Introduction to New Hampshire Divorce Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a New Hampshire Divorce certificate.  Divorce Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Divorce Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Divorce Certificates is that states have not been registering Divorces for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register Divorces.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the Divorce took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Divorce Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Divorce Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Divorce certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Divorce certificate by following the correct procedure.
 

New Hampshire Divorce certificates have been maintained by the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration for individuals divorced in the state of New Hampshire since 1908.

New Hampshire Divorce Certificate Authorized Persons

By New Hampshire state law, New Hampshire Divorce certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the New Hampshire Divorce certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the New Hampshire Divorce Certificate

New Hampshire Divorce Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

New Hampshire Divorce certificates prior to 1948 are available with unrestricted access.  Individuals wishing to research these genealogical records may do so by visiting the New Hampshire Genealogical Research Center.  Alternatively, a written request may be made to the New Hampshire Vital Records offices and staff will research records upon receipt of request and search fee.

New Hampshire Divorce Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order New Hampshire Divorce Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your New Hampshire Divorce Certificate.  Order online and you will get your New Hampshire Divorce Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order New Hampshire Divorce Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your New Hampshire Divorce certificate online.  It usually takes 30 days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the New Hampshire Divorce certificate:

• Full name of husband on the New Hampshire Divorce certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the New Hampshire Divorce certificate
• Date of Divorce on the New Hampshire Divorce certificate
• County (or city) of Divorce on the New Hampshire Divorce certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose New Hampshire Divorce certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the New Hampshire Divorce certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

 

New Hampshire Department of State

Division of Vital Records Administration 71 South Fruit Street

Concord, NH 03301-2410

Option 3 – In Person

In person in New Hampshire: You may go to any county health department in the State of New Hampshire to obtain a certified copy of a New Hampshire Divorce certificate. Most New Hampshire Divorce certificates can be issued while you wait.

New Hampshire Divorce Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a New Hampshire Divorce certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the New Hampshire Divorce certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the New Hampshire Divorce certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $8.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Treasure – State of New Hampshire." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.