Oregon Memorandum of Land Sale Contract
County Specific Legal Forms Validated as recently as April 14, 2026 by our Forms Development Team
About the Oregon Memorandum of Land Sale Contract
How to Use This Form
- Select your county from the list on the left
- Download the county-specific form
- Fill in the required information
- Have the document notarized if required
- Record with your county recorder's office
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What a Memorandum of Land Sale Contract Is
A land sale contract (a.k.a. contract for deed) is where the seller finances the buyer directly, but keeps legal title until the buyer completes payments.
Instead of recording the full contract (which can be long and contain private terms), parties often record a memorandum.
The memorandum serves as public notice that a buyer has an equitable interest in the property, without disclosing all contract details.
Oregon Law – Requirements & Uses
Statutory Basis
ORS 93.640 requires that conveyances of interests in real property be recorded to give notice to third parties.
ORS 93.030 defines “conveyance” to include contracts for the sale of land.
Thus, recording a memorandum provides constructive notice of the buyer’s rights without putting the entire contract in public records.
Uses
To protect the buyer’s equitable interest against third parties (creditors, later purchasers, lenders).
To avoid disclosure of the financial terms of the contract while still securing priority.
To satisfy title insurers and lenders, who typically require evidence that the buyer’s interest is of record.
Content Requirements (Typical)
Names of seller (vendor) and buyer (vendee).
Legal description of the property.
Date of the underlying land sale contract.
Statement that the parties have entered into a contract for sale of the property.
Recording information for reference.
Signatures of both parties notarized (ORS 93.410 requires acknowledgment for recordation).
True Consideration Requirement: ORS 93.030 and ORS 93.140 require that a conveyance instrument state the true and actual consideration paid for the property.
For a memorandum of land sale contract, this is usually expressed as:
The purchase price (sometimes stated in full), or
At minimum, a recital such as “for valuable consideration,” although many counties (including Multnomah & Washington) may require a declaration of actual purchase price for tax and fee purposes.
Washington County and Multnomah County transfer tax forms also require disclosure of the purchase price or exemption code when recording.
Key Practical Points
A memorandum does not convey fee ownership, so it may be exempt from transfer tax if recorded solely to give notice (see Washington County Code § 3.04.040).
Recording is strongly recommended to protect the buyer’s equitable interest.
Failure to state true consideration could lead to issues with recording or even tax penalties.
The full land sale contract may still need to be produced in litigation or foreclosure, but it does not have to be public record at the outset.
How to Use This Form
- Select your county from the list above
- Download the county-specific form
- Fill in the required information
- Have the document notarized if required
- Record with your county recorder's office
What Others Like You Are Saying
"Quit Claim deed for North Carolina did not include all of the information I needed (two separate not…"
"Great service. Just started using Deeds.com yesterday. So far, so good."
"need more instructions for each form"
"I am so very happy with the service provided by Deeds.com. The process was simple and saved me a lot…"
"As advertised."
Common Uses for Memorandum of Land Sale Contract
- Document a rent-to-own or lease-purchase arrangement
- Sell property to a buyer who does not qualify for traditional financing
- Release the seller's interest in a property after the buyer pays in full
- Provide public notice of a land contract to protect the buyer
Compare other Oregon deed forms and documents
Important: County-Specific Forms
Our memorandum of land sale contract forms are specifically formatted for each county in Oregon.
After selecting your county, you'll receive forms that meet all local recording requirements, ensuring your documents will be accepted without delays or rejection fees.