Find Oregon Obituary Records
Oregon obituary records help families trace their roots and honor those who have passed. Death records in Oregon date back to 1903 and are held by county offices and the state Center for Health Statistics. You can search Oregon obituary notices through newspaper archives, vital records offices, and online databases. Whether you need a death certificate from a local county or want to look up an old obituary from a historic Oregon newspaper, several free and low cost options are open to the public across the state.
Oregon Obituary Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Oregon Obituary Records
Oregon has two main paths for finding obituary and death records. County health departments hold death certificates for six months after the date of death. After that window closes, all records transfer to the Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics in Portland. The state office keeps death records from 1903 to the present day. You can order a certified copy for $25 by mail, online, or in person at 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 205, Portland, OR 97232. Call 971-673-1190 for current hours. Under ORS 432.380, access to Oregon death records is limited to family members, legal representatives, and those with a direct personal or property right for 50 years after the date of death.
The eligibility rules for Oregon death certificates list who can order them. A current spouse, child over 18, parent, sibling, or grandparent may request a copy. Legal guardians and authorized agents also qualify. You need a valid photo ID and proof of your relationship. Short form death certificates do not show cause of death. Long form copies include that detail but are only given to those with a property right that needs it.
The state vital records office processes most Oregon death certificate orders within three business days by mail. In person orders at the Portland office take 30 minutes to one hour if you arrive before 3:30 p.m.
Note: The first $25 fee is not refundable once the search has been completed per Oregon administrative rules.
How to Search Obituary Records in Oregon
Several online tools make it possible to search Oregon obituary records from home. The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network gives access to court case records across all 36 counties. While courts do not hold obituary records directly, probate and estate cases often link to a death and can help confirm dates. Free public access terminals are also available at each circuit court location in Oregon.
For direct obituary searches, newspaper archives are the best source. You can also use the Oregon Death Index, which covers 1903 to 1998, through free online indexes. Start with a name and approximate date. Then check local newspaper records for the full obituary text. Many Oregon libraries offer Ancestry and HeritageQuest access at no charge to cardholders.
To search for Oregon obituary records you may need:
- Full name of the deceased
- Date or year of death
- County or city where death occurred
- Name of a surviving spouse or parent
Note: Obituaries are not required by law in Oregon so not every death will have a published notice.
Oregon Death Certificates
A death certificate is the official state record of a death in Oregon. It contains the full legal name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. Oregon began statewide death registration in 1903. The City of Portland holds older death records dating from 1862 to 1902. The CDC lists Oregon among states with complete vital records going back over a century.
You can order Oregon death certificates through VitalChek, the official online partner. VitalChek processes over 4 million vital documents each year and uses secure identity verification. Orders ship directly from the government agency. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Phone orders are also available 24 hours a day at 888-896-4988. Under ORS 432.993, giving false information on a vital records request is a felony in Oregon.
Each Oregon county maintains death certificates for only six months from the date of death. Some counties like Lane County use a slightly shorter window of five months and 28 days. After this period you must order from the state office in Portland.
Historic Oregon Newspapers for Obituary Research
The Historic Oregon Newspapers database is one of the best free tools for finding Oregon obituary notices. Run by the University of Oregon Libraries through the Oregon Digital Newspaper Program, it contains almost 2,800,000 pages from newspapers published between 1846 and 2025. The collection is full text searchable. You can type a name and find obituary notices, death announcements, and funeral details from papers across the state. New titles are added on a regular basis.
Many Oregon obituary researchers use this database as a starting point. It is free and does not need an account. Local papers like the Oregonian, East Oregonian, Hillsboro Argus, and Bend Bulletin are included. Search tips include trying name variations, checking dates seven days after a known death date, and looking in both the news section and paid notice section of each paper.
GenealogyBank also holds Oregon obituaries from 1980 to 2014, available through the Genealogical Forum of Oregon and some library systems. Newspapers.com has an Oregon stories and events index spanning the 1800s to current times.
Oregon State Archives Death Records
The Oregon State Archives in Salem holds historical death records and provides research help for genealogy. The archives has statewide death records from 1903 to 1955 and can provide non-certified copies of records more than 50 years old. Research appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 503-373-0701 to schedule a visit. The archives also maintains county record inventories for all 36 Oregon counties.
The genealogy section of the Oregon State Archives offers several tools. The Oregon Historical Records Index provides access to surname entries from selected records. The Early Oregonians Database contains over 105,500 entries for people who lived in Oregon before statehood through 1860. Territorial records include maps, agency histories, and county records. Under ORS 192.311 to 192.478, most government records in Oregon are open to public inspection.
Note: Death records become historic when 50 years have passed after the date of death in Oregon.
Oregon Genealogy and Obituary Resources
The Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland holds the world's largest collection of Oregon related materials. The library is free to visit. Hours are Tuesday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 1200 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205. Staff can help with obituary research using historical documents, photographs, and newspaper indexes. Call 503-306-5240 for information or email libreference@ohs.org. Advance material requests are accepted for in person visits.
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon operates the largest genealogical library in the Pacific Northwest with more than 60,000 holdings. Members get access to many popular subscription genealogy websites. The library is open four days a week and offers a robust calendar of workshops and classes. The Historic Columbian Cemetery Books are among the unique resources available for Oregon obituary research.
The OHS Digital Collections provide online access to selected photographs, documents, and artifacts from the Oregon Historical Society. These can supplement obituary research with images and context about communities across Oregon.
Oregon Death Record Indexes
Free online indexes make it easier to search for Oregon obituary records without visiting an office. The Ancestor Hunt lists free Oregon death records and indexes by county. Many of these link to FamilySearch collections that include county level death certificates, funeral registers, and vital records from the 1800s through the mid 1900s. Each county has different date ranges and record types available.
The Oregon Death Index covering 1903 to 1998 is available at FamilySearch for free. A separate index covering 1971 to 2008 is also available online. These indexes give you a name, date of death, and county. With that information you can then search newspaper archives for a full Oregon obituary or order a death certificate from the state office.
FamilySearch centers across Oregon provide free one on one help and access to premium genealogy websites. Multiple locations in Portland, Eugene, Salem, and other cities have microfilm readers and trained volunteers who can assist with Oregon obituary research.
Browse Oregon Obituary Records by County
Each of the 36 counties in Oregon maintains death records and can direct you to local obituary resources. Pick a county below to find contact details, local archives, and obituary search tools for that area.
Obituary Records in Major Oregon Cities
Residents of major cities use their county vital records office for death certificates. Pick a city below to learn about obituary records and local resources in that area of Oregon.