How to Get Oregon Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Oregon — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Oregon Health Authority Center for Health Statistics. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk.

What this page covers: Oregon vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Oregon Health Authority Center for Health Statistics. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Search Oregon Vital Records Online
Parent agency
Oregon Revised Statutes
Records back to
State Archives - About Vital Records - State of Oregon
Online ordering
Oregon Health Authority : Order a Birth Certificate : Vital Records and Certificates : State of Oregon
Marriage license issued by
You do not have to be an Oregon resident to obtain a marriage license
Local intake
Where to Write for Vital Records - Oregon
Population
4,272,371
Households
1,717,200
Median Income
$80,426
Median Home Value
$423,100
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Oregon vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.oregon.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Oregon Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Oregon — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request an Oregon vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Oregon Vital Records

2026
Oregon vital records portal active
The official Oregon portal at www.oregon.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Oregon state records.
2026
Oregon access in 2026
For 2026, Oregon continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.oregon.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Oregon's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Oregon Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Oregon, start with the Oregon health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Oregon typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Oregon records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Oregon Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Oregon birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Oregon) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Oregon marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Oregon death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Oregon counties: Baker · Benton · Clackamas · Clatsop · Columbia

Vital Records Databases

4 official Oregon vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

State of Oregon: State Archives - About Vital Records
Official Free
Search Polk County delayed births, 1855-1899; and divorces, 1854-1912 (Oregon Historical Records Index) ... Death register, 1907-1929 (7 volumes) Divorce Case Files (Circuit Court), 1863-1942 (31 cu.ft.) Search Umatilla County divorces, 1863-1942 (Oregon Historical Records Index)
🌐 sos.oregon.gov
Oregon Judicial Department : Find a Case or Court Record : How Do I? : State of Oregon
Official Free
FREE online access to court calendars and basic case information for the Oregon circuit courts, the Tax Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. Search for FREE Records Now! Note: Due to federal or state law or policy, the Oregon Judicial Department does not provide court records or court ...
🌐 courts.oregon.gov

Related — Oregon & Vital Records