Rule 73.Judgments By Confession

Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified July 11, 2026

In one sentenceRule 73 lets a debtor sign a sworn statement, before any lawsuit is filed, consenting to let a creditor enter judgment against them for a specific, presently due sum — a shortcut Oregon bars for debts arising from consumer purchases, loans, or household credit.

Full Text of Rule 73

Text sizeJump to: A. B. C. D.

A. JUDGMENTS THAT MAY BE CONFESSED

(1) For money due; where allowed. Judgment by confession may be entered without action for money due in the manner prescribed by this rule and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the subject matter. The application to confess judgment shall be made in the county in which the defendants, or one of them, reside or may be found at the time of the application. A judgment entered by any court in any other county has no force or validity, notwithstanding anything in the defendant's statement to the contrary.

(2) Consumer transactions. No judgment by confession may be entered without action upon a contract, obligation, or liability that arises out of the sale of goods or the furnishing of services for personal, family, or household use; out of a loan or other extension of credit for personal, family, or household purposes; or upon a promissory note that is based upon such sale or extension of credit.

B. STATEMENT BY DEFENDANT A statement in writing must be made, signed by any party against whom judgment is to be entered or a person authorized to bind that party, and verified by oath, as follows:

(1) it must authorize the entry of judgment for a specified sum;

(2) it must state concisely the facts out of which the judgment arose, and show that the sum confessed therefor is justly and presently due;

(3) it must contain a statement that the person or persons signing the judgment understands that the statement authorizes entry of judgment without further proceeding that would authorize execution to enforce payment of the judgment; and

(4) it must have been executed after the date or dates when the sums described in the statement were due.

C. FILING OF STATEMENT BY PLAINTIFF; ENTRY, ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT Judgment by confession may be ordered by the court upon the filing of the statement required by section B of this rule. The judgment may be entered and enforced in the same manner and with the same effect as a judgment in an action.

D. CONFESSION BY JOINT DEBTORS One or more joint debtors may confess a judgment for a joint debt due. Where all of the joint debtors do not unite in the confession, the judgment shall be entered and enforced against only those debtors who confessed it and the judgment is not a bar to an action against the other joint debtors upon the same demand.

End

Amendment History

[CCP 12/13/80; amended by CCP 12/6/14, eff. 1/1/2016.]

Plain-English Summary

Rule 73 lets someone who owes money agree, before any lawsuit is filed, to let their creditor go straight to judgment without a trial. The debtor signs a sworn written statement authorizing entry of judgment for a specific, presently due sum, laying out the facts behind the debt, and confirming that the debtor understands signing it skips any further proceeding before the creditor can move to collect. The application has to be filed in the county where the debtor lives or can be found, and a judgment entered anywhere else carries no force. Once the creditor files that statement, the court can order judgment entered and enforced just as it would in an ordinary lawsuit.

Oregon walls off one category from this shortcut entirely: consumer debt. A judgment by confession can’t be entered without a lawsuit on a contract or debt arising from the sale of goods or services for personal, family, or household use, from a personal loan or other consumer credit extension, or on a promissory note tied to either. When more than one person owes the same joint debt, any of them can confess judgment on their own — the judgment binds only the debtors who signed on, and the creditor can still sue the rest separately for the same debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has to be in a debtor’s statement to confess judgment?

It must be in writing, signed, and verified by oath. It has to authorize entry of judgment for a specific sum, lay out the facts behind the debt and show that the sum is justly and presently due, state that the signer understands the statement lets judgment be entered without any further proceeding before the creditor can move to collect, and be signed only after the debt came due.

Can a judgment by confession be used to collect a consumer debt?

No. Oregon bars judgments by confession, without an action, on a contract or debt arising from the sale of goods or services for personal, family, or household use, from a personal loan or other consumer credit extension, or on a promissory note tied to either.

Where does an application to confess judgment have to be filed?

In the county where the defendant, or one of the defendants, resides or can be found at the time of the application. A judgment entered by a court in any other county carries no force or validity.

If one of several joint debtors confesses judgment, does it bind the others?

No. Where the joint debtors don’t all join in the confession, the judgment is entered and enforced only against those who confessed it, and the creditor can still bring a separate action against the others for the same debt.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (ORCP 73). Prescribed by the Council on Court Procedures (ORS 1.735), subject to amendment, repeal, or supplementation by the Oregon Legislative Assembly. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 11, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: confession of judgment oregonjudgment by confession oregoncognovit judgment oregonconsent to judgment before a lawsuit oregonconfess judgment on a debt oregon