New Hampshire Marriage Records

New Hampshire began statewide registration of marriages in 1866 when the legislature required the Secretary of State to compile vital records. Before that, marriages were recorded at the town level as early as the mid-1600s. Recent data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that New Hampshire's marriage rate is slightly above the U.S. average. The state reports a marriage rate of 6.6 marriages per 1,000 residents, 6% above the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

New Hampshire marriage records are the documents created when two individuals enter into a legal marriage union. They consist of 2 documents serving distinct purposes in the state.

• Marriage Licenses: A marriage license is a pre-marriage ceremony document. Usually, marriage licenses are issued by the city or town clerk, permitting two individuals to get married. The content of a marriage license issued in New Hampshire includes the couple's full names, current addresses, date of birth, gender, the couple's occupation, Social Security numbers, and previous marital status. It also contains the license number, license issue, expiry date, and the town clerk's signature.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is a post-ceremony document. It is the document issued by the city or town clerk confirming that two individuals have been joined together legally in marriage. Usually, after the wedding ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage license, certifying that a wedding took place. The officiant returns the document to the town or city clerk, who documents the event and creates the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates contain the couple's full names, marriage date, time, and location of the ceremony, and the names and signatures of the witnesses and officiant. The document also contains the certificate number and file reference, filing date, and the town clerk's signature and official seal.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in New Hampshire?

Marriage records in New Hampshire are maintained by state and local agencies, depending on the year the event occurred:

• Marriage certificates issued from 1905 to the present are accessible at the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA).
• Marriage certificates pre-1905, and all marriage certificates are available at the city or town clerk's office.

Persons eligible to obtain certified copies of marriage certificates issued in New Hampshire from 1905 to date may order the document from The DVRA by mail, in person, or online. Online requests for marriage certificates are via a third-party vendor approved by the DVRA. Online requests attract additional processing and shipping fees in addition to the cost of purchasing the document.

To order certified copies of marriage certificates by mail or at the Vital Records office, record seekers may download and complete the marriage section on the Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record form. Mail the document to:

New Hampshire marriage certificates issued before 1905, and all marriage licenses are accessible at the city or town clerk's office. Generally, all requests for certified marriage certificates must include the following:

• The full names of the couple
• The date and place of the event
• The city or town of filing
• A self-addressed, pre-stamped envelope for mail requesters
• Proof of your mailing address
• A legible copy of an acceptable photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire classifies marriage records as confidential, private documents, inaccessible to the public. Per state law, New Hampshire is a closed records state, meaning marriage records are restricted to individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Generally, these individuals include the couple named on the record, their immediate family members, such as parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardians, and legal representatives.

How Much Do New Hampshire Marriage Records Cost?

Marriage certificates ordered by mail or in person at the New Hampshire DVRA cost $15, with additional copies attracting another $10 per copy. Similarly, the fees are uniform statewide. Therefore, a certified copy of a marriage certificate ordered at the town or city clerk's office also costs $15 for the first copy and $10 for additional copies requested with the initial request. Online requests through the independent platform offer expedited processing for an extra $30.

It takes the New Hampshire DVRA around 20 business days to process mail requests for marriage certificates. There is no expedited processing of marriage record requests offered at the town, city, or state vital records office. If you need the document faster, purchase the record in person at the DVRA office. In-person requests are usually processed the same day. However, online requests offer expedited processing, making the document available within 5-7 business days.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not offer a special confidential marriage license program like California and Michigan, where the records are kept private indefinitely from the public and accessible only by the couple. Instead, in New Hampshire, marriage records are treated as closed records and accessible only by eligible persons. Similarly, there is no option to seal or further restrict public access to marriage records beyond the state's restriction.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of New Hampshire Marriage Records?

Marriage records serve as critical legal documents for numerous legal and personal purposes, including visa applications, historical research, claiming dependents during joint tax filings, and accessing spousal health or insurance coverage. It is also required for name change or validating marital status during divorce proceedings.

