Officiating a wedding in New Hampshire
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: sos.nh.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
New Hampshire licenses officiants through the Secretary of State by three routes, and the clergy route requires residence in the state. An ordained minister who resides in New Hampshire and is in regular standing needs no license; a non-ordained resident member of the clergy must be licensed by the secretary of state; an out-of-state minister, or a person authorized to perform marriages at home, takes a special license; and any individual, ordained or not, may obtain a special marriage officiant license covering only the one civil marriage named on the registration form. That last route is the most expensive officiant license in this reference, so confirm the current amount with the Secretary of State. The couple gets the license from any city or town clerk, with no residency requirement.
Who returns the license, and by when
The person who performs the marriage certifies the fact of marriage and within 6 days returns the record, with any Secretary of State solemnization license, to the clerk of the town or city of license issuance. The duty holds even if the couple asks the officiant not to report it. Confirm the window with that clerk.
Suggested return window: about 6 days after the ceremony. Confirm the current deadline with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to register to officiate in New Hampshire?
Usually yes, unless you are an ordained minister residing in the state and in regular standing with your denomination. The other three routes all run through the Secretary of State.
Can someone from out of state officiate in New Hampshire?
Yes, with a special license from the Secretary of State. One route covers a minister residing out of state or a person authorized to perform marriages at home; the other is open to any individual and covers only the single civil marriage named on the form.
When is a New Hampshire marriage record due back?
Within 6 days, to the clerk of the town or city that issued the license, together with any Secretary of State solemnization license.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:sos.nh.gov.