Multnomah County Obituary Searches

Multnomah County obituary records cover the largest population base in Oregon. The county seat is Portland, and more than 800,000 people call this county home. Death records here go back well over a century. Obituary notices from Portland newspapers have long served as primary sources for family history. The vital records office, the Multnomah County Library, and state archives all hold key death record collections. With so many resources in one area, Multnomah County is a strong place to start any obituary search in Oregon.

Multnomah County Death Certificates and Vital Records

The Multnomah County vital records office is at 847 NE 19th Ave, Suite 350, Portland, OR 97232. You can call 503-988-3745 or email vitals@multco.us. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in visitors can get same-day service for death certificate requests.

When a death takes place in Multnomah County, the death certificate stays at the county level for six months. After that, it transfers to the Oregon Health Authority. The fee for a certified copy is $25. Online orders through the county portal add a $7 processing fee. You have three ways to order: online, by mail, or in person at the Portland office.

Under ORS 432.380, Oregon limits who can get a certified death certificate. Close family members, legal representatives, and those with a direct and tangible interest qualify. Anyone else can request an informational copy from Multnomah County. These copies carry a stamp that marks them as not valid for legal use, but they hold the same facts.

The Multnomah County vital records portal lets you start an order online.

Use this portal to begin a death certificate request for Multnomah County online.

Multnomah County Obituary Records and Certificates

The main page for birth and death services in Multnomah County has full details on what you need to bring and how the process works. This page covers fees, forms, and ID rules. It also explains the six-month window during which the county holds death records before they move to the state.

This page lists all the steps for getting a death certificate in Multnomah County.

For deaths that took place more than six months ago, you can order from the Oregon Health Authority. The state holds death records from 1903 to the present. You can also use VitalChek for online orders. The state fee is $25 per copy. VitalChek adds a service charge on top of that for Multnomah County and all other Oregon counties.

Note: Walk-in requests at the Multnomah County office in Portland can be processed the same day. Mail and online orders may take longer.

Historical Obituary Research in Multnomah County

Multnomah County has some of the richest obituary research resources in the state. The sheer size of Portland means that thousands of death notices have been printed in local papers over the past 150 years. The Oregonian newspaper, one of the oldest daily papers on the West Coast, is a prime source for obituary records from Multnomah County.

The Multnomah County Library holds the Oregon Deaths Index, which covers deaths from 1903 to 1996. This index is a free tool for anyone doing death record research. It lists names, dates, and county of death. You can use it to confirm facts before you order a full certificate. The library also holds the Oregonian newspaper collection, which includes decades of published obituary notices from Portland and the rest of Multnomah County.

Coroner's records for Multnomah County from 1894 to 1923 are another strong resource. These records list cause of death, age, and other facts that may not appear in a standard obituary. Portland Deaths from 1915 to 1924 are also available through Ancestry for those with a subscription. The Historic Oregon Newspapers site has scanned copies of many old papers from across the state, and Multnomah County papers are well represented.

Portland has 92 cemeteries. Burial records from these sites can fill gaps when no death certificate or obituary notice exists. Cemetery offices keep logs of who is buried where, and many of these records have been put online by volunteers.

Multnomah County Records at the State Archives

The Oregon State Archives holds historic records from Multnomah County that span many decades. These include court files, vital records, and other county documents. The archives is located in Salem and can be reached at 503-373-0701.

A detailed inventory of Multnomah County records at the archives is online.

Check this page to see what Multnomah County death records and vital records are held in Salem.

The Portland Archives and Records Center, known as PARC, is another local resource. PARC holds city records that may tie into obituary research. These include old city death registers and health department files from Portland. The Oregon Historical Society at 1200 SW Park Ave in Portland also keeps collections that touch on death records and local history in Multnomah County.

Genealogy Tools for Multnomah County Obituary Searches

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is based in Portland and holds more than 60,000 items in its collection. These include obituary clippings, death indexes, cemetery records, and family files. The forum is open to visitors and has staff who can help with Multnomah County obituary research. Volunteers have spent years indexing obituary notices from Oregon newspapers, and their databases cover a wide range of Multnomah County deaths.

Free online indexes are also available. The Ancestor Hunt lists free death record sources by state and county. The ONGenealogy site has links to Oregon death records that cover Multnomah County data. These tools can help you find a death record or obituary notice without paying a fee.

• Search the Oregon Deaths Index at the Multnomah County Library
• Check Oregonian newspaper archives for published obituary notices
• Visit the Genealogical Forum of Oregon in Portland
• Look up cemetery records from Portland's 92 cemeteries
• Use PARC for old city death registers

Note: The Genealogical Forum of Oregon has set hours for visitors. Check their site before you go to the Portland location.

How to Order Multnomah County Death Records

There are three main ways to order a death certificate from Multnomah County. Each method has its own timeline and cost.

In person is the fastest option. Go to 847 NE 19th Ave, Suite 350, in Portland. Bring a valid photo ID. Fill out the form and pay the $25 fee. Same-day processing is available for walk-in visitors. Staff will check your eligibility and hand you the certified copy on the spot in most cases.

Online orders go through the Multnomah County vital records portal. The fee is $25 plus a $7 online processing charge. You will need to upload a photo of your ID and fill out the request form. Allow extra time for mailing. This is a good option if you cannot visit Portland.

Mail orders can be sent to the vital records office at 847 NE 19th Ave, Suite 350, Portland, OR 97232. Include a completed request form, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for $25 payable to Multnomah County. Mail orders take the longest to process.

When you order, you need the full name of the deceased, the date of death or a year range, and your relationship to the person. State why you need the record. If you do not qualify for a certified copy under Oregon law, you can still get an informational copy of the Multnomah County death record.

Nearby Counties

Multnomah County borders Washington County, Clackamas County, Columbia County, and Hood River County. If you are not sure where a death took place, check the place of death on the certificate or the obituary notice. Each county clerk handles death record requests for their own area.