New Hampshire Vital Records

Under New Hampshire law, vital records encompass official details of birth, adoption, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, legal separation, and civil annulment within the state. Generally, vital records are official documents that record major life events. These documents are crucial for establishing identity and enforcing judicial orders. They also play essential roles in administrative documentation, public health statistics, and genealogical and historical research.

According to Title 1, Chapter 5€‘C, Section 5-C:2 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) is the official custodian of the state's vital records, with the responsibility of keeping and issuing these documents at the state level. At the local level, clerk's offices maintain these documents. Hospitals, birthing centers, and funeral homes retain administrative worksheets or documentation for birth, death, and fetal death. However, the official state records are held by the DVRA and the local clerk.

While the New Hampshire Public Records Law regulates access to government records, it does not include vital records. Access to New Hampshire's vital records is governed separately under Title 1, Chapter 5-C of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated.

Public Access to New Hampshire Vital Records

Under New Hampshire's law, vital records are confidential documents. Information that may adversely affect the registrants is not publicly accessible. The New Hampshire open records law does not grant access to vital records.

Are vital records public in New Hampshire?

According to Title 1, Chapter 5C, § 5-C:102 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, access to recent vital records is limited to individuals with direct and tangible interests, and this includes:

• The registrant
• A member of the immediate family of the person named on the document
• Legal guardian/representative
• A person who can show a legitimate legal or property interest
• Authorized entities.

Nonetheless, Title 1, Chapter 5C, § 5-C:105 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated permits public access to birth records older than 100 years. Likewise, death, marriage, and divorce records become public 50 years after the event.

Types of Vital Records Available in New Hampshire

Title 1, Chapter 5C, Section 5C:1 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated outlines four major types of vital records in New Hampshire, including:

• Birth records
• Death records
• Marriage records.

In addition to the core documents, New Hampshire vital records also include:

• Adoption records
• Fetal death records
• Legal separation records
• Civil annulment records.

At the state level, the Division of Vital Records Administration within the Office of the Secretary of State maintains the documents and issues copies of birth, death, and marriage records to eligible individuals. At the local level, town and city clerk's offices also draw these documents from the New Hampshire Vital Records Information Network (NHVRIN) and issue copies to requesters who meet the applicable requirements.

The State of New Hampshire does not distinguish between long-form and short-form vital records. However, it issues heirloom versions of birth records, which, unlike certified copies, are for informational purposes.

New Hampshire Birth Records

According to Title 1, Chapter 5C, Sections 5-C:19 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, hospitals or institutions in the state must record births that occur within their facilities using birth worksheets. Generally, a New Hampshire birth certificate should detail:

• The Child's name, date and time of birth, sex
• Birth facility name and address, or relevant information about the birth place, including the attendant
• Mother's current name and maiden name, date and place of birth, and residence
• Father's name (if paternity is established)
• Birth registration number
• Date of registration
• The certifying official's signature and seal.

In New Hampshire, the Division of Vital Records Administration and local clerks' offices issue copies of birth records. To get a birth certificate in New Hampshire, the requester must prove a direct and tangible interest. Individuals seeking copies of New Hampshire birth certificates should register and log in to the NHVRIN web portal and query the specific birth record.

Alternatively, download and complete a New Hampshire Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form, and mail it along with a copy of a government-issued photo ID and payment to:

New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration

Registration/Certification

Requesters can also contact the town or city clerk's office in the county where the event occurred.

New Hampshire Death Records

New Hampshire death records are official documents that detail the death of persons within the New Hampshire geographical jurisdiction. Once a person dies in New Hampshire, the certifying physician or medical examiner must file a death registration with the city or town clerk in the municipality where the death took place. The clerk's office files this record with the DVRA to create and register the death record in the state's vital-records system (NHVRIN/NHVRINplus).

Typically, a New Hampshire death record details include:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date and place of death
• Age, sex, race, and marital status of the deceased
• Cause of death
• Occupation and residence
• Names of parents and spouse (if applicable)
• Informant's name and relationship
• Name of funeral home and burial/cremation details.

New Hampshire death records are restricted documents. As such, access is limited to persons with direct and tangible interests. Entities that can access New Hampshire's death records include:

• Family members of the deceased, including the spouse, parent, child, and sibling
• Authorized legal representative
• Persons with a court order
• Individuals with documented needs for the record. For instance, for insurance or legal purposes.

Nevertheless, a New Hampshire death record becomes accessible to all interested individuals 50 years after the death of the subject.

To find a death record in New Hampshire, download and complete an Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form and mail it with the necessary identification documents and payments to:

New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration

Registration/Certification

Copies of New Hampshire death records are also accessible through town/city clerk's offices.

New Hampshire Marriage Records

New Hampshire marriage records are official documentation of valid marital unions between two individuals. These documents serve several purposes, including:

• Establishing legal marital status
• Changing names on legal documents
• Applying for spousal benefits, insurance, or immigration
• Providing data for genealogical and historical research

In New Hampshire, the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) and local town or city clerks maintain and issue copies of marriage certificates.

Similar to other New Hampshire vital records, there is a time restriction on public access to marriage records. A New Hampshire marriage certificate is a confidential document and only becomes publicly accessible 50 years after the marriage. Before the 50-year limit, a New Hampshire marriage certificate is accessible to:

• The registrants of the document
• Immediate family members of the spouses
• The registrant's legal guardian, or their legal representative
• Authorized genealogists or researchers with written statements from the registrants or their immediate family members
• Parties with direct and tangible interests.

