Town Clerk/Tax Collector

Mondays 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Last Saturday of month 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

We are also closed on State/Federal Holidays and one day in May for annual training.  

No.  Unless you are new to Sutton and renewing vehicles for the first time as a Sutton resident, then you must do so in-person at the Town Clerk's Office following the Proof of Residency requirements.

Otherwise, established residents have three options for renewing their vehicle registrations:

• Register online via on-line portal by clicking on "Register your Car" button on Home Page.  We will process your renewal next business day and mail you the registration and stickers.  There are a few small fees associated with this on-line convenience that will be outlined during the process.
• Renew by mail - mail us your renewal notice and include a check made payable to the Town of Sutton, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.  We will process your renewal on the next business day and mail you the registration and stickers.
• Renew in-person in our office during normal business hours.  Be sure to bring your driver's license.  Although not required, for efficiency and accuracy, bring your most registration or renewal notice.

We accept cash, check, money order, bank check and credit cards.  For credit cards, we accept MasterCard, Discover, Visa, American Express and JCB.  A debit card is processed as a credit card only if the card has a MasterCard, Visa, Amex or Discover logo present.  Please Note:  There are additional fees to cover the cost of the credit card processing company fees - 3% with a $2.50 minimum.  These fees go directly to our third party processor and are not retained by the town.  These fees cannot be refunded.

There are several ways to renew a current (or recently expired) vehicle registration.

• Click here to access the payment portal to renew online.  When renewing online, there are additional 3rd party vendor fees and postage fees.
• Visit the Town Clerk's Office in person during business hours with your drivers license.  We highly recommend you bring your renewal notice or one of your signed registrations for accuracy and efficiency.  If you wish to have someone else renew on your behalf, they MUST have your renewal notice or signed registration or a letter of authorization from the registrant.
• Renew entirely by USPS mail.  Mail to the Sutton Town Clerk's Office with your renewal notice a check paid to the Town of Sutton with a self-addressed stamped envelope and we will process your renewal and mail you the registration with stickers on the next business day.

For information regarding registering that vehicle, please review the following:

First Step

Do you currently have, or have you ever had a vehicle registered in the Town of Sutton in your name?

If YES: Continue below

If NO:  You need to complete Proof of Residency first and possibly a Change or Record Request THEN continue below.

Directions to register a new/used vehicle requiring new plates if you have a dealership-issued Application for Title (YOU DO NOT HAVE ACTUAL TITLE)

Please bring the following items to the Town Clerk's Office during Town Clerk's hours.

1. The Town Clerk's copy (sometimes blue or white) of the Application for Certificate of Title from the dealership
2. Driver's License
3. We offer the following options for license plates:  Generic (no annual fee), Moose ($30/year), Vanity ($50/year), or State Park ($85/year).
4. If opting for a Vanity Plate, please complete the Application for Vanity Plates Form 120.

Directions to register a new/used vehicle purchased by private sale or from a dealership unable to issue NH Title Applications  (YOU HAVE THE TITLE IN YOUR POSSESSION)

Whoever's name(s) are listed as buyer(s) on the bill of sale and title MUST come in person to the Town Clerk's Office to apply for the NH title and registration OR the person who appears in person must have a notarized Power of Attorney document to sign on behalf of the buyer(s).

Please bring the following items to the Town Clerk's Office during Town Clerk hours:

1. The original title - signed by the buyer and seller on the back and odometer completed
2. Driver's license
3. Color of vehicle and original MSRP of vehicle
4. We offer the following options for license plates:  Generic (no annual fee), Moose ($30/year), Vanity ($50/year), or State Park ($85/year).
5. If opting for a Vanity Plate, please complete the Application for Vanity Plates Form 120.

Direction to transfer plates from an old vehicle to a new-to-you vehicle

Follow the instructions above but also include:

1. *Your current, valid, signed registration for the vehicle you are taking off the road and from which you are moving plates to your new vehicle.

*Note: Plate transfers can only be processed when the primary registrant is the same on the old vehicle as the new vehicle as directed by the title/title application.

Registering a Trailer in New Hampshire

Documents Required:

If GVWR is 3001 or greater AND Year is 2000 or younger:

• Property signed title
• Bill of Sale (not required but recommended)

If GVWR is 3000 or less OR Older than Year 2000:

• Only Bill of Sale assuming all required info is available

If GVWR is 3001 or greater AND Older than Year 2000:

• Vin Verification Form 19A
• Previous Registration - copy
• Bill of Sale signed by buyer and seller

OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED:

• The date of sale
• A detailed description of the vehicle/trailer, including
  • Year
  • Make
  • Model
  • Color
  • Vehicle Identification Number
  • Type of Body/Use (Snow, Utility, Boat, etc)
  • Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
  • MSRP when NEW
  • Number of axles

WHAT IF NO TITLE EXISTS BUT REQUIRES TITLE IN NH NOW?
Need ALL 3 items from list below:

• Need Original Registration from State last registered
• Vin Verification Form 19A
• Bill of Sale signed by buyer and seller which includes VIN

20-DAY TEMPORARY PLATES CAN ONLY BE ISSUED OUT OF A NH DMV WITH A BILL OF SALE

MOVING A VEHICLE INTO A TRUST

If your vehicles are 2000 or newer, you will sign the back of the title(s) over to your trust.  Although the vehicles will be titled in just your Trust's name, your name can still appear first on your registration as a Trustee only (no personal ownership) to keep your birthday month as your month of registration expiration and vehicle inspection.  Or, you can do it as a NEW registration with no names on the registration.

