Introduction to New Hampshire Marriage Certificates

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

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

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

New Hampshire Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

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

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

New Hampshire Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

New Hampshire Marriage 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 Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order New Hampshire Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your New Hampshire Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your New Hampshire Marriage 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 Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your New Hampshire Marriage 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 Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the New Hampshire Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the New Hampshire Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the New Hampshire Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the New Hampshire Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose New Hampshire Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the New Hampshire Marriage 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 Marriage certificate. Most New Hampshire Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

New Hampshire Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a New Hampshire Marriage certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the New Hampshire Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the New Hampshire Marriage 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.