How to Get New Hampshire Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in New Hampshire are handled at the municipal level. Birth, death, and marriage records are maintained by local city or town clerks. The state office (Town Clerk (local) / DHHS (state)) keeps duplicate copies.

What this page covers: New Hampshire vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Town Clerk (local) / DHHS (state). For marriage licenses, contact the Town Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Vital Records - New Hampshire Secretary of State - NH.gov
Parent agency
Vital Records Birth & Death Data | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Records back to
Vital Records - New Hampshire Secretary of State - NH.gov
Online ordering
Request for Certificates | New Hampshire Secretary of State
Marriage license issued by
Couples wanting to be joined in marriage
Local intake
Vital Records - New Hampshire Secretary of State - NH.gov
Population
1,409,032
Households
565,600
Median Income
$90,845
Median Home Value
$350,100
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: New Hampshire vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.sos.nh.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

New Hampshire Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for New Hampshire — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a New Hampshire vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — New Hampshire Vital Records

2026
New Hampshire vital records portal active
The official New Hampshire portal at www.sos.nh.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements New Hampshire state records.
2026
New Hampshire access in 2026
For 2026, New Hampshire continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.sos.nh.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE New Hampshire's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step New Hampshire Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in New Hampshire, start with the New Hampshire health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
New Hampshire typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
New Hampshire records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About New Hampshire Vital Records

MYTH"Marriage licenses come from the state."
FACTIn most states — New Hampshire included for most purposes — you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.
MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite — most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Every birth was registered on time."
FACTHome births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this — ask the state archives.
MYTH"VitalChek is a government website."
FACTIt's a private company that many states authorize to process orders. Legitimate, yes — but the extra convenience fees are theirs, not the state's.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample New Hampshire counties: Belknap · Carroll · Cheshire · Coos · Grafton

Vital Records Databases

4 official New Hampshire vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Vital Records | New Hampshire Secretary of State
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for New Hampshire route through this office. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 sos.nh.gov
New Hampshire Vital Records - NH.gov
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to New Hampshire are ordered here. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
🌐 nhvrinweb.sos.nh.gov
Birth Certificates
Official Free
This is the request channel for New Hampshire vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 dover.nh.gov

New Hampshire Counties

All 10 New Hampshire counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Hillsborough Rockingham Merrimack Strafford Grafton Cheshire Belknap Carroll Sullivan Coos

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in New Hampshire are issued by the Official New Hampshire Vital Records at www.sos.nh.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

New Hampshire death certificates are issued by the Official New Hampshire Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.sos.nh.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

New Hampshire marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official New Hampshire Vital Records (www.sos.nh.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard New Hampshire vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official New Hampshire Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.sos.nh.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official New Hampshire Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.sos.nh.gov.