Get certified Oregon Death Certificates

Oregon does not issue death certificates for individuals who die on U.S. military bases overseas. In such cases, if the deceased’s parents held U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Department of State records the death. To request this document, you must contact the U.S. Department of State and obtain a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA or form DS-5542).

An officially certified death certificate from the Oregon Health Authority will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue. Still, it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at death. Official death certificates from Oregon typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar's signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The OHA issues these certificates to state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

Oregon death certificates are crucial legal documents that serve as the official proof of a person's passing. They are essential for various purposes, especially legal, financial, and personal matters. Following a death, these vital records are necessary for managing financial affairs, filing benefit claims, verifying information with institutions, settling estates, and accessing benefits from government agencies.

Death certificates are often helpful or required for:

Settling Estates

Claiming Pension and Retirement Benefits

Marriage and Divorce Finalization

Genealogy and Historical Research

Claiming Life Insurance

Managing Accounts at Financial Institutions

Making Funeral and Burial Arrangements

Tax Filings

Claiming Social Security and Government Benefits

Handling Property Mortgage, and Real Estate Matters

Enrolling in school

The process for amending an Oregon death certificate varies depending on the type of changes required. By law, the original record cannot be altered; an addendum is created to document the corrections. Corrections for missing information or typographical errors on a death record are typically submitted by the funeral director or the informant listed on the record within the year following the date of death. Only the certifying physician or medical examiner is authorized to change or correct the cause of death information on the record. Most corrections can be submitted electronically by the funeral director or the medical certifier.

To correct or amend a death certificate, you will typically need to provide the following:

1. Complete the following form: Fill out and notarize an Affidavit to Correct a Death Record form.
2. Supporting documentation: Varies by the changes being requested.
3. The appropriate fee(s): The correction/amendment fee is $35.00 for each copy of the amended record is $25.00, and an additional $30.00 to expedite. There are discount options listed on the Affidavit to Correct a Death Record.

Apostilles may be ordered from the Oregon Secretary of State by mail or with Vital Records Online (VRO) only.

You need an apostille when you file documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of vital records for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for death certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Oregon office of the Secretary of State, you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of the death certificate, with the original signature and seal;
2. Complete the Request for Apostille Form.
3. A payment of a $10.00 fee per document check or money order made payable to the Corporations Division. Credits are also accepted forms of payment.

Submit your request to the Oregon Secretary of State at the following addresses:

In-person:

By Mail:

Ensure that you indicate the country to which the document will be submitted.