Oklahoma Public Records

The state of Oklahoma boasts a population of more than 3.7 million as of the last count in 2011. The state’s name comes from root words meaning “red people,” and today, it is also known by its nickname, the Sooner State. Oklahoma was one of the last states to join the Union, becoming the 46^th state in 1907. However, the history of Oklahoma extends much further back, with the first French explorers inhabiting the state during the 16^th century, and a variety of Native American tribes staking their claim to property throughout the state early on as well. Today, many of the people who lived and died in this state are documented through the wealth of Oklahoma public records.

Launching an Oklahoma public records search begins with knowing where these documents are currently held. The state offers a variety of resources for Oklahoma vital records, with some centralized at a single repository and others scattered throughout county offices within the state. There are also historical documents on file for Oklahoma that date all the way back to the very early origins of the state. Finding these records involves a brief tour of public record archives within the state, as well as the requirements for retrieving and requesting copies of such documents.

To begin your public records search in Oklahoma, keep the following factors in mind:

Who Can Initiate an Oklahoma Public Records Search?

Birth records in Oklahoma are not accessible to the general public. To receive a certified copy of a birth document, the person making the request must be able to prove he is the person on the certificate or a direct family member of that person. Others that might be able to access this information include legal guardians, legal representatives or genealogists.

Oklahoma death records are also limited, although the rules are not hard and fast as to who can be privy to the information. The state recommends that persons interested in obtaining death records in Oklahoma provide full information on the person to be searched as well as personal information on themselves and their reason for wanting the information. The application must be approved in order for the individual to receive the requested information.

Where to Locate Public Records in Oklahoma

Birth and death records in Oklahoma can be found at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. This office holds all these Oklahoma public records, which began to be filed in 1908. However, official records were not kept until 1917, which means documents filed before this time may not be as complete or accurate. Any records that date beyond this point may be stored at the Oklahoma Historic Society, although without a mandate for keeping records at this time, there is no way of knowing for sure if records dating back prior to 1917 will even be available.

Marriage and divorce records in Oklahoma are stored at the county clerk’s office where the event took place. At this time, no central location exists to track down these records, unless the county is known.  

Additional OK public records, including census, military and Native American records, can be found at the Oklahoma Historic Society as well. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries offers some online services to track down some of these historic documents for academic, genealogical and personal reasons.

The Convenience of Oklahoma Public Records Online

While the Oklahoma Department of Health does not offer online Oklahoma public records searches directly, they have partnered with an outside service to make this option available to their customers. The Department of Health and VitalChek are working together to make public records online available in Oklahoma. The service is used successfully by many states across the country, allowing interested parties to search for and request copies of vital records from the comfort and privacy of home. There is an additional fee for using the VitalChek service.