Are New Hampshire Marriage Records Public?
No. Marriage records are generally presumed to be private and confidential in the State of New Hampshire. As such, they are strictly limited to eligible individuals such as those named on the records, their parents, legal guardians, siblings, other immediate family members, and designated attorneys. On the other hand, marriage records recorded before 1968 are public records and can be obtained by anyone who can provide identifying information about the record of interest.
Family court records can include marriage and divorce records (also called dissolution of marriage records). These records contain the personal information of those involved and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this both marriage and divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records, and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find New Hampshire Marriage Records
New Hampshire marriage records are official documents featuring information about marriage and civil unions contracted in the state. Like divorce certificates and other vital records, marriage records are maintained at the state level by the Division of Vital Records Administration. City and town clerk offices, the local offices responsible for issuing marriage licenses in New Hampshire, also maintain statewide records of marriages from 1960 to the present and public marriage records (earlier marriage records that fall within the state's genealogical years).
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in New Hampshire
Anyone who gets married in New Hampshire purchases a marriage license from a city or town clerk's office. This issuing office is responsible for certifying the marriage facts and preserving a marriage record. Hence, anyone who wants to know if someone got married in New Hampshire may contact the clerk's office that issued the license. In many cases, this office will be based in the town or city where the married person resides or works.
Moreover, if a New Hampshire marriage license was issued by a town clerk's office, an individual may find the information they seek in the clerk's annual town report. This report often carries information such as:
- Names and residences of all persons who got married in a particular year
- Town of issuance
- Place of marriage
- Date of marriage
How to Check Marriage Status Online
City or town clerks in New Hampshire do not maintain platforms or databases that the public can remotely access to check marriage status online. The best way to verify marriage information is to query the town or city clerk responsible for issuing a marriage license. If the marriage occurred after 1960, any town or city clerk's office can receive the inquiry.
How to Check Marriage Records for Free
Usually, to obtain any marriage record in New Hampshire, an eligible person must pay a small sum to a town/city clerk's office or the state's vital statistics office (the Division of Vital Records Administration).
However, Section 5-C:105 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes provides public access to marriage records created more than 50 years from the present date. Hence, it might be possible to check these New Hampshire public marriage records for free at a clerk's office or the DVRA's Genealogical Research Center in Concord City. A fee is often required if the staff performs the New Hampshire marriage record search to find marriage records and issues copies.
What is Considered a Marriage Record in New Hampshire?
A New Hampshire marriage record serves as proof that two people are lawfully married in the state. This document contains all information recorded during the formal marriage process. There are two types of marriage records widely recognized and requested in New Hampshire. These are marriage licenses and marriage certificates. Although these records serve different purposes, they provide similar details such as:
- Full names of the parties involved in the recorded unions
- Dates the marriage events took place
- Where the marriages occurred
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and divorce records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in New Hampshire
To perform a name change after marriage in New Hampshire, interested parties can visit the county clerk's office to fill out a marriage license application form. After obtaining their marriage certificate, parties can contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to change their name officially. They will have to fill out an application form, submit a copy of their marriage certificate, and provide proof of identity to do this. The SSA usually gives a two to three weeks waiting period, after which the applicant will receive a new social security card with the new name.
Parties who change their name after marriage should also update this data on their driver's licenses. They are to visit the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and fill out an application form at the office. The DMV will request to see their current driver's license and a copy of their marriage certificate.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in New Hampshire?
Marriage certificates in New Hampshire are vital records issued to couples after conducting their marriage ceremonies. They contain information such as the names of the persons joined in marriage, marriage dates, counties/cities of marriage, names of witnesses, and names of officiating judges or ministers. Marriage certificates are the most frequently requested marriage records and are usually needed by couples when applying for legal name changes, mortgaging homes, taking out loans, and creating joint bank accounts.
How Do I Obtain a Copy of Marriage Certificate in New Hampshire?
To obtain or find a marriage certificate in New Hampshire, an individual can submit a vital records request to a city or town clerk's office or the State Department of Vital Records Administration. This can be done by physically visiting the office of choice or sending a mail.
In Person:
Visit a State Vital Records Administration or any city/town clerk’s office with the required information, documents, and applicable fees. Information required to process a request includes names of the parties involved, date of marriage/civil union, and place of marriage. The provided ID documents must be government-issued. The first copy of a New Hampshire marriage certificate costs $15, while there is a $10 fee for each additional certificate ordered at the same time.
The state office provides a downloadable Vital Records Application Form on its webpage. To speed up the total processing time, print and complete the marriage section of this form and then bring it to the office located at:
NH Department Of State
Division Of Vital Records Administration
Registration/Certification
9 Ratification Way
Concord, NH 03301-2410
Similarly, the city or town clerks provide online application forms on their respective websites. Find the website of choice and navigate to the vital records order page. Then, print and complete the form before coming into the office.
