How to Get Married Online in New Hampshire

By Distant Vows | Updated 2026

If you are trying to figure out how to get married online in New Hampshire, you will find a streamlined system with no waiting period and a $50 fee accepted at any city or town clerk’s office in the state. New Hampshire raised its minimum marriage age to 18 with no exceptions as of January 1, 2024, which brings it in line with most other states.

However, two requirements catch couples off guard. First, the application worksheet must be completed in the clerk’s office and cannot be taken home or pre-filled offsite at most locations. Second, New Hampshire requires both applicants to decide their post-marriage surname at the time of filing. Whatever name you put on the license application becomes your legal name after the ceremony, and a different change requires a separate court process.

By using Utah’s fully legal online marriage system through Distant Vows, New Hampshire couples can get married online in New Hampshire 100% virtually and receive a U.S. marriage certificate valid in New Hampshire and all 50 states. If you are comparing rules across the country, you can also review our full guide on how to get married online in all 50 states.

How New Hampshire Marriage Usually Works if You Don’t Get Married Online in New Hampshire

New Hampshire marriages are governed by New Hampshire RSA Chapter 457. Marriage licenses are issued by city and town clerks. Any couple wishing to marry in New Hampshire may obtain a license from any city or town clerk’s office in the state, regardless of where they live. Out-of-state residents may apply at any New Hampshire clerk’s office without restriction. Once issued, the license is valid for 90 days and may be used for a ceremony anywhere in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire has no waiting period. The license is issued the same day as the application and is valid immediately. Both applicants must appear together in person at the clerk’s office to complete the application worksheet. Most clerk’s offices require the worksheet to be filled out on-site, not at home in advance. The fee is $50, set uniformly by the state. A certified copy of the completed license costs $15 and can be requested from any New Hampshire city or town clerk once the officiant returns the signed license, which must happen within six days of the ceremony.

New Hampshire requires both applicants to sign an acknowledgment on the back of the license confirming they received the state-issued AIDS education brochure, under RSA 457:23. This is a brief signature step completed at the time of application, not a test or a waiting requirement.

New Hampshire also requires each applicant to state their post-marriage surname at the time of filing. Under NH RSA 5-C:41, each person may retain their existing surname, take the surname of their spouse, or use a hyphenated combination. A party may also change their middle name to their pre-marriage surname. Whatever name is recorded on the application is the legal name after the ceremony, and a different change requires a separate court petition.

New Hampshire does not recognize common-law marriage. There is no self-solemnization option. Authorized officiants include judges, justices of the peace, ordained ministers of any denomination, designated municipal officials, and friends or family members who obtain a special solemnization license from the NH Secretary of State for $25. Out-of-state clergy must also obtain this special license before officiating a New Hampshire ceremony. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the issuing city or town clerk’s office within six days. Certified copies cannot be issued until the clerk receives the returned license, so couples should allow approximately two weeks after the ceremony before requesting a copy.

Documents, Waiting Period, and Age Requirements in New Hampshire

New Hampshire raised its minimum marriage age to 18 with no exceptions as of January 1, 2024, under HB 378. Courts no longer issue age waivers, and there is no path for a minor under 18 to obtain a marriage license in New Hampshire under any circumstances. Applicants 18 and older may apply without any additional authorization.

Standard requirements at the city or town clerk’s office include the following:

Valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant, such as a driver’s license or passport. Most clerks also require a certified copy of a birth certificate or passport confirming date and place of birth, as New Hampshire law requires birth information to be recorded on the license.
Social Security numbers for both applicants, if issued.
If either applicant was previously married or in a civil union, a certified copy of the final divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate. A divorce nisi, meaning a conditional or not-yet-final decree, is not acceptable. Only the final absolute decree qualifies.
Each applicant’s decision about their post-marriage surname, made at the time of application. The options under state law are to retain the existing surname, take the spouse’s surname, or use a hyphenated combination. No other post-marriage surname change is available through the marriage license process alone.
Signatures on the AIDS brochure acknowledgment on the back of the license, as required by RSA 457:23.

Are Online Weddings Allowed Directly if You Want to Get Married Online in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does have one limited remote option for active-duty military members. Under NH law, if a service member is unable to appear in person, the armed services’ legal representative or commanding officer may prepare and certify the application worksheet on the service member’s behalf. The non-military applicant then appears at the clerk’s office and signs the license for both parties. This military exception does not extend to civilians, and it still requires one partner to appear in person.

Outside of this military exception, both partners must appear together at a city or town clerk’s office. There is no mechanism under New Hampshire law for the entire application and ceremony to be completed by video. These requirements, along with the in-office worksheet rule and the final divorce decree requirement, are why couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire choose to marry under Utah law through a live video ceremony and use their Utah certificate in New Hampshire instead.

4 Steps to Get Married Online in New Hampshire with Distant Vows (Through Utah)

With Distant Vows, the same four-step process applies whether you want to get married online in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, or Massachusetts. The legal engine is always Utah’s online marriage system, which allows couples to apply for a license and hold a ceremony entirely over video while still being recognized nationwide.

