact notice, since newspapers charge by the word and ORS 113.155 wants the core content, not a long story. Add your signature block with your name and the words “Personal Representative” so the paper and the court can confirm who published it. Many filers also add the case number for the court file.
For example, Marcus reviews his draft against the six-item checklist in ORS 113.155(2) before sending it to the paper, catching that he forgot the date-of-first-publication line. A nuance is that some counties expect a specific heading format, so call the court clerk if unsure. The big mistake here is sending the notice to print before checking all six items, because a missing item can force a costly republication. A misconception is that the court reviews and approves your wording first; the court does not pre-approve it, so the accuracy is on you.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns. Each follows one person through the notice from start to finish.
Scenario 1: Janet, full probate of a parent’s estate in Lane County. Janet’s father left a house and bank accounts worth more than the small-estate limits, so she opened full probate and was appointed personal representative.
| Notice Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Court title | In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Lane |
| Case number | 26PB04821 |
| Decedent name | Thomas Ray Mitchell, also known as Tom Mitchell, Deceased |
| Personal representative | Janet Carter, Personal Representative |
| Claims address | 1450 Willamette Street, Suite 200, Eugene, OR 97401 |
| Four-month statement | Present claims within four months of first publication or be barred |
| Date of first publication | June 12, 2026 |
| More-information line | Records available from the court, the personal representative, or the attorney |
| Newspaper | The Register-Guard, three consecutive weeks |
Scenario 2: Marcus, full probate with a known creditor in Multnomah County. Marcus knows his uncle owed a hospital bill, so he must both publish the notice and mail separate notice to that known creditor under ORS 115.003.
| Notice Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Court title | In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Multnomah |
| Decedent name | Daniel Reed, Deceased |
| Personal representative | Marcus Reed, Personal Representative |
| Claims address | c/o Reed Law Office, 88 SW Yamhill Street, Portland, OR 97204 |
| Four-month statement | Claims due within four months of first publication or barred |
| Date of first publication | July 3, 2026 |
| Known creditor step | Mails ORS 115.003 notice to the hospital, starting a 45-day window |
| More-information line | Contact the personal representative or attorney for details |
| Newspaper | The Daily Journal of Commerce, three consecutive weeks |
Scenario 3: Carlos, no-assets petition that later finds assets. Carlos filed an appointment petition stating no known assets, so he skipped publication at first. A forgotten brokerage account then surfaced, triggering the 30-day rule under ORS 113.155(5).
| Notice Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Court title | In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Washington |
| Decedent name | Maria Elena Vargas, also known as Maria E. Vargas, Deceased |
| Personal representative | Carlos Vargas, Personal Representative |
| Claims address | 742 NE Cornell Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124 |
| Trigger event | Files supplemental inventory showing the brokerage account |
| Publication deadline | Starts publication within 30 days of that inventory |
| Four-month statement | Claims due within four months of first publication or barred |
| Date of first publication | August 7, 2026 |
| Newspaper | The Hillsboro Tribune, three consecutive weeks |
How to File the Completed Notice
Filing the Oregon Notice to Creditors happens in two stages: publishing it in the newspaper, then filing proof of that publication with the court. Both stages must be done correctly for the four-month bar to hold.
Newspaper publication. Send the notice to a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the probate is pending, such as The Register-Guard in Lane County or The Daily Journal of Commerce in Multnomah County. The paper runs it once in each of three consecutive weeks, per the Oregon State Bar. Fees vary by paper and word count, often ranging from about $75 to several hundred dollars, and most papers accept check or card. Keep the invoice and the printed clipping as proof.
Filing proof with the court. After the runs finish, the newspaper gives you an affidavit of publication with a copy of the printed notice. You file this proof in the estate case, because ORS 113.155(4) requires the proof to include a copy of the published notice. File it at the same circuit court handling the probate, by mail, in person, or through the Oregon eCourt portal where available. Processing is usually quick, and the file-stamped copy is your proof of filing.
For the simple estate path, you instead follow the affidavit’s own steps in the Simple Estate Affidavit instructions, which handle creditor notice differently. Keep every receipt, affidavit, and file-stamped copy together, since you will need them when you close the estate.
What Happens After You File
Once the notice publishes, the four-month creditor clock starts on the date of first publication, under ORS 115.005. During this window, creditors mail or deliver their claims to the address in your notice, not to the court. You review each claim and either allow it or deny it in the time the statute gives.
After four months pass, most unpresented claims are barred from payment, which protects the estate and lets you move toward distribution. There are exceptions: a known creditor you failed to find separately may still have time, and ORS 115.005(3) allows certain late claims if they arrive before your final account and within the regular statute of limitations.
You also keep paying claims in the legal order of priority, since secured liens and certain expenses come first. The published notice does not affect a creditor’s right to enforce a mortgage or lien, per ORS 115.005(5). When claims are resolved, you file your final account, pay allowed claims, and distribute what remains to the heirs or beneficiaries.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Notice
- Naming the wrong county court, which can make the notice defective and force republication.
