ARE THERE OTHER SOURCES FOR RECORDS?

Some vital records that have become public records are available as uncertified copies from the Oregon State Archives in Salem, 800 Summer Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97310 (503-373-0701) for a small fee.

·               Birth records filed before 1903

·               Death records filed after 1903 that are over 50 years old

·               State marriage records for 1906 through 1910 and after 1945 if they are over 50 years old.

·               State divorce certificates filed after 1945 if they are over 50 years old

 

Marriage records, including some records prior to 1906, may be requested from the county marriage office which issued the license.

Divorce decrees (judgments), both certified and uncertified are available from the Oregon county court that granted the divorce.  

If the record you are ordering is for a recent event (two to four weeks for death and six to eight weeks for marriage and divorce), it may not yet be available from our office. You may need to order the death record from the local county vital records office, the marriage or domestic partnership record from the local county clerk's office, or the divorce decree from the county court that granted the divorce. If you place an order with our office, the order will be held until the record is received and the certificate can be issued.

 

HOW DO I ORDER A BIRTH OR DEATH RECORD FROM A COUNTY VITAL RECORDS OFFICE?

Most county vital records offices in Oregon issue birth and death records for six months following the date of the event. You will find vital records offices in your county health department or your county clerk's office. To locate an Oregon county vital records office, please see the Oregon County Health Department Directory.

HOW DO I ORDER A BIRTH OR DEATH RECORD FROM ANOTHER STATE?  

Order Information for other states is available from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including:

·       Addresses for State Vital Record Offices

·       Phone numbers for Vital Record Offices

·       Fax numbers for Vital Record Offices and FAX Form to use in ordering

·       Links to other state and county Vital Record Websites

 

HOW DO I ORDER A VITAL RECORD FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY?

If you were born in another country to parents who are U.S. citizens, or if a U.S. citizen died or was married abroad prior to 1987, you may obtain consular reports documenting these events from the U.S. Department of State. For ordering information select "Vital Record Services" on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website: http://travel.state.gov

The Bureau of Consular Affairs website also provides address lists of foreign consular offices in the United States. These offices may provide help if you are not a U.S. citizen and need assistance in ordering a vital record from another country.

In the past certified copies have been made on a wide variety of paper types. All of the older types of certified copies can be identified by the raised, notary type seal. If you have a photocopy and cannot feel the raised seal, most agencies will not accept it as a certified copy since they cannot tell whether the document has been altered.

HOW DO I GET AN AUTHENTICATING DOCUMENT SO AN OREGON VITAL RECORD IS ACCEPTED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES?

The Oregon Secretary of State issues certificates required by many countries to prove the validity of Oregon birth, death, marriage and divorce records. To get a certifying document, you may need a vital record issued by the Oregon Center for Health Statistics, rather than a county. Ordering information: Oregon Secretary of State/Corporate Division.