Located in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon is home to 36 counties, each responsible for providing essential local government services. These counties, along with state agencies, play a crucial role in maintaining and delivering public records as part of their statutory responsibilities.
Under Oregon’s Public Records Law, residents are granted the right to access any information legally designated as public. Importantly, the law defines what qualifies as a public record, limiting the discretion of agency officials to withhold information. This framework—commonly referred to as “Sunshine Laws”—is designed to ensure transparency in government operations, finances, meetings, and decision-making.
Open government laws not only support oversight by journalists, watchdog groups, and the public, but also extend to quasi-government agencies and private companies contracted by the government, holding them accountable under the same transparency requirements. Requests for records may be made by anyone, without having to provide a reason.
While government oversight is a primary purpose for open records, many requests are also made for personal, legal, and business reasons. The most commonly accessed records include:
Oregon criminal records are classified as public information.
The Oregon State Police Public Records Unit processes criminal background checks for individuals and businesses.
These reports may include:
Conviction history
Arrests within the past year that have not been dismissed or resulted in acquittal
Driving histories are available from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Records may show:
Suspensions
Violations
License status
The DMV provides multiple methods for requesting these records, including online, by mail, or in person.
The Oregon Judicial Information Network (OJIN) gives access to a wide range of court records, including:
Divorce filings
Civil lawsuits
Criminal trials
Judgments and other court proceedings in state and circuit courts
Oregonians often request vital records for personal or legal needs. These include:
Birth certificates (e.g., for passport applications)
Marriage and divorce certificates
Death certificates (e.g., for settling estates or closing accounts)
These official documents are available through the Oregon Health Authority’s Center for Health Statistics, which offers guidance and downloadable forms for ordering certified copies of records.
Public access to asset-related records in Oregon has greatly improved with the advent of online resources, but knowing where to search remains critical.
Available public records include:
Real estate ownership and land records from county recorder offices
Business entity searches, UCC filings, and company registrations from the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division
These records are useful for verifying ownership, corporate status, financial liabilities, and conducting general due diligence
For individuals unfamiliar with Oregon’s agency structure, searching for public records can be time-consuming and confusing. That’s where PublicRecordCenter provides a valuable solution.
This trusted resource offers:
A curated directory of official Oregon state and county websites
Step-by-step guidance on how to request records
Access to free forms, instructions, and explanations of each agency’s responsibilities
Whether you're conducting a full background check or simply requesting a birth certificate, starting your search with PublicRecordCenter ensures faster, easier, and more accurate results from verified sources.
