Marriage License

General Information

  • You do not need to live in NH to marry in New Hampshire.

  • All persons wishing to be married in the State of New Hampshire must complete a New Hampshire Marriage License application at any New Hampshire City or Town Clerk regardless of their place of residence. This includes out-of-state residents. Once the marriage license is issued, the couple is free to marry within any city or town in the State of New Hampshire.

  • A marriage certificate is a copy of the record certified by the city or town clerk or by the Registrar of the Vital Records and Health Statistics and serves as evidence of the fact of marriage.

Application Procedure

  • Both individuals must appear at the same time in the Office of any New Hampshire City or Town Clerk. However, if either party (or both) is a member of the armed forces, he or she shall forward an affidavit of marriage intentions, prepared by the armed forces legal representative, to the City or Town Clerk, if he or she cannot appear in person.

  • Individuals may apply for a marriage license during the City or Town Clerks normal business hours. The application process takes approximately 45 minutes to complete if all the supporting documentation is in order.

Identification Requirements

  • No photo or electronic copies!

  • Proof of age (example – driver’s license, passport, certified birth certificate)

  • Photo identification (example – driver’s license or passport)

  • Certified copy of a death certificate of a former spouse, if either applicant is widowed Certified copy of a final divorce decree, if either applicant is divorced Certified copy of a civil annulment decree, if the applicant’s previous marriage as annulled. This is a court document.

  • Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translation that has been signed by the translator. A notary must witness the translator’s signature.

Age

  • A male or female who has reached the age of 18 can marry without parental permission. A male or female 16 years of age can be married only with the permission of their parent (guardian) and a waiver. A male or female below the age of 16 are not allowed to marry under any condition.

Relationship

  • Marriage is not permitted in New Hampshire between people who are related by blood as first cousins or in any more direct lineage

Marriage may be performed by:

  • A Justice of the Peace commissioned in New Hampshire

  • A minister of the gospel in New Hampshire who has been ordained to the usage of his denomination, resides in New Hampshire and is in regular standing with the denomination

  • A minister within his parish, residing outside New Hampshire, but having a pastoral charge wholly or partly in New Hampshire

  • Jewish Rabbis who are citizens of the United States and reside in this state

  • Quakers

  • A deacon in the Roman Catholic Church ordained according to the usage of his denomination

  • Judges of the United States, a US magistrate judge residing in this state pursuant to federal law, a clergyman who are not ordained, and non-resident Justices of the Peace, ministers and Jewish Rabbis, after being licensed by the Secretary of State

Waiting Period

  • There is no waiting period in the State of New Hampshire.