Death certificates, free indexes, obituaries, and probate — who can order what, and when records open.
How New Hampshire Death Records Work
New Hampshire keeps death records under 'direct and tangible interest' rules for 50 years. The office itself is an outlier — vital records sit under the Secretary of State, not the health department. No informational copies inside the window; the $15 search fee is non-refundable.
Any town clerk in the state can search the statewide registration system, regardless of where the death occurred. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.
Often you don't need the certificate at all — you need proof the death happened. No public online index; order from the division in Concord or any of the 234 city and town clerks statewide. Where an index exists, it answers the question for free.
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Obituaries and the SSDI
The obituary route is faster than most official channels: newspaper obituaries via library databases, funeral-home notices, and the Social Security death index carried on the big genealogy platforms together confirm most deaths within minutes.
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Let probate prove it
Probate is the overlooked confirmer: if an estate was opened, the county court file proves the death, names the parties, and often matters more than the certificate itself — run it through New Hampshire court records.
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When only the certificate will do
When it truly must be the certificate: the rules above apply — 50 years after death in New Hampshire — and the custodian card at the top is the direct channel. For family history at scale, pair this page with the New Hampshire birth certificates guide, whose clock runs differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do New Hampshire death certificates become public?
New Hampshire keeps death records under 'direct and tangible interest' rules for 50 years.
What can non-family requesters get?
No informational copies inside the window; the $15 search fee is non-refundable.
Is there a free New Hampshire death index online?
No public online index; order from the division in Concord or any of the 234 city and town clerks statewide.
What if I just need to confirm a death or find an obituary?
Skip the certificate entirely: newspaper obituaries (many are indexed by library databases), the Social Security death index carried on the big genealogy platforms, and probate case files in the county court that handled the estate all confirm a death without touching the restricted certificate.
