How to Find New Hampshire Marriage Records

How to Find United States Marriages New Hampshire  New Hampshire Marriages

Records of marriages occurring in each New Hampshire town or city have been kept by town clerks since the early 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1866. Total compliance with the law was not accomplished until the 1880s, and even then the practice was not uniform. By that point, less than half of the population registered marriages. Total compliance was achieved in 1905 with the establishment of the Bureau of Vital Records.

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Next Step: When did the marriage occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's marriage record:


 * Marriages before 1905
 * Marriages between 1905 and 1947
 * Marriages after 1947
 * Marriage year unknown


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Marriages before 1905
Town clerks in New Hampshire have been keeping record of marriages since the 1600s. In 1866, law required town clerks to send copies of marriage records to the state government. Between 1866 and 1905, compliance was not in enforced and many marriage records were not sent to the state.

Obtain the Marriage Record
If your ancestor appeared in one of the indexes, there are two options:


 * FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can order the microfilm from the Family History Library and send it to the Family History Center nearest you.
 * Individual Town Clerk Office - You may contact the town clerk where your ancestor died and order a copy of the marriage record.

If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in substitute records. You may also contact the town clerk where your ancestor married to obtain the marriage record.

Return to top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages between 1905 and 1947
The state of New Hampshire began recording marriages in 1892. All marriage certificates from 1892 to 1922 are held at the New Hampshire State Archives.

If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in substitute records. You may also contact the New Hampshire State Archives to conduct a search for the marriage record.

Obtain the Certificate
If your ancestor appeared in the index, there are two options:


 * FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can order the microfilm from the Family History Library and send it to the Family History Center nearest you.
 * New Hampshire State Archives - If there is no GS microfilm number available, or if you cannot gain access to the microfilm, you may contact the state archives and order a copy of the marriage certificate.

Return to top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages after 1947
The New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records was established in 1905, bringing about full compliance to statewide registration of marriages that started in 1866. Since 1905, marriage records have been kept at both the town and state level. After 1947, there are no online databases or indexes. You will have to contact the state or town to order a marriage certificate.

Obtain the Certificate
See restrictions below to find if you "qualify" to order a certificate. You must have full name, exact date and place of marriage to order from the New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration. If you do not have the exact information, contact the Vital Records Office for more information. They may be able to do a search.

Restrictions to qualify for certificates for persons who married within the last 50 years: To obtain a copy of the certificate, you must be:


 * The person(s) on the certificate
 * Member of the person's immediate family
 * Individuals who have a "direct and tangible interest"

If you do not want to order the marriage record, there are other records with marriage information you can search. Return to top: Choose another marriage year

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