The Marion County Clerk and Recorder

About the Marion County Clerk

The elected Marion County Clerk is Bill Burgess, with a term through 2029. The office preserves county records, runs fair elections, and records property documents. It is a county department, not part of the state court system. The clerk's page lists the office and its divisions, shown below.

The Marion County Clerk page names the clerk and the office divisions.

The office is organized into five divisions that handle the county's day-to-day records work.

What the Marion County Clerk Handles

The clerk's work spans several divisions. Each handles a different set of county records. The licensing and recording division is the one most people visit, since it records documents and issues marriage licenses. The office also runs elections and the property value appeals board.

• Recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats.
• Marriage licenses and domestic partnership records.
• Elections and voter registration.
• Property value appeals board.
• Records management and passport acceptance by appointment.

The licensing and recording page details the office, hours, and search link, shown below.

The Licensing and Recording page covers recording, copies, and contact details.

As of an April 2026 county update, the office again accepts passport applications by appointment.

Recorded Documents and the Digital Research Room

The clerk records and preserves property documents. To search them, the county hosts a Digital Research Room. It lets you look up recorded instruments and order copies. The same county system hosts the online marriage application. That page is shown below.

The Digital Research Room hosts recorded document search and the online marriage application.

Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related instruments. Court case files are not here; those are court records under a different office.

To find a recorded document, start with the names on the instrument and an approximate date. The Digital Research Room lets you search by party and document type, then view or order a copy. If a search comes up short, the recording office can help by phone at 503-588-5225. For an official certified copy of a recorded instrument, the office charges a separate certification fee, and a plain photocopy costs less per page. A marriage license search is also offered, with a disclaimer that records may not be complete.

How to Record or Copy a Document in Marion County

Recording puts a document into the county's official property record. Copying pulls one back out. Both go through the licensing and recording division. The steps below cover a standard request.

1. Prepare the document so it meets first-page recording requirements.
2. Submit it in person or by mail to the recording office.
3. Pay the recording fee, which starts at a set amount for a one-page instrument.
4. For a copy, search the Digital Research Room or ask the office.
5. Request certification if you need an official certified copy.

A document that does not meet first-page requirements may need a cover sheet, which carries an extra fee.

Marion County Clerk Fee Schedule

The clerk's fees are set by the county. Recording fees apply per instrument, with a charge for each extra page. Copy and certification fees are separate. The recording fee page is shown below.

The Marion County recording fee page lists the full schedule.

A typical one-page deed fee of $86 breaks into recording, county, and state housing charges, as the next table shows.

What Goes Into a Marion County Recording Fee

The $86 one-page recording fee is not a single charge. It is a stack of smaller fees set by law. Knowing the parts helps you check a charge or plan a recording. The table breaks down a typical one-page deed.

A one-page lien runs $76, because the land corner preservation charge does not apply. Each extra page adds $5.

Elections and Property Value Appeals

The Marion County Clerk runs more than recording. The office conducts the county's elections and keeps voter records. Its stated goal is fair, open elections handled with accuracy and care. The clerk also staffs the Property Value Appeals Board.

That board hears appeals of property values set by the assessor. A property owner who disagrees with a value can file an appeal there. The clerk's records management division keeps and preserves county records across all of these functions, which is why the office touches so many different Marion County records. Property owners who miss the appeal window must usually wait for the next cycle, so the clerk posts deadlines each year.

Marriage Licenses and Passports

The clerk issues marriage licenses and domestic partnerships. Both parties apply together, show photo ID, and pay the fee. The license carries a 3-day waiting period unless waived. The office also serves as a passport acceptance agent by appointment.

A few Marion County rules apply. Both people must be at least 18, and as of January 1, 2026, 17-year-olds may no longer marry in Oregon. The license is valid for 60 days once the waiting period passes. For the full marriage license process, fees, and certified copies, see Marion County marriage and divorce records. Divorce records, by contrast, are court files, not clerk records.

County Clerk vs Clerk of Court in Marion County

Two clerks, two jobs. The County Clerk keeps recorded documents, marriage licenses, and elections. The Clerk of Court keeps court case files. Sending a request to the wrong office is the most common delay.

For court case copies and certified court documents, see the Clerk of Court page.

Related Marion County Resources

The County Clerk connects to several pages. See marriage and divorce records for licenses, public records for open-records requests, the Clerk of Court for court copies, and probate records for estates.