Clackamas County Death Records

Clackamas County death records and obituary records are held by several offices in Oregon. The county seat is Oregon City, one of the oldest cities in the state. Clackamas County has a public health department that handles death certificates and other vital records. Whether you need a certified copy of a death certificate or want to search old obituary notices, Clackamas County offers multiple ways to find records. This page covers each option and walks you through the steps to search obituary and death records in Clackamas County.

Clackamas County Death Certificates

Clackamas County Public Health handles death certificates for deaths that took place in the county. The office can issue certified copies for recent deaths within the six-month window before records move to the state. Oregon law under ORS 432.380 sets rules on who can get a certified death certificate. Close family, legal agents, and those with a direct need can get certified copies. Anyone else can request an informational copy from Clackamas County.

Clackamas County has a specific page on their website that explains how to get a death certificate. You can find the details at clackamas.us/how-to-get-a-death-certificate.

The Clackamas County death certificate page spells out what you need to bring, the fees, and the hours of the office. It is the best place to start if you need a recent death record from Clackamas County.

For deaths that took place more than six months ago, Clackamas County records transfer to the Oregon Health Authority. The state keeps death records from 1903 to the present day. You can order from the Center for Health Statistics at 800 NE Oregon Street in Portland or call 971-673-1190. The cost is $25 for each certified copy. Online orders can be placed through VitalChek at 888-896-4988 for Clackamas County death certificates.

Clackamas County Public Health and Vital Records

The Clackamas County Public Health Division manages vital records for the county. This office handles not just death certificates but also birth records and other vital documents. Their main office is in Oregon City, the Clackamas County seat.

You can learn more about the Clackamas County Public Health Division and its services at clackamas.us/publichealth.

The public health page for Clackamas County lists all the vital records services the office provides. Staff can guide you through the steps for any type of vital record request in Clackamas County.

When you visit the Clackamas County office, bring a valid photo ID. You will also need to fill out a request form and state why you need the death record. The staff will check your right to a certified copy under Oregon law. If you qualify, you can get the Clackamas County death certificate the same day in many cases. Processing by mail takes longer.

Note: Clackamas County death records stay at the county level for about six months, then they transfer to the state office in Portland.

Obituary Research in Clackamas County

Obituary records in Clackamas County go well beyond the official death certificate. Obituaries in local papers give you names, dates, and stories that state records do not hold. A Clackamas County obituary might tell you about a person's life in Oregon City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, or one of the many small towns in the county.

The Historic Oregon Newspapers site at oregonnews.uoregon.edu is a free resource with over 2.8 million pages of old Oregon papers. Many Clackamas County newspapers are part of this collection. You can search by name, date, or keyword to find obituary notices from Clackamas County going back decades. This is one of the best tools for genealogy work in Clackamas County.

Local libraries in Clackamas County also keep newspaper files. The Clackamas County Library system has branches across the county. Some hold microfilm copies of old papers. The Oregon City library is a good place to start for Clackamas County obituary research. Funeral homes in the county may have their own records too. If you know which firm handled the services, they may share details from the obituary or death record.

Clackamas County Records at Oregon State Archives

The Oregon State Archives in Salem stores historic records from Clackamas County. Their holdings include old vital records, probate files, and other county documents. The archives can be reached at 503-373-0701 or through sos.oregon.gov/archives.

Clackamas County has one of the largest collections at the state archives because it is one of the oldest counties in Oregon. The county was formed in 1843, and records from those early years may only exist at the state level now. You can view the full inventory of Clackamas County records at the state archives Clackamas County page.

The Clackamas County inventory at the archives lists every type of record they hold and the years covered. This includes death registers, burial records, and related vital records from Clackamas County. Checking this page before you visit or call can help you know if the obituary record you need is stored in Salem.

Note: Clackamas County was one of the first counties formed in Oregon, so the archives may hold records that go back to the 1840s.

Clackamas County Genealogy and Death Record Tools

Several online tools can help you find death records and obituary notices for Clackamas County. The Genealogical Forum of Oregon at gfo.org has indexes, guides, and a library in Portland that covers all Oregon counties, including Clackamas County. The Ancestor Hunt at theancestorhunt.com lists free death record sources by state and county.

Cemetery records are another strong tool for obituary research in Clackamas County. The county has dozens of cemeteries, from large ones in Oregon City and Lake Oswego to small rural plots in the foothills of Mount Hood. Many of these have been indexed by local groups. Cemetery records can show you names, birth dates, death dates, and sometimes links to obituary records for people buried in Clackamas County. These are especially helpful for deaths that took place before Oregon began tracking death records in 1903.

The Clackamas County Historical Society and the Museum of the Oregon Territory in Oregon City both hold local history files. These can include obituary clippings, photos, and family records that tie into death records from Clackamas County. A visit to either one can open up leads that online searches miss.

Public Records Law and Clackamas County

Oregon public records law under ORS 192.311 to 192.478 gives the public broad access to government records. Most records in Clackamas County offices are open. Obituary records from newspapers are fully public. Probate files tied to a death are also public in most cases.

Death certificates have special rules. Certified copies are only for those who qualify under ORS 432.380. But informational copies of Clackamas County death records are open to anyone. If you need a record and face a block, file a public records request with the Clackamas County clerk. The county must respond within the time set by Oregon law.

Nearby Counties

Clackamas County borders Multnomah County, Washington County, Marion County, Wasco County, and Hood River County. If you are not sure where a death took place, check the address to find the right county. Each county clerk handles obituary and death record searches for their own area. A death near a county line could be filed in either Clackamas County or the neighbor.