Search Oregon Death Index
The Oregon death index is a key tool for finding death records held by the state. The Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics keeps death certificates for all deaths filed in Oregon. Records go back to 1903. The Oregon State Archives holds older historical death records and county-level vital records. You can search the death index online, by mail, by phone, or in person. Both agencies serve the public and help people find the death records they need.
Oregon Death Index Quick Facts
Oregon Death Index Sources
Oregon keeps death records in two main places. The Center for Health Statistics, part of the Oregon Health Authority, is the state office for all vital records. This office holds death certificates from 1903 to the present. It is the place to go for certified copies of Oregon death records. The center sits at 800 NE Oregon Street in Portland. You can reach the orders hotline at 888-896-4988 or the main line at 971-673-1190.
The Oregon State Archives is the second major source for death index data. The archives hold older vital records, county records, and the Oregon Historical Records Index with more than 600,000 names from county records across Oregon. The Early Oregonians Database at the archives documents people who lived in the state before it gained statehood in 1859. The archives are open by appointment only. Call 503-373-0701 or email Reference.Archives@sos.oregon.gov to set up a visit. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Oregon Health Authority vital records page provides forms and instructions for ordering death certificates.
Death records from each of Oregon's 36 counties can also be found at the local level. County clerks and health departments kept their own death registers before the state took over in 1903. Many of these old county death records have been transferred to the State Archives for safekeeping. The State Archives Records Guides list what is held for each county.
Note: The Oregon Historical Records Index is free to search and covers death records from many counties across the state.
How to Search the Death Index
Start your search with the name of the person who died. The Oregon death index can be searched through the State Archives online portal or by contacting the Center for Health Statistics. Each path works best for different types of searches. Online tools are fast and free. Phone and mail requests take more time but can access records not yet digitized in Oregon.
To search the Oregon Historical Records Index online, go to the State Archives website. Enter a name and search. Results show names, dates, and record types found in county records across Oregon. This is a good starting point for older death records. The index does not provide certificates. It points you to the right record so you can order a copy.
For certified death certificates, contact the Center for Health Statistics. You will need the full name of the deceased, the date of death or a close range, and the county where the death took place in Oregon. Staff can search their files and let you know if a match exists. Call 971-673-1190 for help with your search. Fax requests go to 971-673-1201. TTY users can dial 711.
Ordering Oregon Death Certificates
Oregon offers several ways to order death certificates once you find the right record in the death index.
Online ordering is the fastest method. VitalChek is the sole authorized online service for Oregon vital records. The form takes 5 to 10 minutes to fill out. VitalChek uses LexisNexis to check your identity. The site has partnerships with more than 450 government agencies and processes over 4 million documents each year. Certificates are printed and shipped from a government location in Oregon.
You can also order by mail. Send your request to the Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293-0050. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, your name, your address, and your payment. The State Archives order page handles requests for older historical records.
In-person visits are another option. Walk into the Center for Health Statistics office at 800 NE Oregon Street in Portland during business hours. Bring valid photo identification and your payment. Staff will process your request while you wait.
Note: VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state fee for online orders of Oregon death certificates.
Oregon Death Record Eligibility
Not everyone can get a certified copy of a death certificate in Oregon. The State Registrar requires a signed application, proof of identity, and proof of eligibility. Under ORS 432.380, certified copies of vital records are prima facie evidence in any court or proceeding. Because of their legal weight, Oregon limits who can obtain them.
Qualified applicants for Oregon death records include:
- Spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
- Child, parent, or sibling of the deceased
- Grandparent or grandchild of the deceased
- Next of kin or legal representative
- Any person with a direct and tangible interest
After 50 years, the rules change. For deaths that took place after 1964, certified copies become open to anyone with proof of identity once five decades have passed. This means Oregon death records from 1964 through 1975 are now available to the general public. Older records from before 1964 follow different rules and are often easier to obtain. The ORS 432.350 statute covers the vital records exemption from public disclosure.
Death Index Laws in Oregon
Oregon law sets clear rules for death records. ORS Chapter 432 contains the full statutory framework for vital statistics in Oregon. This chapter covers registration of deaths, issuance of certificates, amendments, and access rules. Every death that occurs in Oregon must be registered with the Center for Health Statistics within five days.
ORS 432.350 makes vital records exempt from public disclosure under the Oregon Public Records Law. This means death certificates are not freely available to anyone who asks, at least not within the 50-year window. The Oregon Public Records Law under ORS 192.311 gives the public a broad right to inspect government records, but vital records get a specific carve-out. The balance aims to protect privacy while still letting qualified people access the Oregon death index and certified copies.
ORS 432.380 deals with how certified copies are issued. It spells out who can apply and what proof they need. A certified copy bears the seal of the State Registrar and is accepted as legal proof of death in courts across Oregon.
The Oregon Administrative Rules provide more detail on how these statutes are carried out in practice. They cover things like forms, fees, processing times, and record storage at the state level.
Note: Oregon law treats death certificates as legal documents, so forgery or fraud carries criminal penalties.
Public Records and Oregon Death Index
Beyond vital records offices, you can make a public records request for death-related data held by state agencies. The Oregon Public Records Request Center handles these requests. Agencies must respond within 15 business days. Routine requests that take under 30 minutes to fill are free of charge.
Public records requests work well for aggregate death data, statistical reports, or administrative records that do not fall under the vital records exemption. You might use this path to get death counts by county, cause-of-death statistics, or other data the Center for Health Statistics compiles from the Oregon death index. Individual death certificates still require the standard application process through the Center for Health Statistics.
The Records Management division of the Secretary of State oversees how agencies store and dispose of records in Oregon. This includes rules on how long death-related records must be kept and when they can be destroyed or transferred to the State Archives.
Oregon Death Index for Research
Genealogists and historians use the Oregon death index often. Death records are some of the most useful documents for family research. They list the name, date of death, place of death, age, and sometimes the cause. Older Oregon death records may also name parents and birthplace, which helps trace lines back further.
The Oregon State Archives exhibits showcase historical documents and provide context for research. The Oregon Blue Book, the state almanac, includes facts about Oregon's history, government, and counties that can supplement death index research.
The Oregon Historical Records Index at the State Archives is the best free tool for historical death index lookups. It covers records from all 36 counties. Many entries date to the 1800s, long before the state began centralized registration. For deaths before 1903, county records are often the only source. The State Archives holds guides for each county that list what records survive and where they are stored.
Church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper obituaries are other sources that can fill gaps in the Oregon death index. Local historical societies across Oregon may hold these. The State Archives can often point you in the right direction.
Browse Oregon Death Records by County
Each of Oregon's 36 counties has its own death records history. Pick a county below to find local death index resources and contact details.
Death Records in Major Oregon Cities
Residents of major cities can search for death records through their county offices. Pick a city below for local death index details.