Adding the Trust as a Second Owner can be done at any time for $27.

If you want ONLY the Trust's name on the registration (removing current primary owner), we recommend making that change at renewal time.

If putting it in a trust at time of purchase, the name of the trust must be listed as the buyer in all Title and Bill of Sale paperwork.

In order to complete this, you'll need to bring the following:

• Trustee must be present to sign the Title Applications.
• Original titles to the vehicles - which will need to be signed over on the back by the buyer and seller with Odometer on date of re-titling.  The buyer should ONLY include the full correct name of the trust as it appears in the Trust documents.
• The first and last pages of the Signed Trust Document or the Trust Certification document issued by your attorney
• A government issued ID
• The current odometer on the vehicles
• The current registrations to the vehicles - only if transferring plates
• Payment in cash, check or credit card (3% fee on credit cards)

If you need to renew a registration in-person for someone other than yourself, you must bring a letter authorizing you to perform the renewal transaction or their signed registration or their signed renewal notice.

All other transactions i.e. transfers, new registrations, plate changes, duplicate registrations, and decal changes need to be completed by the primary owner only.  These transactions require a signature of the primary owner to authorize the transaction.  If the primary owner is unavailable to conduct a transaction, they will need to fill out a notarized Power of Attorney Form for motor vehicle purposes only.

You can find that information on your registration.  If you look at the upper right-hand corner of your registration, you will find the State Fees and then right below, on the bottom right-hand corner, you can find the Local fees. The total fees paid will be at the bottom.

Unlike most states in the U.S., the Town Clerk's Office in each town is responsible for registering vehicles and issuing license plates to all residents.

To learn more about this process and how your registration fees are calculated, please click on this link:  New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Registrations

Yes.  All dogs must be licensed at the Sutton Town Clerk's Office within 30 days of residency.  Once licensed, renewal licensing occurs between January 1 - April 30.  Dogs not renewed by June 1st will incur additional fees.

Registering Boats in Sutton

Any motorized boat operated on the public waters of New Hampshire, including tidal and coastal waters and all inland waters, must be registered and must display the bow number issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles as part of the registration process, unless the boat is exempt as provided in Section RSA 270-E:4.  Boats may be registered at any time of year, but each boat registration expires on December 31st of the year it was registered.

How to Register a Boat in New Hampshire

To register a boat in New Hampshire, the owner of the boat must provide the following:

• Completed Boat Registration Application
• Proof of ownership (i.e., a Bill of Sale and Owner's Driver License)
• The proper boat registration fees.  Please review both RSA 270-E:5 Vessel Registration Fees and RSA 72-A:3 Boat Fees to determine the proper amount that is due for your particular vessel.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call Boat Registrations at 603-227-4030.

Where to Register a Boat in New Hampshire

Registrations for privately-owned boats may be processed in person at certain Department of Motor Vehicles offices, at authorized boat agents (Sutton is a boat agent), or may be sent by mail to the Concord Department of Motor Vehicles at:

NH Department of Safety
Department of Motor Vehicles - Boat Registration
23 Hazen Drive
Concord NH 03305

Adding an Additional Owner

To add an additional owner to your boat registration you need to provide the following:

• Current boat registration
• A letter of request to add an additional owner that includes:
• The full name, address and date of birth of the additional owner
• Both owners signatures; and
• Brief description of the boat that includes the Bow Number
• Photo copy of the additional owner's driver license, non-driver identification or birth certificate
• A completed Application for a Copy of a Registration (Department of Motor Vehicles Form 110)
• $15 fee

Registering a Homemade Boat

Please provide a bill of sale, a Verification of Vessel Identification (Form 690), receipts from material purchased, floor plans or blueprints, and a driver's license when registering a homemade boat.

Registering Your Boat If You Live in Another State

If you live in another state, and if your boat is used primarily in New Hampshire, (51% or more) it may be registered in New Hampshire.

Boat Registrations

Once a boat is registered, the owner will be issued a registration certificate along with a decal.  The registration certificate must be kept on the boat at all times when the boat is being operated.  Every New Hampshire registered boat must display a bow number and current registration decal.

Boar Renewals

All boat registrations expire on December 31 of the year in which they were registered.  The Department of Motor Vehicles mails renewal notices to boat owners prior to the December 31 expiration.

