All persons proposing to be joined in marriage within the state shall complete a Marriage License Application which shall be recorded by any New Hampshire city or town clerk. The clerk shall then provide the parties with a license which shall be delivered to the minister, justice of the peace, magistrate or other officiant who is able to solemnize marriages in New Hampshire, and who is to officiate the ceremony.

If applying for a license in Rindge, the Town Clerk's Office is open Mon & Weds 8-1 & 1:30-3:30, Tues Noon-6:30, Thurs 7-1 & 1:30-3:30 and CLOSED on Friday. The process can take as long as 45 minutes because of the length of the form that the couple has to fill out and the clerk has to enter into the state database, so we ask that those wishing to apply for a marriage license call, email or come in person to make an appointment. If all the supporting documentation is in order, the couple will receive the license on the same day they apply for it.

To be married in NH you do not have to establish residency. A couple wishing to marry in the State of NH may complete an application at any NH city or town clerk’s office regardless of their place of residence. This includes out-of-state residents as well. Once a valid license is issued, the couple will be free to marry within any city or town in NH. Both parties must appear in person to file intentions as the signature of each applicant is required. However, if either party (or both) is a member of the armed forces, he or she shall forward an affidavit of intentions, prepared by the armed forces legal representative, to the clerk if he or she cannot appear in person, so please contact the Town Clerk's Office for more information and assistance.

New Rule as of January 1, 2025:  SB 359 – Raising Minimum Age to Marry: The age to contract a valid marriage license has been raised from 16 years of age to 18 years of age. New Hampshire courts will no longer issue age waivers.  Age waivers from out-of-state are not (and will not) be accepted for a New Hampshire marriage.

Fee

The $50 license fee is set by RSA 457:29 and is payable to the Town of Rindge at the time the intentions are filed. We also charge you for the post-marriage certificates at this time. The cost is $15 for one and $10 for each additional copy. We also will charge a postage fee to send them to you as soon as we receive your license back from the officiant. For example: $50 for license, $15 for one certificate and $1 for postage would be a total of $66.00.

Documents Required

The applicants shall supply to the clerk, prior to the issuance of the marriage or civil union license, the following documents:

• Proof of age and name - Need a certified long birth certificate, showing parents information and a file date, with a raised seal.  If a legal name change was issued after the birth, need a certified copy of the legal name change. If you were naturalized and changed your name, we will also need to see your naturalization certificate.  This is to help stay in compliance with the Real ID as well as to make sure all information is correct on the marriage license. Please note that a driver's license is not acceptable proof for your name or age. 
• Government Issued Photo identification (i.e. driver's license, passport)
• A certified copy of a death certificate of a former spouse, if applicant is widowed
• A certified or absolute copy of a final divorce decree, if the applicant is divorced
• A certified or absolute copy of an annulment decree, if the applicant’s previous marriage or civil union was annulled.
• A certified or absolute copy of a civil union dissolution, if the applicant's previous civil union was dissolved.
• Documents which are not in English must be accompanied by a translation that has been signed by the translator and the translator’s signature witnessed by a notary. The individual doing the translation cannot notarize their own signature.

License Validity Period

The license shall be valid for a period of not more than 90 days from the date of filing. The 90 day period will begin on the date the license is issued up to and including the expiration date. The license will state the date the license becomes valid as well as the date of expiration. The officiant shall make note of these dates and under no circumstances shall the couple be joined before the valid date or after the expiration date.

Relationship

Marriages are not permitted in NH between people who are related by blood as first cousins or in any more direct lineage.

Age

No person below the age of 18 years shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage.

Solemnization In New Hampshire, marriages may be performed by:

• A Justice of the Peace commissioned in NH
• A minister of the gospel in NH who has been ordained according to the usage of his denomination, resides in NH, and is in regular standing with the denomination
• A minister within his parish, residing outside NH, but having a pastoral charge wholly or partly in NH
• 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, clergymen who are not ordained and non-resident Justices of the Peace, friends of the couple that are not ministers, ministers or Jewish rabbis, after being licensed by the Secretary of State. Click Here for the form.

