Marriage licenses in New Hampshire are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by state law. This page collects the statewide rules from New Hampshire’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: Town or city clerk of any New Hampshire town or city
- License fee (statewide): $50
- Waiting period: None — the license may be used the same day it is issued
- License validity: 90 days from issuance
- Witnesses: None required
- Minimum age: 18 (RSA 457:4, effective Jan. 1, 2025; no exceptions)
- Residency / where to apply: No residency requirement — residents and nonresidents alike file at any town or city clerk; the ceremony must take place in New Hampshire
- Who can officiate: New Hampshire justices of the peace; ordained ministers of the gospel residing in NH and in regular standing; ministers with a pastoral charge in NH; rabbis residing in NH; Quakers (Society of Friends); Roman Catholic deacons; U.S. judges and magistrate judges and nonresident officiants licensed by the NH Secretary of State
- Courthouse ceremonies: No clerk ceremony service; justices of the peace perform ceremonies
New Hampshire counties in this directory
We have published 8 verified county guides for New Hampshire so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $50 to $50. 0 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all New Hampshire county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://sandwichnh.org/departments/town_clerks_office/vital_records/applying_for_a_marriage_license.php (checked 2026-11-09). County figures are checked separately against each county’s own official page and carry their own verified dates. Always confirm with your county clerk before you go — this is not a government site.