Sacramental Information Requests

GENERAL POLICIES
Requests for information pertaining to sacraments administered in our parish must be submitted in writing using the appropriate form, accompanied by a state-issued photo ID and fee as outlined below. No information is given out by phone. 

Requests will be completed within 14 to 21 business days.

AUTHORIZED RECIPIENTS OF RECORDS
1 - Sacramental records for the previous 75 years are restricted and only available to:

1. The person named in the record (if over age 18 or an emancipated minor).
2. A parent or legal guardian of the person named in the record if the person is under age 18 or incapacitated;
3. Other parties as designated in writing by person (a or b) above;
4. Other parties as designated by court order, subpoena, summons, or statute. 

2 - If the person inquired of is deceased, or if a sealed record is required for dual citizenship purposes, the following additional documentation is required. 
      If the original documents are not available, authentic* notarized copies are acceptable. All documentation will be returned. 
      a. Original or authentic copy* of death certificate of the deceased person.
      b. Original or authentic copies* of birth, baptismal or marriage certificate proving next-of-kin status;
      c. If the requester is more than one generation removed from the person named in the record, original or authentic copy* of death certificate must be
                 provided for each generation for those inquiries pertaining to the last 75 years. 
3 - If the records of ancestor in question are older than 75 years no proof of relationship is needed. A research fee will still apply. 

*Authentic copy: a certified document (certificate) that contains the information about an event such as birth, adoption, change of name, marriage, death, etc. issued by an agency or government office that maintains the official records of those events. 

FEES
1 - No fee for those requesting certificates for their dependents or their own sacramental information.
2 -$25 for a non-refundable research fee for the first hour. For those items requiring extensive research beyond one hour, we reserve the right to bill $25 for each
      additional hour of research. (cash, money order, cashier's check, or credit card payment) must accompany all requests. Credit cards are accepted on our
      website by using the Online Giving Link to VANCO. Use the category "Genealogical Research/Sacramental Records Fees"
3 - $10 for each official, sealed sacramental document. This will bear a red-ink "for genealogical purposes" stamp.

Check payments may be mailed to:
St. André Bessette Parish
277 Union Ave.
Laconia, NH 03246
Attn: Parish Archivist

Inquiries and request forms may be emailed to:
[email protected]

Download a Sacramental Record Release Form (PDF)