Oklahoma Death Records

Are Death Certificates Public in Oklahoma?

No, in accordance with Oklahoma law, filed death records are not open for inspection to members of the public. Anyone who seeks access to Oklahoma public death records or wants to obtain an Oklahoma death certificate must meet specific eligibility. Only close family members (decedent's spouse, birth parents, siblings, or children) can access a death certificate.

The State Vital Records Office - the Oklahoma State Department of Health Division of Vital Records is the government agency in charge of registering, filling, maintaining, and managing every death in Oklahoma.

What Shows Up on Death Records in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, death records refer to legal records containing details on deaths within the state. These records are generated based on the personal details of deceased persons and the events surrounding the deaths. Most Oklahoma Vital Records, including death, marriage, and divorce, are maintained and disseminated by the State Vital Records Office. The office is tasked with issuing these records to eligible requesters. Some of the information included in an Oklahoma death record are:

• The decedent’s first, middle, and last name
• The decedent’s biodata, including sex, color, race, etc.
• Date and time of death
• Age at last birthday
• Place of death
• The decedent's social security number
• Date and place of birth
• Usual residence before death
• Parental and marital details
• Usual occupation, including kind of business or industry
• Cause of death
• The informant’s name and address
• Funeral home and address
• Funeral director

Death records are vital documents that direct family members of decedents require when closing bank accounts, transferring real and personal property titles, processing pension claims, motor vehicle transfers, stocks, bonds, and life insurance benefits. Government agencies like the National Center for Vital Statistics use death records to update paid government benefits, electoral registers, passport records, etc. The government uses death records to set public health goals, assess health status at local, state, national, and international levels, and as a source for state and national mortality statistics.

How are Death Records Created in Oklahoma?

All deaths that occur in the State of Oklahoma must be registered with the Oklahoma State Department of Health within three days of the death. The registration process involves the creation and filing of a death record. It is handled by a funeral director or anyone who first gets custody of a dead body according to Section 1158 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. In Oklahoma, the certified system for electronic death registration is “Registering Oklahoma Vital Event Records,” known as ROVER. It makes the death record creation process easier and faster, ensuring death records are available to decedents’ families quickly. Physicians and funeral directors may contact AskROVER@health.ok.gov or call (405) 271-5380 to sign up for ROVER.

The following steps are required to create a death record:

• Completion of the decedent’s personal information
  The funeral director is responsible for completing the section of the decedent’s personal information on the death certificate within 24 hours of the death. The information used in completing this section is obtained from the next of kin or an immediate family member of the decedent. The funeral director completes items 1 -24 on the certificate.
  However, if the medical examiner is the medical certifier involved, they will first fill out the medical information section before giving the certificate to the funeral home, where the body will be released. The funeral director who receives the certificate must immediately review it to ensure it is fully and accurately completed. If there is an error with the medical portion of the certificate, the funeral director must immediately inform the physician.
• Medical certification
  After completing the decedent’s personal information, the funeral service director sends the certificate to the physician serving as the medical certifier. All medical certification must be completed according to Oklahoma Administrative Code 310:105-1-2(1). However, the medical certifier can leave it blank in rare cases where an item does not apply to a particular situation. The physician completes items 25 - 49 on the certificate.
  Deaths caused by injuries must be reported to the medical examiner for certification of the cause of death. Hence, items 39 through 45 will be completed by the medical examiner. The medical information on the death certificate must be completed within 48 hours after the death.
• Filing of the completed certificate
  When all the information required to complete the death certificate has been appropriately recorded on the death certificate, the funeral director shall review it to ensure that it is fully and accurately completed. In doing this, the funeral director may address any errors, omissions, and discrepancies. After which the certificate will be filed with the State Registrar.
  Interested persons may participate in the Death Registration Training for more information on the use of ROVER.

Please note that getting a death certificate deceitfully for illegal purposes is a criminal offense and is punishable by per Oklahoma state law.

How to Find Death Records Online in Oklahoma?

Interested persons can search online for death records with Ok2Explore, a free searchable index of births and deaths that occurred in Oklahoma. It contains limited information on deaths that occurred more than 5 years from the time the search is conducted. The information provided includes the decedent’s full name, gender, death county, and death date. The online death record index can be searched by using any combination of the deceased’s name, date of death, county of death, and gender of the deceased. The earliest death record on the index is 1908.

For wildcard searches, use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard in any field. For instance, Char* will return records like Charles, Charlie, and Charley. Any blank field will be considered a wildcard also. However, the maximum number of records any query will provide is 15 matches. Hence, if the search range is too wide, a message may pop up, telling you to narrow the search. Search an unknown year of death by picking a date range, such as +/- 1, 2, or 5 years of a possible date.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

• The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
• The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

Death Record Search by Name in Oklahoma.

Eligible members of the public seeking to find death records in Oklahoma can conduct a search by name. This is usually the typical method. Requesters would need to provide the full name, gender, and date of death of the deceased.

Death Record Search by Address.

In a situation where an individual does not know the full name of the deceased, one can search Oklahoma death records by address. This method would usually take more time than searching by name.

How to Find Death Records for Free in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma State Department of Health Vital Records Section does not provide death records free of charge. Persons interested in obtaining death records are required to pay the required fee. However, death records may be searched online for free through Ok2Explore.

