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Oklahoma Marriage, Death, Birth Records

Statewide recording of births and deaths began in October 1908, although compliance was incomplete for several years in most counties and for two decades or longer in others. Registration was mandated in 1917, but it was another decade before 90 percent compliance was attained. Although county clerks record births and deaths and provide information on request, certificates are available only from the Vital Records Section, State Department of Health, 1000 Northeast Tenth Street, P.O. Box 53551, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152. Purpose and relationship statements are required. Early birth certificates contain much less information than those recorded presently.

Tribal records at the Oklahoma Historical Society contain some earlier birth records in relationship to land allotments (see Land Records) as well as death records. Children of mixed marriages may be included in the births.

Some marriage records for the Five Civilized Tribes and some other tribes are also at the Oklahoma Historical Society. Others are at the National Archives-Southwest Region. Nonnative settlers whose marriages were recorded in U.S. Federal District Court records for Indian Territory are included. Marriage records (June 1890–1907) in Indian Territory, which predate statehood, may be located in the office of the court clerk in either Muskogee or Pittsburg counties. After 1895, pre-statehood marriage records in Indian Territory may additionally be found in county court clerk offices in Carter or Craig. Still others may be found in Atoka, Bryan, Latimore, and LeFlore counties. Creek County marriages may have been recorded in the cities of Bristow, Drumright, Sapulpa, or Muskogee, now in Muskogee County. There is no centralized index for these marriages.

Some marriage records are also available at the county level for Oklahoma Territory before statehood. Some of these have been published. After statehood, marriage and divorce records are available from the clerk of the court in the county in which the license was issued or divorce granted.

Choose A County in Oklahoma

Vital Records Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 Northeast 10th, Oklahoma City, OK 73117;(405) 271-4040, They have the following records:

Birth & Death Certificates: Oklahoma began filing birth and death records in October of 1908. It was not mandatory, however, that these records be filed until 1917. Because birth and death records were not required in years past as they are today for identification or settlement of claims in matters of death, the filing process in many years prior to 1940 are sketchy. It is the responsibility of the hospital, attendant at birth or the funeral director in each matter of birth or death to properly obtain the information needed and file the certificate in a timely manner.
- Cost: $10.00 per birth certificate & $10.00 per death certificate.
- Processing Time: 12-14 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Birth or Death Certificate) or 2-5 Days when you order online
Marriage and Divorce Certificates: Marriage and Divorce Records are maintained and issued in the County Courthouse of issuance. These records are available from the Clerk of Court in the county where the event occurred. Fees vary.

Order On-Line: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek

Walk-In Service: Coming to the Vital Records Service, Room 117, Oklahoma State Department Of Health, 1000 Northeast 10th, Oklahoma City, OK, Monday - Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or the Tulsa Health Department, Central Regional Health Center, 315 S. Utica, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-2203, 918-594-4840

Click Here to Search Oklahoma Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Below is a list of online resources for Oklahoma Vital Records.