New Hampshire ranks 7th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#11 (tie)of 51
Speed#14of 51
Ease of ordering#3 (tie)of 51
Birth certificates #8 of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $10 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: up to 20 business days; in person: usually while you wait at the state office in Concord; also at any city or town clerk
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–5 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or any city or town clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Marriage records #9 of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $10 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: up to 20 business days; in person: usually while you wait at the state office in Concord; also at any city or town clerk
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–5 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or any city or town clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Divorce records #9 of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $10 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: up to 20 business days; in person: usually while you wait at the state office in Concord; also at any city or town clerk
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–5 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or any city or town clerk (full decrees from the court that granted the divorce)
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Death certificates #7 of 51
Cost
$15 first copy, $10 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: up to 20 business days; in person: usually while you wait at the state office in Concord; also at any city or town clerk
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–5 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or any city or town clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order New Hampshire birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a New Hampshire birth certificate?
A certified New Hampshire birth certificate costs $15, including one copy, plus $10 for each extra copy issued at the same time. Get one in person at your city or town clerk or at the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord, where it’s usually issued while you wait. Or order by mail from DVRA (allow 20 business days).
New Hampshire birth records: ordering details
Who can order
New Hampshire vital records are private. Certified copies go only to people with a “direct and tangible interest” under RSA 5-C:9; immediate legal family members qualify. Older records are public: under RSA 5-C:105, birth records more than 100 years old and death, marriage and divorce records more than 50 years old are public.
Fee
$15 search fee, which includes one certified copy if the record is found. The fee is kept if no record is found. Additional copies of the same record issued at the same time are $10 each. Extras: credit card transaction costs; VitalChek and EB2Gov charge their own processing and shipping fees.
How to order
In person: your local city or town clerk (New Hampshire has 234), or the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord. By mail: the VR201 Certificate Application from the DVRA forms page, payment in U.S. funds and a copy of your photo ID to NH Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration, Registration/Certification, 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2455. Online (expedited): the state lists VitalChek (877-878-8007) and EB2Gov, which works through local clerks. Contact the city or town clerk where the record originated about EB2Gov.
ID needed
Positive identification such as a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued photo ID (RSA 5-C:102). Without acceptable photo ID, complete form VR206, Documentation Evidence for Individuals Not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification.
Processing time
In person at DVRA: usually issued while you wait. By mail: allow 20 business days from receipt. Estimate: about 4–5 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
DVRA’s genealogical research vault holds records dating back to 1640. Birth records more than 100 years old are public and can be researched at the Genealogical Research Center, 9 Ratification Way, Concord (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), or staff will search by mail.
Tip: Need it quickly? Apply in person with your photo ID instead of mailing; mail requests can take up to 20 business days.
A certified New Hampshire death certificate costs $15, including one copy, plus $10 for each extra copy issued at the same time. Order in person at your city or town clerk or DVRA in Concord, or by mail from DVRA (allow 20 business days).
New Hampshire death records: ordering details
Who can order
New Hampshire vital records are private. Certified copies go only to people with a “direct and tangible interest” under RSA 5-C:9; immediate legal family members qualify. Older records are public: under RSA 5-C:105, birth records more than 100 years old and death, marriage and divorce records more than 50 years old are public.
Fee
$15 search fee, which includes one certified copy if the record is found. The fee is kept if no record is found. Additional copies of the same record issued at the same time are $10 each. Extras: credit card transaction costs; VitalChek and EB2Gov charge their own processing and shipping fees.
How to order
In person: your local city or town clerk (New Hampshire has 234), or the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord. By mail: the VR201 Certificate Application from the DVRA forms page, payment in U.S. funds and a copy of your photo ID to NH Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration, Registration/Certification, 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2455. Online (expedited): the state lists VitalChek (877-878-8007) and EB2Gov, which works through local clerks. Contact the city or town clerk where the record originated about EB2Gov.
ID needed
Positive identification such as a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued photo ID (RSA 5-C:102). Without acceptable photo ID, complete form VR206, Documentation Evidence for Individuals Not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification.
Processing time
In person at DVRA: usually issued while you wait. By mail: allow 20 business days from receipt. Estimate: about 4–5 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
Death records more than 50 years old are public and can be researched at the Genealogical Research Center in Concord, or by mail. DVRA’s vault holds records dating back to 1640.
Tip: Order all the copies you need at once. Extra copies issued at the same time are $10 instead of $15.
How do I get a New Hampshire marriage certificate?
