Oregon's small estate (simple estate) affidavit is available when an estate's real property is worth $200,000 or less and its personal property is worth $75,000 or less. It lets someone settle the estate — including selling a house — by filing an affidavit with the court, without going through the full formal probate process.
Who can file it
Typically an heir, a person named in the will, or someone with a financial interest in the estate can file. There's usually a short waiting period after death before it can be filed, so it isn't something that happens the same week — but it's still considerably faster to get moving than formal probate.
What it does and doesn't let you do
A small estate affidavit lets the person who files it collect and manage estate assets and transfer property, including selling real estate, generally with less ongoing court supervision than formal probate requires. It's simpler, not informal, though: it still involves filing with the court, notifying heirs and creditors, and following the statutory duties that come with handling someone else's estate.
When you don't qualify
If the estate's real property is worth more than $200,000, or its personal property is worth more than $75,000, formal probate through Jackson County Circuit Court is required instead. Given current Jackson County home values, it's worth checking this carefully — plenty of otherwise modest estates can exceed the $200,000 real property limit on the house alone, even without much else in the estate.
This is general information, not legal advice. A probate attorney can confirm whether a specific estate qualifies and help prepare the filing correctly.