How to Get a New Hampshire Death Certificate (2026)

A certified New Hampshire death certificate is issued by the state Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord or by any City or Town Clerk. Because New Hampshire closes death records from 1948 onward, only people with a direct and tangible interest may obtain one. The fee is $15 for the first copy.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in New Hampshire?

You get a New Hampshire death certificate from the state Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) in Concord or from any City or Town Clerk in the state. Since 1965, all municipalities share a single statewide records system, so you do not have to use only the town where the death happened.

There are four ways to request a certified copy.

By Mail

Complete a request application and mail it to the DVRA at the Archives and Records Building, 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301. Include a photocopy of your photo ID, the $15 fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Make checks payable to the Treasurer, State of New Hampshire.

In Person

Visit the DVRA office in Concord or any City or Town Clerk during business hours. Bring a valid government photo ID and payment. In-person requests at a clerk office are usually completed the same day.

Online

Order on an expedited basis through VitalChek, the state-authorized vendor linked from the Secretary of State vital records site. The $15 state fee applies, plus the vendor's processing and shipping charges.

At a Local Clerk

Every City and Town Clerk can issue certified copies of death records statewide from 1965 to the present through the shared NHVRIN system. For a death that occurred before 1965, you generally need the state Division of Vital Records Administration or the town or city where the death happened. Visiting a clerk in person is often the fastest route.

Who Is Eligible to Request a New Hampshire Death Certificate?

Only a person with a direct and tangible interest in the record may obtain a certified New Hampshire death certificate for a death that occurred in 1948 or later. Under RSA 5-C:102, I, death records prior to 1948 are public records, so the closed-record rule applies to deaths from 1948 onward. Even for a record in the public domain, RSA 5-C:98, I still routes a certified copy through the Division of Vital Records Administration or a City or Town Clerk.

People who generally qualify include the surviving spouse, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings of the deceased. A guardian, legal representative, or someone needing the record to determine or protect a personal or property right may also qualify. RSA 5-C:102, III additionally deems members of the press, radio, television, and other news media to have a direct and tangible interest when the information requested is of a public nature, along with persons authorized by the immediate family to conduct genealogical research.

If you are not directly related, you may need a notarized authorization from a qualifying family member, along with documentation showing why you need the record. Every requester must present a valid government-issued photo ID with a signature.

New Hampshire Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

A New Hampshire death certificate costs $15 for the search and the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $10.

The $15 search fee is charged whether or not a matching record is found, so confirm the spelling of the name and the date of death before you apply. If you order online through VitalChek, the vendor adds its own processing and shipping fees on top of the state charge.

Mail requests generally take about 3 to 5 weeks to process and return. In-person requests at the DVRA or a Town or City Clerk are typically handled the same day. Online orders through the authorized vendor can be expedited for faster delivery.

Certified vs Informational Copy in New Hampshire

New Hampshire issues certified copies only. The state does not offer a separate informational or non-certified version of a death certificate the way some other states do.

A certified copy carries the official seal and signature and is accepted for legal purposes such as settling an estate, claiming life insurance or pension benefits, closing financial accounts, and transferring property. Because every copy is a certified record, access is limited to people with a direct and tangible interest.

If you only need information for genealogy, deaths that occurred prior to 1948 are public records under RSA 5-C:102, I, so the State Archives may help. Deaths from 1948 onward remain restricted, and a certified copy of any record still comes from the division or a clerk.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

To get additional copies at the time of your original request, simply state how many you need on the application. Each extra copy of the same record ordered together is $10, compared with the $15 first-copy fee.

If you need more copies later, or a replacement for a lost certificate, submit a new request to the DVRA or any City or Town Clerk. A later order is treated as a new request, so the $15 search fee applies again for the first copy, plus $10 for each additional copy in that order.

Ordering several certified copies up front is usually cheaper than coming back, since estate, insurance, and benefit claims often each require their own original.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information, not legal advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and processing times can change. Always confirm current requirements with the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration or your local City or Town Clerk before you apply.

Sources

This page draws on the New Hampshire Secretary of State Division of Vital Records Administration, New Hampshire state statutes on vital records access, and the CDC National Center for Health Statistics Where to Write for Vital Records guide.

For the broader rules on access and confidentiality, see the parent overview, New Hampshire Death Records, or compare other states on the Death Records by State hub.