Oregon ranks 30th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#45 (tie)of 51
Speed#19 (tie)of 51
Ease of ordering#27of 51
Birth certificates #42 (tie) of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (about $47.50 for one copy online)
Processing time
Online: within 3 business days; mail: about 3–5 weeks; in person: Portland office by appointment (30-minute appointments)
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–6 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State vital records office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1903
Marriage records #28 (tie) of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (about $47.50 for one copy online)
Processing time
Online: within 3 business days; mail: about 3–5 weeks; in person: Portland office by appointment (30-minute appointments)
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–6 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State vital records office (County Clerks issue a record of marriage that is not accepted for passports)
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1906; earlier records from the County Clerk
Divorce records #19 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (about $47.50 for one copy online)
Processing time
Online: within 3 business days; mail: about 3–5 weeks; in person: Portland office by appointment (30-minute appointments)
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–6 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State vital records office (divorce certificate); full decrees from the county Circuit Court
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State divorce certificates from 1925; full decrees from the county Circuit Court
Death certificates #42 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (about $47.50 for one copy online)
Processing time
Online: within 3 business days; mail: about 3–5 weeks; in person: Portland office by appointment (30-minute appointments)
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–6 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State vital records office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1903
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Oregon birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get an Oregon birth certificate?
A certified Oregon birth certificate costs $25 from Oregon Vital Records (OHA Center for Health Statistics), or $30 for a full-image copy of a pre-2008 birth. Ordering online through VitalChek adds a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee, for a total of about $47.50 for one copy. Online orders are typically processed within 3 workdays; mail takes about 3–5 weeks.
Oregon birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Oregon birth records are restricted for 100 years. You must be at least 18 (or 15 if ordering your own certificate) and be eligible: the person named, a parent, stepparent, spouse or registered domestic partner, child, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, legal guardian, or a legal or authorized representative. Some relationships need proof, such as a state-issued marriage certificate. See OHA eligibility rules.
Fee
$25 for the search and first certified copy; $25 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Full-image (photostatic) copy of a birth before 2008: $30 ($5 more). If you don’t know the exact date, $25 covers a 5-year search, plus $1 for each extra year. Online (VitalChek): add a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee; by phone, the vendor fee is $17.20. UPS Next Day Air shipping is $20. In person: add a $3 identity authentication fee.
How to order
Online:VitalChek, Oregon’s contracted vendor (identity checked by an online quiz). By phone: through VitalChek (see the OHA order page for the number). By mail: the Birth Record Order Form (45-13A) with a copy of your ID to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293, with a check or money order payable to “OHA/Vital Records”. Drop box: same form and payment, left at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland, OR 97232 (collected Mon–Fri). In person: 30-minute appointments at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St.; book an appointment. County health departments can also issue birth certificates, usually only for about six months after the birth.
ID needed
Online, phone and in-person orders verify your identity with a short identity quiz. Mail and drop-box orders need a copy of one acceptable ID (current government photo ID, or the other documents on the OHA ID list), plus any proof of relationship the order page asks for.
Processing time
Online and phone: typically processed within 3 workdays, then shipped (UPS Next Day Air by default). Mail: about 3–5 weeks from receipt. Drop box: about 8–10 weeks from receipt. Estimate: online with next-day shipping, about a week; mail, about 4–6 weeks to have it in hand. Some full-image copies ordered in person are ready the next workday.
Older and local records
Oregon Vital Records has birth records from 1903. Most county vital records offices issue birth and death certificates only for about six months after the event; after that, order from the state. Births more than 100 years old become public; uncertified copies of public records are available from the Oregon State Archives in Salem, (503) 373-0701.
Tip: Born before 2008? Choose the full-image ($30) certificate if you need it abroad, for an apostille, for genealogy, or if your record was amended. The $25 computer-issued copy works for most uses at home.
A certified Oregon death certificate costs $25 (short or long form) from Oregon Vital Records, with additional copies at $25 each. Ordering online through VitalChek adds a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee. Online orders are typically processed within 3 workdays; mail takes about 3–5 weeks.
