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New HampshireHB12602025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

relative to marriage registration forms and delayed certificates of marriage.

Sponsored By: Paul P Dargie

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Marriage paperwork and legal name choices

You can complete New Hampshire’s marriage worksheet online or on paper before visiting the clerk, but must sign there. You can keep your surname, take your spouse’s, or hyphenate both full surnames. You can also use your pre-marriage surname as a middle name. The name on your worksheet and license becomes your legal name after marriage; fraudulent, criminal, or wrongful changes are barred. Other name changes need court approval. These rules take effect 60 days after passage.

Financial privacy for some divorcing couples

Beginning January 1, 2027, both spouses in an uncontested New Hampshire divorce without minor children can jointly request financial privacy. Both must request and consent in writing to sealing records or hiding sensitive details from public copies. Covered records include financial affidavits, tax returns, account details, and financial settlement terms. Courts must grant joint requests unless disclosure serves a compelling public interest or sealing harms third-party rights or justice. The protection excludes contested issues needing fact-finding and cases involving abuse, fraud, or misconduct affecting others. It also excludes proceedings where disclosure is needed to protect the public interest. Later disclosure requires a narrowly tailored request, a compelling public interest, and no reasonable alternative that protects sensitive information. Basic case information and appropriately redacted decrees remain public.

Former spouses can shield divorce records

Beginning January 1, 2027, former spouses can seek sealing or redaction of qualifying New Hampshire divorce records. The divorce must have been granted within the 15 years before that date. The same privacy standards for uncontested divorces without minor children apply. Courts must grant a joint request unless a compelling public interest requires openness or sealing materially harms another person’s rights. A hearing is not required unless the court decides otherwise.

Late marriage registration costs $25

Registering a New Hampshire marriage more than 6 months after the ceremony requires a delayed certificate and a $25 filing fee. You must provide at least two accepted pieces of evidence, such as officiant affidavits or a signed marriage certificate. The city or town clerk collects the fee, and the city or town keeps it. These rules take effect 60 days after passage.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Paul P Dargie

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Peter Petrigno

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 296; eff. 9/8/2026

    7/16/2026House

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 56

    7/1/2026House

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15

    6/30/2026Senate

  4. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2172e: AA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 49

    6/22/2026House

  5. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2172e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14

    6/19/2026Senate

  6. Conference Committee Report 2026-2057c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 12

    6/4/2026House

  7. Conference Committee Report # 2026-2057c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14

    5/29/2026Senate

  8. Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2057c; 06/04/2026

    5/28/2026Senate

  9. Conference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 10:00 am GP 234

    5/26/2026House

  10. President Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Reardon; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12

    5/13/2026Senate

  11. Sen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12

    5/13/2026Senate

  12. Speaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Berch, Kuttab, Manos 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84

    5/6/2026House

  13. House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1312s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84

    5/6/2026House

  14. Committee Amendment # 2026-1312s, AA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8

    4/3/2026Senate

  15. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1312s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8

    4/3/2026Senate

  16. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1312s, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13

    4/2/2026Senate

  17. Hearing: 03/24/2026, Room 100, LOB, 01:05 pm, on proposed non-germane amendment # 2026-1173s; SC 11

    3/18/2026Senate

  18. Hearing: 03/24/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 11

    3/18/2026Senate

  19. Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6

    3/6/2026Senate

  20. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0693h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 21

    3/5/2026House

  21. Amendment # 2026-0693h: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 21

    3/5/2026House

  22. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0693h 02/13/2026 (Vote 17-1; CC) HC 9 P. 18

    2/26/2026House

  23. Executive Session: 02/13/2026 10:00 am GP 158

    2/5/2026House

  24. Public Hearing: 02/11/2026 10:30 am GP 230

    2/5/2026House

  25. Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 12

    12/1/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Amended

    6/19/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    6/19/2026

    HTML

  • Introduced

    12/1/2025

    PDF

  • CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION

    PDF

  • Version adopted by both bodies

    PDF

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