Uniform Marriage Recognition Law

Residents. If any person residing and intending to continue to reside in this state is prohibited from contracting marriage under the laws of this state and goes into another jurisdiction and there contracts a marriage prohibited and declared void by the laws of this state, such marriage shall be null and void for all purposes in this state, with the same effect as though such prohibited marriage had been entered into in this state.

Nonresidents. No marriage shall be contracted in this state by a party residing and intending to continue to reside in another jurisdiction if such marriage would be voided if contracted in such other jurisdiction, and every marriage contracted in this state in violation hereof shall be null and void.

NH state law (RSA 457) states that "Marriage is the legally recognized union of two people. Any person who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of this chapter may marry any other eligible person regardless of gender. Each party to a marriage shall be designated bride, groom or spouse." NH state law recognized civil unions for a limited period of time prior to January 1, 2010. No new NH civil unions may be established on or after this date. Two consenting persons who are parties to a valid NH civil union entered into prior to January 1, 2010 may apply and receive a marriage license and have such marriage solemnized. Such parties may also apply by January 1, 2011 to have their civil union legally designated and recorded as a marriage. Two persons who are parties to a NH civil union that has not been dissolved or annulled by the parties or merged into a marriage by January 1, 2011, shall be deemed to be married, under RSA 457, on January 1, 2011.

A Marriage Certificate or a Civil Union Certificate is a copy of the record certified by a city or town clerk or by the registrar of vital records and health statistics which serves as evidence of the fact of the marriage/civil union.

Confidentiality

Old records are considered public records and are not subject to privacy requirements. Old records include marriage records prior to 1968. All other records are considered private and confidential, with access limited to those individuals who have a "direct and tangible” interest in the record.

Any marriage record from the year 1960 until present are available at any city or town clerk's office in the State of New Hampshire.  If the marriage occurred prior to 1960, you will need to obtain the marriage certificate from the city or town clerk in the municipality in which the couple applied for the marriage license or from the NH Bureau of Vital Records in Concord.  Certified copies of marriage records can be obtained from the Rindge Town Clerk's Office.  The Bureau of Vital Records in Concord is located at 9 Ratification Way.

Copies of marriage or civil union records may only be obtained by the registrant, a member of their immediate family, guardian, or representatives with “a direct and tangible interest” such as an attorney, 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 presented in a letter, on the requester's letterhead, clearly stating Person A's (Groom/Bride or Spouse) and Person B's (Groom/Bride or Spouse) full name (including maiden name), date of marriage, where the marriage license was obtained, the reason why the record is being requested and needs to be signed by the attorney.  The individual signing the letter shall submit a photocopy of their government issue id.  If the requester is allowing another individual to pick-up the record on their behalf, that individual's name must appear in the letter and they will be required to show their government issued id in our office in order for us to issue them the record.

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).

You need to see the Town Clerk, Shana Eichner, at the Rindge Town office. Her office is open Mon & Wed 8-1 & 1:30-4, Tues 12-6:30pm Thurs 7am-1:00 & 1:30-3:30pm CLOSED on Fri. If you have specific questions, she can be reached at townclerk@rindgenh.org or 899-5181 x107.

Please bring a current rabies certificate and spaying or neutering documentation if applicable. Fees are: $6.50 Spayed/Neutered, $9.00 Not Spayed/Neutered, $2.00 for Seniors (65+) - NOTE: Only one dog for the $2 rate, all other dogs will be charged the regular rate -, $20.00 Group License (5+ dogs).

New dog tags are available in January for the current licensing year; dog licenses are due by April 30th of each year.

Go to see the Town Clerk, Shana Eichner, at the Rindge Town office. {Brick Building Around the Back of the Building}

All people that are on the registration must be present to register the car in Rindge.

You will need to show proof of residency, such as a utility bill, bank account or paycheck which shows your physical address.  A mortgage or local tax bill will not be accepted as proof of residence since it only proves you own property in Rindge.

You will also need to show photo I.D.