How to Obtain Death Records in Oklahoma

Interested persons can get death records in Oklahoma by querying the State Department of Health Vital Records Section. The office serves as a state repository of death records, maintaining records of deaths that occurred in the state from October 1908 to the present. Note that the filing of death records did not become mandatory until 1917. Before 1940, filing continued to be infrequent, making it quite difficult for families who may need a death record for the settlement of death claims or to get entitled benefits.

Requesters with direct and tangible interest can obtain copies of death records from the Oklahoma Vital Record Office only by mail. In-person requests are currently not available till further notice due to the continuous increase in the spread of COVID-19 around the state. The lobbies across the state are closed to reduce the risk of exposure. Visit the Oklahoma Vital Record website for regular updates on the opening of the State Vital Records lobbies.

Request an Oklahoma death record by completing the Oklahoma Death Certificate Request Form with all the required information. Ensure to follow the instructions listed on the form. After completing the form, print and sign it. Mail the completed request form, required fees, a copy of a valid government-issued ID, and necessary documentation to demonstrate the eligibility (if applicable), to:

Vital Records Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
P.O. Box 53551
Oklahoma City, OK 73152

Examples of acceptable photo IDs to be presented by either the requester or an individual attesting for the requester include:

• U.S. Issued Driver’s license or ID card
• U.S. Passport containing the bearer’s signature
• Foreign Issued Passport with Visa (I-94)
• Government-issued Military photo ID
• Tribal Photo ID Card containing the bearer’s signature
• Oklahoma Self-Defense Act (SDA) License or Concealed Carry permit
• Resident Alien Card (Form I-551)
• Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)
• Oklahoma Department of Corrections Consolidated Record Card (CRC)
• Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766)
• Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A)

Where a requester does not have a primary ID, records may be requested with two secondary identifications, but the record will only be mailed to the requester at the current address displayed on the identification.

For more inquiries call (405) 271-4040 or send an email to AskVR@health.ok.gov.

Note that the office of vital statistics also provides birth, marriage, and divorce records.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Death Certificate in Oklahoma?

On November 1, 2016, records of deaths occurring not less than 50 years ago became public records; hence, requesters do not require proof of eligibility before they can be obtained. The Vital Records Office requires that the person requesting a death certificate must be acting in the decedent’s best interest. Any of the following persons may request a death certificate in Oklahoma:

• A surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, legal guardian, or ex-spouse
• A legal representative of the decedent’s estate, as documented by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction
• A person who can establish a familial relationship with the decedent demonstrated, by providing certified copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates
• Funeral director of record or their agents, while carrying out their official business
• Law enforcement or government officials, while carrying out official governmental business
• An individual listed in a will of the decedent provided the will is in probate
• An individual with a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction
• An individual who was a co-owner or a joint tenant on real or personal property of the decedent

Note that the persons listed above must present valid photo IDs, supporting documents, or identifying documents before access is granted to the records.

How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost in Oklahoma?

A death certificate costs $20 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy requested at the same time in Oklahoma. The $20 fee includes a search fee and it is non-refundable and non-transferable, even if no record is found. Fees are payable by check or money order to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Oklahoma?

It takes about 6 weeks to process a death certificate that is requested by mail from the Oklahoma Vital Record Office. However, submitting an incomplete application or failure to include all required items will cause a delay in processing a request.

How Long to Keep Records After Death

There is no definite specification of how long death records should be maintained after death. Despite this, it is required that death records are maintained for as long as possible after death, as these records will be used as permanent legal proof of death, both now and in the future. In addition, the Oklahoma Administrative Code § 310:667-19-14 recommends that medical records of deceased persons be kept for a minimum of 3 years after a patient's death.

How to Expunge Your Death Records in Oklahoma?

Expungement refers to a court-ordered procedure that permits the permanent removal of a criminal record from public access. Oklahoma does not permit the expungement of death records in the state, as only certain convictions qualify for expungement.

How to Seal Your Death Records in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma does not permit the sealing of death records in the state.

How to Unseal Your Death Records in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma does not permit the unsealing of death records in the state.

How to Use the Oklahoma Death Registry

While death records are not readily accessible to the public, the Oklahoma death registry can be accessed. The Oklahoma death registry contains fewer details regarding a decadent. A registry can be accessed on the database maintained by the office of vital statistics Oklahoma or third-party sites. This data can be requested online, via mail, or in person. Members of the public can search the Oklahoma death index for records of death or check newspaper publications for death notices. If a requester is unsure of the state where a death record was filed, one can check the United States Death Registry

How to Find an Obituary for a Specific Person in Oklahoma.

To find the obituary for a specific person in Oklahoma, members of the public can search newspaper publications, libraries, or third-party sites. One would need to know the person's name, date of death, gender, and last known address.

How to Conduct a Free Obituary Search in Oklahoma.

Those seeking a free obituary lookup in Oklahoma can retrieve data sorted from newspaper publications or privately managed sites that provide this service. Most sites allow free obituary searches at local, state, and national levels.

What is Considered a Death Notice in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma death notices are published in local newspapers or online publications. Following a person's death, their relatives usually write to them to inform the public of the deceased's demise. The article usually contains a name, date of death, and details of the service.

What is the Difference Between Death Notices and Obituaries?

The difference between death notices and obituaries is that while a notice is usually brief, an obituary is lengthy and detailed.