Oregon death records: ordering details
Who can order
Oregon death records are restricted for 50 years. You must be at least 18 and eligible: for example, a spouse or registered domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or other next of kin, a legal guardian, the funeral service practitioner, a legal or authorized representative, or someone with a property right (such as an insurance beneficiary or joint mortgage holder). Some people with a property right can receive only the short form. See OHA eligibility rules.
Fee
$25 for the search and first certified copy; $25 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Short form (without cause of death) and long form (with cause of death) cost the same. Online (VitalChek): add a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee ($17.20 by phone). UPS Next Day Air shipping is $20. In person: add a $3 identity authentication fee.
How to order
Online:VitalChek, Oregon’s contracted vendor (identity checked by an online quiz). By phone: through VitalChek (see the OHA order page for the number). By mail: the Death Record Order Form (45-13B) with a copy of your ID to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293, with a check or money order payable to “OHA/Vital Records”. Drop box: same form and payment, left at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland, OR 97232 (collected Mon–Fri). In person: 30-minute appointments at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St.; book an appointment. County vital records offices can also issue death certificates, usually only for about six months after the death.
ID needed
Online, phone and in-person orders verify your identity with a short identity quiz. Mail and drop-box orders need a copy of one acceptable ID (current government photo ID, or the other documents on the OHA ID list), plus any proof of relationship the order page asks for.
Processing time
Online and phone: typically processed within 3 workdays, then shipped (UPS Next Day Air by default). Mail: about 3–5 weeks from receipt. Drop box: about 8–10 weeks from receipt. Estimate: online with next-day shipping, about a week; mail, about 4–6 weeks to have it in hand.
Older and local records
Oregon Vital Records has death records from 1903. Deaths more than 50 years old become public; uncertified copies are available from the Oregon State Archives, which holds state death certificates for 1903–1969 and a death index for 1903–2008.
Tip: Ask for the long form (with cause of death) for life insurance or VA benefits. Many other uses, such as closing accounts, only need the short form.
A certified Oregon marriage certificate costs $25 from Oregon Vital Records, with additional copies at $25 each. Ordering online through VitalChek adds a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee. County Clerks can issue a “Certified Record of Marriage”, but OHA says it is not accepted for a U.S. passport.
Oregon marriage records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
The state certificate from Oregon Vital Records is the legal copy for most uses, including passports and apostilles. The county Clerk’s Certified Record of Marriage (a copy of the license and record form) is often available right after the marriage and works for most purposes, but not for a U.S. passport. A decorative commemorative certificate is not a legal document.
Who can order
Marriage records are restricted for 50 years. You must be at least 18 and eligible: either spouse or registered domestic partner, a child, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, legal guardian, or a legal or authorized representative. Aunts, uncles, cousins, stepchildren and other relatives are not eligible on that basis alone. See OHA eligibility rules.
Fee
$25 for the search and first certified copy; $25 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Online (VitalChek): add a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee ($17.20 by phone). UPS Next Day Air shipping is $20. In person: add a $3 identity authentication fee. County Clerk copies: fee varies by county.
How to order
Online:VitalChek, Oregon’s contracted vendor (identity checked by an online quiz). By phone: through VitalChek (see the OHA order page for the number). By mail: the Marriage Record Order Form (45-14A) with a copy of your ID to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293, with a check or money order payable to “OHA/Vital Records”. Drop box: same form and payment, left at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland, OR 97232 (collected Mon–Fri). In person: 30-minute appointments at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St.; book an appointment. County record: contact the County Clerk in the county that issued the license.
ID needed
Online, phone and in-person orders verify your identity with a short identity quiz. Mail and drop-box orders need a copy of one acceptable ID (current government photo ID, or the other documents on the OHA ID list), plus any proof of relationship the order page asks for.
Processing time
Online and phone: typically processed within 3 workdays, then shipped (UPS Next Day Air by default). Mail: about 3–5 weeks from receipt. Drop box: about 8–10 weeks from receipt. Estimate: online with next-day shipping, about a week; mail, about 4–6 weeks to have it in hand. A new marriage is usually available from the state about one month after the county files it.
