Search Oregon Marriage Records
Oregon marriage records are public documents kept by the county clerk in each of the 36 counties and by the Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics. County clerks hold marriage licenses and certificates filed in their offices. The state vital records office keeps marriage certificates from 1911 to the present. You can search Oregon marriage records online, by mail, or in person at courthouses and clerk offices across the state. This guide covers how to find, request, and obtain marriage records throughout Oregon.
Oregon Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Oregon Marriage Records
Oregon has two main sources for marriage records. The county clerk in each of the 36 counties stores marriage licenses and returns filed in that jurisdiction. These files include the license application, the signed marriage license, and the return completed by the officiant after the ceremony. The county clerk keeps these records and can provide certified copies. You can visit the clerk office in person or call to ask about search options for Oregon marriage records.
The Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics maintains marriage certificates statewide. A certified copy from the state confirms that a marriage took place and includes basic facts: the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and the county where the license was issued. The Center for Health Statistics holds records from 1911 to the present. You can order certified copies online, by mail, or in person at their Portland office at 800 NE Oregon Street. The first certified copy costs $25 in Oregon.
Note: Marriage certificates from the Center for Health Statistics contain less detail than the full marriage license and return filed with the county clerk in Oregon.
Oregon Marriage Record Access Rules
Marriage records in Oregon are not fully open to the public. Under ORS 432.295, marriage records are confidential for 50 years from the date of registration. Records less than 50 years old can only be obtained by certain people. Those who qualify include the person named on the record, a spouse, an immediate family member, a legal guardian, a legal representative, a government agency acting in its official role, or someone with a court order.
Records older than 50 years are public. Anyone can request them. The Oregon State Archives holds a large collection of historical marriage records dating back to 1849. Their index covers more than 600,000 names from 1849 to 1935. You can search the Oregon Historical Records Index online for free. The Archives research room in Salem is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Under ORS 432.350, the state must preserve vital records through microfilm and electronic backup systems. This ensures Oregon marriage records remain safe and available for future generations. Security protocols and audit trails protect the records from unauthorized access.
How to Search Marriage Records in Oregon
Oregon provides several ways to look up marriage records. Online tools are the fastest. In-person visits work best when you need certified copies or want to look at the full file. Both are open to qualified requestors across Oregon.
The Oregon State Archives offers a free online search through the Oregon Historical Records Index. This covers marriage records from 1849 to 1935. You can search by name, county, or date range. Results show the names of both spouses, the marriage date, the county, and a volume and page reference. Use that reference to request the full record from the county clerk or to view the microfilm at the Archives in Salem. The Archives is located at 800 Summer St NE, Salem, OR 97310. Call (503) 373-0701 for help with your search of Oregon marriage records.
Several genealogy databases also hold Oregon marriage records. Ancestry.com has collections including the Oregon Marriage Index from 1906 to 2008 and county marriage records from 1851 to 1975. A subscription is required. FamilySearch offers free access to over one million indexed Oregon marriage records from 1906 to 1968, covering 27 counties. They also have an index of 770,000 entries from 1849 to 1884 and 1991 to 2006, plus 449,000 images of county marriage records from 1851 to 1975.
To search Oregon marriage records, you typically need:
- Full name of at least one spouse
- Approximate date of the marriage
- County where the license was issued
You can also search in person at any county clerk office in Oregon. Go to the county where the marriage took place. Staff can help you find records and make copies. Most clerks charge a small fee for copies. Certified copies cost $7.75 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy in most Oregon counties.
Oregon Marriage License Process
Getting a marriage license in Oregon starts at the county clerk office. You can apply in any of the 36 counties regardless of where you live. No residency requirement exists for the license itself. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo ID. Most counties now offer an online application you can fill out before your visit. The Oregon State Bar provides a helpful guide to marriage laws in the state.
Oregon law sets the minimum age at 18 without consent. A 17-year-old can marry with parental or guardian consent. Both parents must sign a consent form at the time of the license application. No one under 17 can marry in Oregon. First cousins and nearer kin cannot marry under state law. Common law marriage is not recognized in Oregon. Proxy marriages are not permitted. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Oregon since May 19, 2014.
