Find Oregon Death Records
Oregon death records are public documents. They are kept by state and county offices across Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority holds death certificates from 1903 to the present. County offices store recent death records for about six months. Then records go to the state. You can search Oregon death records online, by mail, by phone, or in person. Whether you need a certified copy for legal matters or want to trace family history, this guide covers every step for getting death records in Oregon. Start your search below.
Oregon Death Records Quick Facts
Where to Get Oregon Death Records
Oregon has two main sources for death records. The Center for Health Statistics is the state office. It sits in Portland at 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 205. This office holds all Oregon death certificates from 1903 to now. You can call them at 971-673-1190 for help. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They accept requests by mail, online, by phone, and in person by appointment. The Oregon Health Authority runs this office as part of the state vital records program.
The Center for Health Statistics manages all death records through the Oregon Health Authority website, where you can find forms and ordering details for Oregon death certificates.
This is the main state office for all vital records in Oregon, including death certificates dating back over a century.
All 36 Oregon counties also have vital records offices. County offices can issue death certificates for deaths that took place in Oregon. They may be faster than the state office. County clerks use the Oregon Vital Events Registration System, called OVERS. They charge the same $25 fee. County offices hold records for about six months. After that, records move to the state. You can find the right county office using the County Vital Records Contact List from the state.
The Oregon State Archives also holds historical death records and provides research help for older Oregon vital records.
The Archives holds indexes and copies of older Oregon death records that are no longer restricted.
How to Order Death Records in Oregon
Oregon offers five ways to order death records. Each method has its own cost and speed. Pick the one that fits your needs best.
The fastest way is online through VitalChek. This is the only vendor the state has approved. You fill out an online form with the name of the person who died, the date of death, and your contact details. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the $25 state fee. Rush orders take three to seven days. Standard orders take three to five weeks. Visit the VitalChek Oregon portal to start an order for Oregon death records.
The VitalChek ordering portal lets you place orders for Oregon death certificates any time of day, seven days a week.
Online orders are sent to the state office for review within 24 hours of being placed.
You can also call VitalChek at 1-888-896-4988. The line is open all day, every day. Phone orders work the same as online ones but cost a bit more. The vendor fee is $17.20 by phone. Mail orders go to the Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293-0050. Send a check or money order with a copy of your ID. You can download the Oregon Death Record Order Form from the state site. Mail orders take three to five weeks. A drop box is also at the Portland office for walk-up drop off.
In-person requests need an appointment. Go to the Portland office at 800 NE Oregon Street. Bring your ID, a filled-out form, and payment. Same-day service is often available for in-person requests in Oregon. This is the fastest way to get a death certificate if you can visit the office.
Note: Once your order is processed, the state cannot cancel it or refund the fees for Oregon death records.
Oregon Death Certificate Types
Oregon offers two forms of death certificates. The short form does not list the cause of death. It is available for deaths from 1978 to now. The short form shows the name, date of death, place of death, birth date, parents, spouse, and Social Security number. Most people use the short form for title changes, probate, wills, and DMV needs in Oregon.
The long form includes the cause of death. It covers deaths from 1903 to the present. Along with all the short form details, it adds cause of death, medical data, time of death, and the name of the certifying physician. The long form also notes burial or cremation details. You might need the long form for insurance claims, genealogy, or legal cases in Oregon that require cause of death information. Both forms cost $25 per copy. Under ORS Chapter 432, the state sets the rules for who can access these records and what each form contains.
The Oregon State Archives death records page covers how to access older death certificates and research historical records in Oregon.
Older death records that are past the 50-year mark can be accessed through the Archives as public records.
Who Can Get Death Records in Oregon
Death records in Oregon are restricted for 50 years. After 50 years, anyone can get a copy. Within those 50 years, only certain people may order a certified death certificate. Oregon law lists 14 groups who qualify. These include parents, children, grandparents, siblings, and the spouse or domestic partner of the person who died. Legal guardians, attorneys, and authorized agents also qualify.