Older records
State marriage returns begin in 1906. Marriages more than 50 years old become public, and uncertified copies are available from the Oregon State Archives (marriage returns 1906–1969). Earlier marriages are county records; ask the County Clerk or check the Archives.
Tip: Need it for a passport or for use abroad? Order the state certificate from Oregon Vital Records, not the county’s Certified Record of Marriage.
Oregon Vital Records issues a divorce (dissolution of marriage) certificate for $25, with additional copies at $25 each, plus vendor fees if you order online. The full divorce decree comes from the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Oregon divorce records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
The state issues a Record of Dissolution of Marriage, Annulment or Registered Domestic Partnership certificate. It can be used as proof of divorce but does not contain all the information in the decree. Certified and uncertified copies of the full decree come from the county court that granted the divorce.
Who can order
Divorce records are restricted for 50 years. You must be at least 18 and eligible: either party named, a parent, stepparent, child, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, legal guardian, or a legal or authorized representative. Aunts, uncles, cousins, stepchildren and other relatives are not eligible on that basis alone. See OHA eligibility rules.
Fee
State certificate: $25 for the search and first copy; $25 for each additional copy. Online (VitalChek): add a $7 expedite fee and a $15.50 vendor fee ($17.20 by phone). UPS Next Day Air shipping is $20. In person: add a $3 identity authentication fee. Court decree copies: set by the court.
How to order
Online:VitalChek, Oregon’s contracted vendor (identity checked by an online quiz). By phone: through VitalChek (see the OHA order page for the number). By mail: the Divorce/Dissolution Record Order Form (45-14B) with a copy of your ID to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293, with a check or money order payable to “OHA/Vital Records”. Drop box: same form and payment, left at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland, OR 97232 (collected Mon–Fri). In person: 30-minute appointments at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St.; book an appointment. Decree: contact the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
ID needed
Online, phone and in-person orders verify your identity with a short identity quiz. Mail and drop-box orders need a copy of one acceptable ID (current government photo ID, or the other documents on the OHA ID list), plus any proof of relationship the order page asks for.
Processing time
Online and phone: typically processed within 3 workdays, then shipped (UPS Next Day Air by default). Mail: about 3–5 weeks from receipt. Drop box: about 8–10 weeks from receipt. Estimate: online with next-day shipping, about a week; mail, about 4–6 weeks to have it in hand.
Older records
State divorce returns begin in 1925. Divorces more than 50 years old become public, and uncertified copies are available from the Oregon State Archives (divorce returns 1925–1969). Earlier divorces are Circuit Court records.
Tip: Divorce very recent? The state can’t issue its certificate until the Circuit Court files the record of dissolution, so for a new divorce, ask the court for a certified copy of the decree first.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Oregon records people search for
Official Oregon sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Official Oregon sites for other records
Court case lookup
OJCIN OnLine Statewide case records by subscription.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Oregon public records
Certificate Information
The Center for Health Statistics houses the Oregon Vital Records Office. This office compiles all birth, death, marriage
and divorce records for Oregon state. Search for vital records cost $20 dollars and include one copy. Each additional copy
ordered at the same time cost $15 dollars. Expedited orders should be faxed. Fax requests cost $32.50, standard fee plus
a $12.50 rush charge. There is additional fees for overnight shipping. Heirloom birth certificates are available for $45 dollars.
Oregon Vital Records
PO Box 14050
Portland, OR 97293-0050
Fax: (503) 234-8417
Vital records that have become public records are available fromthe Oregon State Archives. Birth records filed before 1903, death records
that are over 50 years old, marriage records from 1906-1910, marriage records that are older than 50 years old and filed after 1945,
and divorce certificates older than 50 years old and filed after 1945 are all considered public records.
Adult age (21) adoptees born in Oregon can apply for their original adoption records and birth certificate. Searchs cost $20
dollars and return the sealed adoption records. There is no guarentee what the sealed files will contain.
The Oregon Voluntary Adoption Registry was started in 1983 and can help reunite family members and share identifying and non-identifying
information.
Most county parcel records, tax valuations, and other property information is available through the county's online mapping
applications powered by the GIS departments.