You may validate the authenticity of your New Hampshire marriage records at the State DVRA or the town or city clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. To verify the legitimacy of your marriage certificate, you may visit the DVRA office to review the master certificate to confirm the document matches the record you have, or visit the town or city clerk's office to inspect the application and returned license for matching names, dates, seal impression, and signatures.

Generally, all certified copies of marriage certificates issued in New Hampshire contain security features to guarantee the document's validity. Usually, certified copies carry a raised, embossed, or multicolor impression of the New Hampshire Department of Safety seal, a unique certificate number, filing and issuance date, and the officiant's information and signature. In addition, the document has a "certified copy" crest, indicating its legal validity, and it is usually printed on security paper with a thick watermark to deter tampering.

Can I Find New Hampshire Marriage Records Online for Free?

New Hampshire marriage records are not universally available to everyone online, and even eligible persons must pay a fee to access the records. However, there are several online resources that offer free access to full or partial marriage records, depending on the record's age.

FamilySearch.org offers free access to digitized marriage records, including indexes and images for records spanning 1637 to 1947. Its collection includes marriage licenses, bonds, and certificates. However, some marriage records on the platform, specifically records from 1720 to 1920, may require viewing at a Family History Center or affiliated library.

Ancestry.com is a genealogy website that provides free access to indexes and full document images of marriage records. Its database includes New Hampshire marriage records, consisting of extracted indexes and image links, including names, ages, marriage dates, and sometimes officiant details from 1700 to 1971.

PublicRecords.us is a reliable, independent vital records service provider that aggregates vital records from multiple governmental platforms to provide a comprehensive database of vital records, including New Hampshire marriage records. The platform provides access to more current marriage records. You can access couples' names, ages, and county of marriage information at no cost on the platform. Detailed information may require a minimal fee.

What Is Required to Get a New Hampshire Marriage License?

To legally get married in New Hampshire, couples must follow the state's standardized application process and submit appropriate documentation to obtain the license. These include:

• Both parties must be present at the town or city clerk's office.
• Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Parties aged 16 - 17 may get married with a judicial waiver from the Family Division of the Superior Court in their jurisdiction.
• Provide a certified copy of a birth certificate.
• A government-issued photo ID for both parties.
• If either party was previously married, provide a copy of the final divorce decree, the dissolution decree, or the death certificate.
• Provide the middle names and surname they intend to use following the marriage.
• The marriage license fee.

It costs $50 to obtain a marriage license in New Hampshire. Some towns or cities charge an additional $1.95 for card payments. New Hampshire marriage licenses are valid immediately upon issuance. The couple may get married immediately after they receive the document. Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the application date. If the couple does not get married within that time frame, the license expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire allows for the correction of marriage licenses and certificates if there are inaccuracies in the document. Generally, eligible persons may amend the following errors on their New Hampshire marriage records:

• Clerical mistakes such as misspelled names, incorrect dates, and typos
• Documentation errors, such as mismatched names or incorrect dates of birth or death
• Transposed or omitted digits
• Wrong names or titles on the officiant or witness details
• Legal name changes, with a court order
• Errors in parents' names or biographical details

Amending New Hampshire Marriage License

New Hampshire allows for corrections to marriage licenses before the ceremony through the town or city clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. If the error is noticed before the license is issued, some cities or towns permit on-the-spot corrections, with some clerk's offices offering a monitor for couples to review the license before issuance.

However, if the license has been issued, both parties may come to the city or town clerk's office with the license. Submit a written request and a government-issued photo ID to amend the license. The couple pays the license fee of $50 to amend the document.

Amending New Hampshire Marriage Certificate

You can correct inaccuracies on your New Hampshire marriage certificate by obtaining an appropriate amendment form from the city or town clerk where the event occurred. In New Hampshire, the amendment form is issued based on whether the event occurred within 6 months or if more than 6 months have passed since the marriage date.

Complete the application form stating the error and specifying the correct information. Include documents supporting the correct information, such as hospital records, school records, or income tax records. Notarize the form, pay the fees, and submit the document to the appropriate office. It costs $10 to amend a marriage certificate and $15 to obtain a certified copy of the corrected certificate.