Sued by a debt collector in Oregon

The answer deadline in Oregon

Time to answer

Circuit court: you must file an answer or motion within 30 days after you are served (ORCP 7 C(2)). Small claims: within 30 days after you get the notice you must pay, ask for a hearing, or ask for a jury trial (ORS 46.445).

Court self-help

Oregon court self-help (official)

Oregon gives 30 days, longer than most of our 48 state guides (14 to 30 days).

In nearby states

• Washington: 20 days
• Idaho: 21 days
• Nevada: 21 days
• California: 30 days

If you don't answer in Oregon

If you don't respond in time, the court can enter judgment against you for the amount claimed plus fees.

If the collector wins in Oregon

• Wage limit: 75% of your disposable earnings are protected, and you always keep at least $400 a week for wages paid July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
• Bank account: When a bank gets a garnishment, it must leave you full access to a base amount in all your accounts combined, starting at $2,500 and adjusted each July 1 for inflation (the current figure is posted by the Oregon Judicial Department).
• Property: Home: up to $150,000 of equity ($300,000 for two or more household members who owe the debt), adjusted yearly for inflation (ORS 18.395).

Oregon's garnishment rules

More Oregon rules on collection suits

• A collector cannot file a lawsuit on a debt it knows, or with reasonable care would know, is too old under the statute of limitations. (ORS 646.639(2)(r), (4)(a))
• A debt buyer cannot sue without records proving the debt and its ownership, and must give you those documents within 30 days if you ask. (ORS 646.639(2)(t), (4)(b))

Old debts as a defense in Oregon

Oregon's time limit to sue is 6 years (ORS 12.080(1); ORS 12.230; ORS 12.240; ORS 646.639(2)(r)). Be careful before you pay on an old debt in Oregon: Yes for most creditors. A payment restarts the 6-year clock from the date of the last payment (ORS 12.240). A collector may not sue or threaten to sue on a time-barred debt (12 CFR 1006.26(b)).

Check Oregon's statute of limitations

Suing a collector who breaks the rules in Oregon

If a collector willfully breaks this law, you can sue for your actual damages or $1,000, whichever is more. The court can add punitive damages and order the collector to stop, and can award attorney fees if you win. You must sue within 3 years.

Responding to a debt lawsuit in Oregon

1. Check that the case is real

   Look it up with the court yourself, not through a number on the papers.

2. Count the days

   In Oregon: Circuit court: you must file an answer or motion within 30 days after you are served (ORCP 7 C(2)).

3. File a written answer

   File the answer with the clerk and mail a copy to the collector's lawyer. Start with Oregon court self-help (official).

4. List your defenses

   Is it yours, is the amount right, did you pay, is it older than Oregon's 6 years for written contracts?

5. Don't skip a hearing

   Bring your papers. Meanwhile you can still send a dispute letter to make the collector prove the debt.

Free help in Oregon

• Oregon DOJ Consumer Hotline · 1-877-877-9392
• Oregon Division of Financial Regulation · 888-877-4894
• OregonLawHelp.org (free legal aid)
• Oregon Judicial Department Self-Help: Debt collection

Questions about debt lawsuits in Oregon

Related Oregon pages

• All debt collection rights in Oregon
• Statute of limitations in Oregon: 6 years
• Wage garnishment in Oregon: up to 25%
• Debt collector laws in Oregon: license required
• “Is my debt too old?” checker for Oregon
• Dispute a debt and ask for proof (validation letter)
• Tell a collector to stop or limit contact
• Guide: sued by a debt collector
• Debt statute of limitations by state