Death Certificates

CONFIDENTIALITY
Old records are considered public records and are not subject to privacy requirements. Old records include: Birth records prior to 1908; death records prior to 1958; marriage records prior to 1958. All other records are considered private and confidential, with access limited to those individuals who have a "direct and tangible” interest in the record.

Copies of death records may only be obtained by the registrant, a member of his immediate family, guardian, or representatives with “a direct and tangible interest” such as an attorney, funeral director, or other authorized agent acting in behalf of the registrant or his family. In order to determine if the “legal representative” may have access to the record, the direct and tangible interest must be listed in any correspondence received or clearly expressed if application is made in person.

PENALTY
Any person shall be guilty of a Class B Felony if he/she willfully and knowingly makes any false statement in an application for a certified copy of a vital record. (NH RSA 5-C:14).

APPLYING FOR A COPY OF A DEATH CERTIFICATE IN PERSON OR BY MAIL
A signed, written application (available here) must be presented in person or by mail. Payment must accompany the request. Effective January 1, 2005, all individuals requesting a certified copy of a vital record (birth, marriage, or death record, pursuant to RSA 5:C-16) must present positive identification including, but not limited to, a driver's license, passport or other picture identification or, in the absence of acceptable picture identification, shall complete the form “ Documentation Evidence for Individuals not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification .” If ordering by mail, you must include the request form as well as a photocopy of your identification or the form, “Documentation Evidence for Individuals not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification ” along with photocopies of the supporting documentation required with that form. Mail-in orders without positive identification will be returned without having been processed.

APPLYING FOR A COPY OF A DEATH CERTIFICATE BY TELEPHONE OR BY FAX
The Nashua City Clerk's Office accepts cash or check only.  The office cannot accept payment by credit card or debit card and, therefore, cannot accept payment for requests submitted by email, fax, or telephone.  However, the NH Bureau of Vital Records can accommodate online orders for certified copies of vital records using USCERTS, a third-party credit card service.  Go to https://www.uscerts.com/uscerts/certificates?p_action=start&p_state=NH.  Additionally, USCerts can provide expedited service for speedy receipt of your certificate.  There are additional fees for credit card usage and/or expedited delivery.  This order will be processed by the NH Bureau of Vital Records, not the City Clerk's Office.  For further information -  or if you have questions after placing your order - contact the NH Bureau of Vital Records directly at 603-271-4650.

FEES
The fees for certified copies are $12.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy requested at the same time. The $12.00 fee is established by NH RSA 5-C:10 It includes a certified copy if found, a “No Records” statement if not.