HOW TO APPLY FOR A CIVIL UNION LICENSE |
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General Information
All persons wishing to be joined in a civil union in the State of New Hampshire must complete a Civil Union License application with any City or Town Clerk regardless of their place of residence. This includes out-of-state residents. Once the license is issued, the couple is free to join in a civil union within any city or town in the State of New Hampshire.
A civil union certificate is a copy of the record certified by the city or town clerk or by the Registrar of the Vital Records and Health Statistics and serves as evidence of the fact of the civil union.
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Both individuals must appear at the same time in the Office of the City Clerk. However, if either party (or both) is a member of the armed forces, he or she shall forward an affidavit of civil union intentions, prepared by the armed forces legal representative, to the City Clerk, if he or she cannot appear in person.
Individuals may apply for a civil union license between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday. The application process takes approximately 45 minutes to complete if all the supporting documentation is in order.
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| Identification Requirements: (no photo or electronic copies) |
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Proof of age (example - driver's license, passport, certified birth certificate)
Photo identification (example - driver's license or passport)
Certified copy of a death certificate of a former spouse, if either applicant is widowed
Certified copy of a final divorce decree or civil union dissolution decree, if either applicant is divorced or a previous civil union has been dissolved.
Certified copy of an annulment decree, if the applicant's previous marriage or civil union was annulled. This is a court document.
Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translation that has been signed by the translator. A notary must witness the translator's signature.
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Civil unions shall only be allowed between one unmarried or un-joined man and another unmarried or un-joined man, both of whom are at least 18 years of age or one unmarried or un-joined woman and another unmarried or un-joined woman, both of whom are at least 18 years of age.
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A civil union is not permitted in New Hampshire between people who are related by blood as first cousins or in any more direct lineage
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| A civil union may be performed by |
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A Justice of the Peace commissioned in New Hampshire
A minister of the gospel in New Hampshire who has been ordained to the usage of his denomination, resides in New Hampshire and is in regular standing with the denomination
A minister within his parish, residing outside New Hampshire, but having a pastoral charge wholly or partly in New Hampshire
Jewish Rabbis who are citizens of the United States and reside in this state
Quakers
A deacon in the Roman Catholic Church ordained according to the usage of his denomination
Judges of the United States, a US magistrate judge residing in this state pursuant to federal law, a clergyman who are not ordained, and non-resident Justices of the Peace, ministers and Jewish Rabbis, after being licensed by the Secretary of State.
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There is no waiting period in the State of New Hampshire.
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The license is valid for use for 90 days from the date of the application.
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The fee to apply for a civil union license is $45. Payment can be made with cash, a local (Manchester, NH) bank check, or a money order.
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| Certified Civil Union Certificate
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After your civil union has taken place, please wait seven (7) to ten (10) days before applying for a copy of your civil union certificate. You may either come into our office or write a letter to the Office of the City Clerk and send $12.00 (money order or bank check) to:
Office of the City Clerk
One City Hall Plaza
Manchester, NH 03101
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Any person shall be guilty of a Class B Felony if he/she willfully and knowingly makes any false statements on an application for a certified copy of a vital record (NH RSA 126.24)
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