Oregon process server—service of process in all 36 counties

In Oregon, personal service means handing a true copy of the summons and complaint directly to the individual being sued. No prior attempts or court permission are required, and it may be completed anywhere the defendant is found—inside or outside the state. This is the most direct method and the surest foundation for jurisdiction under ORCP 7.

ORCP 7 D(2)(a): "Personal service may be made by delivery of a true copy of the summons and a true copy of the complaint to the person to be served." — ORCP 7 D(2)(a)

With ABC Legal: a vetted server makes the first attempt on your tier's timeline—as fast as 48 hours—and EvidenceChain™ records the GPS location and timestamp of the exact delivery moment.

Oregon allows leaving the summons and complaint at the defendant's dwelling or usual place of abode with any resident who is at least 14 years old. The plaintiff must then mail copies by first class mail as soon as reasonably possible, along with a statement of the date, time, and place of delivery—service is complete on that mailing.

ORCP 7 D(2)(b): "Substituted service may be made by delivering true copies of the summons and the complaint at the dwelling house or usual place of abode of the person to be served to any person 14 years of age or older residing in the dwelling house or usual place of abode of the person to be served." — ORCP 7 D(2)(b)

With ABC Legal: courts only accept substituted service after documented diligence. Our app geotags and timestamps every attempt automatically, so your diligence record is built before you need it.

Oregon does permit service by mail, but only where this rule or a statute allows it. It must be sent both by first class mail and by certified, registered, or express mail with return receipt requested. Because it depends on a signed return receipt, mail alone is rarely sufficient for an individual and is often paired with other methods.

ORCP 7 D(2)(d): "When service by mail is required or allowed by this rule or by statute, ... service by mail shall be made by mailing true copies of the summons and the complaint to the defendant by first class mail and by any of the following: certified, registered, or express mail with return receipt requested." — ORCP 7 D(2)(d)

With ABC Legal: we recommend personal service first—it starts deadlines immediately and never depends on the recipient cooperating.

Publication is a last resort in Oregon. Only when service cannot be accomplished by any other authorized method may a plaintiff move—by affidavit or declaration—for a court order allowing alternative service. If the court orders publication, notice must run in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the action was commenced, four times in successive weeks.

ORCP 7 D(6): "When it appears that service is not possible under any method otherwise specified in these rules or other rule or statute, then a motion supported by affidavit or declaration may be filed to request a discretionary court order to allow alternative service..." — ORCP 7 D(6)

With ABC Legal: our skip tracing team locates most "unfindable" defendants before you ever pay for publication—and if it truly comes to that, your ABC attempt history is the diligence evidence the motion needs.

A corporation is served by personal or office service on its registered agent, an officer, or a director. A limited liability company is served the same way—on its registered agent, a manager, or, for a member-managed LLC, a member. If no registered agent can be found, Oregon permits substituted routes, including service through the Secretary of State.

ORCP 7 D(3): corporations are served "upon a registered agent, officer, [or] director" (and, failing that, via the Secretary of State); limited liability companies are served upon a registered agent or manager (Secretary of State fallback available). — ORCP 7 D(3)(b)–(c)

With ABC Legal: we verify the current registered agent against state records before dispatch, so the serve lands on the right desk the first time.

To sue the State of Oregon, serve the Attorney General personally, or leave copies at the Attorney General's office with a deputy, assistant, or clerk. A county, incorporated city, school district, or other public corporation or body is served by personal or office service on one of its officers, directors, managing agents, or attorneys.

ORCP 7 D(3): the State is served upon the Attorney General (or by leaving copies at the Attorney General's office); public bodies are served "upon an officer, director, managing agent, or attorney thereof." — ORCP 7 D(3)(g)–(h)

With ABC Legal: our servers handle city, county, and state entity serves routinely—and know exactly which office actually accepts them.