New Hampshire is one of the states in the New England region, and one of the smallest states in the country. Their history is quite long as it is one of the original 13 colonies that made the United States of America.
New Hampshire death records cease to be confidential if the date of death is earlier than 1959. Anything more recent than that will have privacy restrictions attached, though they are still accessible if you are family. You have to be a direct family member of the deceased in order to request the certificate, or a legal officer or representative who requires the document.
For pre-1959 records, you have to visit the Archives building at 71 South Fruit Street in Concord. You may be able to find New Hampshire death records as far back as 1883. The genealogy room at the Archives is open Monday to Friday, with standard business hours.
After 1959, the records are restricted to family members only and you will have to make a request application to the office of Vital Records to have the document retrieved. They are located at the same location as the above-mentioned archives, and you can either drop off your request or mail it in. Their full address is: New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records, 71 South Fruit Street, Concord NH, 03301-2410 USA.
The forms are available for download from the state website (http://www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/Publications/certificate_app.pdf). Make sure to fill out the second section of the form for a New Hampshire death record. The other sections are for other types of vital records requests.
To identify the deceased, enter in their full name, date and place of death and their sex. You can also indicate if you want your record to have the cause of death included or not. Next, you have to identify yourself with name, address and phone number. Indicate your relationship to the deceased and your reason for requesting the death record.
A photocopy of your photo ID is also required to establish your personal identity. A driver's license or passport would suffice.
The fee for the search will also have to be mailed in with the completed forms. Today, the cost for a New Hampshire death record is $15 USD and $10 each for any additional copies of the same record that you order at this time. You'll want to pay with either a money order or a check, and it needs to be made out to the " Treasurer - State of New Hampshire".
When packaging all these documents together, you will also need to include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for them to return your death records in. A business size one will do.
Making a request in person at their office usually means you can get your records while you wait or at least during the same day. When applying by mail, it typically takes about 20 days to get your response back.
If they cannot locate the New Hampshire death record you want, you will get a "no file found" notice and your paid fees are not refunded.
If you are interested in requesting a New Hampshire death certificate, take the following measures:
Step 1.
You will need to start your request by filling out a New Hampshire Death Certificate form.
Step 2.
A copy of your government-issued, photo ID must be included with each request. If you do not have a photo ID, consult the Department's website as to the alternative identification you must provide.
Step 3.
You will also need a check or money order in the amount of $15 to cover the fees associated with searching New Hampshire death records. Return the fee, application, and identification to the Department to have your request processed.
For any questions regarding accessing New Hampshire death records, you can contact:
New Hampshire Department of Health
NH Department of State
Division of Vital Records Administration
Registration/Certification
71 South Fruit Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301-2410
(603) 271-4650
Making A Request For New Hampshire Death Records
The New Hampshire Department of Health helps to maintain all New Hampshire death records. If you need a copy of a record for your loved one, then you will need to contact the Department to make your request.
Method For Ordering
To make a request for New Hampshire death records, you will need to make your request by mail. For your convenience, the application needed is available online for download.
Not Open To The Public
New Hampshire death records are not considered public records until 50 years after the person's death. This means that records from 1959 to the present day are only available to persons who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record. This includes the surviving spouse and direct family members, legal representatives, and others who can demonstrate such interest.
Public Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Divorce Records
Genealogy Records