Marriage Records in Clackamas County
Clackamas County marriage records are held by the County Clerk office in Oregon City. The office handles new marriage license applications and keeps copies of all past marriage records for the county. Clackamas County is one of the largest counties in Oregon and borders the Portland metro area. The clerk office serves couples who want to marry and people who need copies of existing marriage records. Oregon City is the county seat, and the clerk office there is the central point for all Clackamas County marriage license services and record requests.
Clackamas County Clerk Marriage Services
The Clackamas County Clerk office at 1710 Red Soils Court in Oregon City issues marriage licenses. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and on Friday from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Note the shorter hours on Friday. Both parties must come in person to apply for a Clackamas County marriage license.
Clackamas County has a specific payment policy you should know about. The office accepts cash, certified checks, and money orders only. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted for marriage license services. Plan ahead and bring the right form of payment to avoid a wasted trip. The Clackamas County recording office website has more details on current requirements and fees for marriage licenses.
There is no residency requirement to get a marriage license in Clackamas County. Couples from anywhere can apply. However, the ceremony must take place in Oregon. Under ORS 432.295, the state sets rules on how marriage records are kept and who can access them. Clackamas County follows these rules for all of its marriage records.
| Office |
Clackamas County Clerk 1710 Red Soils Court Oregon City, OR 97045 Phone: (503) 655-8551 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon-Thu 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Fri 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM |
| Website | co.clackamas.or.us/recording/marriage |
Online Marriage License Application for Clackamas County
Clackamas County offers an online marriage license application. You fill it out at home before your visit. Go to the Clackamas County online application page to get started. Once you submit the form, both parties must appear at the clerk office within 30 days to complete the process. If you do not show up within 30 days, the application expires.
The online form asks for names, dates of birth, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. It also asks for parent information. Fill everything out carefully. Any errors will slow things down at the Clackamas County Clerk office. When you visit, bring your photo ID and payment. The clerk will review the application with you and issue the license if all looks correct. Oregon's three-day waiting period then starts. Clackamas County offers a waiting period waiver for those who need it.
The image below shows the Clackamas County Historical Society, a resource for researching older marriage records in the county.
The Clackamas County Historical Society works to preserve the county's history, including vital records and documents.
Clackamas County Marriage Record Copies
After your marriage is recorded in Clackamas County, you can order certified copies. The process takes 7 to 10 business days after the signed license is returned to the clerk. Certified copies of Clackamas County marriage records carry the official seal and are accepted for legal purposes.
Most people need certified copies of their Clackamas County marriage record for name changes, bank accounts, insurance, or other legal matters. The clerk office in Oregon City processes all requests. You can visit in person or contact the office by phone. Each copy has a small fee. The Clackamas County Clerk can tell you the current cost when you call at (503) 655-8551. Make sure to ask how long it will take, as processing times can vary based on how busy the office is.
Note: Certified copies are not available until the signed marriage license has been returned to the Clackamas County Clerk and processed.
Historical Marriage Records in Clackamas County
Clackamas County is one of the original counties in Oregon. Marriage records here go back to the mid-1800s. The clerk office holds these records and can search them for you. Older records may be in bound volumes or on microfilm. Genealogy researchers often visit the Clackamas County Clerk office to look up marriage records for family history projects.
The Clackamas County Historical Society is also a valuable resource. They have local history collections that include documents, photos, and other materials from across Clackamas County. Their staff can help guide your research. For very old records, the Oregon Health Authority keeps state-level marriage records from 1906 to the present. The Oregon State Archives may have even older marriage records from Clackamas County in their collection.
Oregon law sets the rules for accessing vital records. Under ORS 432.295, marriage records become public after 50 years. Before that, access is restricted to the people named in the record and certain authorized parties. Clackamas County follows these rules for all marriage records in its files. The Oregon State Bar has more on how Oregon marriage law works, which can be useful for Clackamas County residents.
Clackamas County Marriage Ceremonies and Filing
Once you have your Clackamas County marriage license, you have 60 days to hold the ceremony. Any authorized officiant can perform the marriage. After the ceremony, the officiant and two witnesses sign the license. The signed license must be returned to the Clackamas County Clerk for recording.
Clackamas County covers a large area south and east of Portland. It includes cities like Lake Oswego, West Linn, Milwaukie, and Gladstone. No matter where in the county your ceremony takes place, the marriage record is filed with the Clackamas County Clerk in Oregon City. The office processes these records and makes them available for future requests. All Clackamas County marriage records are kept at the clerk office for the long term.
Many couples choose Clackamas County for outdoor weddings. The area has forests, rivers, and mountain views. Mount Hood is partly in Clackamas County. Whether you marry at a park, a vineyard, or a church, the record goes to the same place. The Clackamas County Clerk is the official keeper of all marriage records for the county.
Note: The officiant is responsible for returning the signed license to the Clackamas County Clerk after the ceremony.
Nearby Counties
Clackamas County borders Multnomah County, Washington County, Marion County, Wasco County, and Hood River County. If you live near the border of two counties, check your address to confirm which county clerk you should visit for your marriage license.