Under New Hampshire marriage laws, any two people aged 18 or older can marry in the state by applying together in person at any town or city clerk’s office, paying a $50 license fee, and holding a ceremony with an authorized officiant. There is no residency requirement, no waiting period after the license issues, and no blood test. The license is valid for 90 days and works anywhere in the state.
Who Can Marry
Both parties must be at least 18. There are no exceptions for parental consent, judicial approval, or any other circumstance, and any marriage involving someone under 18 is automatically void.1New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:4 – Marriageable Before January 1, 2024, minors as young as 16 could marry with approvals in place; House Bill 378 closed that door.
Close relatives cannot marry each other. The prohibition covers parents and children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, aunts or uncles and nieces or nephews, and first cousins. These marriages are void from the start with no court proceeding required to undo them.2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:2 – Marriages Prohibited
You cannot marry while still legally married to someone else. Bigamy is a class B felony when the person knew they were ineligible, and a second marriage entered before a prior one is dissolved is automatically void.3New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 639:1 – Bigamy
Neither party needs to live in New Hampshire. Non-residents can marry in the state without restriction, and you can apply in any municipality regardless of where the ceremony will be held.
Applying for the Marriage License
Both people must appear in person at the clerk’s office to complete the application. Each applicant needs proof of age and a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued identification card. Blood tests and medical exams are not required.
If either person was previously married, bring a certified copy of the document that ended that marriage: the final divorce decree, the former spouse’s death certificate, or the annulment decree.4New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 5-C:10 – Fees for Copies, Verifications and Amendments to Vital Records Documents not in English must be accompanied by a translation, and the translator’s signature must be notarized.
The application asks for each person’s full name, date of birth, place of birth, and information about any prior marriages. The fee is $50, paid when you file.5New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:29 – Marriage License Fee Accepted payment methods vary by town. Some clerks take only cash or check; others accept cards with a surcharge. Call ahead if you want to confirm.
Providing false information on the application is a misdemeanor, and that includes lying about age to obtain a license for someone under 18.6New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 641:3 – Unsworn Falsification
There is one accommodation for the in-person requirement. If either party is a member of the armed forces and cannot appear, that person may submit an affidavit of marriage intentions prepared by an armed services legal representative to the clerk in place of appearing.
License Validity and Timing
Once issued, the license is valid for 90 days. If it expires unused, you reapply and pay the $50 again. The license is valid anywhere in New Hampshire but cannot be used outside the state.7New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:26 – Marriage License
No waiting period applies. You can pick up the license and hold the ceremony the same day, which makes New Hampshire a practical option for couples working around deployment, travel, or short notice.
Who Can Officiate
Every marriage must be solemnized by an authorized officiant. The ceremony can be civil or religious, but the person conducting it has to fit one of the categories the state recognizes.8New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:31 – Solemnization of Marriage
Authorized civil officiants are justices of the peace commissioned by the state; judges of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Circuit Court; and federal judges appointed under Article III, bankruptcy judges appointed under Article I, and U.S. magistrate judges.
Authorized religious officiants are ordained ministers residing in New Hampshire who are in regular standing with their denomination; non-ordained clergy engaged in the service of their religious body, after obtaining a license from the Secretary of State; and out-of-state ministers with a pastoral charge partly or wholly within New Hampshire, but only within that parish.
Out-of-State Officiants
The Secretary of State can issue a one-time special commission letting an out-of-state ordained or non-ordained minister, or someone otherwise authorized to perform marriages in their home state, officiate a specific New Hampshire wedding. The application must name both members of the couple, and the license covers only that ceremony. The fee is $25, payable by check, money order, or credit card through the state’s online system.9New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:32 – Special Commission
This is not a general provision that lets any friend officiate. The applicant has to already be a minister or someone legally authorized to perform marriages where they live. Anyone who doesn’t fit those categories would need to get ordained or authorized through a recognized body first.
Common Law Marriage
New Hampshire does not recognize common law marriage during the couple’s lifetime, but it has a limited posthumous rule. If two people live together and hold each other out as spouses, and the community generally regards them as married, for at least three years up until one of them dies, they are treated as legally married after that death.10New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 457:39 – Cohabitation
The practical effect is on inheritance and probate. A surviving partner who meets the three-year cohabitation standard can claim spousal rights against the deceased partner’s estate. While both partners are alive, though, the rule provides no protection. Couples who want the legal benefits of marriage during their lifetimes have to get a license and be married by an authorized officiant.
After the Ceremony
The officiant is responsible for completing the signed license and returning it to the clerk’s office that issued it. The license must be delivered to the officiant before the wedding and returned promptly after. If it never gets filed, you cannot obtain a certified marriage certificate, and you’ll need that certificate for a name change, spousal benefits, and similar purposes. Confirm with your officiant within a week or two that the license was returned.
Once the marriage is recorded, you can request certified copies from the clerk. The first copy costs $15, and each additional copy is $10.4New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 5-C:10 – Fees for Copies, Verifications and Amendments to Vital Records Order two or three if you’ll need them for separate purposes, like updating benefits and filing immigration paperwork at the same time, because many agencies require originals rather than photocopies.
Name Change
If you change your name through the marriage, you have 30 days to notify the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Appear in person at a DMV office with your current license, a completed Record Change Request form, and your marriage certificate. The replacement license is issued at no charge, and the DMV gives you a 60-day paper license on the spot while the permanent card is mailed.11New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Update Personal Information
Update the Social Security Administration first, since banks, employers, professional licensing boards, and other agencies verify names against Social Security records.
Tax Filing Status
Your marital status on December 31 sets your filing status for the entire tax year. Marry any time during the year and you file as married filing jointly or married filing separately for that full year. For tax year 2026, the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly is $32,200, compared to $16,100 for single filers.12Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 Filing jointly usually produces a lower combined bill, but couples with two high incomes should run the numbers both ways before choosing.