Requesting Vital Records 

Vital Record Information

We are currently open to the public Monday through Thursday from 7:00AM to 5:00PM. We are closed on Fridays.

Access to Vital Records

Vital Records are not considered to be public records in the State of New Hampshire. Records can only be issued to the individual to whom the record belongs or immediate family members. Immediate family members include: Parents, Step-Parents, Spouse, Sibling, Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle. We cannot issue to cousins, in-laws, or other parties without proof of tangible interest. (For example, a legal guardian can obtain a record with proof of guardianship.)

Photo identification is required of the person requesting the vital record. If you do not have photo identification, please contact our office for further instructions.

Genealogy Research

Birth records older than 100 years and Death and Marriage records older than 50 years, are considered open to the public. Our vault contains records that date as far back as 1761, when Lebanon was first settled. These records can be viewed by visiting our office in-person during our regular business hours. Please consult our guidelines for viewing our record books; you will also be asked to provide your photo identification to sign out a book.

Where Do I Obtain My Vital Record?

The following New Hampshire records can be obtained from ANY City/Town office in New Hampshire: 

• Birth: 1935 – Present 
• Death: 1965 – Present 
• Marriage: 1960 – Present
• Divorce: 1979 – Present (within 6 months of current date) 

Births and deaths prior to the above-mentioned dates need to be obtained from the town where the event occurred. Marriages prior to 1960 will need to be obtained from the town or city where the marriage license was applied for, not where the marriage took place.  We no longer offer short form birth certificates.

Certified Copies of Divorces are one page certified documents that simply state a couple is divorced. For a Certified Copy of Divorce decree that includes all stipulations OR for a divorce that took place prior to 1979 or within the last six months, please contact the Court where your divorce was obtained. 

Payment

Payment is collected at the time of the search. It is $15.00 for one copy and $10.00 for any subsequent copies (of the same record) per order. If requesting in-person our office accepts cash, check, debit cards, and credit cards. (Please note, a processing fee of 2.99% with a minimum fee of $2.50 will be assessed on debit and credit cards.)

If requesting through the mail, a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the City of Lebanon will be accepted; personal checks and debit or credit cards are not accepted through the mail.

Processing Through the Mail

Below is the application for each type of vital record. At the bottom of the application, you will find information on how to request the record through the mail. Please be sure to complete the “Checklist before mailing” to ensure that you submit everything which is required. If you are unable to print any of the forms, you can simply hand-write a request supplying all the information listed on the form.

• Vital Record Request Form (PDF)

Processing Online

You may now purchase copies of your vital records online! Please note, a processing fee of 2.99% with a minimum fee of $2.50 will be assessed on debit and credit cards. In addition to the processing fee, a $1.75 transaction fee will also be assessed per request. Photo identification is required and can be submitted by mail or email - simply follow the instructions at the end of your request. 

If you are not an immediate family member as described above, you will be asked to provide proof of tangible interest as well. The system will clearly prompt you for this information if it is required. If you are asked to send proof and need guidance on what is acceptable, please contact our office at 603-448-3054 or by email to cityclerk@lebanonnh.gov.

• Visit our Vital Records Request Portal

Vital Records Folders Available for Purchase

Protective folders for storing your vital records are available for purchase from our office. The cost is $1.00 per folder (for in-person transactions) or $1.25 per folder (for mail transactions.) To request one by mail, please complete the second page on the Vital Records Request Form.  Folders can also be processed with online orders under Shipping by selecting: "Standard Mail - Include Protective Folder (1.25)"