Get certified New Hampshire Death Certificates

New Hampshire does not issue death certificates for individuals who die on U.S. military bases overseas. In such cases, if the deceased’s parents held U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Department of State records the death. To request this document, you must contact the U.S. Department of State and obtain a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA or form DS-5542).

An officially certified death certificate from the New Hampshire Department of Health will have unique security features to ensure authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue. Still, it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at death. Official death certificates from New Hampshire typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar's signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The NHDH issues these certificates according to state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

New Hampshire death certificates are among the most important and valuable legal documents. They are the only legal proof that someone has passed away and are used for crucial purposes, particularly in legal, financial, and personal matters. The vital record is fundamental after someone has died to handle financial affairs, benefit claims, verification for institutions, estate settlements, and benefits from government agencies.

Death certificates are often helpful or required for:

Settling Estates

Claiming Pension and Retirement Benefits

Marriage and Divorce Finalization

Genealogy and Historical Research

Claiming Life Insurance

Managing Accounts at Financial Institutions

Making Funeral and Burial Arrangements

Tax Filings

Claiming Social Security and Government Benefits

Handling Property Mortgage and Real Estate Matters

Enrolling in school

The process of correcting or amending a New Hampshire death certificate may vary depending on the changes needed. Typically, an addendum is created to correct or change the death certificate while the original record remains unaltered.

1. A completed Application form, Correcting or Completing a Certificate of Death (Form VSCr). The request must be submitted to the city clerk or town clerk where the event occurred. Your signature must be notarized on the application to be accepted. Visit the NH Secretary of State's website for application guidelines.
2. Supporting documentation: Include TWO PIECES of documentary evidence to substantiate your statements, dated as close to the date of occurrence as possible. One of the documents may be an affidavit of personal knowledge properly notarized.
3. Appropriate fee(s): The cost for correcting a certificate is $10.00; a certified copy of the record is an additional fee of $15.00 per copy. Checks should be made payable to the City/Town Clerk of that city or town where the event occurred.

Apostilles may be ordered from the New Hampshire Secretary of State by mail or VRO. You need an apostille when you file documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of vital records for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for death certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.If you are mailing or manually requesting an apostille to the New Hampshire office of the Secretary of State, you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of the death certificate, with the original signature and seal.
2. Complete the Apostille Request Form
3. A payment of $10.00 per document is payable to the State of New Hampshire.
4. Self-addressed stamped envelope for returning the documents.

Submit your request to the New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State at the following addresses:

In-person:

By Mail:

Ensure that you indicate the country to which the document will be submitted.