Find Medford Death Records
Medford death records are issued by Jackson County. The city of Medford does not maintain vital records or issue death certificates on its own. As the county seat of Jackson County, Medford is home to the county clerk office that handles all vital records for the area. Jackson County issues death certificates for deaths that took place within the past six months. Residents looking for a Medford death record can visit the county office in person or submit a request by mail. This page covers the steps to find and obtain death records in Medford.
Medford Quick Facts
Medford Death Certificate Process
The Jackson County Clerk handles death certificates for the Medford area. Their office is at 10 South Oakdale in Medford, OR 97501. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (541) 774-6153 for questions about Medford death records. The office can issue certified copies for recent deaths that took place in Jackson County within the past six months.
To get a Medford death record, visit the clerk office with a valid photo ID. Fill out the request form and pay the $25 fee. The office accepts standard forms of payment. Staff will process your request and provide the certificate. For mail orders, send a completed form with payment to the office address. Oregon law under ORS 432 sets the rules for how death certificates are issued and who can get one.
For deaths older than six months, contact the Oregon Health Authority. The state office keeps all Oregon death records on file and can issue certified copies for any time period.
City of Medford Resources
The City of Medford official website has information about city services, departments, and local programs. While the city does not issue death certificates, it provides links to county services for Medford residents.
Medford is the largest city in Southern Oregon and serves as the hub for government services in Jackson County. The county offices that handle Medford death records are located right in the city center.
Who Can Get Medford Death Records
Oregon law limits who can receive a certified death certificate. These rules protect personal information. They apply to all Medford death records and records across the state.
The following people can request a certified copy of a Medford death record:
- Surviving spouse of the deceased
- Parents or children of the deceased
- Siblings of the deceased
- Legal representatives with proper documentation
- Estate executors with court papers
If you do not fall into one of these groups, you can still get an informational copy. This version has the same facts but is marked "not for legal use." Informational copies are fine for personal research or family history projects. The Jackson County clerk will review your request and let you know which type of Medford death record you can receive.
Note: Both certified and informational copies of Medford death records cost $25 per copy at the county office.
Medford Cemetery Records
The Medford area has a strong network of cemetery and burial records that support death record research. The Jackson County Cemetery Database run by the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society has over 86,000 records online. You can search by last name. The database covers mortician records, death certificates, headstone photos, and obituaries. It is one of the best free tools for finding Medford death records and related burial information.
Medford has several cemeteries with burial records. The Medford IOOF Cemetery, also called Eastwood Cemetery, is one of the oldest. Siskiyou Memorial Park, Memory Gardens, and Hillcrest Memorial Park also serve the Medford area. The nearby Jacksonville Cemetery is a historic site with records going back to the 1800s. Each of these cemeteries has records that may link to a Medford death record you are looking for.
The Rogue Valley Genealogical Society at 1701 Highway 99 North in Ashland keeps a large collection of burial records. Their holdings include mortician records, death certificates, headstone photos, and obituary clippings for Jackson County. You can visit their library or search parts of the collection online. This is a key resource for anyone doing deep research into Medford death records.
Oregon Death Record Resources
The Oregon Health Authority is the state office that keeps all death records. You can order copies by mail or through VitalChek online. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the $25 base cost. The state also posts forms and instructions on its website for Medford residents who prefer to order by mail.
The Oregon Health Authority processes death certificate requests for all counties, including Jackson County. This is the office to use when the county cannot fill your request for a Medford death record.
Historical Records in Medford
Medford has several places to search for older death records and related materials. The Southern Oregon Historical Society has a history center at 106 N. Central Avenue in Medford. They hold historical records, obituaries, funeral records, cemetery records, and family files. The society is a top source for Medford death records from past decades.
The Oregon State Archives for Jackson County holds older government records. These include early death registrations and county records that can help you trace a death in Medford. The state archives also has a research room where you can look through materials in person.
Local funeral homes have played a big role in Medford death records over the years. Conger-Morris Funeral Directors, Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, Perl Funeral Home, and Memory Gardens Mortuary all have historical records. Some of these records have been shared with the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society and are now part of their searchable database of Medford death records.
The Oregon State Archives Death Records page is another useful link for statewide death record indexes. Oregon Administrative Rules under OAR Chapter 333 set out how all death records in Oregon are stored and who can access them.
Note: The Rogue Valley Genealogical Society cemetery database is free to search online and covers most of Jackson County.
Jackson County Death Records
Medford is the county seat of Jackson County. All death certificates for the Medford area are processed by the Jackson County Clerk. The county serves Medford, Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, and other towns across the region. For full details on fees, forms, and county services, visit the Jackson County death records page.