New Hampshire Marriage Records
In New Hampshire, a marriage is a legally recognized union between two individuals that establishes rights and responsibilities and confers various legal, financial, and personal obligations on the parties involved. Couples who wish to get married in the state must obtain a marriage license from a town or city clerk and have a ceremony performed by an authorized officiant for their marriage to be considered legally valid.
The legal framework governing marriages in New Hampshire can be found under Title XLIII, Chapter 457 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA), which outlines all relevant eligibility criteria and requirements for couples entering into marriage. Per this law, the minimum legal age to marry without parental consent is 18, while minors as young as 16 may marry with parental or judicial consent. However, marriages involving minors under the age of 16 are prohibited, and any marriage contracted by these individuals is considered null and void. Marriages between direct relatives, including parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, or step-relatives, are not allowed; New Hampshire also prohibits bigamy/polygamy (being married to more than one person at any given time).
Couples who meet the criteria for marriage can file for a marriage license at any town or city clerk's office in the state. New Hampshire marriage licenses are available to residents and non-residents of the state and do not have to be used in the town or county where the license was issued. The marriage license is also valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and there is no waiting period, meaning couples can marry immediately after receiving their license. It is important to note that the ceremony must take place within the 90-day window for the union to be recognized; couples who do not use their license within this timeframe must apply for a new one.
Once the ceremony is performed, the officiant must complete and return the marriage license to the town or city clerk (who issued it) for recording - about 9,000 to 10,000 marriages are recorded across New Hampshire annually. Proxy marriages are not allowed in the state; neither are common-law marriages recognized. However, an exemption may be made if a couple has cohabitated and presented themselves as married for at least three years – under these circumstances, they may be recognized as married for inheritance purposes upon the death of one partner.
Copies of New Hampshire marriage records can be accessed through any town or city clerk (availability may vary by location). Marriage records are also maintained and available through the state's Division of Vital Records Administration. However, it should be noted that New Hampshire is a “closed records” state. As such, access to marriage (and other vital) records is usually restricted to the couple named on the record, their immediate family members, and any individuals who can establish a direct and tangible interest in the record.
What are Marriage Records?
Marriage records in New Hampshire refer to official documents containing information on marriages performed within the state. These records typically include key details like the couple's full names and dates of birth, the date and location of the marriage, the couple’s hometown and state of residence, and the officiant’s name and title. They may also include the names of each couple's parents, details of prior marriages, and other related information.
There are two primary types of marriage records in New Hampshire: marriage licenses and marriage certificates. A marriage license is obtained before the wedding ceremony, and a marriage certificate is issued after the officiant files the necessary documentation confirming the ceremony took place. Both documents serve important legal and personal purposes, including proof of marital status, application for spousal benefits, and name changes. They are also used for genealogical research or for studying social and demographic trends in the state.
New Hampshire marriage records are maintained by the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration, the state's primary custodian for vital records. Local town and city clerks also retain copies of these records and make them available to interested parties upon request. Note that access to these records is restricted under state law – certified copies are only available to the individuals named on the record, their immediate family, legal representatives, and other individuals deemed to have a direct and tangible interest in the record. However, marriage records older than 50 years are generally considered public records and may be accessed by anyone.
Marriages in New Hampshire
New Hampshire had a marriage rate of 7.0 per 1,000 residents in 2022 – way above the national average of 6.2 per 1,000. Divorce rates have also reduced over the years – in 2022, the state had a divorce rate of 2.5 per 1,000 residents, slightly below the national figure. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 33.6% of adult male New Hampshirites have never been married, compared to 26.9% of the female adult population. Higher divorce rates were also observed among the women; however, the percentage of men (51.9%) and women (50.2%) still married and not separated was relatively balanced. Demographically, the highest marriage rates were reported among Asian and White residents, with slightly lower rates observed among Hispanic, Black, and mixed-race residents.
New Hampshire offers a relatively straightforward process for couples looking to get married, whether they are residents or non-residents, with clear guidelines for obtaining a marriage license and solemnizing the marriage. Marriages between individuals under the age of 16, close relatives by blood, and anyone already (and still) in a legal marriage to someone else are strictly prohibited in the state. Couples aged 18 and older are free to marry without the need for parental consent, while minors aged 16 or 17 must either obtain parental consent or a judicial waiver before a marriage license can be issued.
Intended couples must obtain a marriage license before their wedding. Both parties typically have to apply in person at the office of any town or city clerk in the state. Some municipalities may offer the option of completing part of the application online; however, the couple must still visit the clerk’s office together to submit the paperwork. In situations where one party is serving in the United States Armed Forces and cannot appear in person, they may submit an affidavit of intentions, which the Armed Forces legal representative must prepare. New Hampshire does not require medical tests for marriage licenses. However, couples must provide proof of age (usually through a certified birth certificate, valid driver's license, or passport) and a valid, government-issued photo ID. A certified copy of the final divorce decree, death certificate, or civil annulment is also required for individuals who have been previously married.
