§457:31
New Hampshire Marriage Statute
10
New Hampshire Counties
49 yrs
Continuous Standing
3-5 wks
Credentialing
New Hampshire Ordination Through AEGA
Recognized credentials, no state registration.
New Hampshire is a no-state-registration state for marriage officiants. Unlike states where ministers must register with a court before officiating, New Hampshire RSA §457:31 authorizes "a minister of the gospel" of any denomination, residing in this state or any other state, to solemnize marriages. The AEGA ordination credential is sufficient. Sign the marriage license, the county clerk records it.
AEGA Ordained Minister credentials in New Hampshire name the holder as an ordained minister of AEGA Ministries International, a Spirit-filled fellowship recognized as a religious organization under U.S. law and chartered as a 501(c)(3) since 1976. Sufficient under RSA §457:31 to conduct marriages in any of the 10 counties. AEGA is not a denomination; it is a covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers.
Who AEGA Credentials in New Hampshire
Six common New Hampshire ordination pathways.
AEGA carries credentialed ministers across every region of New Hampshire, from senior pastors of established congregations to first-call wedding officiants. Each pathway runs through the same Credential Committee review.
Senior pastors of New Hampshire congregations.
Lead pastors carrying ordination through AEGA across New Hampshire cities and rural communities. The National Division covering reaches every region through state and area coordinators.
Church planters and bivocational ministers.
Ministers starting new works inside New Hampshire. AEGA's 49 years of standing carries weight with landlords, banks, and county officials handling new church incorporations.
Wedding officiants across the state.
Ministers whose call includes officiating weddings across New Hampshire. RSA §457:31 recognizes the AEGA ordination credential in all 10 counties without further registration.
Ministers transferring credentials into AEGA.
Pastors and ministers moving from another fellowship or denomination who want a Spirit-filled covenant covering. AEGA has a transfer-of-credentials pathway for established ministers.
New Hampshire chaplains needing the ordination prerequisite.
Hospital, hospice, federal-prison, state-corrections, and law-enforcement chaplains. AEGA Ordained Minister credentials are the gate for endorsement by AEGA Chaplaincy Commission.
Worship leaders and associate ministers.
Music ministers, youth pastors, associate ministers, and staff ministers across New Hampshire congregations. Christian Worker and Licensed Minister tiers fit most associate roles.
Credential Pathways for New Hampshire Ministers
Four credentialing tiers under one Spirit-filled fellowship.
AEGA carries four ministerial tiers: Ministerial Apprentice, Christian Worker, Licensed Minister, and Ordained Minister. Begin at the tier that matches your call.
Ministerial Apprentice.
The formation tier for ministers preparing for Licensed or Ordained credential. 12-24 months under a local pastor. New Hampshire applicants begin here if no prior ministerial standing.
Christian Worker.
For those called to lay ministry roles: Sunday school teacher, jail or street ministry, house-to-house visitation. $50 application + $50 annual renewal. Open to ministers in any New Hampshire city.
Licensed Minister.
For ministers in part-time or full-time ministry with limited experience. Authorizes preaching, marriage officiation under RSA §457:31, baptism, and all sacerdotal duties.
Ordained Minister.
The highest credentialing tier. Required for chaplain endorsement, charter pastorship of an AEGA congregation, and the most formal forms of New Hampshire ministerial standing.
Why AEGA in New Hampshire
A covenant fellowship for the long career of New Hampshire ministry.
AEGA-credentialed New Hampshire ministers receive recognition under RSA §457:31, covering through a Spirit-filled fellowship, and the standing of an organization that has carried ministers since 1976.
RSA §457:31.
The statute that authorizes AEGA-ordained New Hampshire ministers to conduct marriage ceremonies across all 10 counties. No state registration required.
Recognition across all 10 counties.
From the largest New Hampshire metro areas through the rural counties. The AEGA credential carries the same weight statewide.
Spirit-filled covenant covering.
AEGA is a covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers, not a denomination. New Hampshire ministers receive ongoing covering, conference participation, and Credential Committee support.
49 years of standing.
AEGA has carried Spirit-filled ministers since 1976. New Hampshire county clerks, chaplain boards, and charter agencies recognize the credential on file.
Get Ordained · By State or Nation
Become an ordained minister wherever you serve.
Every state has its own requirements for officiating weddings, performing chaplaincy, and operating a church. We’ve mapped the path for the states most of our applicants come from.
Frequently Asked
Getting ordained in New Hampshire, answered.
Do I need to register with New Hampshire to officiate weddings as an ordained minister?
No. New Hampshire RSA §457:31 authorizes "a minister of the gospel" of any denomination, residing in this state or any other state, to solemnize marriages. The AEGA ordination credential is sufficient in all 10 New Hampshire counties. The minister signs the New Hampshire marriage license after the ceremony; the county clerk records the marriage based on the signed license.
How long does AEGA ordination take in New Hampshire?
Most AEGA credentials, including ordination, are issued within three to five weeks of a complete application. The timeline is the same in New Hampshire as in any U.S. state. The Credential Committee review covers doctrinal alignment with the historic Spirit-filled stream AEGA has carried since 1976, references, and ministry experience.
Is AEGA a denomination, and does that matter for New Hampshire marriage law?
AEGA is a covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers, not a denomination. RSA §457:31 does not require an officiant to be ordained by a denomination; it requires ordination by a religious organization. AEGA Ministries International is recognized as a religious organization under U.S. law and chartered as a 501(c)(3) since 1976. County clerks across New Hampshire accept the AEGA credential.
Can a New Hampshire-ordained AEGA minister also become a chaplain?
Yes. AEGA Ordained Minister credentials are the prerequisite for chaplain endorsement. AEGA-ordained New Hampshire chaplains serve in hospital, hospice, federal-prison, state-corrections, and law-enforcement settings. The credentialing path runs first, then chaplaincy endorsement through the AEGA Chaplaincy Commission.
How does AEGA ordination compare to online ordination services in New Hampshire?
AEGA ordination is a sacred setting-apart act inside a covenant fellowship, not a same-day certificate. AEGA requires an application, doctrinal review by the Credential Committee covering doctrinal alignment, references, and ministry experience, and a monthly giving commitment for Licensed and Ordained tiers. Both produce a credential a New Hampshire county clerk will accept under RSA §457:31; only one places the minister inside ongoing covering.
Learn more about ordination through AEGA.
Spirit-filled covenant fellowship. 49 years of continuous standing. Recognized under RSA §457:31 across all 10 New Hampshire counties. AEGA credentialing is the pathway for New Hampshire ministers, chaplains, and church planters.