Rule 2.060.Entering Judgment on Face of Negotiable Instrument
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 2.060
Plain-English Summary
A negotiable instrument can change hands. Once a court has entered judgment on one, the instrument should carry that fact on its face, and this rule is how that happens. The party obtaining judgment tenders the original instrument to the court before the judgment is entered, and the court enters a notation of the judgment on the face of the instrument. The rule borrows the definition of a negotiable instrument from ORS 73.0104 rather than writing its own.
There is one exception. The tender is not required where the court has found that the party is entitled to enforce the instrument under ORS 73.0309. Outside that finding, the original has to be produced.
You get the original back, but not immediately. The trial court administrator returns it only after a certified copy has been filed, so the case file retains a record of the instrument and its notation. Because the original is a physical document, another rule in this set, UTCR 21.070, lists a negotiable instrument tendered under this rule among the documents that must be filed conventionally rather than through the eFiling system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give the court the original before it enters judgment?
Yes. When a judgment is to be based on a negotiable instrument, the party obtaining the judgment must tender the original instrument to the court before the judgment is entered.
What if I no longer have the original instrument?
The tender requirement does not apply where the court has found that you are entitled to enforce the instrument under ORS 73.0309. That finding has to come from the court; you cannot assume it.
Will I get the original instrument back?
Yes, once the paperwork is in order. The trial court administrator returns the original only after a certified copy of the instrument has been filed, so the file keeps a record of what the court saw and what it noted on the face.
Can I eFile the instrument?
No. UTCR 21.070 puts a negotiable instrument tendered under this rule on the list of documents that must be filed conventionally. Plan on delivering the physical instrument to the court.
What counts as a negotiable instrument for this rule?
The rule points to the definition in ORS 73.0104 rather than supplying one, so whether the document in your case qualifies is answered by that statute. If it does, the tender and notation steps in this rule apply before judgment is entered.