By Mail:
To order a marriage certificate in New Hampshire by mail, download, print, complete, and sign the marriage section of the Vital Records Application Form available on the State Department of Vital Records Administration's website. Then send the request along with a valid photo ID, a self-addressed envelope, and the appropriate fees to the following address:
NH Department Of State
Division Of Vital Records Administration
Registration/Certification
9 Ratification Way
Concord, NH 03301-2410
The fee is $15 for the first copy of a marriage certificate and $10 for each additional copy of the same certificate ordered at the same time. If the required form of identification is not available, also print, complete, and attach the Documentary Evidence for Individuals Not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification to the application request form.
Note: It may be possible to place an order online for a New Hampshire marriage certificate through an authorized third-party vendor. Generally, town/city clerk's offices in New Hampshire publish ordering guidelines that the public can review to know how to find a marriage certificate in their offices. The state vital records office's website also has some information about finding marriage records in New Hampshire.
What is Considered a Marriage License in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire marriage licenses are documents that must be obtained by prospective couples before getting married. These documents provide the full names of the parties involved, their places of residence, dates of birth, brides’ maiden names, as well as mentions of previous marriages (if applicable). A marriage license sanctions a wedding ceremony to proceed. As such, intending couples must apply for and obtain these records before formal wedding ceremonies. Persons eligible to apply include adults and minors between 16 and 17 years of age with parental consent.
Are Marriage Licenses Public Record in New Hampshire?
No, marriage licenses are not considered part of New Hampshire's public records. The state legislature (RSA 5-C:10) limits access to marriage records less than 50 years from today to persons who have - and can prove - a direct and tangible interest in a marriage record.
Now, individuals have unrestricted access to New Hampshire public marriage records (records 50 years or older). Interested persons may also examine annual town reports published online by town clerks to determine how many married licenses a town issued and the revenue generated. It may also be possible to view how many certified copies of marriage licenses were issued by the town clerk (plus revenue) in such reports. Sometimes, a town clerk's report may even include the names, residences, and marriage dates of those who purchased marriage licenses and had their wedding ceremonies in the state. However, no one has access to the original marriage license applications in New Hampshire, regardless of how much time passes.
New Hampshire Formal Marriage Licenses
Formal marriage licenses are government-issued authorization documents that potential couples must obtain from city and town clerks before getting married. New Hampshire marriage licenses are valid for a period of 90 days after receiving them. Persons qualified to apply for marriage licenses include adults that are not related by blood as well as minors with parental consent. Applicants are generally not required to be residents of New Hampshire or to submit to medical examinations.
How to Get a Marriage License in New Hampshire
The marriage license application process in New Hampshire is similar, regardless of the city or town clerk's office where one prefers to purchase their license. All city and town clerks in the State of New Hampshire issue marriage licenses to applicants but require them to submit their requests in person. However, military and paramilitary personnel stationed in foreign countries or out of state are exempted. Even so, the available party must be a resident of New Hampshire and must present an affidavit of intentions prepared by the absentee’s legal representative.
To get a marriage license, follow these steps:
- Visit the city or town clerk of choice
- Provide appropriate documents and proof of identification
- Fill out the forms provided by the office
- Pay applicable marriage license fee
- Submit the form to the clerk for recording
Documents required during the marriage license application process include certified long birth certificates and government-issued photo IDs such as driver’s licenses, passports, etc. Where applicable, selected applicants will also be required to bring their naturalization certificate, the death certificate of any former spouse, and a copy of the dissolution of marriage record (the final divorce decree) if previously married.
Each marriage license issued by the city or town clerk costs $50, payable to the clerk by cash, check, or money order (RSA 457:29).
New Hampshire Common Law Marriage Licenses
The State of New Hampshire practices a special form of common-law marriage in which the two people involved are declared married after the death of one spouse. To be eligible for this form of marriage, the “couple” must have:
- Lived together for 3 or more years before the death of one partner
- Held each other out as a couple
- Be considered husband and wife by members of the resident community.
A marriage license is not required to validate this form of marriage. Therefore, New Hampshire state and county vital records offices are not responsible for acknowledging or issuing any official document suggesting that a couple is in a common-law marriage.
Are Prenups Public Record in New Hampshire?
No, prenups are not public records in New Hampshire. The term prenup, short for a "prenuptial agreement," refers to a legal document intending spouses create (often with a family lawyer's assistance) to outline how property, assets, or debt would be divided in case of a divorce or death. Also called an antenuptial agreement in New Hampshire, any prenup created in New Hampshire is valid and enforceable under the antenuptial agreement statute outlined in RSA 460:2-a and case law. The statute does not provide for the public dissemination of prenuptial agreements in the state.
