Are Oregon Vital Records Open to the Public?
Yes. Oregon is a closed records state, but vital records become public records after a period of confidentiality elapses. Until then, access to vital records within the state is restricted to persons with prior authorization. During this restriction period, vital records are only available to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and court-approved requesters. When the period of confidentiality elapses, interested members of the public may obtain various vital records for informational or genealogical purposes.
What Do I Need to Obtain Oregon Vital Records Online?
Online vital record orders typically require that the requesting party provide information with which to process the request. The information required typically includes:
- The registrant’s full name
- The year, month, and day of the life event
- The county or city where the life event happened
- The full name of the registrant's parents (including the mother's maiden name where applicable)
- The case file number of the record
The Oregon Health Authority is the central custodian for vital records in the state, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce, and death records. However, the department does not provide an electronic option to conduct online searches.
How Do I Obtain Oregon Vital Records?
The requirements for obtaining an Oregon vital record typically vary depending on the requestor’s eligibility and the intended use of the vital record. Eligible requestors need only provide a government-issued photo ID or proof that establishes the requestor’s relationship with the individual named on the vital record of interest. On the other hand, requesters who are statutorily ineligible must obtain a court order from an Oregon-licensed judge.
Publicly available vital records are also managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a reliable jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:
- The location of the record in question including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
- The name of someone involved providing it is not a juvenile
What’s the Difference Between a Certified and Informational Vital Record?
Informational copies are copies of a record typically issued to requestors for genealogical, research, or informational purposes. Holders of informational copies cannot use the document to establish identity—this warning is clearly stated on the document. On the other hand, a certified record is an official copy that gives the holder the legal authority to establish identity and can be used for official purposes like processing insurance benefits.
Are Oregon Marriage Records Public Information?
It depends on the statutory period of confidentiality. Oregon marriage records are not public information until 50 years after the marriage. Pending when this restriction elapses, only the following persons may access Oregon marriage records:
- The persons named on the record
- The persons’ parent, legal guardian
- A descendant of either party named on the record (aged 18 and above)
- A legal representative or court-approved representative
- Any government agency (or a third party) with the legal authority to access the record
How Do I Obtain Marriage Records in Oregon?
Public marriage records are available via the state archives, but eligible persons who wish to obtain restricted marriage records must visit the Clerk’s Office in the county where the marriage license was issued.
Meanwhile, marriage records in Oregon are also maintained by the Vital Records Office of the Oregon Health Authority. This state agency only processes in-person and mail requests for marriage records. The eligible requester must complete a marriage record order form or submit a written request containing the following information:
- The full names of both parties named on the record
- The county in which the marriage license was issued
- The date on which the marriage was licensed or the record was filed
- The requestor’s full name, contact information, and mailing address
- The relationship between the requesting party and the registrant(s)
Either way, the requestor must sign the request, attach payment in the form of a money order or check, and a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID. Next, the requestor must enclose the application packet in a self-addressed envelope and submit the request in person or via mail to:
Oregon Vital Records Office
800 Northeast Oregon Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 14050
Portland OR 97293-0050
Are Oregon Divorce Records Public Information?
It depends on the statutory period of confidentiality. Oregon divorce records are not available to the public because state laws deem all divorce-related confidential until 50 years after the divorce. Until the period of confidentiality elapses, the following persons who may access the divorce record include the persons named on the record, immediate family members, the registrants’ legal representatives, and persons armed with a court order.
How Do I Obtain Divorce Records in Oregon?
Oregon divorce records can be obtained by querying the clerk of courts in the courthouse where the divorce was granted, or by requesting the record from the Vital Records Office. Eligible requesters may send a written request or a completed divorce record. Either way, the application packet must contain the signed application or request letter, a check or money order for $25, and a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID. The requester must enclose the application packet in a self-addressed stamped envelope and submit the request in person or via mail to:
Oregon Vital Records Office
800 Northeast Oregon Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 14050
Portland OR 97293-0050
Are Oregon Birth Records Public Information?
It depends on the statutory period of confidentiality. Oregon birth records are not deemed public information until 100 years following the birth date. Within these initial 100 years, access to birth records are restricted to:
- The person named on the record (must be 15 years of age or older)
- The parents, legal guardian, or spouse of the registrant
- Immediate family members of the registrant
- Legal representatives of any of the above-mentioned parties
- A court-approved party
- Government or security agencies conducting official duties.
How Do I Obtain Oregon Birth Records?
Requests for birth records start at the clerk’s office in the county where the life event occured. Meanwhile, the Vital Records Office also acts as a central repository for statewide birth records and processes requests for birth certificates and birth certificate replacement. To order birth certificates from this state agency, the requester must complete a birth record order form or prepare a written request stating information relevant to the record. Upon completing the request form, attach payment in the form of a check or money order, as well as a government-issued photo ID. Enclose the application packet containing these three items in a self-addressed stamped envelope and submit it in person or via mail to:
Oregon Vital Records Office
800 Northeast Oregon Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 14050
Portland OR 97293-0050
Are Oregon Death Records Open to the Public?
It depends on the statutory period of confidentiality. Oregon death records are not available to the public until 50 years after the death occurred. Until this statutory period of confidentiality elapses, only immediate family members of the deceased, the next of kin, the deceased’s legal guardian, or a legal representative may obtain the death record.
How Do I Obtain Death Records in Oregon?
Public death records are available following a death certificate search on the state archives. On the other hand, confidential death records can either be obtained in the judicial district where the event occured or by querying the Office of Vital Records.
To obtain death records from the state agency, complete the death record order form, attach the indicated fees and ID requirements, and enclose the documents in a self-addressed stamped envelope. Submit the record in person or mail the record to:
Oregon Vital Records Office
800 Northeast Oregon Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 14050
Portland OR 97293-0050
Upon receipt, the administrative staff will perform a death record search by name and retrieve the death record of interest. Then, the official makes a certified copy of the death certificate and processes it for return to the requester. Mail requests in this way take an average of two weeks if the application packet is complete and accurate.
How Do I Obtain Sealed Vital Records in Oregon
Most vital records in Oregon are sealed or restricted for a limited number of years following the event. However, a person need not wait until the period of confidentiality elapses before accessing sealed vital records — provided there are cogent reasons to petition the court to lift the seal. In that case, the court will issue an order or subpoena granting the individual access to vital records of interest.