Step 1 – Verify Your Eligibility

First, you confirm that you and your partner meet basic Utah requirements and complete Distant Vows’ quick intake form. Typically, you both must be 18 or older, not currently married to anyone else, and able to join a live video call together. This foundation lets couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire do so fully under Utah law. New Hampshire recognizes marriages valid where they are performed, so couples who get married online in New Hampshire through Utah receive a certificate valid in the Granite State.

Confirm you are legally free to marry, whether single, divorced, or widowed.
Gather valid government-issued photo IDs, such as a New Hampshire driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a device with audio and video so you can comfortably get married online in New Hampshire.

Step 2 – Choose Your Package and Ceremony Date

Next, you choose a Distant Vows package and select a ceremony date and time that works for your schedule in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, Keene, or anywhere else. You can keep the ceremony short and simple or personalize it with vows, readings, and guests watching online as you get married online in New Hampshire.

Select a basic legal-only ceremony or a more personalized experience.
Pick a time that works for your time zone and any guests joining from New Hampshire or overseas.
Tell us if you need witness support, custom vows, religious or civil wording, or language options.

Step 3 – Apply for Your Utah Online Marriage License

After you pick your date, you complete a Utah online marriage license application. Utah County’s system lets you submit everything digitally, including your information, ID uploads, and signatures. You never have to appear at a New Hampshire city or town clerk’s office, fill out an in-office worksheet, or make an upfront name decision that cannot be changed without a court order, because the license is issued by Utah even though your goal is to get married online in New Hampshire.

Fill out the secure Utah County application form online from your home in New Hampshire or anywhere in the world.
Upload clear images of your IDs and any requested documents, such as divorce decrees if applicable.
Respond to any brief follow-up from the Utah clerk if they need clarification before issuing the license.

A Utah online marriage license is valid for 32 days from the date it is issued, and Distant Vows schedules your ceremony within that 32-day window so your marriage is properly created under Utah law.

Step 4 – Attend Your Online Ceremony and Get Your Certificate

On your wedding day, you and your partner join a live video ceremony with a Utah-licensed officiant. Two adult witnesses are required and they can join from anywhere in the world. If you do not have friends or family available, you can invite them at no charge, or use our witness service for a small fee.

Join from your home in New Hampshire or from anywhere in the world, as long as you are both on the same live video call.
Participate in a real-time ceremony where you exchange vows and say your “I dos.” This is the moment you actually get married online in New Hampshire, even though the legal ceremony is taking place under Utah law.
After the ceremony, your officiant files the certificate in Utah and you receive your official Utah County marriage certificate digitally and, if requested, by mail.

New Hampshire City or Town Clerk System vs Online Utah Marriage

Before you decide how to get married online in New Hampshire, it helps to compare the two approaches side by side. The table below shows the key differences between the traditional New Hampshire process and using Distant Vows to get married online in New Hampshire through Utah.

Feature	Traditional New Hampshire Marriage	Get Married Online with Distant Vows (Utah)
Issuing office	Any city or town clerk in New Hampshire, regardless of residency. Out-of-state residents may apply at any office.	Utah County online application. No office visit required in New Hampshire or anywhere else.
In-person requirement	Both applicants must appear together in person. The application worksheet must be completed in the office at most locations. Military exception allows one partner to submit a commanding-officer-certified worksheet if unable to appear.	No in-person visits required. Everything is completed online.
Waiting period	None. The license is valid immediately upon issuance and good for 90 days.	No waiting period. Utah license is issued after online review and the ceremony is scheduled within the 32-day validity window.
Name decision	Each applicant must state their post-marriage surname on the application at the time of filing. Options are limited by state law: retain existing name, take spouse’s name, or hyphenate. Whatever is recorded becomes the legal name after the ceremony.	Utah’s application does not require an irrevocable name decision at filing. Name changes after a Utah online marriage follow the standard SSA and DMV process.
AIDS brochure acknowledgment	Both applicants must sign the acknowledgment on the back of the license stating they received the state-required AIDS education brochure, under RSA 457:23.	Utah has no brochure acknowledgment requirement.
Out-of-state officiant	Must obtain a special solemnization license from the NH Secretary of State for $25 before officiating. Friends or family who want to officiate must also obtain this license.	Distant Vows officiants are licensed under Utah law. No New Hampshire registration required.
Witnesses	No witnesses required by New Hampshire law.	Two adult witnesses required under Utah law. Distant Vows can provide them if needed.
Valid in New Hampshire	Yes.	Yes, and in all 50 states once properly issued and filed in Utah, because New Hampshire recognizes marriages valid where they were performed.
International use	May require apostille or legalization depending on the foreign country’s rules.	Utah certificates can receive an apostille for use in many countries, even if you get married online in New Hampshire. Learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Military Couples in New Hampshire

New Hampshire has no active-duty military installation. The state’s military presence is centered on the 157th Air Refueling Wing of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, based at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington near Portsmouth.

