--- name: or-pro-se description: > This skill should be used when drafting Oregon court documents for a self-represented (pro se) litigant. Triggers include "pro se", "self-represented", "I'm representing myself", "Parker framework", "draft without an attorney", or when the user describes themselves as the defendant or plaintiff directly. Covers the pro-se drafting framework, service protocols for pro se filers, common pitfalls specific to Oregon practice (including the no-interrogatories quirk and the OSB# signature-block convention), and Oregon-specific pro se resources. Layer on top of `or-statewide-format` and (if applicable) `or-multcc` or `or-wccc`. version: 0.1.1 --- # Pro Se Drafting for Oregon Courts Use this skill when drafting court documents for a pro se litigant in an Oregon circuit court. It encodes the drafting framework adapted to Oregon procedural conventions and the practical service and filing protocols pro se filers need. > **NOT LEGAL ADVICE.** This skill is a drafting aid for > self-represented litigants, not legal advice and not a > substitute for counsel. For complex matters, or matters with > substantial sums at stake, consider consulting a licensed > attorney in your jurisdiction. Verify every rule, deadline, > and citation against current law before filing. ## The pro-se drafting framework Every motion and declaration follows four principles: 1. **Front-load the strongest facts.** The judge should know the best fact in the case within the first paragraph. Do not bury it under procedural history. 2. **Keep motions concise.** Target 4–6 pages for a motion + memorandum. Use bold lead-ins to let the judge skim. Every sentence earns its place. 3. **Write to the judge, not to opposing counsel.** Avoid ad hominem. Let the record speak. State facts; let the judge draw the characterizations. 4. **Let the record speak.** Attach the documents that prove the point and cite to them by exhibit number and page. A well- indexed record is worth more than rhetoric. ## Signature block for pro se (Oregon) ``` ____________________________________ [Full Name] Defendant, pro se [Street Address] [City, OR ZIP] [Phone] [Email] ``` - Use **"pro se"** (Oregon convention, same as Washington) - **Omit OSB number** — that's for licensed Oregon attorneys. Including a fake OSB# is grounds for sanctions and could qualify as unauthorized practice of law (ORS 9.160). - Include phone (required for chambers contact) - Include email (most courts and opposing counsel serve electronically by default) - For declarations, also include the perjury clause (ORCP 1 E) above the signature ## Service protocol — Oregon ### Initial summons and complaint (ORCP 7) If you (as plaintiff) are filing a new case, the summons and complaint must be served per ORCP 7 — File and Serve cannot serve initial process. Hire a process server or sheriff for personal service unless the defendant has agreed in writing to accept service by mail. ### Subsequent filings (ORCP 9, UTCR 21.100) After the initial complaint, all subsequent filings are served under ORCP 9. Acceptable methods: - **eService through File and Serve** — for parties registered for eService (most attorneys, some pro se litigants) - **Email** — if the parties agreed in writing or the receiving party has eService registered - **Mail (USPS first-class)** — universally acceptable - **Hand delivery** — universally acceptable Pro se filers without eService access should serve by **both** email and certified mail (USPS Certified with Return Receipt, or Priority Mail with tracking) — belt and suspenders. ### Service best practices for pro se 1. **Photograph postmarked envelopes before opening** any incoming mail from the court or opposing counsel — date of postmark is sometimes important 2. **Memorialize every oral or phone interaction** with opposing counsel in writing immediately after it happens (a short email "to confirm our call today" is a contemporaneous record) 3. **Keep a complete filing log** — date, filing, service method, recipient 4. **Use certified mail** whenever opposing counsel has a documented history of false Certificates of Service 5. **Include a Certificate of Service (UTCR 1.090)** with every filing, signed and dated ## Common pro se pitfalls — Oregon-specific | Pitfall | Fix | |---------|-----| | Overlong motions | Cap at 6 pages; move narrative to declarations | | Emotional tone | Rewrite as neutral fact statements; let the judge characterize | | Missing relief clause | Every motion ends with a clear "RELIEF REQUESTED" section | | Citing exhibits without attaching | Always attach, index, and label with exhibit numbers (NOT letters — Oregon convention) | | Forgetting the ORCP 1 E perjury clause | Every declaration needs the "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Oregon..." clause | | Colored or highlighted text | Violates UTCR 2.010 — use bold/italic for emphasis | | Missing Notice of Hearing | Most counties require a Notice of Hearing to set the motion on calendar | | Ambiguous signature block | Always include name, "pro se" designation, address, phone, email — NO OSB# | | Trying to serve interrogatories | **Oregon does not permit interrogatories under ORCP without a court order.** Use RFPs (ORCP 43) and depositions instead. See `or-discovery`. | | Citing "CR 12(b)(6)" | Use **ORCP 21 A(8)** — Oregon's analog to FRCP 12(b)(6) | | Citing "RCW" or Washington rules | Oregon uses **ORS** (Oregon Revised Statutes), not RCW | | Using "vs." | Oregon uses **"v."** (with period) — not "vs." | | Lettered exhibits (A, B, C) | Oregon convention is **numbered** (1, 2, 3) | | Filing federal-style citations | Oregon Style Manual uses no periods in "Or", "Or App", "P3d", "USC", "CFR" | ## Drafting checklist (run before filing) - [ ] Caption is complete and matches the case number exactly - [ ] Court header uses "IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON" + "FOR THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY]" - [ ] Parties separator is "v." (with period), not "vs." - [ ] First paragraph states the single most important fact - [ ] Every factual assertion is supported by an exhibit or sworn statement - [ ] Motion ≤ 6 pages; longer content moved to declaration - [ ] Relief requested is spelled out at the end - [ ] Perjury clause (ORCP 1 E form) present on all declarations - [ ] Signature block includes name, pro se designation, address, phone, email — NO OSB# - [ ] Footer shows document title and "Page X of Y" on every page - [ ] UTCR 2.010 compliant (3″ top margin page 1, 1″ elsewhere, no color) - [ ] Certificate of Service attached with date and method - [ ] All exhibits listed, cover-paged, and referenced in the body by **number** (not letter) - [ ] Confidential personal info redacted per UTCR 2.120 (SSN last 4 only, etc.) ## Oregon-specific pro se resources ### Statewide - **OJD Self-Help page**: https://www.courts.oregon.gov/help - **Statewide forms**: courts.oregon.gov/forms - **Statewide eFiling help**: (855) 642-9748 (Tyler Tech support) ### Legal aid - **Legal Aid Services of Oregon** (LASO): income-eligible representation; offices in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, etc. https://lasoregon.org/ - **Oregon Law Center** (OLC): farm-worker and rural-civil representation https://oregonlawcenter.org/ - **CLEAR Legal Hotline**: (800) 520-5292 (Mon–Fri) - **Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service**: (503) 684-3763 or (800) 452-7636 - **OSB Modest Means Program**: reduced-fee referrals https://www.osbar.org/public/ris/modestmeans.html ### County-specific - **Multnomah Civil Self-Help**: Floor 3, Central Courthouse - **Washington Co Civil Self-Help**: limited; Civil Division counter answers procedural questions - **Lane**: Eugene Justice Center has a Civil Self-Help counter - **Marion**: Salem courthouse has a self-help kiosk ## Companion skills - Use `or-statewide-format` for the actual document templates, caption structure, and UTCR 2.010 formatting - If the case is in Multnomah Circuit Court, use `or-multcc` for chambers / JA / SLR specifics - If the case is in Washington County, use `or-wccc` for Civil Division / SLR specifics - For any other Oregon county, use `or-county-courts` ## References - `references/pro-se-drafting-framework.md` — full drafting guide with Oregon-flavored examples - `references/service-protocol.md` — service, postmark preservation, Certificate of Service templates per UTCR 1.090 - `references/pro-se-toolkit.md` — common motion types and how to draft them without counsel