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New Hampshire public records: who holds what

In New Hampshire, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds, birth and death certificates come from the City/Town Clerk and requests for other government records fall under the Right-to-Know Law (Access to Governmental Records and Meetings). Below: who holds every other record, what copies cost and the official link for each office.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Who holds what in New Hampshire
  2. Public records law in New Hampshire
  3. Divorce records in New Hampshire
  4. Death certificates in New Hampshire
  5. How New Hampshire organizes its records
  6. Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps
  7. Counties in New Hampshire
  8. Warnings from official sources
  9. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  10. Official directories
  11. Sources

Who holds what in New Hampshire

The office that keeps each record, and the fee the law or the office sets for a copy. Open a record type for the full rules, ordering steps and older records.

RecordWho holds itCopy fee
DeedsCounty Register of Deeds (Registry of Deeds) in each of the 10 counties: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan1Copy fees are set and posted by each register (RSA 478:17-g, III). Examples: Rockingham $1 per page; Belknap and Hillsborough $1 per page at the registry, $2 per page via internet account; Hillsborough Ava credit-card prints $2.05 per page2
Property recordsTown/city tax collectors keep the accounts of taxes due, collected and abated and of property sold for nonpayment; those books are public records3—
Court recordsState Judicial Branch: Supreme Court, Superior Court (criminal and civil cases; the only forum for jury trials) and Circuit Court with District, Probate and Family Divisions; Family Division sits in 32 locations across the ten counties, Probate Division in each of the ten counties4Circuit Court (schedule dated 07/01/2025): copied material $.50/page; kiosk and screen printouts $.25/page; certification $10.00 plus copy fee; authenticated copy of probate $40.00 each5
Marriage recordsCity/town clerk issues the license and holds records; certified copies from any of the 234 city/town clerks or the state Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA)6$15 search fee (includes first certified copy); $10 each additional copy issued at the same time7
Divorce recordsDivorce case files: Circuit Court Family Division (32 locations in 10 counties). Divorce certificates: DVRA and city/town clerks8—
Birth certificatesCity/town clerks (all 234) and the NH Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA, Secretary of State), 9 Ratification Way, Concord6$15 search fee (includes one certified copy if found; payable whether or not found); $10 each additional copy of the same record issued at the same time6
Death certificatesCity/town clerks and DVRA; the court FAQ points to the town or city where the death occurred4$15 search (first copy), $10 each additional copy7
Probate and willsCircuit Court Probate Division (courthouses in each of the 10 counties): wills, trusts, estates, guardianships, adoptions, name changes9—

Public records law in New Hampshire

Right-to-Know Law (Access to Governmental Records and Meetings) (RSA chapter 91-A (inspection and copies: RSA 91-A:4; exemptions: RSA 91-A:5; remedies: RSA 91-A:7, 91-A:7-a, 91-A:7-b)) Read the law10

This law covers records that agencies hold, such as a county office's correspondence or a property file. Recorded deeds, vital records and court files usually have their own rules, set out in each record section.

Who can ask
Statute grants the right to "every citizen"; no purpose requirement appears in RSA 91-A:410
What is exempt
RSA 91-A:5 lists exempt records, e.g. grand and petit jury records, parole and pardon board records, personal school records of pupils, internal personnel practices, confidential, commercial or financial information, and personnel, medical and other files whose disclosure would invade privacy11
Official guide
Attorney General's Memorandum on New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law, 2024 edition (March 14, 2024): doj.nh.gov/…12
Response time: initial
Immediately if records are immediately available; otherwise within 5 business days the body must make records available, deny, or give a written statement of the time reasonably necessary (with an itemized cost estimate)10
Response time: denial
A denial must be in writing, citing the specific exemption and briefly explaining how it applies10
Response time: website option
Since Aug. 31, 2026 a body may, for a record uploaded to a website under RSA 33-A:5-a, III, respond by giving the website's domain name10
More on the Right-to-Know Law (Access to Governmental Records and Meetings)
Fees: copies
Actual cost of providing the copy; no fee for inspection or delivery without copying10
Fees: statutory fees
Where another law sets a copy fee (e.g., vital records, RSA 5-C:10), that fee applies and nothing more may be added10
Fees: electronic communications
For requests over 250 electronic communications, a charge of up to $1.00 per communication may be added; first 250 free; waivers for indigent or public-interest requesters10
Fees: no compilation
Agencies need not compile or reformat information not already kept in that form10
Appealing a value: which court
Any aggrieved person may petition the superior court for injunctive relief; proceedings get high priority; may appear without counsel13
Appealing a value: ombudsman
Alternative to court: signed written complaint with $25 fee (waivable for inability to pay) to the Right-to-Know Ombudsman; the office is now attached to the Office of State and Public Sector Labor Relations. Choosing court forecloses an ombudsman complaint; choosing the ombudsman forecloses court until a final ruling or the ruling deadline passes. A notice dated July 1, 2025 said the position was vacant and no filings could be acted on13
Appealing a value: ombudsman status
SOS notice dated July 1, 2025: office relocated, position vacant; RSA 91-A cases may still be filed in superior court14
Purpose
Purpose: greatest possible public access to actions, discussions and records of public bodies15

