Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
42.005[1981 c.892 §79a; 1993 c.546 §96; repealed by 2001 c.104 §13] 42.010Private writings 42.020Execution of a writing 42.030Subscribing witness 42.040Proof of attested writing other than a will 42.050[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98] 42.060[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98] 42.070[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98] 42.080[Repealed by 1981 c.892 §98] 42.110Seal defined 42.115Effect of presence or absence of seal 42.120[Repealed by 1965 c.502 §6] 42.125Seal of state officer or state agency authorized 42.130[Repealed by 1965 c.502 §6] 42.140[Repealed by 1965 c.502 §6] 42.141Writing executed or acknowledged in electronic presence of witness 42.150[Repealed by 1965 c.502 §6] 42.160[Repealed by 1965 c.502 §6] 42.210Effect of the place of execution 42.220Consideration of circumstances 42.230Office of judge in construing instruments 42.240Intention of the parties; general and particular provisions and intents 42.250Terms construed as generally accepted; evidence of other signification 42.260Ambiguous terms 42.270Written words control printed form 42.280Deciphering characters and translating languages 42.290Construction of notices 42.300Parties to written instrument not to deny facts recited therein

Chapter 42 — Execution, Formalities and Interpretation of Writings

ORS 42.230 Office of judge in construing instruments

In the construction of an instrument, the office of the judge is simply to ascertain and declare what is, in terms or in substance, contained therein, not to insert what has been omitted, or to omit what has been inserted; and where there are several provisions or particulars, such construction is, if possible, to be adopted as will give effect to all.

Official sources · 1Tap to view provenance and version history

Online copy of the published ORS edition

This independent, nongovernmental service preserves the official source behind every rendered section.

Provenance

Version history

Prior statutory text is not available in the ingested published editions. Consult an earlier official ORS edition or the cited Oregon Laws chapter.