Oregon Marriage Records

Oregon began statewide recording of marriages in 1911, when the State Board of Health standardized filing across all counties. Before this, individual counties kept marriage records dating back to 1855. Recent data shows that Oregon's marriage rate is slightly lower than the national average. The state reports a marriage rate of 5.8 marriages per 1,000 residents, about 6% lower than the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Oregon marriage records contain all the legal documents created when couples apply for and solemnize their weddings under Oregon law. Oregon marriage records comprise marriage licenses and marriage certificates.

• Marriage Licenses: A marriage license is a permit issued by the county clerk's office granting two individuals legal permission to get married. Marriage licenses obtained before a wedding ceremony contain information about the person getting married. A typical marriage license issued in Oregon includes details such as the names of both parties, their date of birth, gender, current addresses, application date, license number, and expiry date.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is the official record of the marriage, created when the officiant returns the marriage license to the clerk of court after the wedding ceremony. Marriage certificates, issued after the wedding, contain information about the wedding, such as the couple's full names, officiant's signature, witness names, certificate number, and the signature and seal of the issuing officer. Marriage certificates form part of the couple's permanent legal record.

Oregon further issues two main types of marriage certificates -certified copies of marriage records and commemorative marriage records. The certified copy is the official copy of the document containing security features, such as an embossed seal or issuing officer's signature, guaranteeing its authenticity and preventing forgery. Certified marriage records are valid for legal purposes.

The commemorative marriage records are less detailed than the certified copy. It is a decorative rather than legal document, lacking the security features contained in the certified marriage record. Commemorative marriage records are best suited for personal use and genealogical research.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Oregon?

You may order certified copies of marriage records from the following agencies:

• The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Vital Statistics Office provides access to certified copies of marriage certificates issued in the state from 1911 to date.
• To obtain marriage licenses and marriage records before 1911, the County Clerk of Court Office provides access to the documents.

You may order marriage certificates by mail, online, or in person at the OHA Vital Statistics Office. Online requests for marriage certificates are via a trusted third-party service, which typically charges a fee to process the requests. Persons purchasing the record in person or by mail may complete the Marriage Certificate Application form. Mail the record request to:

Or use the drop box location for walk-in requests at:

Oregon marriage licenses and older marriage certificates are accessible at the specific county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. Most counties provide marriage record request forms on their website and allow submitting the record request in person or by mail. Similarly, marriage certificates older than 50 years are accessible at the Oregon State Archives.

All requests for Oregon marriage records may include the following:

• The full name of the couple
• The marriage date
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• The stipulated fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Oregon?

Marriage records are not immediately public records in Oregon. Marriage records are closed to the public for a predetermined number of years from the marriage date. During this time, only authorized individuals may access certified copies.

Generally, certified marriage records are restricted to the couple named on the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and persons with a court order. Once the record passes the threshold set by the state, the marriage record becomes open to the public.

How Much Do Oregon Marriage Records Cost?

Persons who order marriage records by mail from the OHA Vital Statistics Office pay $25 to obtain the document. Walk-in requests at the State Vital Records Office are charged $28 to get the marriage certificate. Additional copies of all record requests cost $25.

County clerks' issued certificate copies of marriage certificates vary by jurisdiction. On average, expect to pay around $7 for the first certified copy when ordering directly from the county.

The standard processing time for online requests for marriage records is 3 business days, while marriage certificates requested by mail take around 5 - 7 weeks. The state Vital Records Office does not provide expedited service for marriage record requests. However, persons who schedule an appointment with the OHA Vital Statistics Office during business hours may obtain the record within 30 minutes.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Oregon?

No. There is no statutory mechanism to purchase confidential marriage licenses or obtain a confidential marriage certificate in Oregon. While the state restricts access to marriage records for a predetermined period, the records are still accessible by eligible persons, which is not the case in confidential marriages, where only the couple may access the document.

Similarly, while some states permit the sealing of marriage records, Oregon does not have a legal provision for couples to petition to seal or restrict access to their marriage certificates.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Oregon Marriage Records?

You may need to confirm the legitimacy of your marriage records in Oregon for visa applications, legal processes, including divorce, name changes, or inheritance claims, obtaining financial benefits, such as tax filing, insurance coverage, or Social Security, conducting family history research, and confirming marital status for legal purposes.

You may verify the authenticity of your Oregon marriage record at the county clerk's office, where the marriage license was obtained, and the OHA Vital Records Section. Generally, an authenticated Oregon marriage record includes security elements that confirm its authenticity. Usually, it includes a raised and embossed seal of the issuing office, an authorized signature validating the document, a unique identifier for tracking the record, and a timestamp showing when the copy was generated. Certified marriage records are typically printed on intaglio banknote paper with watermarks. The border and Oregon seal should have a rough feel to prevent easy duplication of the document.

Can I Find Oregon Marriage Records Online for Free?

You may access old and new Oregon marriage records online for free through non-governmental sources. FamilySearch.org offers extensive collections of Oregon marriage licenses and certificates from 1851 to 1975. It also provides access to name indexes of marriage records from 1853 to 1935.

Ancestry.com provides a comprehensive database of Oregon marriage records from 1849 to 1967 and marriage indexes with spouses' names and marriage dates from 1906 to 2009. Oregon State Archives maintains historical marriage records. They provide free access to marriage records, especially those over 50 years old.

Third-party platforms, like PublicRecords.us,offer access to a comprehensive database of marriage indexes. The web tool aggregates public records from multiple government and non-governmental sources and provides access to basic marriage indexes. Detailed access may require a minimal fee.

What Is Required to Get an Oregon Marriage License?

To legally get married in Oregon, intending couples must submit appropriate documentation and comply with state requirements. These typically include:

• Both parties must apply in person
• The intending couple must be 18 and older. 17 years may get married with parental consent and court approval
• Provide a valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of prior marriage dissolution or a death certificate if either party was previously married
• The fees

The marriage license fee differs by county. In Oregon, it typically costs between $60 to $75 to purchase marriage licenses. There is a three-day waiting period after the issuance of the marriage license before the couple may conduct their wedding ceremony. After the license goes into effect, it is valid for 60 days. If the wedding is not undertaken within the period, the license becomes invalid.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Oregon?

Yes. You may amend your Oregon marriage license and certificate if there are typos, transposed letters, data-entry mistakes, missing middle names, incorrect surnames, incorrect dates, omissions, and clerical mistakes.

Generally, all amendments to marriage records require documentation, such as a hospital record, birth certificate, or valid government-issued photo ID that supports the correct information. In cases involving substantive changes, such as altering the date to reflect a different year or adding new parties, a court order is required to effect such amendments.

Amending the Oregon Marriage License

To amend your Oregon marriage license before the marriage ceremony, contact the county clerk's office that issued the original marriage license. Submit a written request detailing the error and the correct information. Amendment requests may be submitted by mail, email, or in person, depending on the county.

Most counties amend marriage licenses for free if the record is noticed before the wedding ceremony. However, if the license has already been returned to the clerk's office, a $20 fee may apply.

Amending the Oregon Marriage Certificate

To amend your Oregon marriage certificate, contact the local county clerk's office that issued the marriage license. Submit an amendment request to the clerk's office. Oregon's law requires all amendment requests to be accompanied by a signed affidavit detailing the incorrect data on the current record and the correct information as it should appear. Also, include a copy of the original certificate containing the error.

Once the county clerk approves the amendment, they forward the corrected document to the Oregon Vital Records Office to update its official records, which will issue the replacement certificates. If you are amending your marriage record within one year of issuance, you may exchange your certificate for the amended copy free of charge. After one year, a standard fee of at least $20, depending on the county, applies.