How to Find a Cause of Death in New Hampshire (2026)

In New Hampshire, the cause of death is recorded on the certified death certificate and, for sudden or unexplained deaths, in the medical examiner's autopsy report. It is not open to the general public. Only family or a legal representative with a direct and tangible interest can obtain it until the record becomes public 50 years after the death.

How Do You Find Someone's Cause of Death in New Hampshire?

To find someone's cause of death in New Hampshire, get the certified death certificate, which carries the medically certified cause. The state restricts that record, so you must be an eligible requester.

The death certificate is issued by the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) under the Secretary of State. Certified copies cost a $15 search fee that includes one copy if the record is found.

For a sudden or unexplained death, the cause may also appear in an autopsy report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). That report is confidential and is released only to the next of kin and a few authorized parties.

If you are not an eligible requester, your practical options are the obituary, a newspaper account, or the death record once it becomes public 50 years after the death. For how this works nationally, see Death Records by State.

Is the Cause of Death Public in New Hampshire?

No, the cause of death is not public in recent New Hampshire records. The state treats vital records as private and limits access to people with a direct and tangible interest under RSA 5-C:9.

Because the cause of death is printed on the certified death certificate, it inherits that restriction. Only the family, a guardian, or a legal representative can buy a copy during the restricted period.

That restriction is not permanent. Under RSA 5-C:105, death records more than 50 years old become part of the public domain, and anyone may then access them. For the national picture, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?.

This tracks the open or closed determination on the parent page: see New Hampshire Death Records.

Where the Cause of Death Is Recorded

The cause of death is recorded in two main places in New Hampshire. The first and primary place is the death certificate.

The Death Certificate

Under RSA 5-C:64, the medical certification of the cause of death is completed by the attending physician, an APRN, or a physician assistant. It must be made available to the funeral director, next of kin, or designated agent as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after the time of death.

When the cause cannot be determined within 36 hours, the certifier marks it "pending" and supplies the finding later, generally within 90 days. So a certificate pulled early may not yet state a final cause.

The Autopsy Report

For deaths the medical examiner investigates, the detailed findings live in the autopsy report. This is a separate document from the death certificate.

Under RSA 611-B:21, autopsy and investigative reports are confidential medical records exempt from the Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A). They are released to the next of kin, treating physician, and certain government and research bodies, not to the general public.

How to Request Records That Show the Cause of Death

Eligible requesters can obtain the cause of death through the DVRA for the certificate or the OCME for the autopsy report.

For the certified death certificate, apply to the Division of Vital Records Administration. You can request in person at a city or town clerk, through a DVRA office, or by mail. Bring a government-issued photo ID and be ready to show your direct and tangible interest, such as proof of family relationship.

For an autopsy report, contact the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as next of kin. The OCME determines the cause and manner of sudden, unexpected, or unnatural deaths and holds the report (RSA 611-B).

If you are not eligible, the obituary or a newspaper article is often the fastest way to learn how a person died, since families frequently include that detail voluntarily.

Finding the Cause of Death for Older or Historical Deaths

For older deaths, the path opens up. New Hampshire death records more than 50 years old are part of the public domain under RSA 5-C:105.

Once a record passes the 50-year mark, anyone may access it for genealogy, and the cause of death on that certificate becomes viewable without proving a direct interest. The DVRA releases newly public records each year.

For very old or genealogical research, state archives and the DVRA's public-domain records are the official routes. The Social Security Death Index can confirm the fact and date of death, but it does not list a cause of death, so it is a starting point rather than a source for how someone died.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Access rules and fees can change. Confirm current requirements with the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner before relying on them.

Sources

This page draws on New Hampshire statutes (RSA 5-C and RSA 611-B) and the Secretary of State and Department of Justice official guidance, all cited below.