How to Find Owners of Properties
in Oregon

A property owner search in Oregon typically starts with an in-person public records search at the county assessor's or county clerk's office. The state also has recognized online search platforms that make finding a property owner by address or some other search criteria easier without visiting a physical office.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to do an Oregon house owner lookup:

Start at the Registry of Deeds/County Clerk's Office

The Oregon Registry of Deeds is the central location where property records are stored. These include mortgages, deeds, liens, etc. Depending on the county, you can find these records at either the county clerk's office or the local Deeds & Records office.

In Jackson County, for example, the appropriate office to carry out this search is the county clerk's office, located at Oregon 10 S Oakdale AVE Medford, OR 97501. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Alternatively, you can find relevant records through the Digital Research Room or Property Data Online System (PDO) using the following information:

• The property address
• The document number
• The recording date
• The property owner's name

The websites for some of the top counties in Oregon are:

• Jackson County
• Coos County
• Marion County
• Clatsop County
• Malheur County

Search the State Archives

The State Archives is another place to conduct a property owner search in Oregon, especially when everything else has failed. It contains information on all listed lands in the state, including historical lands, county government lands, and state government lands.

If the property owner is hard to trace through a regular search, the land may be government land, and only the state archives may have records of it.

Visit the County Assessor's Office

In Oregon, the local county assessor's office wears many hats, from property appraisal to storing property ownership records, such as recorded deeds and maps. It is also mandated to answer all public inquiries regarding property searches.

A property owner search in Oregon through the county assessor's office follows the standard procedure set by that particular county. In Baker County, for instance, the assessor's office is open between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For this physical search, you need to bring all the relevant information that will aid the search, like a property owner's name and address.

Alternatively, you can search via the county's property inquiry page using the owner's name and specific property location. The state also has a comprehensive list of all county assessor's offices that contains links to their websites. Below are the websites of some counties in Oregon:

• Benton County
• Clackamas County
• Columbia County
• Douglas County
• Gilliam County
• Grant County
• Harney County
• Lane County
• Polk County
• Sherman County

Look in the Tax Records

When trying to find the owner of a property for free, a good place to look is the tax system. Property tax records typically hold information about the property in question, such as its value and tax history. To get these records, contact the county assessor's office in the county where the property is located and request information in person or through its online search portal.

Try a Title Company/Agency

Title companies are third parties that can help you conduct a property owner search in Oregon, saving you from a stressful physical search. They search through public records, court judgments, tax filings, and more to find out if there are issues with the property and then issue a detailed report with their findings.

These companies have access to a vast database of property information, making their search much faster. In Oregon, it costs an average of $70 to $200 to do this. But if you want to find the owner of a property for free, consider speaking to neighbors in the area, local real estate agents, or visiting free real estate websites for more information.

There are many ways of owning property in Oregon, whether individually or with others. Your ownership structure can affect your rights and liabilities to your property, which is why it is important to understand the different structures before buying any property in Oregon.

In Oregon, the most common ways of holding property title are through sole ownership, tenancy in common, and tenancy by the entirety. The table below highlights these ownership structures, their benefits, and legal implications:

Property ownership in Oregon is not linear in the sense that not only individuals can own property. As a result, tracing the owner of a property in Oregon can lead to a corporate body like an LLC or even a trust because state laws recognize them as entities that can own property.

Trying to identify the person(s) behind these entities will require you to follow different steps, such as searching through public tax records, deeds, etc. Business databases and local directories are also another way to find information on a corporate entity.

However, if you don't want to do any of these, you can consult a title company or real estate attorney to search on your behalf. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Finding the Owner of a Trust in Oregon

Finding the owner of a trust requires more thorough research. This is because trusts are not designed to be public information. However, for property transfer purposes, it is absolutely necessary to find the persons behind the trust and determine whether their title is valid.

The information you gathered from a public records search, like tax records, for instance, can provide more details about the person running the trust. If this doesn't work, you can hire professionals to conduct a detailed search.

