Oklahoma Vital Records

Introduction to Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. United States Vital Records has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Oklahoma Vital Records State Department of Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.

Online Oklahoma Birth, Marriage and Death Records
The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Oklahoma Vital Records which consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Most online resources for Oklahoma Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.  


 * OK2Explore by Oklahoma State Department of Health Information on birth occurring more than 20 years ago and deaths occurring more then 5 years ago.
 * Oklahoma Genealogy Records on Rootsweb
 * Oklahoma on OKGenWeb
 * Oklahoma on USGenWeb Archives
 * Canada, USA, and Mexico, search for Oklahoma Collections on FamilySearch
 * 1790-1998 United States Marriages – Oklahoma, 1790-1998 ($) index and images
 * 1864-1941 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1890-1995 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * Wee Monster Links for Oklahoma Birth &amp; Marriage and Death Records - Free/($)
 * Linkpendium Links for Oklahoma Genealogy and History, including individual Counties - Free/$
 * Search the Oklahoma Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Records at Ancestry - $
 * Oklahoma Genealogy Search
 * Oklahoma Genealogical Society Online Records

By Event
Births
 * Department of Health Birth Index
 * Early Oklahoma Birth Records
 * Oklahoma State Vital Records Index

Marriages
 * United States Marriages – Oklahoma, 1790-1998 ($) index and images
 * Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Marriage, Citizenship and Census Records, 1841-1927 ($)
 * Oklahoma Marriages 1842-1912 ($), index
 * 1870-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * Oklahoma, Select Marriages, 1870-1930($), index
 * Oklahoma, Marriages, 1870-1930($), index
 * Web: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Marriage Index, 1889-1951
 * 1890-1995 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995 index & images ($)
 * OKGenWeb Oklahoma Marriages

Divorces
 * Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Divorce Index, 1923-1942

Deaths
 * Department of Health Death Index
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1864-1941 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index.
 * U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
 * U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete($).

If you are aware of other online databases, please feel free to add them.

Birth and Death Records
Some counties kept birth and death records as early as 1891, although most did not start until after statehood in 1907. The early records, which are quite incomplete, are at county courthouses. Contact details for county courts can be found on individual county pages. The FamilySearch Library has copied some of the vital records of the Superintendent of Public Health in a few counties.

The statewide registration of births and deaths began in Oklahoma in 1908 and was generally complied with by 1930. You can write to:

Vital Records Service Oklahoma State Department of Health 1000 Northeast 10th Street, Room 111 Oklahoma City, OK 73117 Telephone: 405-271-4040 Website

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed on the Internet site above. Copies of birth records are restricted to the individual, their next of kin, or a legal representative. See the above Internet site for requirements for requesting records. Death records are not restricted.

Accessibility to Oklahoma Birth and Death Records
Oklahoma vital records are protected by state law, 63 O.S. Sec. 1-323 (Effective Nov 1, 2016). Birth records that are at 125 years old and records of death at least 50 years old are considered open records. However, as stated on the Oklahoma State Department of Health: “…a genealogist will need written permission from the subject (if alive) or a family member if the subject is deceased. Proof of relationship between the family member and the deceased will be required.”

A list of who can request a vital record is contained on the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s website and is also in the state law. The state does provide a free searchable index of births and deaths that occurred in the state of Oklahoma and is available at: Ok2Explore. If you are eligible to receive a record and want a certified copy of the record you can apply online through a partner website or by phone (or mail) to the Vital Records Service. You will have to pick up the record in Oklahoma City and provide proof of eligibility to receive the record.

Delayed Birth Records
Delayed registrations of births (for persons born before registration began in 1908) are available from the Vital Records Service mentioned above.

Marriage Records
Before 1890, no marriages were recorded by the county or state. 1830's to 1889 very few records exist, some recorded in district courts.

Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Prior to statehood it was Indian Territory from the 1830's to 1890. In 1890 Oklahoma was divided into two Territories (Twin Territories) Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory.

In 1890 three Judicial Districts were established where marriages could be performed and recorded:
 * First District: at Muskogee included Cherokee and Creek Nations
 * Second District: at South McAlester included Choctaw Nation
 * Third District: at Ardmore included Seminole and Chickasaw Nations

Prior to statehood non-Indians traveled to another state, went back home to marry or were married by a minister or ranking officer at nearby fort.

Marriages performed in Oklahoma Territory were recorded in County Clerk's office.

Marriage bonds, affidavits, licenses, and certificates were kept by each county beginning about 1890 or when the county was created. Many marriages in the territorial era were not recorded, and some were recorded in county courthouses in Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas. Write to the appropriate county clerk for information.

The FamilySearch Library has marriage records for some counties. Published transcripts of marriage documents include:


 * Oklahoma Territory Weddings. Geary, Oklahoma: Pioneer Book Committee, 1983 This includes history, wedding albums, and marriage files from Blaine, Caddo, and Kingfisher counties.
 * 1890-1995 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Oklahoma Marriage Records, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory This includes marriages of white settlers, 1890-1907, found in U.S. court files for the eleven southeastern counties.
 * Oklahoma County Marriage Records 1889-1951

Divorce Records
Divorces were granted after 1907 by the district courts or the circuit court in each county. Write to the county clerk of the court for information. The FamilySearch Library has records from some counties.

Death Records
In 1908, death records were mandated by the state with copies sent to the state capital. Compliance to this law reached 90% by 1928.

After 1928, death records usually give information about the deceased, such as name, age, birth date, state or country of birth, and names of parents and the informant. The date and place of death are given. Sometimes burial information, the cause of death, and the names of physician and morticians are provided.

Cause of Death

 * Causes of Death - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate

Alternative Records
These links will take you to wiki pages describing alternate sources for birth, marriage, and death records.

Oklahoma Church Records: Depending on the denomination, church records may contain information about birth, marriage and death.

Oklahoma Cemetery Records: Cemetery Records are a rich source of birth and death information. These records may also reveal family relationships.

Oklahoma Census: Census records are a valuable source for birth and marriage information. You may also determine approximate time of death when the individual disappear from the census. This is a good place to begin a search.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI): the SSDI indexes deaths for those who had social security numbers and the death was reported to the Social Security Administration.

Oklahoma Newspapers: Besides obituaries, local newspapers may contain birth and marriage announcements and death notices. Also check newspaper social columns for additional information.


 * Obituaries: Obituaries found in newspapers can list the age of the deceased, birth date and place, death date and place, and names of living relatives and their residences.

Oklahoma Military Records: Military pension records can give birth, marriage and death information. In addition, soldiers' homes records may include this same information.

Oklahoma Periodicals: Local genealogical and historical societies often publish periodicals which may contian abstracted early birth, marriage and death information.

Probate Records: If no death records exists, probate records may be helpful in estimating when an individual has died. Probate records in the 20th Century often contain the exact death date.

History: Local histories, family histories and biographies can all be sources of birth, marriage and death information.

Tips

 * Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record.  The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.
 * If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
 * Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
 * Search for Vital Records in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Record. Search for Oklahoma to locate records filed by the state and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

Archives, Libraries and Societies
Oklahoma Archives and Libraries

Oklahoma Societies

Inventory of Vital Records
You can learn more about the history and availability of birth, marriage, death, and divorce in ''Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City: Historical Records Survey, 1941''. This guide describes the records kept by the state, and each county.