In New Hampshire, certified death certificates are issued by New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration. The state fee is $15 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in New Hampshire
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy | $10 |
$15 search fee, payable whether or not a record is found, plus any card fees; additional copies of the same record issued at the same time are $10 (NH DVRA request page, read 2026-09-24).
Who can order a certified copy
Persons with a 'direct and tangible interest' (RSA 5-C:102): the registrant's immediate family, legal guardian, or legal representative; Persons demonstrating a need for the record to determine or protect a personal or property right; Persons authorized by the immediate family to do genealogical research; Others (including attorneys) may submit a written claim of direct and tangible interest with ID, reviewed by the state registrar or town/city clerk.
How to order
- County/local office
CDC: copies available from the state office or from the city/town clerk; death records from 1965 onward from any city or town using NHVRIN. RSA 5-C:10 sets the same fee for town clerks.
How long it takes
The office does not publish a processing time. Ask when you order, especially if an insurer or bank is waiting.
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The funeral home’s role
The office’s pages do not describe the funeral home’s role. Many families ask the funeral director to order the first copies when arrangements are made.
The NH Secretary of State vital-records pages returned HTTP 403 (Access Denied) to every fetch attempt, so ordering methods, online options and processing times could not be confirmed on the state site; facts here come from the CDC page and the NH statutes. Fees confirmed on the NH Division of Vital Records Administration page in a browser on 2026-09-24.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in New Hampshire
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in New Hampshire.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- New Hampshire official source: www.sos.nh.gov
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (New Hampshire)
- New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration
- New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.