To renew a boat registration, the owner may complete and return the renewal notice along with a check for the proper fee (as indicated on the boat renewal notice) to:

NH Department of Safety
Department of Motor Vehicles - Boat Registration
23 Hazen Drive
Concord NH 03305

Or they may be renewed in person here at the Sutton Town Clerk's Office or at any Department of Motor Vehicles office or certified marina.  

If you wish to have another person renew a boat registration on your behalf, you must provide him/her with the current boat renewal notification notice signed by you, the owner.  If you did not receive a renewal notice or are unable to locate it, you may provide your previous registration certificate and a completed and signed Boat Registration Form 612 instead.

Additional Boat Information

Hull Identification Numbers (HIN):  The Hull Identification Number is a unique 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built in 1973 to present.  Owners of older vessels manufactured without a HIN or are homemade vessels that have not been assigned a HIN should have a Verification of Vessel Identification Form 690 completed by a New Hampshire law enforcement officer.

Bow Numbers:  Boats are assigned a bow number upon initial registration of that boat in New Hampshire.  Boats previously registered in New Hampshire will keep the same Bow number for the life of the boat.  Bow numbers begin with "NH" followed by four numbers and either one or two letters.  Bow numbers are assigned automatically and sequentially; the DMV does not issue specific bow numbers upon request.

Replacement Decals:  A duplicate copy of a registration or a replacement decal is available when a current registration or decal has been misplaced, lost or has been destroyed.

For a replacement boat decal, please complete an Application for Replacement Boat Decals Form 415.  You may submit the form utilizing the DMV Drop Box Services or mail it with your current boat registration to:  DMV Concord, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord NH 03305 along with the $3.00 fee, or visit the Sutton Town clerk's office.  Please note:  Additional fees of approximately $20 may apply for those transactions completed at any Town Clerk's office including Sutton.

Abandoned Boats:  If you encounter an abandoned boat on the water, please contact NH Marine Patrol at 603-293-2023.  If you encounter an abandoned boat on land, please contact the local police department.  Please see RSA 270-B:7 for more information.

Yes. Notarial service is free of charge for Sutton residents.

Access to Vital Records

In addition to providing Marriage Licenses for couples marrying in NH, our Town Clerk Office offers Birth, Divorce and Death Certificates which may be purchased in-person.  This service is for vital record events that occurred in the State of NH ONLY.  We do not have access to other state's information.

To protect the integrity of vital records and to ensure their proper use, and proper administration of the system of vital statistics, the registrar shall not permit inspection of or disclose information unless he or she is satisfied that the interested party has a direct and tangible interest in such record.  The applicant must be a member of his or her immediate family.  "Immediate Family" means:  a person related either by blood or marriage and includes the following: mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, great-grandchild, step-parents, step-children, aunt, uncle, nephew and niece.  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.) (RSA 5-C:9)

Certain older records are exempt from these access restrictions:  "Birth records more than 100 years old and death, marriage and divorce records more than 50 years old shall be considered part of the public domain." (RSA-5-C:105)

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

We can provide your vital record transaction in-person at the Town Clerk's office.

Marriage Certificates

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.

Death Certificates

Records available include 1965 until present day.  Births and deaths prior to those dates need to be obtained from the town where the event occurred.

Birth Certificate

The birth needs to occur in New Hampshire.  Records available include 1935 (except 1949 and 1959) until present day.  Births and deaths prior to those dates need to be obtained from the town where the event occurred.

Divorce Decree

The birth needs to occur in New Hampshire.  Records available include 1935 (except 1949 and 1959) until present day.  Birth and deaths prior to those dates need to be obtained from the town where the event occurred.

Fees for Vital Records

• Marriage License  $50 1st Copy
• Vital Records         $15 1st Copy $10 Each Additional Copy

We accept cash, check or credit care (3% fee applies on credit card with a minimum of $2.50).

For information regarding obtaining a marriage license to marry in the State of New Hampshire within 90 days of application, please review the following document.  There is a $50 fee to apply for a marriage license.

Obtaining a Marriage License Information (link will be forthcoming)

• New Hampshire (NH) does not require a blood test.
• A NH issued marriage license is only valid in NH and only valid for 90 days.
• After completing the application, you will walk out with the Marriage License.  There is no waiting period.
• We require a government issued ID (i.e. Driver's License) and both parties must be present.
• Although not required, we also STRONGLY RECOMMEND bringing your birth certificates.
• If this isn't your first marriage, you must provide a final or absolute divorce decree or annulment, or a certified death certificate.
• The cost for the license is $50 cash, credit or check.

Yes.  Our office has a Justice of the Peace.  If you wish to have a quick ceremony during Town Office business hours at the Town Hall, we ask that you schedule an appointment and we charge a fee of $100 to the Town of Sutton.  We're honored to be a part of your lifelong memory.