If you have the title, you will need that and a current registration for the car.

If there is a lienholder, she will need the name and address of the lien company and the current registration.

You will also need to fill out the Residency Statement. 

The office is open Mon & Wed 8-1 & 1:30-4, Tues 12-6:30pm Thurs 7am-1:00 & 1:30-3:30pm CLOSED on Fri. ( Hours are subject to change due to weather, meetings, etc.) If you have specific questions, she can be reached at townclerk@rindgenh.org or 899-5181 x107

Go to see the Town Clerk, Shana Eichner, at the Rindge Town office.

Bring your current registration with you.

You will need to fill out this address change form:  Changing Address within NH Form

You will also need to show photo I.D.

The office is open Mon & Wed 8-1 & 1:30-4, Tues 12-6:30pm Thurs 7am-1:00 & 1:30-3:30pm CLOSED on Fri. ( Hours are subject to change due to weather, meetings, etc.) If you have specific questions, I can be reached at 603-899-5181 x107 or townclerk@rindgenh.org.

You need to see the Town Clerk, Shana Eichner, at the Rindge Town Office. Her office is open Mon & Wed 8-1 & 1:30-4, Tues 12-6:30pm Thurs 7am-1:00 & 1:30-3:30pm CLOSED on Fri. If you have specific questions, she can be reached at 899-5181 x107.

Please bring your photo id and proof of residency.

Applying For a Copy of a Marriage, Birth or Death Certificate 

ONLINE OPTION

You can order a Vital Record Certificate online by clicking on the following link and answering the questions: Vital Record Request .  You must be able to upload your driver's license or email a copy to the town clerk with this option. If you have questions after placing your order -- contact the Rindge Town Clerk's Office at townclerk@rindgenh.org.

IN PERSON OPTION

Click on the blue link in the following sentence, to print the form.  A signed application must be presented. 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 Photo 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.” This form is also found on the Town Clerk's page under Docs: Vital Records. 

MAIL IN OPTION

If ordering by mail, you must include the request form, signed application,  as well as a photocopy of your photo identification OR the form, “Documentation Evidence for Individuals not Possessing an Acceptable Picture Identification (PDF)” along with photocopies of the supporting documentation required with that form. Mail-in orders without positive identification will be returned without having been processed.

COST

Effective July 1, 2010, the fees for certified copies are $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. The $15 state search fee is established by NH RSA 5-C:10. It includes a certified copy if found, a “No Records” statement if not. The Rindge Town Clerk's Office accepts cash, check or credit cards (a convenience fee will apply for credit card transactions). The $15 dollar fee is charged whether a record was found or not.

Changes to the Certificate

Changes or corrections to marriage, birth or death certificates must be initiated at the Town Clerk’s office in the same town the event was filed. Fees may apply.

11/3/2020 STATE GENERAL ELECTION ABSENTEE BALLOT (“AB”) FAQ

Track your Ballot: https://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/AbsenteeBallot.aspx

Complete, sign and return an Absentee Ballot (“AB”) Request Form to/from the Town Clerk’s Office. You can obtain an AB Request form any one of the following ways:

• Download and print the form from the Town Clerk web page: 2020 Federal/State Absentee Ballot Request 
• Call or email the Town Clerk Office and request one to be mailed

Once the form is completed and signed, you need to return it to the Town Clerk Office one of the following ways:

• USPS mail
• You or anyone you know can drop off your completed AB Request form in person to the Town Clerk’s Office. Again, no identification is required to request an Absentee Ballot.

• You can mail your AB back to the Town Clerk’s office via USPS.
• You can walk your ballot into the Town Clerk’s office during regular business hours.

• Yes. If we have not yet cast your Absentee Ballot on November 3rd. We will begin casting AB’s at 9:00am on Tuesday, 11/3. Once cast, you will not be allowed to vote in-person at the polls.
• If you never return your Absentee Ballot, then you can absolutely vote at the polls on 11/3.

• 5pm on Monday, November 2nd, at the Town Clerk’s Office.