Baker County Clerk Records Split
Baker County does not use a Texas-style district clerk or a single county clerk for all court case files. Court case records are maintained by Baker County Circuit Court records staff under the Oregon Judicial Department. The practical clerk concept for court files is the Baker County Circuit Court, the Trial Court Administrator, and court staff who process copy requests, kiosk access, and older file retrieval.
The Baker County Clerk is a separate county office. It is the keeper of county public records and manages recordings, marriage licenses, plats, Commissioners' Journal documents, Board of Property Tax Appeal petitions and orders, elections, and the county microfilm collection. That split controls where a request should go.
| Need | Use this Baker County office | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce case file, probate file, criminal judgment, civil case copy | Baker County Circuit Court | These are Oregon trial court case records. |
| Marriage license or county marriage copy | Baker County Clerk | The County Clerk issues and records marriage licenses. |
| Recorded instrument, plat, county index, microfilm | Baker County Clerk | These are county records, not circuit case files. |
| Federal case or bankruptcy case | Federal court through PACER | Federal records are outside Baker County offices. |
Baker County Clerk Contact
The county records office lists Stefanie Kirby as County Clerk, Troleda Buxton as Chief Deputy County Clerk, and Brian Geddes as Deputy County Clerk. For court case copies, Baker County Circuit Court lists Trial Court Administrator Amy Swiger and court staff as the contact path. Both offices are in the courthouse complex, but they serve different records.
Baker County Circuit Court
Trial Court Administrator: Amy Swiger
1995 3rd Street, Suite 220
Baker City, OR 97814
541-523-6303
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
Baker County Clerk
Clerk: Stefanie Kirby
1995 Third Street, Suite 150
Baker City, OR 97814
541-523-8207
Fax: 541-523-8240
Request Baker County Court Copies
Circuit Court copy requests use the Oregon statewide court records process. Baker court staff maintain the local file, assist with copy requests, and handle requests first come, first served. Newer case documents may be reviewed on the public kiosk in the court lobby. Older case files that are not yet digitized can be reviewed by asking court staff to retrieve the file.
- Identify whether the record is a Baker Circuit Court case rather than a County Clerk recording.
- Gather the case number, party names, approximate filing date, and the exact documents requested.
- Use the statewide court records request form for copies or audio.
- Wait for court staff to calculate copy, certification, audio, and postage costs where those apply.
- Pay the required amount before copies are made or mailed.
| Request field | Required use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | Strongly requested | Speeds lookup and reduces wrong-case risk. |
| Party names | Requested | Use both names and an approximate start date if no case number is known. |
| Documents requested | Required for copies | Name the judgment, petition, order, docket entry, or other document. |
| Hearing date | Required for audio | Audio copies are delivered electronically through a secure website. |
| Requester contact | Required | Needed for cost estimate and delivery. |
Baker County Clerk Index
The Baker County Clerk index is a county records search tool, not a court case docket. It can help locate county index entries by index number, name, or year. Search tips say to use last name then first name, and to use a less specific search if no results appear. Years are available as individual years and older decade ranges.
| Field label | Type | Options or notes |
|---|---|---|
| Search by Index Number | Text | Field name shown as index_no. |
| Search by Name | Text | Use last name then first name where possible. |
| Year | Dropdown | Individual years 2000-2026 plus decade ranges back to 1960-1969. |
| Search | Button | Runs the county index search. |
The Oregon Blue Book Baker County profile is the source for this clerk page image.
Historical county context supports record research because old Baker County records remain tied to courthouse and county office holdings.
Baker County Clerk Fee Table
The County Clerk fee notes apply to county records research, copies, certification, faxing, recording changes, and marriage licenses. Circuit Court copy fees are calculated through the court records request process, so court case requesters should wait for the court's cost estimate rather than applying the county recording fee table to case files.
| County Clerk item | Fee or note |
|---|---|
| Records research search per document | $3.75 |
| Copy of same per page | $0.25 |
| Certification | $3.75 |
| Fax first page | $2.50 |
| Fax additional page | $0.50 |
| Marriage license | $54 |
| Housing Alliance recording fee increase | Many recording documents increased by $40 due to HB 4007, with exemptions listed by the clerk. |
Baker County Clerk Marriage Records
The Baker County Clerk issues marriage licenses. Each applicant must be at least 18, appear in person, and bring a valid driver's license unless the office approves alternate identification. Oregon has a three-day waiting period, the license is valid for 60 days after its effective date, and the license is valid only in Oregon. No blood test is required.
Historical marriage records can include applications, certificates, licenses, returns, medical certificates, affidavits, and related records. The Oregon Secretary of State records inventory notes Baker marriage books and indexes, including older vault records at the courthouse. Certified Oregon marriage certificates are ordered through Oregon Health Authority Vital Records, while county license questions start with the County Clerk.
Note: A divorce case file is a Circuit Court record, not a Baker County Clerk marriage-license record.
Federal Records Are Separate
Federal court searches are outside the Baker County Circuit Court and County Clerk split. District of Oregon civil and criminal federal cases, Oregon bankruptcy cases, and federal appeals use PACER and federal court systems. The closest District of Oregon division reference for Baker County is Pendleton, but the research notes that in-person filings must be done at the Portland Division because the Pendleton courthouse is not staffed.
PACER Find a Case is shown in the first federal records image assigned to this clerk page.
PACER is useful for federal files, but it will not provide Baker County marriage licenses or local circuit court copy service.
District of Oregon PACER lookup is the source for the next federal court image.
Use the District of Oregon lookup only when the case is federal, not when the record is a Baker County Circuit Court filing.
Oregon Bankruptcy Court PACER lookup is the final federal image source for this page.
Bankruptcy records are federal records, so Baker County Clerk staff do not issue those case documents.