New Hampshire Divorce Records: Official Certificates, Decrees, and Search Options

In New Hampshire, the term "divorce records" refers to all documents filed or generated in connection with a divorce event. Such records may include complaints, financial statements, and case files. Divorce records in New Hampshire are crucial documents for various legal purposes and research. The records serve as official proof that a divorce has occurred and are often required when filing for name changes or disputes over property division. On the other hand, the records are essential for tracing ancestry or locating lost relatives.

NH RSA 91-A allows unrestricted public access to most divorce information in New Hampshire. However, the state statutes restrict public or unauthorized access to confidential or sealed divorce details, such as bank statements and criminal reports.

Divorces in New Hampshire: New Hampshire reported a divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents in 2025.

Official Types of Divorce Documentation in New Hampshire

In Hampshire, official types of divorce documentation include the following:

• Divorce certificate: This is a one-page document that confirms the occurrence of a divorce. The document may bear the seal of an authorizing entity, such as the court clerk. Divorce certificates are available through the local clerk of court. Note that the state's Division of Vital Records Administration does not provide access to divorce certificates.
• Divorce Decrees: Divorce decrees contain the final order of a court regarding divorce case proceedings. Such documents may also include information on child custody, support, and alimony payments. The local circuit clerks are the official custodians of divorce decrees.
• Divorce case files: This record is a compilation of all filed and generated documents in a divorce case. Such records typically include complaints, summons, case dockets, and court orders. New Hampshire divorce case files fall under the jurisdiction of the local circuit clerks.

Document Type	Issued By	Purpose	Contains
Divorce Certificate	Local circuit court clerks	Proof of legal divorce	Names, date, county, case number
Divorce Decree/Judgment	Local circuit court clerks	Details of the settlement and terms	Rulings, custody orders, and property division
Divorce case files	Local circuit court clerks	Details of a divorce case proceeding	Complaints, summons, crime reports, financial statements, and court orders.

Public Access and Confidentiality of New Hampshire Divorce Records

New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law allows public access to most divorce information. The public may view or request copies of such information from designated government entities. In turn, the law requires the entities to maintain options via which the public can obtain divorce records.

Inquirers seeking to access records may provide relevant search information, such as the case party names, number, and divorce year. There are instances when the court may require a valid ID before disclosing divorce records.

Not all divorce records are accessible to the public. New Hampshire statutes generally restrict public access to divorce records that are less than 50 years old. Only eligible parties, such as the record subject and their legal counsel, are permitted to access these records.

The state also prevents public access to records whose disclosure is deemed not to be in the public interest. Such exempted records contain information that may violate a person's right to safety or privacy. Examples of exempted divorce information include the following:

• Court-sealed divorce information.
• Personal information about alleged victims of domestic abuse.
• Criminal reports filed during divorce case proceedings.
• Personal details about the case parties, including social security numbers and bank statements.
• Personal information about minors affected by the dissolved union.

The New Hampshire Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics maintains copies of divorce records. Inquirers may receive copies of the documents by visiting the agency's physical address at:

Division of Vital Records Administration

What Information Do New Hampshire Divorce Records Include?

New Hampshire divorce information typically includes the following details:

• Case party names and residential address.
• Case identifiers, such as case number and time range.
• Number of minors in the union.
• Court case files, such as summons, complaints, final orders, and child custody agreements.

Note: Divorce records may contain different information, depending on the document type and level of access. A divorce case file contains more information than a divorce decree.

Procedures for Locating Divorce Records in New Hampshire

New Hampshire divorce records are accessible via these options:

• Online request forms via local county or court clerks' offices.
• Mail-in or in-person requests to the offices of local court, county, or town clerks.

Generally, it costs $40 to obtain a certified copy of a New Hampshire divorce decree. However, the local custodians have the liberty to charge a different fee for records in their custody. The Merrick clerk's office, for instance, charges $15 for the first copy of a divorce decree.

Record Source	Office or Platform	Years Covered	Access Type	Fees
Division of Vital Records Administration	New Hampshire Department of Health	Not specified	Case search	Not specified.
County Clerks	Local Circuit Courts	Varies	Certified decrees	Varies
State Archives / Library	Historical Records	Records older than 50 years old.	Manual search	Minimal copy fees

How to Request Certified Copies of Divorce Records in New Hampshire

A New Hampshire certified divorce record contains the seal of authentication from a designated record custodian. Members of the public may need a certified divorce document for legal procedures, such as name changes and property disputes. Searchers may request certified copies of divorce records using several general steps:

Step 1. Identify the court where the divorce was finalized.

In New Hampshire, local circuit courts maintain records of divorce cases filed within their respective jurisdictions. So, you may find copies of these documents at the circuit court clerk's office. However, some county or town court clerks may act as official custodians of divorce records. Case in point: the Merrimack Town Clerk's Office keeps records of divorce cases filed within the town.

Step 2. Contact the clerk's office.

Most local clerks' websites contain information on how to request and access court records. In the absence of such information, you may contact the clerk's office directly. Local custodians may offer online or offline options that allow the public to access records. For example, the Hillsborough County circuit clerk accepts mail-in requests for court records. Inquirers must fill out the request form and submit it to:

6th Circuit - District Division - Hillsborough

Step 3. Provide the necessary details.

Inquirers are typically required to provide necessary details when requesting court records. Such information includes the names of the parties involved, the approximate date of divorce, the case number, or the names of the attorneys.

Step 4. Pay the required fee.

Local court clerks charge fees for certified copies of divorce decrees. Although the general fee is $40 per certified divorce document, county clerks may set different fees. For example, the Merrimack Town Clerk charges $15 for the first copy of a divorce decree.

Copy Type	Where to Request	Who Can Order	Legal Use
Certified Decree	County/City/Town/Court Clerks	Case parties or legal counsel if the records are less than 50 years old.	Legal enforcement
Divorce Certificates	County/City/Town/Court Clerks	Case parties or legal counsel if the records are less than 50 years old.
Informational Copy	Division of Vital Records Administration/Archives/City, Town, or Court Clerks	Case parties or legal counsel if the records are less than 50 years old.	Genealogical/historical use

Why Search for Divorce Records in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, persons or entities may search divorce records to obtain proof that a divorce record occurred. They may also need the record for the following reasons:

• To apply for a new marriage license. Divorce records are often a requirement when filing for marriage licenses in New Hampshire.
• To trace family history. Interested individuals may use divorce records to locate long-lost relatives or to trace their family lineage.
• Probate-related legal processes: Divorce records are essential documents for probate-related procedures, such as name changes, property division, and inheritance-related cases.

How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire divorce records are kept indefinitely in the custody of designated record custodians. Local record custodians may maintain the records for 50 years, after which they forward them to state-level entities, such as the New Hampshire Archives and Records Management. State-level custodians may maintain the records as digital files. On the other hand, local custodians may release physical copies of divorce records.