How to Get a Death Certificate in Oregon: Step-By-Step

There are various reasons you might one day need to request a copy of someone’s death certificate. Although our guide on how to get a death certificate may be helpful in these circumstances, it’s important to understand that the proper method for securing a copy of a death certificate can depend on the state in which the deceased was living at the time of their death.

Jump ahead to these sections:

• What Do You Need to Order a Death Certificate in Oregon?
• Steps to Get an Original Death Certificate in Oregon
• Steps to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Oregon
• Frequently Asked Questions: Death Certificates in Oregon

For example, you may be conducting a death certificate search in Oregon. Keep reading if so. This guide will explain how you can go about securing a copy of a death certificate for any of the many reasons you may need to, such as fulfilling your executor duties.

What Do You Need to Order a Death Certificate in Oregon?

The Oregon Health Authority places some restrictions on who can and can’t obtain a copy of a death certificate. You may be eligible to obtain a copy of someone’s death certificate in Oregon if you are the decedent’s:

• Spouse (at the time of their passing)
• Domestic partner
• Child (aged 18 or older)
• Parent
• Sibling
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Next of kin
• Legal guardian (at the time of the decedent’s passing)
• Authorized representative

You can also justify accessing a copy of someone’s death certificate if you’re:

• An employee or representative of a government agency seeking a death certificate as part of your official duties
• An employee or agent of a funeral home or funeral service provider who is named in the decedent's record of death
• Someone who can demonstrate to the Oregon state registrar that you need a copy of someone’s death certificate to settle a matter that involves property or personal rights

The specific way in which you may go about proving that you have reason to obtain a copy of someone’s death certificate will depend on the nature of your relationship with them. In general, though, the Oregon Health Authority states that the agency will request some form of documentation indicating you had a relationship with the deceased that falls under one of the categories here. 

Plan accordingly when preparing to submit a request. For example, if you were the spouse of the deceased at the time of their passing, you may want to make copies of your official marriage documents before submitting a request for a death certificate copy.

Steps to Get an Original Death Certificate in Oregon

It’s unlikely that you will be able to obtain someone’s original death certificate in Oregon. This is because Oregon’s Vital Records office needs to keep the death certificate on file to make additional copies when other parties request them.

That said, the following section of this blog will explain how to acquire a certified copy of a death certificate. Per Oregon’s policies, if you place your request within six months of the time of someone’s death, you may be able to obtain the original copy of their death certificate. After six months, this will be much more difficult, and you will need to show a valid reason to illustrate why you need the original copy instead of a basic certified copy.

Steps to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Oregon

The cost for obtaining a copy of a death certificate in Oregon varies based on the way you decide to place your request. The FAQ section of this blog will cover the price of each method. Regardless of the method you choose, you should submit your payment in the form of a check or money order. Oregon’s Vital Records office does not accept cash.

The Oregon Vital Records office provides citizens with a number of ways to obtain certified copies of death certificates. They include the following:

Method 1: Order online

Ordering a copy of a death certificate via the internet is one of your most convenient options. To order a certified copy of a death certificate in Oregon online, start by heading to the VitalChek website. Once you’re there, follow these steps:

• Choose a death certificate from the list of records the website offers
• Choose Oregon from the map of states which allow citizens to order records through VitalChek
• Select the city where the death occurred
• Provide the date when the individual whose death certificate you’re seeking passed away
• Choose from a list of reasons for needing a death certificate
• Choose the format in which you would like to receive the certified copy of a death certificate, as well as the shipping option

Again, VitalChek will require you to provide some form of documentation demonstrating your relationship with the deceased. The company’s team will evaluate your request and determine if you have a right to obtain a copy of a death certificate.

Method 2: Call

You can call VitalChek at 1-888-896-4988 to obtain a death certificate in Oregon. Before doing so, prepare by gathering record information. You will also need to provide your Social Security number and date of birth.

VitalChek may also require you to provide a scanned or faxed copy of a valid ID. The company’s fax number is 1-888-825-3805. According to the Oregon Health Authority, “In some cases, power of attorney, proof of legal guardianship, proof of change of name, or proof of relationship may be required.”

Method 3: Order via mail

You can order a death certificate in Oregon via traditional mail by sending the following documents to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland OR 97293:

• A completed order form that includes all the record information you would provide if you were to order a copy over the phone
• A photocopy of a valid ID
• Your signature

As per usual, you might also need to provide documentation proving the nature of your relationship with the deceased. If you are unsure of what type of documentation you may need to include, the office of Oregon Vital Records will inform you accordingly.

Method 4: Drop off your order 

If you live in or near Portland, you can drop off your death certificate request documents at the Vital Records Office’s drop box. The location of the drop box is 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, 97293.

You must submit all the documentation you would submit if you were to place an order via traditional mail when ordering a copy of a death certificate through the drop box. Again, the FAQ section of this guide will cover the cost of placing a request.

Method 5: Order in person

You may also request a copy of someone’s death certificate by visiting Oregon’s Vital Records Office in person. The address for the office is:

800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 205,
Portland, OR 97232

When placing your order you must bring all the record information linked in the section of this blog on ordering a death certificate over the phone, as well as a valid ID.

You will also likely need to provide your Social Security number. You might also have to take a short quiz to verify your identity.

Frequently Asked Questions: Death Certificates in Oregon

Hopefully, this guide has helped you better understand how to obtain a death certificate in Oregon. If you have additional questions about this topic, the following points may address them:

How much does it cost to order a death certificate in Oregon?

The cost of ordering a death certificate in Oregon can vary depending on how you place the order. For example, if you place an order online, you must pay a $43.25 nonrefundable fee. If you order by phone, the nonrefundable fee is $44.95. You must also pay an additional $25.00 for each copy of the death certificate if you order multiple copies.

The nonrefundable fee for an order you place via traditional mail is $25.00. Again, each extra copy costs another $25.00. The same fee system applies if you order via the drop box.

If you place an order for a death certificate in person, the nonrefundable fee is $28.00. You will also have to pay a $3.00 security fee for identity verification purposes. If you request extra copies of a death certificate, each additional copy will cost you $25.00.

How long does it take to get a death certificate in Oregon?

The length of time it may take to fulfill your request for a copy of a death certificate in Oregon will depend to some extent on your method of requesting one. That said, unless anyone discovers an issue that could suggest you do not have a legal right to obtain a copy of someone’s death certificate, Oregon’s Vital Records Office (also known as the Oregon Center for Health Statistics) will typically process your request fairly quickly. 

If you need a copy of a death certificate sooner rather than later, you may also pay extra to have the order expedited. 

Be aware that the length of time it takes to receive a copy of a death certificate in Oregon can vary substantially based on your method of requesting one. For example, if you place an order in person, you can expect the office to process your request within half an hour.

If you place an order via the drop box or mail, it can take five to seven business days for the office to process your order. If you need a copy of a death certificate fast, consider this when deciding how to request one.

Are death certificates in Oregon public record?

Death certificates become public record in Oregon 50 years after the death has occurred. Before then, the only individuals and parties who have the legal right to access a death certificate are those mentioned in this guide.

Obtaining a Death Certificate in Oregon: A Range of Methods

Whether you need to send a notification of death letter to credit bureaus, send an IRS death notification, or otherwise fulfill your executor duties, if you need to obtain someone’s death certificate in Oregon, there are many ways you can do so. Just remember to prepare accordingly by gathering all the documentation you’ll need, first.

Sources:

1. “The Oregon Death Certificate.” DHS Forms, Oregon Health Authority, January 2018. sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us
2. “Eligibility to Order Vital Records.” Order Vital Records, Oregon Health Authority, 2021. oregon.gov