How to write a public records request

Divorce records in New Hampshire

Who holds it
Divorce case files: Circuit Court Family Division (32 locations in 10 counties). Divorce certificates: DVRA and city/town clerks8
Certificate
Certified divorce certificates from DVRA or any city/town clerk; $15 search fee, $10 each additional copy; direct and tangible interest required (former spouse qualifies)6
Decree copies
Family Division (Circuit Court schedule dated 07/01/2025): divorce certificate, certified copy of decree and, if applicable, agreement, QDRO, USO and other decree-related documents $40.00; divorce certificate (vital statistics record) only $10.005

How this works in other states: divorce records by state.

Death certificates in New Hampshire

Who holds it
City/town clerks and DVRA; the court FAQ points to the town or city where the death occurred4
Fee
$15 search (first copy), $10 each additional copy7
Access
Restricted to direct and tangible interest; open for deaths before 1948 under RSA 5-C:102, I, but the DVRA FAQ says before 1961 (the two sources differ)16

How this works in other states: death certificates by state.

How New Hampshire organizes its records

  • Vital records are kept by 234 city and town clerks plus the state DVRA - any clerk can issue. Any of the 234 city/town clerks or DVRA can issue certified copies6
  • Property tax is municipal (town selectmen/assessors), not county. Abatements go to selectmen or assessors, then BTLA or superior court17
  • Shared county registry website nhdeeds.org; Merrimack separate. nhdeeds.org lists all 10 county registries1
  • Unified state court system; Circuit Court divisions replace county probate/family/district courts. Circuit Court has District, Probate and Family Divisions4

Other records: background checks, voters, businesses, maps

Criminal history checks

State repository
NH State Police Criminal Records Unit (Central Repository), 33 Hazen Drive, Concord - the only source for an individual's complete NH criminal history18
Who may order
Anyone may obtain public criminal conviction history for a fee; non-conviction/confidential data only to law enforcement or the person themself18
Statute
RSA 106-B:14: any person may, for a fee, obtain public criminal history record information on another person19
Fee
$25.00 per NH request (reduced $10.00 for qualifying nonprofit volunteers); NH + FBI fingerprint check $47.00 ($20.00 volunteers)20
How to request
Online NH Criminal Conviction Check (services.dos.nh.gov/chri/cpo), in person at 33 Hazen Drive Room 106A, or by mail with the Criminal Record Release Authorization Form (DSSP 256); notarization not required for public conviction checks, required for your own full record by mail20
More about criminal history checks
Courts note
The courts state there is no central public database of criminal records; refer to State Police4

Sex offender registry

Official registry
NH Department of Safety public registry of criminal offenders (sex offenders/offenders against children): business.nh.gov/nsor21

Inmate and jail lookups

State prisons
NH Department of Corrections Inmate Locator: business.nh.gov/inmate_locator (search by name; data from DOC Offender Records Office)22

Voter records

Public access
Public checklist (voter list) is open to anyone for examination; supervisors of the checklist or city/town clerk furnish copies for their own town only; commercial use prohibited23
Fee
Paper copy $25 per town or ward (plus $0.50 per thousand names over 2,500, plus shipping); electronic copy: one free request per election, then up to $2523
Statewide
Statewide database: anyone may view public checklist data at the State Records and Archives Center but may not print or copy it; the full statewide list goes only to parties and political committees, and to candidates for county, state or federal office ($25 + $0.50/thousand over 2,500 + shipping, plus the amounts the local supervisors would have charged)23
Commercial use
Commercial use is a crime (misdemeanor for individuals, felony for others)23

Business names (DBA)

Where
Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Secretary of State Corporation Division, not counties; required when doing business under any name other than your legal name24
Search
Free Business Record Search on NH QuickStart (quickstart.sos.nh.gov/…); charter documents viewable/downloadable free24
Certified copies
Certified copies: $5 certification plus $1 per page; expedited +$2524
Statute
RSA 349:1: sole proprietors using any name other than their own, and partnerships/trusts/associations, must register the trade name25

Liens and UCC filings

Where
UCC financing statements, federal and state tax liens, aircraft liens and writs of attachment are indexed by the Secretary of State UCC Division; real-estate liens/attachments are also recorded at county registries of deeds26
Search fee
UCC 11-U search request: Routine $10.00; 24 Hour $25.00; Same Day $35.00 (online transactions +$2.00 handling)27
Filing fee
UCC-1 with up to two debtors and one addendum page: $48.0027
Deeds liens
At registries, liens are found by searching the grantor index28