Once the application has been submitted and vetted, and the $50 license fee (excluding any applicable service charges) has been paid, the couple is typically issued a marriage license immediately. There is no waiting period, meaning couples can marry the same day the license is issued. However, the marriage must occur within 90 days, or the license becomes invalid.
New Hampshire allows marriage licenses to be used in any location in the state, regardless of where the license was obtained. Notably, the state does not require witnesses during the wedding ceremony. Nonetheless, the marriage must be solemnized by an authorized officiant. This includes justices of the peace, Supreme Court justices, circuit and superior court judges, and ordained ministers of the gospel residing in the state. Jewish rabbis, Quakers, and non-resident ministers can also officiate if licensed by the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Additionally, non-resident individuals (including federal judges and magistrates) authorized to solemnize marriages in their home state can do so in New Hampshire with a special license. The state also permits ordinary individuals to apply for a special marriage officiant license, allowing them to officiate a specific ceremony.
After the ceremony, the officiant must file the marriage license with the town or city clerk who originally issued it within six days; officiants who received a special solemnization license must also return the license. It is important to note that if an individual officiates a marriage in New Hampshire without proper statutory authorization, they may face a misdemeanor charge. Notwithstanding this, the marriage will still be considered valid as long as it complied with other New Hampshire requirements and the couple reasonably believed the officiant was legally authorized.
New Hampshire Marriage Certificate
New Hampshire marriage certificates are legal documents that officially record marriages conducted within the state. These certificates are prepared after a marriage ceremony has taken place and the marriage license granting permission for the marriage has been filed with the issuing town or city clerk. The officiant is responsible for doing this, and they must do so within six days of the marriage ceremony.
Be aware that, in New Hampshire, marriage certificates are not automatically issued to couples - any couple looking to obtain certified copies of their marriage certificate must submit a request and pay the stipulated copy fees. These documents can be obtained from any town or city clerk’s office in the state; however, couples are advised to wait for at least two weeks after their wedding ceremony before submitting their request. Certified copies of New Hampshire marriage certificates can also be obtained from the state’s Division of Vital Records Administration.
How To Find and Access New Hampshire Marriage Records
The New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration maintains a central repository of marriage certificates for the entire state and provides interested parties access to these records. Marriage records can also be obtained locally from any town and city clerk’s office – these offices typically manage marriage records for marriages that occurred in their jurisdictions and also provide access to statewide marriage certificates from 1960 to the present.
It should be noted that New Hampshire marriage records are considered private and confidential, and access to them is statutorily restricted to individuals who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record. These include, but are not limited to, the couple named on the record, their immediate family, and legal representatives. Immediate family in this context refers to parents, siblings, grand and great-grandparents, nephews, nieces, and former spouses; it does not include cousins. Eligible parties must also provide a valid ID, pay a copy fee, and submit a written application before they can obtain copies. However, marriage records older than 50 years are generally exempt from these access restrictions.
Accessing New Hampshire Marriage Records Online
The New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration provides online access to marriage records through its Vital Records Information Network Web Query platform. Note that this platform is specifically designed to access information on marriages that occurred in the state and cannot be used to obtain certified copies of marriage records. Interested parties must also create a user account to utilize the platform.
Many town and city clerks also partner with third-party vendors to provide online options for requesting copies of marriage records. Contact the town or city clerk’s office that initially issued the license for the marriage in question to get more information on this.
Accessing New Hampshire Marriage Records Offline
Requests for New Hampshire marriage records can be made in person at any town or city clerk's office across the state. Note that these offices do not maintain copies of marriage certificates from other towns or cities generated before 1960. Requesters typically have to complete an application form and provide a valid ID (most clerks offer a mail-in option for submitting these documents). There is a non-refundable search fee of $15 that covers one copy of the requested record (if found) and an additional $10 per extra copy requested – these fees are uniform across the state.
Offline requests for marriage records can also be directed to the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration by submitting a completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record, along with a copy of a valid ID and the necessary fees, to:
NH Department of State
Division of Vital Records Administration
Registration/Certification
9 Ratification Way
Concord, NH 03301-2455
In-person requests are usually processed the same day, while mail-in requests may take up to 20 business days.
References
- New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated
- New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration
- University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
- Concord City Clerk’s Office
- Nashua City Clerk’s Office
- Newton Town Clerk’s Office
- Manchester City Clerk’s Office
- Lebanon City Clerk’s Office
- CDC/National Center for Health Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Statistical Atlas
- The Wedding Report Inc.