Pease ANGB sits on a portion of what was Pease Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command installation closed under the 1991 BRAC. For Guard and associate unit members whose partners are stationed elsewhere or in another state, New Hampshire’s in-person clerk requirement can complicate scheduling. Couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire through Utah can join a live video ceremony from wherever they are, with no office visit required. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Immigration and Long-Distance Couples in New Hampshire

For binational couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire and where one partner remains abroad, the in-person clerk requirement makes the traditional process difficult. When you get married online in New Hampshire through Utah, your partner can join the ceremony by video from anywhere in the world. The Utah County certificate is accepted by USCIS for spousal visa and green card applications, and Distant Vows can help obtain an apostille for international use. You can learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Couples researching international marriage recognition may also want to read our guide on whether getting married online affects immigration cases.

Using Your Utah Certificate After You Get Married Online in New Hampshire

After you get married online in New Hampshire through Utah, your certified Utah County marriage certificate is your primary legal document for updating your records. New Hampshire agencies accept any valid U.S. marriage certificate and do not require it to be New Hampshire-issued.

Change your name with the Social Security Administration first. New Hampshire’s DMV checks SSA records when processing name changes on driver’s licenses, so updating SSA before visiting the DMV prevents delays.
Update your New Hampshire driver’s license or state ID through the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles.
Adjust your name and marital status with banks, employers, schools, and insurance providers.
Use your certificate for USCIS spousal visa and green card applications. The Utah County certificate is treated the same as any New Hampshire-issued license for immigration purposes.

Many couples who get married online in New Hampshire also use their Utah certificate to complete a legal name change after the ceremony. You can learn more in our guide on how to change your name after getting married online.

Related Online Marriage Guides

If you are researching how to get married online in New Hampshire or nearby New England states, you may also want to read:

FAQ: Getting Married Online in New Hampshire

Is it legal to get married online in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire recognizes marriages valid where they are performed. When you get married online in New Hampshire through Utah’s system, your marriage is valid under Utah law and New Hampshire must recognize it. New Hampshire’s own requirements about in-person clerk appearances, the in-office worksheet, and the name decision at filing apply only to New Hampshire licenses, not to marriages legally performed in Utah.

Why do I have to decide my name before the ceremony?
New Hampshire law requires each applicant to state their post-marriage surname on the license application at the time it is filed. Under RSA 5-C:41, the options are to keep your existing name, take your spouse’s name, or use a hyphenated combination. What you put on the application becomes your legal name after the ceremony, and a different change requires a separate court petition. Utah’s application process does not impose this irrevocable upfront name decision, which is one reason some couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire prefer the Utah route.

What is the AIDS brochure acknowledgment in New Hampshire?
Under RSA 457:23, New Hampshire requires both applicants to sign an acknowledgment on the back of the marriage license stating that they received and discussed the state-issued AIDS education brochure. The clerk provides the brochure at the time of application. This is simply a signature step; there is no test, no waiting period, and no requirement to attend any class. Utah has no equivalent requirement.

Does New Hampshire require witnesses?
No. New Hampshire law does not require witnesses at a marriage ceremony. However, two adult witnesses are required under Utah law, so couples who get married online in New Hampshire through Distant Vows do need witnesses. Distant Vows can provide them if needed.

Can an out-of-state officiant perform a New Hampshire wedding?
Yes, but they must first obtain a special solemnization license from the New Hampshire Secretary of State for $25. Friends or family members who want to officiate must do the same. When couples get married online in New Hampshire through Distant Vows, the ceremony is performed by a Utah-licensed officiant, and no New Hampshire registration is required.

Can Guard members at Pease get married online in New Hampshire this way?
Yes. Both partners join the ceremony by video from wherever they are. A Guard member on deployment or temporarily stationed elsewhere can participate from any location while the other partner remains in New Hampshire or elsewhere. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Can same-sex couples get married online this way?
Yes. New Hampshire was the first state in New England to legalize same-sex marriage through legislation, which took effect January 1, 2010. Same-sex couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire can do so through Utah and receive the same legal certificate as any other couple.

How fast can we get married online from New Hampshire?
Many couples complete all four steps and receive their digital certificate within a few days. Rush options are available for couples who need to get married online in New Hampshire on a tighter timeline. Whether you are in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, or a small Granite State town, the steps to get married online in New Hampshire through Distant Vows are the same for every couple.

For details on New Hampshire’s traditional marriage license requirements, New Hampshire DHHS Vital Records and your local city or town clerk provide official guidance. For couples who want to get married online in New Hampshire without visiting a clerk’s office, filling out an in-office worksheet, or making an irrevocable name decision at filing, Distant Vows handles everything remotely.

Ready to Get Married Online in New Hampshire?

If you are ready to get married online in New Hampshire, Distant Vows makes the process simple. Our four-step system walks you from eligibility to your official U.S. marriage certificate, with licensed Utah officiants, witness support, and clear guidance at every stage.

Start today and let us handle the legal details so you can get married online in New Hampshire without leaving home. Every week, couples from Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, and across the Granite State choose Distant Vows to get married online in New Hampshire. No in-office worksheet, no upfront name decision, no clerk visit required. You can begin by completing our intake form at get married online.

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