Oklahoma Vital Records – The Rules Governing Records

Requests for vital records in Oklahoma can be addressed to the Vital Records Section of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. However, acquiring a copy of a person’s birth and death records may be difficult unless the interested party is a close kin. Alternatively, researchers may consult online public record search providers or funeral parlors to get the necessary information.


Do you need vital records in Oklahoma because you are conducting genealogical research? Vital records in Oklahoma can be requested from the Vital Records Section of the Oklahoma State Department Of Health. However, it is much more difficult to conduct research in this state because birth and death records are not allowed for public viewing. This can cause a lot of problems for researchers. However, there are alternative ways to conduct studies.

OK Vital Records – How To Get Information

In order to gain access to birth and death records, the requester must be the next of kin. People who are not related to the individual cannot request for certified copies because of the state’s confidentiality statutes. This is especially problematic for genealogy researchers because birth records contain information on the identities of the parents.

Luckily, there are alternatives. While the official records are not available for request people can still go to online public record search providers. They usually contain indexes and summaries of vital records. Moreover, extremely old birth and death records which originated before 1908 may be found at the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Marriage and divorce records are easier to obtain. They are accessible by the general public. They need to be requested from the clerk of court of the county where these documents were filed. Abridged versions of marriage and divorce records can also be searched online if the researcher wants convenience.

Tips For More Organized Research

Accessing vital records information will cost money. Before you go ahead and request for these documents, you should search for free sources as much as possible. For genealogical and academic research, historic libraries are a good source of information. There are also genealogical groups, websites, forums and mailing lists that provide advice on how to conduct research.

Because death records are not available for public inspection, researchers can try their luck with funeral parlors. They are usually overlooked as sources of information – which is unfortunate because they have as much information as death certificates. While they usually do not provide records freely, you can request to see the records provided you give accurate information on the deceased.

Useful Oklahoma Vital Records Resource

Vital Records Section
State Department of Health
1000 Northeast 10th Street
P.O. Box 53551
Oklahoma City, OK 73152

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