Tulsa County Genealogy
Tulsa County genealogy records are among the most extensive in Oklahoma. The county seat is Tulsa, and records date to 1907 at statehood. You can search marriage logs, court files, probate cases, land deeds, and even early naturalization records through the county offices or online databases. Tulsa County is home to the second-largest city in the state, and its court system handles a high volume of records. The Tulsa Genealogical Society and the Tulsa City-County Library Genealogy Center add strong local research resources to what the county offices provide. If your family has ties to northeastern Oklahoma, this county is likely a key stop in your search.
Tulsa County Overview
Tulsa County Clerk Offices
The Tulsa County Clerk is Michael Willis. His office is at 218 W. 6th St, 7th Floor, Tulsa, OK 74119. The phone number is (918) 596-5801. This office handles land records, recorded documents, and other county filings. Land records are available through the County Clerk and date to statehood. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Court Clerk is Don Newberry. His office sits at 500 South Denver Ave, Room 200, Tulsa, OK 74103. The main phone is (918) 596-5420. For marriage records call (918) 596-5478. For divorce records call (918) 596-5454. You can email the office at tulsa.courtclerk@oscn.net. The Tulsa County Court Clerk website has information on how to request records and search cases.
Tulsa County keeps marriage records from 1907. Divorce records start from 1907 too. Probate records go back to statehood and include wills, estates, and guardianship cases. Court records cover civil and criminal cases from 1907. Naturalization records from the early 1900s are also in the files. Paper copies cost $0.25 for legal size or smaller, $0.50 for ledger size, and $1.00 per page for certified copies. CDs or DVDs run $1.00 each.
| County Clerk | 218 W. 6th St, 7th Floor, Tulsa, OK 74119 |
|---|---|
| County Clerk Phone | (918) 596-5801 |
| Court Clerk | 500 S. Denver Ave, Room 200, Tulsa, OK 74103 |
| Court Clerk Phone | (918) 596-5420 |
| Marriage Records | (918) 596-5478 |
| Divorce Records | (918) 596-5454 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Searching Tulsa County Records Online
The Oklahoma State Courts Network is the best free tool for searching Tulsa County court records. Select "Tulsa" from the county list. You can search by full name, case number, date range, case type, court division, or attorney name. The system covers records from the mid-1990s forward and shows docket entries, party names, and case status. Tulsa County is one of the busiest courts on the OSCN system.
The Tulsa County Court Clerk website provides additional search tools and information specific to the county. You can look up marriage licenses, divorce records, and probate cases through this portal. The Tulsa County official website has links to the County Clerk, assessor, and other offices that maintain records useful for genealogy research.
The OK2Explore index from the state health department is free and can help you find birth and death entries before ordering copies. Under Title 63 Section 1-323 of Oklahoma law, birth records are restricted for 125 years and death records for 50 years. Marriage and divorce records have no waiting period in Oklahoma.
Note: Tulsa County has separate phone numbers for marriage and divorce record requests, so call the right line to save time.
Tulsa County Genealogy Resources
The Tulsa Genealogical Society is one of the most active genealogy groups in Oklahoma. They publish the Tulsa Annals Index and provide research materials for members and visitors. The Broken Arrow Genealogical Society also operates in Tulsa County. The Tulsa Historical Society and Museum has local history collections that overlap with genealogy work.
The Tulsa City-County Library Genealogy Center at 2901 S. Harvard Ave is a major resource. The phone is (918) 746-5222. Hours are Monday through Wednesday 10-5, Thursday 1-8, and Friday through Saturday 10-5. Their special collections include the Dawes Final Rolls, Tulsa World newspaper archives, city directories, and census records. The library provides in-house access to Ancestry Library Edition and other paid genealogy databases.
The Tulsa County official website gives an overview of county services. Here is what it looks like.
The county website links to the Court Clerk, County Clerk, and other offices that handle genealogy records. It is a good starting point for locating the right office for your request.
The OKGenWeb project for Tulsa County at okgenweb.net has volunteer-compiled data including census records, cemetery listings, and family histories.
The OKGenWeb page is free and pulls together genealogy data from volunteer contributors. It can fill gaps when courthouse records or online databases fall short for Tulsa County research.
What Tulsa County Records Contain
Marriage records from the Tulsa County Court Clerk list both names, ages, birthplaces, and parents' names. Witnesses and the officiant are included. These start in 1907. Marriage licenses in Tulsa County are known for being comprehensive, often including more detail than smaller counties.
Divorce records start from 1907. They contain the names of both spouses, grounds for the case, property division terms, custody arrangements, and support orders. The Judgment and Decree is the main document that ends the marriage and spells out all terms.
Probate files in Tulsa County hold the name of the deceased, lists of all heirs, estate inventories, claims, and distribution documents. Wills, guardianship records, and estate administration files are part of the set. These often name family members not found in other record types. Naturalization records from the early 1900s are also on file and can help trace immigrant ancestors who settled in the Tulsa area.
Under Oklahoma's Open Records Act, Title 51 Sections 24A.1 through 24A.33, the public can inspect most government records. The Oklahoma Historical Society and the Dawes Rolls are relevant for Tulsa County families with Creek Nation ties, since much of the county was originally Creek land. The Gateway to Oklahoma History has digitized Tulsa-area newspapers and historic photos.
Vital Records and Legal Help
Birth and death records are kept at the state level. The Oklahoma State Department of Health Vital Records Service at 1000 NE 10th Street in Oklahoma City manages these. Registration started statewide in 1908. The free OK2Explore index can help find entries before you order copies.
The Oklahoma Genealogical Society publishes resources on Oklahoma family research. The Bureau of Land Management website has federal land patents for Tulsa County. The National Archives at Fort Worth holds Bureau of Indian Affairs records and Dawes census cards that connect to Tulsa County families. Rose Hill Memorial Park and Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa are two major burial sites with records that may help confirm dates and family connections.
Cities in Tulsa County
Tulsa County is home to several cities with dedicated genealogy pages on this site. All of these communities file their records through the Tulsa County Clerk offices.
Other communities in Tulsa County include Sand Springs, Collinsville, Glenpool, and Sapulpa (partly). All genealogy records for these areas go through the Tulsa County offices.
Nearby Counties
Families in the Tulsa area often had connections in neighboring counties. Check these if your research leads beyond Tulsa County lines.