Government agencies and funeral homes can request death records too. A person with a property right tied to the death may also be eligible. Under ORS 432.380, the state spells out who can and cannot get restricted death records in Oregon. If you are not on the list, you may still get access. Submit a notarized form from someone who is eligible. The state provides a permission form for this.
You need a valid photo ID to order. A driver's license, passport, or military ID all work. If you lack a photo ID, you can show three other forms of ID like a bank statement, tax form, or utility bill. The state publishes a full list of acceptable ID documents you can print out before making your request for Oregon death records.
The Oregon State Library also provides reference help for people looking into genealogy or death record access in Oregon.
Library staff can help guide your research for Oregon death records and point you to the right office.
Death Records Laws in Oregon
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 432 governs all vital records in the state. This chapter sets the rules for birth and death registration, access, and fees. It defines who counts as a legal representative under ORS 432.005(21). It also defines authorized representatives under ORS 432.005(3). These laws control how Oregon death records are stored, shared, and protected.
The Oregon Revised Statutes lay out the legal framework for all death records in the state, from registration to public access rules.
ORS 432 is the key statute for anyone seeking to understand access rights to Oregon death records.
The Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 333, Division 11 adds more detail. These rules define how county offices process requests and what counts as next of kin under OAR 333-011-0300(1)(a). The rules also set time frames and forms that offices must use when handling death record requests in Oregon.
The Oregon Administrative Rules provide the detailed procedures that county and state offices follow when handling death certificate requests.
These rules work alongside the statutes to shape how Oregon manages its death records system.
Note: ORS 97.130 also applies when a person in charge of disposition needs a death certificate in Oregon.
Search Tools for Oregon Death Records
Several tools can help you find death records in Oregon. The Oregon State Archives has a searchable online index. It covers death records from 1903 to 1998. You can search by name and date range. The Archives also holds the Early Oregonians Index for records from 1800 to 1860. Visit the Oregon State Archives Research Services page to learn how to request copies or schedule a visit.
The Oregon State Archives research page explains how to access historical death records and schedule in-person visits to the Salem office.
The Archives is open by appointment at 800 Summer Street NE in Salem, Oregon.
For free online searches, The Ancestor Hunt lists free Oregon death record indexes and databases. This site links to many public sources in one place. It is a good starting point for family history work in Oregon.
The Ancestor Hunt compiles links to free Oregon death record indexes and online databases across multiple sources.
This resource saves time by gathering scattered Oregon death record links on one page.
The Oregon Secretary of State Archives Division oversees the Archives program. They manage records for all state agencies, including vital records. Their office in Salem holds original death registers, county records, and other documents that support death record research across Oregon.
The Secretary of State Archives Division manages the preservation of Oregon's historical government records including death registers.
This division plays a key role in keeping Oregon death records safe for future generations.
Historical Death Records in Oregon
Oregon has death records going back to the 1860s. The City of Portland kept its own death records from 1862 to 1902. Those are now at the Oregon State Archives in Salem. Statewide death registration began in 1903. The Archives holds statewide death records from 1903 to 1955. An index is available for the years 1895 to 1948.
After 50 years, death records become public in Oregon. This means anyone can request copies without proving a family tie. Non-certified copies of these older records are available at the Archives. Certified copies of all records from 1903 onward are still available from the Center for Health Statistics. For genealogy work, the long form death certificate is most useful since it includes the cause of death and other medical details that help build a full family history in Oregon.
County-level historical resources also help with death record research in Oregon. Many counties have historical societies that keep cemetery records, funeral home records, obituary files, and photograph collections. The Genealogical Forum of Oregon in Portland holds over 60,000 items and can provide death certificate copies for $5. These local groups fill gaps where official records may not reach, especially for deaths before the 1903 statewide system began in Oregon.
Browse Oregon Death Records by County
Each county in Oregon has a vital records office that can issue death certificates. Pick a county below to find local contact details and resources for death records in that area.
Death Records in Major Oregon Cities
No Oregon city issues death certificates directly. Residents go through their county vital records office. Pick a city below to find local death record resources in that area.