Oregon Small Claims Court Interpreter and Language Access Services

Court Interpreters Are Free and Available

If you or a key witness do not speak English fluently — or if you are deaf or hard of hearing and need a sign language interpreter — Oregon courts will provide an interpreter at no cost. This applies to small claims hearings in both Circuit Court and Justice Court.

Court Language Access Services (CLAS) coordinates interpreting services for Oregon Judicial Department Circuit Courts. You do not need to bring your own interpreter. If your case is in Justice Court, contact that court to request an interpreter.

How to Request an Interpreter

On the Defendant's Response form (SC-Response). For a Circuit Court case, the form includes fields for requesting an interpreter. Check the box and specify the language you need — Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Russian, American Sign Language, or any other language. Request the interpreter as soon as possible; do not wait until the hearing notice arrives.

By contacting the court clerk directly. If you already filed your response without requesting an interpreter, call the court clerk's office as soon as possible and request one. Give them your case number, the language needed, and your hearing date. The earlier you request, the more likely the court can arrange the specific language interpreter you need.

Through your hearing notice. When you receive your Notice of Hearing by mail, it may include interpreter request instructions specific to your county. Follow those instructions even if you already made the request on your response form — belt and suspenders.

For an OJD proceeding, request a foreign-language interpreter as soon as possible and at least four judicial days before the proceeding. The court may waive this notice period for good cause.

What the Interpreter Does

The court interpreter translates everything said during the hearing — the judge's questions, the plaintiff's testimony, your testimony, and any discussion about evidence or procedure. They translate in real time, and the hearing proceeds at a pace that allows for full interpretation.

The interpreter is neutral. They work for the court, not for either party. They will not give you legal advice, explain what your options are, or help you decide what to say. Their role is strictly to ensure you can understand and participate in the proceedings in your language.

What the Interpreter Does Not Cover

Court interpreters are provided for the hearing itself. They are generally not available for:

• Pre-hearing paperwork. The Defendant's Response form and other court documents are in English. If you need help understanding and completing the forms, ask a court facilitator for assistance or bring a bilingual friend or family member to help with the paperwork (not the hearing itself).
• Conversations with the other party. The interpreter is there for proceedings in front of the judge or mediator, not for private settlement discussions in the hallway.
• Phone calls with the court clerk. For an OJD court, ask the clerk about available language assistance for phone or counter service. Contact a Justice Court directly about its language support.

Mediation Sessions

Do not assume an interpreter request for a court hearing also covers mediation. For Yamhill County remote mediation through Neighbor-to-Neighbor, notify the provider as soon as you receive the hearing notice. In other counties, contact the court or mediation provider to arrange language access.

ADA Accommodations

Beyond language interpreters, the court provides disability accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Hearing amplification devices, wheelchair-accessible courtrooms, and other accommodations are available upon request. For an OJD proceeding, notify the court as soon as possible and no later than four judicial days before the proceeding; the court may waive this notice period for good cause.

Do Not Bring a Family Member as Your Interpreter

Courts prefer (and in many cases require) the use of certified court interpreters rather than family members. A family member may have difficulty with legal terminology, could be perceived as biased, and their interpretation cannot be verified for accuracy. The certified interpreter provided by the court resolves all of these problems.

For the full defendant process in Oregon small claims — including how to request an interpreter and prepare for a hearing through one — the Oregon Small Claims Response Guide covers each step from service through the post-decision stage.

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