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Town Clerk
The mission of the Town Clerk Department is to provide the residents and businesses of Salem efficient, friendly, accurate and timely service and information regarding the many services that we provide.
The Town Clerk's office functions include: marriage licenses, vital statistics, maintaining town records, voter registration applications and information, elections, State and Federal tax liens and attachments, filing of dredge and fill applications, pole permits, Articles of Agreement (non-profit filings), oaths of office and Sheriff's writs.
In addition, the Town Clerk's office and the Tax Collector's office have a combined collection department which does motor vehicle titles and registrations, dog licenses, landfill permits, accepts payments for both resident and property tax bills, water and sewer bills, recreation fees, building permits and other miscellaneous collections.
- How do I register my car in Salem?
To register a car in Salem you need to prove residency at the
Assessor's Office if you are a new resident. Bring your signed residency paperwork to the "Payments" window in the Collections area of the Town Hall to pay your resident tax. At that time you may begin the process to register your vehicle.All vehicles 1989 or newer will need a title until the vehicle is 15 years old, with the exception of heavy trucks, which will always require a title.
If you are a new resident and there is a lien on your vehicle with an out of state lien holder you will need to bring your current registration, the name and address of your lien holder and the present mileage on the vehicle. At this time, we will prepare a title application that will be mailed to the NH Title Bureau who will request the title from the lien holder. After they receive your title you will be sent a letter that you will bring to us and we will then register your vehicle.
If your lien holder is in NH you will need to contact that lien holder for the title.
If there is no lien on your vehicle you will need to bring in the title and your vehicle will be registered at that time. If your vehicle is older than 1989 and you do not have the title you will need to bring in your registration or any other paperwork that gives the information on the car i.e. the make, model, VIN etc.
Fees are computed when your registration is being processed. There are two separate fees that will need to be paid. One is a personal property tax to the Town and the other is a plate fee to the State. Fees are all pro-rated from the month you come in to the month of renewal. The minimum number of months of a registration is 5 and the maximum is 16. There is also a $25 title fee for a titled vehicle. All vehicles registered to an individual expire in the registrant's month of birth. If the vehicle is registered to a business or to a leasing company the first letter of the company name determines the month of renewal.
After this office prepares your paperwork you will then proceed next door to the State of NH DMV for completion of your transaction.
Payments may be made by cash, or check if check is imprinted with a Salem, NH address or if you own the Salem, NH property you live in or the check is under $25.00. The Town of Salem, NH does not take credit or debit cards.
If you have just purchased a vehicle you will need a Certificate of Origin if it is new or a Title if it is used.
If you bought the vehicle from a NH licensed dealer the dealer will have prepared the Title application for you and you will need to bring in the Town Clerk's copy of this application. You will not have a CO or a Title in this case.
If you are transferring your plates from another vehicle that is currently registered to you in NH you will also need your old registration. If you are not sure whether or not you should transfer we will help you determine what you should do when you come in.
Renewals may be done by mail. You will receive you renewal notice by mail with instructions.
In order to do any type of vehicle registration your current Resident Tax must be paid to the Tax Collector.
See the following site for useful Driver's License Information.
- How do I obtain a marriage license?
The bride and groom must appear before a city or town clerk anywhere in the State of NH and must be married in the State of NH. The fee for the license is $45.00 and there is no blood test. Both parties must be 18 years of age or older and a drivers license, passport or birth certificate is sufficient for proof of age. If either party is a NH resident and under 18 a waiver may be granted by the probate court in the county where you live. If either party was married before, a certified copy of how the marriage ended is needed (death certificate, divorce decree or annulment certificate). The license is good for 90 days. There is no waiting period.
- How do I find a Justice of Peace to perform a marriage ceremony?
When you apply we will give you a list of area Justices of the Peace. You may also find a listing on the Internet or in the yellow pages.
- How do I get a certified copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate?
You need to make your request in writing either by mail or in person. You must be a member of the immediate family (no cousins) or have a direct and tangible interest in the record. The cost of the certified copy is $15.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for any subsequent copies ordered at the same time for the same person. You will need to give the name(s) of the registrant(s) and approximate date of the event. Also you must state your relationship or your interest in the record. As of 1/1/05 NH State Law requires identification when requesting a certified record or search. You will need to send a copy of your picture ID when requesting a record by mail or show picture ID when you come in person.
The only birth and death records on file in a city or town are the records of those events that occurred in the city or town. Marriage records are filed where the couple obtained their license. If you are not sure where the event took place you may contact the State of NH Bureau of Vital Records at 6 Hazen Drive, Concord NH 03301. They have the records for the entire state. Their phone number is (603) 271-4650 and they can accommodate your request using a Master Card or Visa.
In Salem, we are able to obtain birth records for the entire state from 1988 on and death and marriage records from 1994 to the present through our new VRV2000 program.
Forms are available for download from the Town Clerk page.
- How do I license my dog?
