Two Keepers of Lane County Marriage and Divorce Records
Start with the basic split. The Lane County Clerk's Deeds and Records section issues and copies marriage licenses. The Lane County Circuit Court holds divorce, dissolution, annulment, and separation files. The county's general public records office does not keep either one, and it is not the place to ask. A marriage license is a recorded document. A divorce is a court case. They live in different systems for that reason.
Send each question to the right desk and the search moves fast. A marriage copy request goes to Deeds and Records. A divorce case search runs through the court's records tools or a court copy request. The rest of this breaks down both paths, with the fees, forms, and steps that apply to each.
Important: Lane County's general public records office is not the custodian for marriage licenses or divorce records. Marriage goes to the County Clerk, divorce goes to the Circuit Court.
Where Lane County Marriage Licenses Come From
Marriage licenses in Lane County are issued by the Deeds and Records / Marriage License Section. The office moved to the Public Service Building at 125 East 8th Avenue in Eugene, on the corner of 8th Avenue and Pearl Street. The marriage license window keeps shorter hours than a full business day, so plan around them. Both people getting married must come in person to sign.
The county's marriage license page lays out the process, the fees, and the rules in one place.
A quick look at that official page shows the application link, the hours, and the certified copy options.
It is the right starting point before any visit to the office. For more on what this office records, see the Lane County Clerk page.
Deeds & Records / Marriage Licenses
125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-3653
Mon - Fri 9:00-11:30 a.m., 1:00-3:30 p.m.
How to Apply for a Lane County Marriage License
The application starts online and finishes in person. Enter every detail to match birth certificates, since names, dates, and parents' names should line up exactly. Birth certificates are not required, but they help as a reference. Both parties sign at the office, and the license carries a short waiting period before it is good to use.
- Fill out the online Marriage License Application before you visit the office.
- Enter names, birth dates, birthplaces, and parents' names to match legal records.
- Both parties appear in person at least three days before the ceremony to review and sign the license.
- Pay the nonrefundable license fee when the license is issued.
- Wait three days. The license takes effect three days after signing and stays valid for 60 days.
- Have the officiant complete the license correctly under state law, then return it for recording.
Age rules are firm. A person must be 18 to marry on their own. A 17-year-old may marry only with parent or guardian consent. No one under 17 may marry in Oregon. A license issued by Lane County can be used only for a ceremony held in Oregon.
Lane County Marriage License Application Fields
The online application asks for the same details from each person. Accuracy matters because the recorded license becomes the legal record of the marriage. The table lists the main fields you fill in.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Text | Yes | Must match the birth certificate or legal records. |
| Address | Text | Yes | Required for each person. |
| Date of Birth | Date | Yes | Use accurate birth certificate information. |
| Place of Birth | Text | Yes | Required for each person. |
| Father's Name and Birthplace | Text | Yes | Both fields required. |
| Mother's Maiden Name and Birthplace | Text | Yes | Both fields required. |
| Year a prior marriage ended | Year | If applicable | Required if either party was married before. |
| Legal name after marriage | Selection | Yes | Each person selects a legal name to use after marriage. |
The state's marriage statute sets the license, age, and solemnization rules behind this form.
You can read the marriage rules in ORS chapter 106, which covers license issuance and who may perform a ceremony.
Lane County Marriage License Fees
The fees below are set and published by the county. The license fee is nonrefundable. Certified copies cost a set amount for the first copy and less for each extra copy in the same order.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $60.00, nonrefundable |
| Decorative certificate (optional) | $1.00 |
| First certified copy of marriage license | $7.75 |
| Each additional certified copy, same transaction | $4.00 |
| Civil ceremony | $117.00 |
| Replacement marriage license | $10.00 |
| Three-day waiting period waiver | $10.00, cash only |
Note: Card payments add a 3% processing fee, and American Express is not accepted for these county transactions.
The Three-Day Waiting Period
Oregon builds in a short wait. A Lane County marriage license takes effect three days after both parties sign, not on the day of signing. After it takes effect, it stays valid for 60 days. That window is when the ceremony must happen. A couple who needs to skip the wait can ask the County Clerk for a waiver.
The waiver costs $10 in cash and needs a good and sufficient reason that the Clerk accepts. No blood test or medical exam is required to marry in Oregon, which removes one common worry from the timeline.
Civil Ceremonies in Lane County
The County Clerk also performs civil ceremonies. These run most Fridays at the Public Service Building. A ceremony cannot be scheduled until the marriage license is purchased and effective. Each ceremony gets a 45-minute slot, and arriving more than 15 minutes late can cancel it.
The civil ceremony fee is $117, due when you schedule and nonrefundable. Two witnesses are required, and up to 10 guests may attend. To set a date, call the office or visit Deeds and Records in person.
Certified Copies of a Lane County Marriage License
Couples often order a certified copy when they apply. If you order at that point, the copy is mailed after the signed license returns to the office following the ceremony. You can also buy copies later, in person or by mail.
A mail request uses the Request for Certified Copy of Marriage License with a check for $7.75 for the first copy and $4 for each added copy, payable to Lane County Deeds and Records. If the license was issued by a different Oregon county, contact that county or the Oregon Center for Health Statistics instead.
Lane County Divorce Records
Divorce records are court records, not county recordings. The Lane County Circuit Court handles divorce, dissolution, annulment, separation, adoption, and restraining order files. To find a divorce case, use the Oregon Judicial Department Online Records Search or request copies from the court. The County Clerk's marriage section does not hold divorce files.
The dissolution and family-law rules sit in state statute.
You can read the dissolution framework in ORS chapter 107. For the search tools and copy requests, see Lane County court records and the Circuit Court page.
Searching Lane County Divorce Cases
A divorce search runs through the court, since dissolution files are court records. The free Oregon Judicial Department Online Records Search lets you find a case by party name or case number. It shows basic case and calendar details at no cost. For the full official register in non-confidential cases, use a courthouse public terminal or eligible OJCIN access.
Some family files are restricted. Adoption records are kept out of the free public search, and protective order details may be limited for safety. To get copies of filed divorce documents, send a court copy request rather than relying on the event log. Filing a new divorce often uses Oregon Judicial Department family law forms or the Guide and File system, with residency, venue, and fee rules to check first.
Family Law Help in Lane County
Self-represented filers have real support. The Lane County Circuit Court Family Court Assistance Office helps with family-law steps at 541-682-4302. The court's Guide and File system builds many family forms through an interview. The Lane County Law Library offers research and example forms, though its staff are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.
For a lawyer, the Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service is 1-800-452-7636. These resources cover divorce, custody, parenting time, support, and protective orders.