GIS and parcel maps

State GIS
NH GRANIT - New Hampshire's Statewide GIS Clearinghouse (granit.unh.edu), run by UNH Earth Systems Research Center29

Historical and genealogy records

Archives
NH Division of Archives and Records Management (Secretary of State), 9 Ratification Way, Concord: preserves state government records and makes them available to the public; research room requires registration30
Vital research
DVRA genealogical research room (same building) with records back to 1640; older records open to the public (RSA 5-C:102, I: births before 1901, deaths/marriages/divorces before 1948; DVRA FAQ says 1911/1961); volunteer genealogists assist16
Research rules
Researchers must register at the front desk31

Counties in New Hampshire

2 counties with a full guide

Each guide lists the office for every record type, the official online searches, copy fees, phones and hours.

All 10 counties

Names in bold open our guide. Names with an arrow go to the county's own website, where the US Census Bureau lists one and it opened when we checked.32

Warnings from official sources

  • Free Property Fraud Alert from county registries. Rockingham (and Hillsborough) registries offer a free Property Fraud Alert sign-up (propertyfraudalert.com) to be notified of filings on your name33
  • Quitclaim deed fraud (Attorney General alert, June 11, 2025). NH Attorney General warns that scammers forge quitclaim deeds to transfer property without the owner's knowledge; targets are typically vacant lots, lien-free property and out-of-state owners. Hotline 1-888-468-445434
  • Third-party vital record vendors. DVRA: VitalChek/EB2Gov add their own fees and are not affiliated with the State16

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any New Hampshire office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Official directories

Lists that name the office in every county.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 35 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. NHDeeds.org homeNH County Registers of Deeds (nhdeeds.org)
  2. RSA 478:17-g Recording Fees and SurchargeNH General Courtarchived copy
  3. RSA 41:35 Duties of CollectorNH General Courtarchived copy
  4. Judicial Branch FAQsNew Hampshire Judicial Brancharchived copy
  5. Circuit Court Filing Fees (dated 07/01/2025)New Hampshire Judicial Brancharchived copy
  6. Request for CertificatesNH Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records Administrationarchived copy
  7. RSA 5-C:10 Fees for Copies, Verifications and Amendments to Vital RecordsNH General Courtarchived copy
  8. Circuit Court Family DivisionNew Hampshire Judicial Brancharchived copy
  9. Circuit Court Probate DivisionNew Hampshire Judicial Brancharchived copy
  10. RSA 91-A:4 Minutes and Records Available for Public InspectionNH General Courtarchived copy
  11. RSA 91-A:5 ExemptionsNH General Courtarchived copy
  12. Memorandum on New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know Law (announcement, March 14, 2024)NH Department of Justicearchived copy
  13. RSA chapter 91-A, merged textNH General Courtarchived copy
  14. Office of the Right to Know Ombudsman noticeNH Secretary of Statearchived copy
  15. RSA 91-A:1 PreambleNH General Courtarchived copy
  16. Vital Records FAQsNH Secretary of State - Division of Vital Records Administrationarchived copy
  17. RSA 76:16 Abatement by Selectmen or AssessorsNH General Courtarchived copy
  18. Criminal RecordsNH Department of Safety - Division of State Policearchived copy
  19. RSA 106-B:14 Criminal recordsNH General Courtarchived copy
  20. Criminal History Record RequestsNH Department of Safety - Division of State Policearchived copy
  21. Registration of Criminal Offenders (public registry)NH Department of Safetyarchived copy
  22. Inmate LocatorNH Department of Correctionsarchived copy
  23. RSA 654:31 Availability of Checklist and Voter InformationNH General Courtarchived copy
  24. Business FAQsNH Secretary of State - Corporation Divisionarchived copy
  25. RSA 349:1 Trade name registrationNH General Courtarchived copy
  26. UCC and Statutory LiensNH Secretary of Statearchived copy
  27. UCC Forms and Search RequestsNH Secretary of Statearchived copy
  28. Searching Rockingham County RecordsRockingham County Registry of Deeds
  29. NH GRANIT - Statewide GIS ClearinghouseNH GRANIT / University of New Hampshire
  30. Archives and Records ManagementNH Secretary of State - Division of Archives and Records Managementarchived copy
  31. Archives - ResearchNH Secretary of State - Division of Archives and Records Managementarchived copy
  32. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  33. Property Fraud AlertRockingham County Registry of Deeds
  34. Consumer Alert: Attorney General Warns Public to be Diligent Amidst Reports of Quit Claim Deed FraudThe Rochester Post, published by the City of Rochester (republishing NH Attorney General)
  35. Other NH Registry ListRockingham County Registry of Deeds