Hillsboro Death Records Search
Hillsboro death records are kept by Washington County Health and Human Services. The city of Hillsboro does not issue death certificates on its own. Instead, the county office in Hillsboro handles all vital records for the area. Residents who need a death certificate can visit the Washington County HHS office or request one by mail. Hillsboro is the county seat, so the vital records office is right in town. You can search for Hillsboro death records by contacting the county directly. The office staff can help you find the record you need and guide you through the steps to get a certified copy.
Hillsboro Quick Facts
Hillsboro Death Certificate Process
Death certificates in Hillsboro come from the Washington County HHS Vital Records office. The city does not maintain its own vital records program. Washington County handles all birth and death certificates for every city in the county. This includes Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, and other towns. The county office can issue certified copies for deaths that took place within the past six months. For older records, you must go through the Oregon Health Authority Center for Health Statistics.
To get a Hillsboro death record, you can visit in person or send a request by mail. The office is at 155 North First Avenue, Room 170, in Hillsboro. Walk-in hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Bring a valid photo ID. You will fill out a request form and pay the fee. Staff can often process same-day requests. For mail requests, send your form to 155 North First Avenue, MS 5, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Call (503) 846-3538 if you have questions about Hillsboro death records.
Each certified copy costs $25. The fee is the same whether you pick it up or have it mailed. You can pay by check, money order, or card at the office. Oregon law under ORS 432 sets the rules for who can get a certified copy and what it costs.
Who Can Get Hillsboro Death Records
Not everyone can get a certified death certificate. Oregon law limits access to protect personal data. The state sets clear rules about who qualifies. Close family members can get a copy. This includes the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person who died. Legal agents with proper proof can also request one.
You may also qualify if you can show a direct and real need for the record. For example, you may need the record to settle an estate or handle insurance. The Washington County office will ask for proof of your connection to the person named on the Hillsboro death record. If you cannot prove your right to a certified copy, you can still get an informational copy. This version says "not for legal use" but has the same facts.
The Washington County Vital Records page has details on what ID and documents you need to bring when you request Hillsboro death records.
Note: Informational copies of death records are available to anyone and contain the same data as certified copies.
Washington County Vital Records Office
The Washington County vital records office in Hillsboro handles death certificates for all county residents. Visit their vital records page to learn about hours, forms, and fees before your visit.
The office processes both walk-in and mail requests for Hillsboro death records. Same-day service is often available for in-person visits during regular business hours.
Washington County Health and Human Services runs several programs beyond vital records. Their main HHS department page has links to all county health services available to Hillsboro residents.
The HHS office shares the same building as the vital records window. This makes it easy to handle other county business on the same trip when you pick up Hillsboro death records.
Historical Death Records in Hillsboro
Older death records for Hillsboro are held at the state level. The Oregon Health Authority keeps death records going back decades. The Oregon State Archives also holds historical Washington County records. These archives can be useful for family history research or finding older Hillsboro death records that the county no longer has on file.
The Washington County Museum in Hillsboro has resources for historical research. They hold cemetery records, old obituaries, and funeral home records for the area. The museum is a good place to start when you need Hillsboro death records from many years ago. Staff can point you to the right collection for your search.
The Hillsboro Public Library also has local history materials. Their newspaper archive includes old issues of the Hillsboro Argus. Obituaries in these papers can help confirm dates and details when you search for Hillsboro death records. The Washington County Historical Society keeps cemetery transcriptions and obituary indexes that cover the Hillsboro area as well.
Note: The county office only keeps death records for the past six months, so plan to contact the state for anything older.
Hillsboro Cemetery Records
Cemetery records can help you find information linked to a death record. Hillsboro has several cemeteries with burial records that go back over a hundred years. The Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery at 2401 E Main Street is one of the oldest in the area. The city maintains this cemetery and its records.
Washington County has many other cemeteries with records that can support a search for Hillsboro death records. Some of the most well known include:
- Bethany Presbyterian Cemetery
- Cornelius Methodist Cemetery
- Forest Grove IOOF Cemetery
- Zion Memorial Cemetery
- Crescent Grove Cemetery
Burial records often show the date of death, age, and sometimes the cause of death. These details can help you locate the right death certificate through the county or state office. Many of these Washington County cemetery records have been transcribed by local historical groups. The Oregon State Archives Vital Records page also has links to statewide death record resources that cover the Hillsboro area.
State Resources for Death Records
When the county office cannot help, the state has more options. The Oregon Health Authority is the main state office for death certificates. They keep records for all of Oregon, including Hillsboro. You can order a certified copy by mail or through VitalChek, an online ordering service. VitalChek charges an extra processing fee on top of the $25 state fee.
Oregon Administrative Rules under OAR Chapter 333 spell out how vital records are kept and released. These rules apply to all Hillsboro death records held at the state level. They cover things like record storage, access, and corrections.
For genealogy work, the Oregon State Archives Death Records page has helpful links. You can also check with the Washington County Circuit Court for related legal records like probate files that may reference a death in Hillsboro.
Note: VitalChek adds a service fee to the base $25 certificate cost when you order Hillsboro death records online.
Washington County Death Records
Hillsboro is the county seat of Washington County. All death certificates for Hillsboro go through the Washington County HHS Vital Records office. The county serves many cities and towns across a large area. For full details on the county system, fees, and other records, see the Washington County death records page.