A certified New Hampshire marriage certificate costs $15, including one copy, plus $10 for each extra copy issued at the same time. Order from your city or town clerk or the Division of Vital Records Administration in Concord, in person or by mail.
New Hampshire marriage records: ordering details
Who can order
New Hampshire vital records are private. Certified copies go only to people with a “direct and tangible interest” under RSA 5-C:9; immediate legal family members qualify. Older records are public: under RSA 5-C:105, birth records more than 100 years old and death, marriage and divorce records more than 50 years old are public.
Fee
$15 search fee, which includes one certified copy if the record is found. The fee is kept if no record is found. Additional copies of the same record issued at the same time are $10 each. Extras: credit card transaction costs; VitalChek and EB2Gov charge their own processing and shipping fees.
How to order
In person: your local city or town clerk (New Hampshire has 234), or the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord. By mail: the VR201 Certificate Application from the DVRA forms page, payment in U.S. funds and a copy of your photo ID to NH Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration, Registration/Certification, 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2455. Online (expedited): the state lists VitalChek (877-878-8007) and EB2Gov, which works through local clerks. Contact the city or town clerk where the record originated about EB2Gov.
ID needed
Positive identification such as a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued photo ID (RSA 5-C:102). Without acceptable photo ID, complete form VR206, Documentation Evidence for Individuals Not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification.
Processing time
In person at DVRA: usually issued while you wait. By mail: allow 20 business days from receipt. Estimate: about 4–5 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older records
Marriage records more than 50 years old are public. DVRA’s research vault holds records dating back to 1640. Decorative heirloom marriage certificates are also sold by DVRA.
Tip: Mailing your request? Include a copy of your photo ID, or form VR206 if you don’t have one, so it isn’t sent back.
A certified New Hampshire divorce certificate costs $15, including one copy, plus $10 for each extra copy, from your city or town clerk or the Division of Vital Records Administration in Concord. The certificate proves the divorce. The full divorce decree is a court record held by the court that granted the divorce.
New Hampshire divorce records: ordering details
Certificate vs. decree
Divorce certificate: from a city or town clerk or DVRA, $15. Divorce decree: contact the court that granted the divorce.
Who can order
New Hampshire vital records are private. Certified copies go only to people with a “direct and tangible interest” under RSA 5-C:9; immediate legal family members qualify. Older records are public: under RSA 5-C:105, birth records more than 100 years old and death, marriage and divorce records more than 50 years old are public.
Fee
$15 search fee, which includes one certified copy if the record is found. The fee is kept if no record is found. Additional copies of the same record issued at the same time are $10 each. Extras: credit card transaction costs; VitalChek and EB2Gov charge their own processing and shipping fees.
How to order
In person: your local city or town clerk (New Hampshire has 234), or the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord. By mail: the VR201 Certificate Application from the DVRA forms page, payment in U.S. funds and a copy of your photo ID to NH Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration, Registration/Certification, 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2455. Online (expedited): the state lists VitalChek (877-878-8007) and EB2Gov, which works through local clerks. Contact the city or town clerk where the record originated about EB2Gov.
ID needed
Positive identification such as a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued photo ID (RSA 5-C:102). Without acceptable photo ID, complete form VR206, Documentation Evidence for Individuals Not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification.
Processing time
In person at DVRA: usually issued while you wait. By mail: allow 20 business days from receipt. Estimate: about 4–5 weeks for a mail order to arrive.
Older records
Divorce records more than 50 years old are public and can be researched at the Genealogical Research Center in Concord.
Tip: Ask whoever needs proof of your divorce whether the $15 certificate is enough before you request the full decree from the court.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other New Hampshire records people search for
Official New Hampshire sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Find NH Money Run by the New Hampshire State Treasury.
Last verified:
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About New Hampshire public records
Certificate Information
The New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration manages birth and death records from local towns
and counties from 1640 to present. The division does not issue certificates online, so all records should be acquired by mail,
in person or at a local town clerk. Searches cost $15 dollars for their first certificate and $10 dollars each additional copy.
Birth records from 1988 and death records from 1990 from any town are available at any other town clerk with the newest computer
systems.
Marriage and divorce records from 1808 are available from either the state or from the town the records were filed for $15 dollars.
Adoption Records
Adult aged adoptees can obtain noncertified birth records from the Division of Vital Records Administration office. If the birth
parents have volunteered contact information or a medical history those records are also available.
• Birth Parent Medical History
• Pre-Adoption Birth Records
• Contact Preference Forms
Property Records
Parcel records and property data are handled by the local town or city government. Generally the assessor's department in
conjunction with the GIS and mapping department.
