ORS 109.135: Circuit court jurisdiction; equity action; place of commencement.

(1) All judicial proceedings to adjudicate parentage of a child shall be commenced in the circuit court and shall for all purposes be deemed actions in equity. Unless otherwise specifically provided by statute, the proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure, including a proceeding adjudicating parentage that is consolidated with another proceeding under ORS 109.127 or 419B.806. (2) A judicial proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child shall be commenced and tried, without a jury, in the county: (a) Where the child resides; (b) If the child does not reside in this state, where the respondent resides or is located; (c) If the parent who gave birth to the child or the child’s alleged genetic parent, acknowledged parent, presumed parent or intended parent is deceased, where the estate of the deceased individual is being administered; (d) If the child was conceived by assisted reproduction, including under a surrogacy agreement, of the petitioner’s choice; or (e) If the child is in the care and custody of the Department of Human Services, where a juvenile court proceeding is pending. (3) If judicial proceedings in which the parentage of the same child is at issue are commenced in more than one county, the proceedings shall be stayed except in the county where first commenced until final determination there of venue. A proceeding is considered commenced for purposes of this subsection by the filing of a petition. In determining venue, if the court finds that transfer to another county where a proceeding has been commenced is in the child’s best interest, it may in its discretion order such transfer. When the court enters an order transferring the proceeding to another county, the clerk of the court shall notify the court for the other county of the order, and the court for the other county has exclusive jurisdiction of the proceeding to the same extent and with like effect as though the proceeding were in the court on original jurisdiction. [1969 c.619 §§2,3,7; 1971 c.191 §2; 1979 c.246 §6; 1981 s.s. c.3 §104; 1983 c.762 §3; 1999 c.80 §22; 2013 c.1 §5; 2013 c.126 §3; 2025 c.592 §31]