- Using only a nickname or formal name for the decedent, which lets creditors deny they recognized the debtor.
- Listing a wrong or abandoned claims address, which breaks the legal point of presentation under ORS 115.005.
- Writing the deadline as running from death or appointment, which misstates the law and can be challenged.
- Leaving the date of first publication blank, which removes a required item from the notice.
- Dropping the “more information” sentence to save money, which makes the notice non-compliant.
- Publishing in a paper that is not of general circulation, which can void the notice entirely.
- Running the notice only once instead of three consecutive weeks, which fails the publication rule.
- Forgetting to mail separate notice to known creditors, which can keep their claims alive past four months.
- Never filing the proof of publication, which leaves the court without the record ORS 113.155(4) requires.
- Missing the 30-day deadline after assets surface in a no-assets case, which is its own breach under ORS 113.155(5).
- Telling creditors to file claims with the court, which is not legal presentation and can confuse valid claimants.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do copy the six required items straight from ORS 113.155(2), so nothing required is missing.
- Do confirm the date of first publication with the newspaper, because that date starts the four-month clock.
- Do use a reliable claims address you actually monitor, since claims arrive there, not at the court.
- Do mail separate notice to known creditors under ORS 115.003, because the published notice alone may not bar them.
- Do keep the invoice, clipping, and affidavit of publication, since you must file proof under ORS 113.155(4).
- Do check whether the no-assets exception applies, because it changes when you must publish.
Don’t:
- Don’t shorten the notice by cutting required wording, since each missing item risks a defective notice.
- Don’t assume the court approves your wording first, because accuracy is the personal representative’s job.
- Don’t use a paper outside the county of the probate, which can invalidate the publication.
- Don’t tell creditors to file with the court, since filing is not presentation under ORS 115.005.
- Don’t ignore late claims automatically, because some are still payable under ORS 115.005(3).
- Don’t wait past 30 days to publish once assets appear in a no-assets case.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing the Notice Pro Se | Using a Probate Attorney |
|---|---|
| Saves attorney fees, which keeps more in the estate | Costs money, which reduces the estate, but buys accuracy |
| Full control over timing, so you move at your pace | Less hands-on, but the lawyer tracks deadlines for you |
| Forces you to learn ORS 113.155, which helps the whole probate | The lawyer already knows the wording, so errors drop |
| Risk of a defective notice, which can mean republication | Lower risk of defects, since the firm has a tested template |
| You handle known-creditor notices alone, which is easy to miss | The firm catches known creditors, protecting the estate |
| Newspaper desk can guide you, but cannot give legal advice | The attorney can advise on tricky claims and priority order |
FAQs
Is there an official Oregon state form for the Notice to Creditors?
No. Oregon provides no statewide fill-in form. You build the notice from the six required items in ORS 113.155(2), or use a newspaper or attorney template.
Do I file the notice with the court or publish it in a newspaper?
Both. You publish the notice in a county newspaper for three weeks, then file proof of that publication with the court under ORS 113.155(4).
Does the four-month deadline start from the date of death?
No. It starts from the date of first publication of the notice, not the date of death or appointment, under ORS 115.005.
Do I write my home address or the attorney’s address in the claims field?
Yes. Either works, but use the address you actually monitor, since a claim is presented when mailed there under ORS 115.005.
Do I list the decedent’s nickname in the name field?
Yes. Add an “also known as” name if the person used it on debts, so creditors can match the notice to their debtor.
Do I have to include the “or the claims may be barred” wording?
Yes. That phrase is part of the required four-month statement in ORS 113.155(2) and helps make the bar enforceable.
Is the published notice enough for creditors I already know about?
No. Known creditors get separate mailed notice under ORS 115.003, and they may have a 45-day window per ORS 115.005.
Does the notice run only once?
No. It runs once in each of three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, per the Oregon State Bar.
Can a creditor still get paid after the four months end?
Yes. Some late claims are payable if they beat your final account and the regular statute of limitations, under ORS 115.005(3).
Do I need to publish if my petition says there are no known assets?
No. Publication is paused, but if assets later appear, you must start publishing within 30 days under ORS 113.155(5).
Will the court reject my whole probate if I forget to publish?
No. Skipping publication is a breach of duty to creditors, but it does not invalidate your appointment or powers, per ORS 113.155(3).
Does filing a claim with the court count as presenting it to me?
No. Filing with the court is not presentation. A claim counts only when mailed or delivered to the personal representative under ORS 115.005.
Can I let the newspaper fill in the publication date for me later?
No. The date of first publication is required content, so confirm it with the paper and include it in the notice per ORS 113.155(2).
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Arkansas Notice to Creditors (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Oregon Final Account and Petition for Distribution + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Oregon Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Utah Notice to Creditors (w/Examples) + FAQs
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- How to Fill Out Vermont Notice to Creditors (w/Examples) + FAQs
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