How to Get a Death Certificate in Oregon

Getting a death certificate is one of the first practical steps after a death in Oregon, and the details of who issues it and what it costs are specific to Oregon.

Who issues death certificates in Oregon?

Certified copies come from the Oregon Health Authority’s Center for Health Statistics (Oregon Vital Records) and the county health departments. In practice, the funeral home usually files the certificate and orders an initial batch of certified copies for you.

How much does a certified copy cost in Oregon?

Oregon charges $25 for the initial record search and first certificate and $25 for each additional certificate, and the first $25 is non-refundable once the search is complete. Ordering through VitalChek adds vendor and shipping fees: the state’s fee page lists first-certificate totals from $28 to $49.20, depending on the order type.

Who can order a copy in Oregon?

Oregon limits who can order a death certificate for the first 50 years after the death. Eligible people include immediate family and others who can show the copy is necessary, such as for an insurance benefit claim. Siblings can order only the short “fact of death” form unless they provide documents supporting the long form, which shows the cause of death.

How do I order more copies in Oregon?

• At a county health department: for deaths within the past six months, county offices such as Deschutes and Clackamas issue certificates for deaths in their own county at $25 each. After six months, orders go through the state.
• From the state: the Oregon Center for Health Statistics takes mail and other orders; call 971-673-1190. Send the order form with a check or money order, ID, and any proof of eligibility.
• Online: through VitalChek, the state’s contracted vendor, which adds fees.

What else should I know before I order?

The state warns about third-party websites that sell certificates at high fees and recommends ordering only from the Center for Health Statistics, your county health department, or VitalChek.

What should I do next?

Confirm with the funeral home how many copies it is ordering for you, then decide how many more you need; see how many death certificates you need in Oregon and our general guide to death certificates.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your Social Security number, birthplace, and parents’ full names - the death certificate application asks for these, and they’re often surprisingly hard for a family to track down under pressure.

Fees and rules change - confirm current details with Oregon Vital Records or your county health department before you send payment.