You may have your original Oregon birth certificate that your parents passed down to you or a more recent copy. If you lose your birth certificate or need one to apply for a driver’s license, open a bank account or get a passport, there’s no need to panic — the process is relatively painless.
Who Issues an Oregon Birth Certificate?
The first thing you need to know is who issues a birth certificate in Oregon. The correct department is Oregon Vital Records. You can order a certified copy of your birth certificate on the State of Oregon’s vital records website.
When you’re born in Oregon, the Center for Health Statistics is responsible for issuing a certified copy to vital records. The same department tracks marriages, divorces, and deaths. You can get certified copies of all your official documents through this agency.
How Much Does It Cost to Order a Birth Certificate in Oregon?
It’s relatively inexpensive to get a birth certificate in Oregon. You can expect to pay $20 for a nonrefundable fee for the first record that you order period this includes a $3 fee for security to verify your identity.
If you need extra copies or just want to have extra copies for your records, that’s no problem. Additional copies are $25 each and this cost applies to all records in vital statistics, including your birth certificate.
If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate, they’re available for 6 months from the time of birth. You can request a birth certificate through traditional mail or in person; the turn-around time is one day. The same timeframe applies to certified death certificates.
What If You Lose Your Birth Certificate?
You might have all your important papers put away under lock and key. Let’s say you decided to take a trip to Europe and go looking for your birth certificate. To your shock and dismay, it is not with your other important papers. In this case, you can get a replacement Oregon birth certificate. It’s important to keep in this paperwork handy as you need a birth certificate for many life events, including getting a driver’s license, applying for a marriage license, and other important instances.
To get a replacement birth certificate, you can simply apply online or in person. Be sure to ask what documentation you need to verify your identity and order the replacement birth certificate.