After you apply, there is a 3-day waiting period before the license takes effect. Some counties waive this for a small fee or at the clerk's discretion. The license stays valid for 60 days from the effective date. The ceremony must take place in Oregon. Two witnesses and an authorized officiant are required. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the county clerk within five days. That completed license becomes the official marriage record in Oregon.
Marriage Record Fees in Oregon
Fees vary by county and by the type of record you need. Marriage license fees range from $50 to $60 across Oregon counties. The waiting period waiver fee is usually $5 to $25, though some counties charge nothing. Payment methods differ by county. Some accept cash only. Others take checks, money orders, or credit cards.
Certified copies of marriage records cost $7.75 for the first copy in most counties. Each additional copy is $4.00 when ordered at the same time. Ordering from the Center for Health Statistics costs $25 for the first certified copy and $20 for each additional copy of the same record. Online orders through VitalChek include a processing fee of $12.95 to $18.50 plus shipping. Rush service adds $30 on top of the base fee for state orders.
Note: Fees can change at any time, so contact the county clerk or the Center for Health Statistics to confirm current costs before ordering Oregon marriage records.
Historical Marriage Records in Oregon
Oregon has a rich collection of historical marriage records going back to 1849, before statehood. Early records often include just the names of the bride and groom, the date, and the officiant. Later records from the 1800s added residences, ages, witness names, and parent information. These older records are valuable for genealogy research across Oregon.
The Oregon Historical Society in Portland holds church marriage records, early territorial records, manuscript collections, and wedding photographs. Their research library is located at 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Admission for research is free. They also have Portland city directories useful for tracking married couples and newspaper collections with marriage announcements from across Oregon.
The Ancestry Oregon marriage collections include records from as early as 1773. FamilySearch offers free image browsing of county marriage records from 1851 to 1975, showing the original documents with all handwritten details. These images include marriage licenses, certificates, returns, and affidavits filed in Oregon counties over more than a century.
What Oregon Marriage Records Show
The information on a marriage record depends on when it was created. Modern Oregon marriage records contain detailed information about both parties. A current marriage license application asks for full legal names, dates of birth, birthplaces, Social Security numbers, current addresses, race and ethnicity, previous marital status, parents' full names, and parents' birthplaces. After the ceremony, the record adds the date and location of the marriage, the officiant's name and credentials, and the names of two witnesses.
Historical records from the 1800s are simpler. Many show only the names, date, and officiant. By the late 1800s, Oregon records began including ages, residences, birthplaces, occupations, and parent names. The Oregon State Archives index cards use both groom and bride indexes with cross-references for variant spellings. Knowing what each time period includes helps you plan your search for Oregon marriage records.
How to Get Copies of Oregon Marriage Records
You can get copies through several channels. For marriage certificates from the Center for Health Statistics, order online through VitalChek for the fastest service. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days plus shipping. Mail your request to PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293-0050 with both names, the marriage date, the county, and your payment. Mail requests take 2 to 4 weeks. Walk-in service is available at 800 NE Oregon Street in Portland, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (971) 673-1190 with questions about Oregon marriage records.
For the full marriage license and return, contact the county clerk where the license was issued. You can request copies in person or by mail at most offices. You need the names of the parties and the approximate date. The clerk can search the records and provide certified copies for a fee. Many counties now offer online ordering for certified copies of Oregon marriage records.
For genealogy research on records over 50 years old, the Oregon State Archives is a free resource. Visit their research room in Salem or search online. FamilySearch also provides free access to many Oregon marriage record images. The Oregon Historical Society and local historical societies hold additional collections that may include church records, wedding photos, and newspaper announcements related to Oregon marriages.
Browse Oregon Marriage Records by County
Each county in Oregon has its own clerk office that issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for marriage records in that area.
Marriage Records in Major Oregon Cities
Residents of major cities get marriage licenses at their county clerk office. Pick a city below to learn about marriage records in that area.