To find a marriage certificate in New Hampshire

• Submit or mail a completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form to the New Hampshire DVRA at:

New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration

Registration/Certification

• Mail or visit the clerk's office of the city/town where the marriage was solemnized
• Register and log in to the NHVRIN web portal and query the specific record.

New Hampshire Divorce Records

New Hampshire divorce records are official documentation of the termination of valid marriages within the state. These documents are related to, but distinct from, divorce judgments/decrees. While a divorce record encompasses all documents related to a divorce action (from petition to final judgment), a divorce decree or judgment is the final order issued by the court to legally end a marriage. New Hampshire divorce decrees/judgments are court records and not vital records. They are issued by the Family Division of the New Hampshire Judicial Branch in the court where the divorce was granted.

The New Hampshire DVRA does not issue divorce certificates. Individuals who need copies of a divorce decree in New Hampshire should mail or visit the clerk's office of the New Hampshire Family Court that handled the specific divorce case.

How to Order Vital Records in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, copies of vital records are accessible through the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration and city/town clerk's offices where the events occurred. To order New Hampshire vital records, submit a completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form along with the necessary payments and identification documents in person or by mail to:

New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration

Registration/Certification

For older records and those files locally, contact the clerk's office of the city or town where the event occurred.

Record seekers should note that the NHVRINweb portal is for querying de-identified statistical data. It allows researchers and the general public to find statistical information. For instance, how many births occurred in a specific county. It is not used for ordering or certifying copies of records.

Who Can Request New Hampshire Vital Records?

New Hampshire vital records eligibility is limited to protect the privacy of the owners of the records. Who can access vital records in New Hampshire must be an entity with direct and tangible interests in the document. This includes the registrants (excluding death records), immediate family members, authorized legal representatives, and individuals with documented needs.

The table outlines the individuals who are eligible to access vital records in New Hampshire, and the requirements for accessing copies of these documents.

Record Type	Eligible Requestors	Required Documents	Official Source Link
Birth Certificate	The registrant (if adult) Parents/Legal Guardians Immediate family Authorized legal representatives Individuals with a court order	Government-issued photo ID Proof of relationship or legal authority Completed request form	New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration Registration/Certification 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2455 City/town clerk's offices
Death Certificate	Immediate family Executor Legal representative Individuals with direct interests	Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID Proof of relationship or legal authority. For example, a birth certificate of a child, a court order, a power of attorney Completed request form	The DVRA office or city/town clerk's offices
Marriage Record	Either spouse Immediate family Legal representatives	Government-issued photo ID Proof of relationship or authority if the requester is not a spouse Completed request form	The New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration Registration/Certification office or local clerk's offices
Divorce Record	Either party to the divorce Legal representatives of the involved parties Individuals with a direct interest	Government-issued photo ID Names of both parties and the date of divorce Case number (if known) Written request to the Family Division court where the divorce was granted Proof of legal interest if requesting documents beyond the final decree	The Family Division of the New Hampshire Circuit Court that issued the divorce decree.

Processing Times for New Hampshire Vital Records Requests

There is no guaranteed universal time frame for the processing of New Hampshire vital records. The time it takes to process a request for a New Hampshire vital record depends on the request method, record type, completeness of application, volume of requests, and delivery time.

While the DVRA and city/town clerk's offices do not specify the timeline for processing and delivering vital records after payments, in-person requests are typically the quickest option. Individuals who visit the DVRA office to request copies of vital records may receive them the same day.

New Hampshire does not offer an online option for accessing vital records. Access to New Hampshire vital records is by in-person or mail-in requests. Nonetheless, record seekers can limit how long it takes to get New Hampshire vital records through the mail by opting for the expedited delivery option (if available).

Record Type	Factors That Influence Processing Time	Considerations
Birth Certificate	Request method (online, mail, in-person) Completeness of the application Record age Office workload	Access Restrictions - New Hampshire allows public access to birth records that are older than 100 years - Restricted access records require additional review
Death Certificate	Record year and location Inclusion of cause-of-death information Request method Verification of the requester's eligibility	New Hampshire death records become fully public after 50 years. Recent records require eligibility proof
Marriage Record	Where the record is held Accuracy of the application Request method Age of the marriage record	Copies may be held both at the city/town clerk's office that issued the marriage license and the DVRA office. However, access depends on a legitimate and direct interest
Divorce Record	Whether the requester needs a certified decree or a full case file Court location Request method Age of the divorce record	Basic divorce information is typically public, but sensitive information, such as financial affidavits and confidential attachments, may be redacted.

Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in New Hampshire

Vital records fees in New Hampshire may differ depending on whether access is through the DVRA or clerk's offices and other associated costs that result from the access process. For instance, a New Hampshire birth certificate cost may include:

• Search or issuance fee
• Copy fees
• Mailing/shipping charges
• Expedited processing (if offered)
• Administrative or identification verification fees (if extra processing is required).

Typically, New Hampshire charges a $15.00 non-refundable search fee for copies of vital records, and an additional $10.00 for each subsequent copy of the same document issued at the same time. In addition, the requester is responsible for any additional expenses that result from the vital records request.

How to Search Vital Records Online in New Hampshire

Unlike some states with fully public searchable databases, New Hampshire does not provide a broad public online index for all birth, death, or marriage records. Instead, individuals can query statistical and aggregate data for births, deaths, marriages, and divorces through the NHVRINweb portal. The NHVRINweb is the central digital registry/database for vital records in New Hampshire. It allows authorized clerks to search for and locate vital records. The public cannot freely browse or search birth, death, or marriage records online through the NHVRINweb portal.

However, the public can download application forms for New Hampshire vital records through the DVRA website. For New Hampshire genealogy records, record seekers should visit the New Hampshire State Archives website.