Oregon public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as criminal background, immigration status and Oregon vital records. These laws also apply to government records such as meeting minutes and voting records.

State of Oregon public record laws may be grouped according to the aspect of public records that they address. These include the following three general areas:

1. Laws on Oregon public court records that regulate the manner in which public information may be accessed. These laws may specify issues such as the length of time the state has to respond to information requests, any fees an agency is allowed to charge and whether the requestor must provide a reason for wanting the information.
2. Laws that define what information on an individual may be considered public. These laws control the personal information that may be accessed by an individual or party designated by the individual.
3. Laws that specify what government records may be accessible to the public. These laws are usually intended to permit journalists to perform an Oregon court case search or to allow private citizens to provide input on government decisions.
   

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Review the procedures for accessing Oregon public records

Access to Oregon court records and public records covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Oregon is typically handled by the Attorney General. County and municipal court records may also be used to perform an Oregon background check.

I recommend: The Oregon Department of Justice provides extensive information on laws that allow access to public records in Oregon. Marion County answers specific questions on accessing public records under Oregon law.

Learn about the laws regulating access of Oregon public records for individuals

Public records for individuals typically include vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. Individuals may only be able to access their own personal records.

I recommend: The Oregon State Police provides specific procedures for accessing public records on individuals under state law. Washington County describes its regulations for providing marriage licenses.

Look for Oregon public records laws on government records

Government records may include meeting minutes, budget reports and real estate sales. Some government departments provide many different types of government records, while others may be dedicated to a specific type of record.

I recommend: The Oregon State Legislature addresses the public access of government records in Chapter 192 of the Oregon Revised Statutes. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality provides access to a variety of government records under its own set of laws.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An Oregon public record search is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996 which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access Oregon public records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. This includes birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses and so on.

Public records are held by the federal, state and local government, who in turn determine their availability. Although they are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department and state. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching Oregon public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information not just in Oregon vital records, but in the country as a whole

2. Make sure that any Oregon background check you run is up-to-date.

3. When searching Oregon public records online, get information from a credible source. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

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Search public records in Oregon when researching real estate options

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find it on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is a major online resource that provides links to Oregon county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online resources.

Consider checking Oregon court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Oregon State Police can help you obtain criminal records. Additionally, public access to court records is available at the Oregon Judicial Department.

Track down anyone with an Oregon vital records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's social security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: Research Oregon marriage records, as well as divorce, birth and death records at Oregon's Center for Health Statistics. Public People Finder can help you track someone down using a variety of information, but they do require a fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information is collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on Oregon public court records and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Oregon public records applications and uses are becoming more common due to their increasing accessibility through the Internet. Increased access to public records has led to the growth of the information broker industry, which uses public records to build profiles on millions of people and provides information to anyone who pays a fee. Individuals who know where to look also may be able to search public records for free. Access to public records is controlled at the federal level by the Freedom of Information Act and Oregon has its own version of this legislation.

There are a variety of professionals who may have an interest in performing an Oregon public record search. These include the following three general categories:

1. Genealogical research on Oregon public court records. Researchers use older vital records to locate ancestors or other people of historical interest. These records may be available from genealogical societies, public libraries and government agencies.
2. Background checks. Employers are making more frequent use of criminal records to investigate the personal history of job applicants.
3. News reports. Reporters and other people with an interest in government activity may wish to access public records on meetings and voting records.
   

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Use Oregon public records to research the founders of a business

Oregon vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates, frequently are helpful for getting information about the early owners of a company and researching the history of a business. Vital records in Oregon become publicly available after a specified period of time and are of genealogical, rather than personal, interest.

I recommend: The Center for Health Statistics provides instructions for obtaining vital records in Oregon and specifies when they become publicly available. The Oregon Secretary of State offers extensive resources for obtaining genealogical records.

Search public records to perform an Oregon background check

Law enforcement officials, private detectives and prospective employers may use Oregon bankruptcy records and criminal records to investigate an individual's background. Access to Oregon court records tends to be more restricted than access to other types of public records, and may require the subject's permission.

I recommend: The Oregon State Police provides access to specific criminal records in Oregon. The Sex Offender Inquiry System for the state of Oregon provides a search for registered sex offenders in Oregon.

Obtain public records in Oregon for the purpose of reporting on government activity

Reporters frequently use government records in Oregon, such as voting records and meeting minutes. Access to these types of public records is controlled by Oregon's Sunshine laws. There are organizations of journalists and ordinary citizens that work to keep government records in Oregon available to the public.

I recommend: The Oregon Government Ethics Commission provides government records in Oregon, such as the expenditures of lobby groups. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality provides specific instruction for obtaining public records on the environment in Oregon.

Finding public records can be an overwhelming task without a good understanding of how and where records are kept. Make sure you know a few key terms before you begin a records search.

Whether you are conducting a criminal background check or looking for a driving history report, you'll need to know where to begin your search and what specific terms you may run across.

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Public records unit

The Oregon State Police Public Records Unit is in charge of securely distributing criminal history reports to those who request them. The unit provides criminal history record checks for those looking for their own history report and those looking for a third party report.

I recommend: Review the criminal history record check information available at the Oregon State Police Public Records Unit website.

Public records petition

A public records petition is a request made to the Oregon attorney general to view public records that have been denied to an individual. The petition is made if citizens think they are being denied access to any form of public record that should be viewable by all. The attorney general responds to the petition with an order determining whether the record should be public.

I recommend: The Oregon Department of Justice explains how the public records petition works and in what instances it may be needed.

Vital records

The term vital records refers to important life documents such as birth, death, marriage or divorce certificates. Each state handles the distribution of vital records differently. Oregon's vital records are available through the Center for Health Statistics.

I recommend: Review all the vital records information at the Oregon Center for Health Statistics.

Court records

Court records can be public or closed (private) depending on the case circumstances and ages of those involved in the case. The public records section of the Oregon Courts Systems explains the differences.

I recommend: Review court records basics and find out how to access them via the Internet at the Oregon Judicial Department website.

Oregon Public Records Law

The Oregon Public Records Law is a compilation of several laws passed to make government records available to the public. The law is designed to make the government accountable and accessible to all.

I recommend: Review information about the Oregon Public Records Law at the Sunshine Review.

Control document index

The control document index is a set of records kept by the Oregon Bureau of Land Records. The microfilm index includes copies of land deeds, titles and patents to and from the federal government.

I recommend: The Oregon/Washington Bureau of Land Management Land Records website provides access to the control document index and explains what records are available.