Learn Where an Oregon Marriage Certificate Is Filed

Are you searching the Internet for Oregon marriage certificates? You are in luck, because these records are indeed available. However, you must know that to receive your copy of the marriage certificates in the State of Oregon you must place a request with the state the county authorities.

Every Oregon marriage, including church marriages, must be registered under law. There was a time early on at the beginning of the 20th century when the state and the counties did not keep a record of any marriages happening in the state. This recordkeeping was however done by the church.

What Information Can You Expect to Find in the Marriage Certificates?

A marriage certificate should provide at a minimum the full names of the bride and the groom, date of the wedding, and name of the county where the marriage took place. In many records you will find much more information such as the names and the birthplaces of the bride's and groom's parents, addresses of bride and the groom, information on previous marriages if any, and even the names of those people who witnessed the ceremony. In some instances, even the name of the person who conducted the ceremony is mentioned.

Who Needs to Find a Marriage Certificate in Oregon?

There can be many needs for asking for a copy of the marriage certifictae in the State of Oregon. The most common reason is for genealogy research.

The fact is, we are all so busy today that we often do not have contact with our family members. Perhaps you have decided to map your own family tree and know of a person who came to the state, was married here and decided to settle down in Oregon. The marriage record can help you find more about the person and thus in your mapping of the family tree.

Some people even request a marriage record to check on a person whom they are about to get married to. They just want to be certain they know the truth before getting married.

Official Sources of Marriage Certificates in Oregon

The State of Oregon began maintaining marriage records from January 1st, 1906. All Oregon marriage records from earlier than this date are available at the Clerk's office of the county where the marriage took place.

Oregon’s State Archives in Salem holds vital records from 15 of its 36 counties: Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Douglas, Jackson, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah (which includes Portland), Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill. All are accessible from the state's Vital Records Bureau.

For Oregon marriage records, you will need to visit or write to the Oregon Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 205, P.O. Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293-0050. You can also call 503-731-4095 to place your request by a recorded message or 503-731-4108 to talk to a person and place your request. You may also fax your request to 503-234-8817.

Getting the Best Value for Your Certificate Request

When you are placing that request to receive your marriage certificate in the State of Oregon, do please remember the following:

You will need to make your request letter short and to the point. Do not confuse the authorities with avoidable details about the family’s connections. Also keep in mind that you should never place more than two requests in that letter.

Submit all the information you have about the marriage. For instance, include all the names a person may have been known by, alternate spellings if any, as well as any nicknames.

Be accurate about the date of marriage. If you do not know the exact date, you will need to provide an approximate time span that you want searched. Keep the span as tight as you can – a search through many years could be costly.

To prevent any confusion through misreading, it is always better to type or print all names and addresses.

There is absolutely no need to pay any fees in advance. First find out how much the document/s will cost. What you can usefully do instead is send a signed blank check and print "Not to exceed $__.00" (the maximum likely amount) preferably in red ink under the check's "$____" line.

You are better off if you write two letters instead of one. In the first, you should include your requirements, provide all relevant information, and ask about the charges you must pay. In the second, you should enclose your check for the exact amount. Never forget to enclose a stamped and self-addressed envelope.

Finally, try to be patient and courteous. These government offices are often short-staffed, and are facing huge numbers of requests at the same time. Though the office and the staff are willing to help you get the certificate that you need, but they do have other work to do, so you must never lose your patience. Show some understanding and they will greatly appreciate this.

Make Sure to Include These Details When Requesting an Oregon Marriage Certificate:

•    Your date of request
•    Husband’s full name (the last name ideally in caps just to be sure) and wife’s full name (maiden last name again in caps)
•    The marriage date and place of marriage (city or town, county, state)
•    Relationship to you
•    Purpose of request
•    Your name, signature & address
•    Your driver's license number & state may be required in some counties