Finding the Owner of an LLC in Oregon

There are two simple ways to find out who owns an LLC in Oregon, visiting the county clerk's office or searching online via the Secretary of State's website. On this website, you can conduct a business name search or a search using the company's registration number.

From the resulting matches, click on the one that fits your search to view all information about that LLC, including its filing history, contact information, and registered agent. But if you don't find what you're looking for, you can call the Secretary of State's office directly so that the staff can walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

You can also email this office if you want official documentation of the search or some sort of written confirmation for record purposes.

Finding the Owner of a Corporation in Oregon

The easiest way to find the owner of a corporation in Oregon is through a Corporation and Business Entity Search on the Oregon Corporation Registry, using the business name or registry number. You may even narrow your search to only active or inactive businesses or both.

Alternatively, you can conduct a multi-state search on the National Corporation Directory to verify if the corporation is registered in another state besides Oregon. There are also free web tools on the Secretary of State's website you can use to run a nationwide search using the company name, phone number, or owner's name.

A property deed is a legal document representing the ownership of a property and stands as proof of any transfer of that property from one person to another. It typically includes the grantor's (current owner) and grantee's (new owner) names and must be in writing to be valid.

There are many different types of property deeds that parties can choose for their transaction, but in Oregon, these are the most common:

Other common property deeds you may find during a property owner search in Oregon are:

• Grant Deeds
• Deed of Trust
• Mortgage Deed

If you have a good grasp of the process of property transfer in Oregon, you will be able to spot legal issues and avoid them. By following the proper processes, you can also establish a clear chain of ownership, which will come in handy during any future Oregon house owner lookup. Since different jurisdictions have their unique property transfer laws, knowing the process helps you comply with the right laws and prepare the right documents.

Here are some of the steps involved in a standard Oregon property transfer:

• Determine the Type of Property Transfer: Before proceeding with a property transfer, the first thing to do is to determine what kind of transfer it is. This will guide all parties involved in choosing which type of deed they need to prepare and which relevant laws to follow.
• Title Search: A title search is a preliminary step in a property transaction, which acts as a verification tool for the seller's claim that their title is valid. Although it costs a couple of dollars, between $75 and $150 on average, it is a valid investment, saving the buyer from future litigation costs or even losing the property outright.
• Preparation of the Deed: Once parties agree on terms, the next step is to get a real estate attorney to draw up a deed outlining these terms and other parts of the agreement. The costs are not fixed but vary depending on the specific attorney's pricing.
• Paying Transfer Taxes: Oregon generally does not charge property transfer taxes, except in Washington County, where every property sale is subject to a $1 tax on every $1,000 made. Although the seller is responsible for paying this tax, parties often agree to split the bill.
• Recording the Deed: This protects the buyer from other issues that could affect their title to the property. By recording the deed at the county recorder's office, the buyer gets priority if there is a dispute, as this recorded deed stands as evidence of a valid transfer of title.
• Review and Recording: Oregon property laws mandate that the grantor, grantee, and a notary public sign the deed, after which it must be submitted to the county recorder's office for review and recording. Each county office has its applicable recording fees, which vary depending on the document in question. In Multnomah County, for instance, recording the first page of a deed or mortgage is $86, while additional pages are $5 each.
• Receipt of Recorded Deed: In Oregon, a property transfer transaction is not recognized until the deed has been recorded. The only evidence that a deed has been recorded at the relevant office is a copy of the recorded deed, which the County Recorder presents to the new owner after payment of applicable fees and necessary checks.
• Updating Records: After following the above steps, the next logical thing to do is to notify relevant agencies, like the tax office, about the title change. Among other things, it ensures that the new owner gets all emails and other notifications regarding the property.
• Title Insurance Policy Issuance: Title insurance is an optional but often necessary part of a property transaction because it protects the buyer if there is any future issue with the title.