New Hampshire Marriage/Relationship Recognition Law
Licenses marriages for same-sex couples? No.
Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions? No.
New Hampshire law states: “No man shall marry … any other man. … No woman shall marry … any other woman. … Marriages legally contracted outside the state of New Hampshire which would be prohibited under RSA 457:1 or RSA 457:2 if contracted in New Hampshire shall not be legally recognized in this state. … 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.”
Any form of statewide relationship recognition for same-sex couples? Yes.
In 2007 the Legislature passed a bill that created the legal status of civil unions. Parties to a civil union are entitled to all of the state-level spousal rights and responsibilities. Governor Lynch signed the bill into law, and it became effective January 1, 2008.
Citations: N.H. REV. STAT. ANN 457:1; N.H. REV. STAT. ANN 457:2; N.H. REV. STAT. ANN 457:3; N.H. REV. STAT. ANN 457:43; NH HB 437 (2007).
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Last Updated: 1/2/2008