Rule 2.060 Entering Judgment on Face of Negotiable Instrument

If you win a court case that’s based on something like a promissory note or a check (called a negotiable instrument), you need to give the original document to the court before the judge enters judgment. The only exception is if the court has already decided you have the right to enforce the instrument even without the original, under a specific legal provision (ORS 73.0309).

Once you hand over the original, the court will write a note directly on the document showing that judgment was entered. This creates a permanent record on the instrument itself, so no one can try to collect on it again somewhere else without that showing up.

Before the court gives the original document back to you, the court staff will first make and keep a certified copy for their files. This protects the court's records in case the original is ever lost or needed again later.