New Hampshire Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get Them

New Hampshire is a closed-record state for death certificates. Only people with a "direct and tangible interest" in the record, such as immediate family, a legal representative, or a guardian, may buy a certified copy. Death records become public domain 50 years after the death.

Are Death Records Public in New Hampshire?

No, recent New Hampshire death records are not open to the general public. The state treats vital records as private, and access is limited by statute to people with a "direct and tangible interest" in the record. This standard is set out in RSA 5-C:9.

That restriction is not permanent. Under RSA 5-C:105, death, marriage, and divorce records more than 50 years old become part of the public domain. Birth records open after 100 years.

Once a death record passes the 50-year mark, anyone may access it for genealogical research. The Division of Vital Records Administration releases newly public records by April 1 each year. This makes New Hampshire a closed-record state with a 50-year public-access window.

For the broader national picture and how other states compare, see Death Records by State.

Who Can Request a New Hampshire Death Record?

During the 50-year restricted period, only requesters with a direct and tangible interest may obtain a certified copy. State law and the Secretary of State's vital-records office identify the qualifying parties.

Eligible requesters generally include:

• The decedent's immediate family members
• A guardian of the person named on the record
• A legal representative acting for the family or estate
• Government agencies with a statutory need, and qualified members of the news media for limited purposes under RSA 5-C:9

Every applicant must present positive identification. Since January 1, 2005, the state has required a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to receive a certified copy.

If you do not have a direct and tangible interest, you generally cannot obtain a certified copy until the record enters the public domain. Genealogists can be designated as authorized representatives through a written statement from the registrant or a family member.

How to Get a New Hampshire Death Certificate

You obtain a certified New Hampshire death certificate from the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA), part of the New Hampshire Department of State. You may also order through a local city or town clerk.

There are several ways to request a record:

• By mail: Complete a request application and mail it to the DVRA with payment and a copy of your photo ID.
• In person: Visit the DVRA or your local city or town clerk with the completed application, payment, and photo identification.
• Online: Use the state's official New Hampshire Vital Records online system (NHVRIN) at nhvrinweb.sos.nh.gov.

The fee is a $15 search, which includes one certified copy if the record is located. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $10. The search fee is charged whether or not a record is found, and payment must be in U.S. funds.

Processing times vary by method and volume, so order well ahead of any deadline. Mail and online requests typically take longer than an in-person visit to a town clerk.

Is the Cause of Death Public in New Hampshire?

The cause of death is recorded on the certified death certificate, and that certificate is restricted during the 50-year private period. Only requesters with a direct and tangible interest can obtain the certified copy that shows the cause of death.

New Hampshire does not maintain a separate public "informational only" death certificate that strips out the cause. Instead, access turns on whether you qualify under the direct-and-tangible-interest standard.

Once a death record enters the public domain after 50 years, the full certificate, including the cause of death, becomes available for research. To understand how cause-of-death and autopsy disclosure works more broadly, see Are Cause of Death Records Public? and Are Autopsies Public Records?.

How Far Back Do New Hampshire Death Records Go?

New Hampshire's statewide vital-records collection includes early death records, and the state's Genealogical Research Center in Concord holds public-domain records for research. Death records more than 50 years old are open to the public under RSA 5-C:105.

For older deaths, genealogists can search public-domain indexes at the research center at 9 Ratification Way, Concord. Many pre-1961 New Hampshire death records now fall within the public window.

On a national level, there is no federal death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that death certificates are issued by each state, so you must contact the state where the death occurred. The Social Security Administration's public Death Master File is one nationwide finding aid, but under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 it excludes deaths within the most recent three calendar years.

For a related vital-record category, see Are Birth Certificates Public Records?.

New Hampshire Death Records: Quick Facts

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about public-records access in New Hampshire and is not legal advice. Fees, processing times, and eligibility rules can change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration before ordering.

Sources

This article is based on official New Hampshire Secretary of State vital-records guidance, the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, and federal CDC/NCHS and Social Security Administration resources, all cited below.