Oklahoma ranks 48th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#22 (tie)of 51
Speed#48of 51
Ease of ordering#49of 51
Birth certificates #47 of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $15 each extra copy (online or by phone, add $5 for Oklahoma residents or $12.95 for others)
Processing time
Online: 1–2 business days; mail: at least 16 weeks, per the state FAQ (other state pages say about 4–6 weeks); in person: no walk-in; Will Call pickup about 2 business days after an online or phone order
Time until the copy is in hand
At least 16 weeks by mail, per the state FAQ (other state pages say about 4–6 weeks); online orders are much faster
Where to order
State vital records office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from October 1908
Marriage records #36 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Court Clerk in the county where the license was issued
Order online
No statewide online ordering
Divorce records #27 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted
Order online
No statewide online ordering
Death certificates #48 of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $15 each extra copy (online or by phone, add $5 for Oklahoma residents or $12.95 for others)
Processing time
Online: 1–2 business days; mail: at least 16 weeks, per the state FAQ (other state pages say about 4–6 weeks); in person: no walk-in; Will Call pickup about 2 business days after an online or phone order
Time until the copy is in hand
At least 16 weeks by mail, per the state FAQ (other state pages say about 4–6 weeks); online orders are much faster
Where to order
State vital records office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1908
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Oklahoma birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get an Oklahoma birth certificate?
A certified Oklahoma birth certificate costs $15 per copy from OSDH Vital Records, plus a $5 convenience fee for Oklahoma residents ($12.95 for non-residents) when you order online or by phone. Online and phone orders are processed in about 1–2 business days and can be picked up at Will Call; mail orders are much slower. There is no walk-in service.
Oklahoma birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Oklahoma birth records are confidential. The person named on the record, or a parent named on the record if the person is a minor, can order directly. Others (spouse, grandparent, adult child and so on) need a signed authorization from the person named plus a copy of that person’s ID. Legal representatives need proof such as a court order or client agreement. Births more than 125 years ago are open records.
Fee
$15 for each certified copy (a non-refundable search fee that includes one copy if the record is found; additional copies $15 each). Heirloom birth certificate: $35 (includes a standard certified copy). Online or phone (VitalChek): add a convenience fee of $5 for Oklahoma residents or $12.95 for non-residents; expedited shipping costs extra.
How to order
Online:VitalChek, OSDH’s authorized partner. Choose mail delivery or Will Call pickup. By phone: (405) 426-8880 (VitalChek). By mail:Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Certificate with a photo ID copy and a check or money order payable to “OSDH” to Vital Records Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, P.O. Box 248964, Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964. Will Call pickup (online and phone orders only): Oklahoma City, Tulsa or McAlester, Mon–Fri, noon–4:45 p.m. Bring photo ID and your order confirmation.
ID needed
A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID. If you have none, the person named can apply with one secondary ID plus a second person (the “attester”) who provides a primary photo ID. See the acceptable ID list.
Processing time
Online and phone: about 1–2 business days to process (Will Call pickup available). Mail: OSDH’s main page says about 4–6 weeks, but its FAQ says to allow at least 16 weeks for a mail order. Mail orders can’t be expedited. Estimate: order online or by phone; by mail, allow several months.
Older and local records
Oklahoma began filing birth records in October 1908; filing became mandatory in 1917, and records before about 1940 were not filed consistently. There are only a few delayed records for births before October 1908. The OK2Explore index lists births from 20 or more years ago.
Tip: Skip the mail. An online or phone order with Will Call pickup is usually ready in about two business days, versus weeks or months by mail.
A certified Oklahoma death certificate costs $15 per copy from OSDH Vital Records, plus a $5 convenience fee for Oklahoma residents ($12.95 for non-residents) online or by phone. Online and phone orders take about 1–2 business days and can be picked up at Will Call; mail orders take much longer.
Oklahoma death records: ordering details
Who can order
Death records are not open to the public for 50 years. Eligible: the surviving spouse, parent, child, grandparent, brother or sister, or legal guardian; the legal representative of the estate (with a court order); the funeral director; or someone who can prove a family relationship, holds a court order, co-owned property with the person, or is named in a will in probate. Deaths more than 50 years ago are open records.
Fee
$15 for each certified copy (non-refundable search fee). Online or phone orders through VitalChek add a $5 convenience fee for Oklahoma residents or $12.95 for non-residents; expedited shipping costs extra.
How to order
Online:VitalChek (mail delivery or Will Call pickup). By phone: (405) 426-8880. By mail:Application for Search and Certified Copy of Death Certificate with ID, proof of relationship if needed, and a check or money order to “OSDH” to Vital Records Service, P.O. Box 248964, Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964. Lobbies are closed to walk-ins.
ID needed
One primary photo ID, or two secondary IDs (if you use secondary IDs, the certificate must be mailed to the address on them). Include proof of relationship if you aren’t listed on the record. See the acceptable ID list.
Processing time
Online and phone: about 1–2 business days. Mail: OSDH pages give different figures, from about 6 weeks to “at least 16 weeks” for standard mail orders. Estimate: order online or by phone if you can.
Older and local records
Oklahoma began filing death records in October 1908; there are no state death records before 1908, and filing was not routine until the 1940s. The OK2Explore index lists deaths from five or more years ago.
Tip: Researching family history? Deaths more than 50 years ago are open records: send the application, fee and a copy of your photo ID, with no proof of relationship needed. Search OK2Explore first to confirm the record is on file.
Certified copies of Oklahoma marriage licenses come only from the Court Clerk in the county where the license was issued. Each county sets its own fee and process. OSDH Vital Records does not issue marriage records.
Certified copies of Oklahoma divorce decrees come only from the Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees and wait times vary by county. OSDH Vital Records does not issue divorce records.
Oklahoma divorce records: ordering details
Who can order
Set by the county Court Clerk.
Fee
Varies by county.
How to order
Contact the Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Find the office through the OSCN court directory.
ID needed
Ask the Court Clerk.
Processing time
Varies by county.
Older records
Held by the Court Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted.
Tip: Have the names, the approximate year and, if you know it, the case number ready when you contact the Court Clerk.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Oklahoma records people search for
Official Oklahoma sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Official Oklahoma sites for other records
Court case lookup
OSCN Docket Search Oklahoma State Courts Network; some counties are on the OCIS system instead.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Oklahoma public records
Certificate Information
Birth and death records for Oklahoma are available from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Certificates can be acquired
either by visiting the state office in Oklahoma City, the James Goodwin Health Center in Tulsa or the Pittsburg County Health
Center in McAlester. Applications can also be mailed to the address below. Wait times are generally one hour for in person
visits and 4 weeks by mail. Searches cost $15 dollars and include one certified copy with an additional $15 dollar fee for
each additional copy.
Vital Records Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
1000 Northeast 10th
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
• Birth Certificates
• Death Certificates
Marriage and divorce records are not held by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The County Clerk of Court is solely
responsible for managing and archiving marriage and divorce records.
Adoption Records
Oklahoma Department of Human Services manages the Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry which aids in post adoption reunions and
access to adoption records, family information and medical history. Anyone age of 18 may voluntary add information to the registry.
There is also a Confidential Intermediary Search program to aid in the searching of family members. Searches cost $400 dollars to start.
Children and Family Services Division
Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry
P. O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
Property Records
Local county assessor's departments handle the information and application to display public records regarding parcels, land use
and tax payments and debts.