All dogs 4 months or older must be licensed in NH. You will need to bring in proof of a rabies inoculation and proof of spaying or neutering if the dog is altered. All dog licenses expire on April 30. You will need to renew your dog's license annually by this date or penalties and fines will be issued per State law. There is a one-month grace period before the penalty begins. The penalty is $1.00 per month beginning in June. There may also be a $25.00 civil forfeiture fine issued which will be due 15 days after receipt of the fine.
The cost to license a dog is $9.00 for a male or female, $6.50 for a spayed or neutered dog and $2.00 for the first dog belonging to a senior citizen over 65 years of age. If a puppy is too young to be altered the $6.50 fee will apply for the first license. Dog licenses are not pro-rated.
Dog license renewal notices will be sent to the address on the license on file. Dogs may be licensed by mail.
Please notify the Town Clerk's office if you no longer have your dog or have moved from Salem.
A form is available for download from the Town Clerk page.
- How do I register to vote?
The Supervisors of the Checklist administer voter registration. They issue guidelines for the taking of evidence of qualifications presented by applicants. The Supervisors have special hours determined by State Law to accept voter registrations, these hours are posted at Town Hall and are printed in the local newspapers, they are generally held just before elections and before the beginning of a filing period. The Town Clerk's office will also accept applications during regular business hours. The Supervisors will approve applications when they meet. Voter registration closes 10 days before an election. New Hampshire also has same day voter registration. You may not register to vote at school district and town meetings. You may register to vote at your polling place on Election Day and vote. You are required to show proof of age, domicile and citizenship. Acceptable forms of proof of age include a driver's license, passport or birth certificate. A driver's license, utility bill or other mailed correspondence is acceptable for proof of domicile. Naturalization papers are proof of citizenship if you were not born in the United States. Domicile and citizenship affidavits are available if you cannot provide necessary documentation. At the time of your registration you will be assigned to a polling place in your area. When you register to vote you are registered for all elections and town and school meetings.
Information and forms to apply for an absentee ballot are available for download from the Town Clerk page.
- When are elections held?
Town elections are held annually on the second Tuesday in March. The Presidential Primary election is held usually in January every four years always in an even-numbered year. Every two years (also in even-numbered years) there is a State Primary election held on the second Tuesday in September and a State General Election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Every four years this election also includes the Presidential election.
- How do I get a landfill permit and where is the landfill located?
Landfill permits are obtained at the Town Hall in the Payments area. You will need the registration (or a copy) of the vehicle going to the landfill showing a Salem address. If you are not a Salem resident or your vehicle does not have a Salem address you will need proof that you own property in Salem and your vehicle registration. The cost of the permit is $10.00 and will expire on March 31. The fee is not pro-rated. If you are over 65 you may obtain one free permit for your personal vehicle only. Additional permits will cost $10.00. If you are totally and permanently disabled you may obtain a free permit with proof of your total disability from either Social Security or Veterans Administration. Permits have three bulky coupons attached for large items. Only one set of bulky coupons is allowed per household. You may purchase additional permits for additional vehicles but the bulky coupons will be removed from your permit.
The landfill (also called the Transfer Station) is located on Shannon Road. Take route 97 (Main St) to Hampstead Street, which will become Shannon Road. The landfill is about one mile on the left.
You may also purchase your landfill permit by mail. You will need to send a copy of your registration and a self addressed stamped envelope with your check for $10.00.
- Where do I get a fishing/hunting license?
Licenses are available at many sporting goods stores or you may contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department at (603) 352-9669.
- Where do I get a passport? Where do I get a Social Security Card?
Both of these are obtained through the Federal Government. Passport applications may be obtained at the Post Office. Social Security Cards or applications are available at any Social Security Office. The telephone numbers are listed in the telephone book under United States Government.
- Where do I get a business license?
The Town of Salem does not license businesses; however new business owners are encouraged to call the Town of Salem Code Enforcement Department to ensure the location is properly zoned for business. Businesses and corporations are required to file with the NH Secretary of State's Office in Concord NH. Their telephone number is (603) 271-3246.
The Town of Salem also has an ordinance regarding home businesses. Please contact the Building Department for Code Enforcement information.
- Where can I do genealogy research?
Genealogy research may be done at the Bureau of Vital Records at 6 Hazen Drive, Concord NH. They have a genealogy room and maintain records for all cities and towns in New Hampshire from 1640. They also have divorce records from 1880. The Town Clerk's office in Salem does not have the facilities or manpower to do genealogy research. Due to the conditions of our records, genealogy research cannot be done in this office.
State of NH Bureau of Vital Records
Links to Aid your Search
www.usgenweb.com www.rootsweb.com www.familysearch.org www.genealogy.tbox.com www.familytreemagazine.com www.nara.gov www.ancestry.com www.familytreemaker.com www.genealogy.com
Renewals of vehicle registration can now be done by mail. You will receive your renewal notice in the mail with instructions on how to renew your registration.
Available Forms
Dog License Application
Absentee Voting Information
State Primary Election & State General Election Absentee Ballot Application
Town Election Absentee Ballot Application
Copy of Death Certificate Application
Copy of Marriage Record Application
Learn about Voter Registration!
