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New Hampshire · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Circuit Court Clerk / Superior Court Clerk (county level - each of NH's 10 counties) / New Hampshire Supreme Court (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Superior Court (felonies, major civil cases, jury trials), Circuit Court (District Division: misdemeanors, civil up to $25,000, small claims up to $10,000, traffic; Family Division: divorce, domestic; Probate Division: estates, guardianship), or New Hampshire Supreme Court
  2. Search online:
  3. NEW HAMPSHIRE COURTS ONLINE CASE INFORMATION: New Hampshire Judicial Branch - courts.nh.gov - the judicial branch website with limited online case access; NH courts have been gradually implementing online systems
  4. CIRCUIT COURT: some online case information available through courts.nh.gov for civil and domestic cases in some divisions
  5. SUPERIOR COURT: limited online access; contact specific county superior court
  6. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed; in-person or written request
  7. In-person access: visit the county courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online case information: limited free access; certified copies: typically $1 per page; contact specific county court clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Varies by court; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Limited; courts.nh.gov for some case information; individual county court websites
Where to Go
Circuit Court Clerk or Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
County-specific variations apply

Hillsborough County (Manchester/Nashua) - largest court system; Rockingham County (Exeter); Merrimack County (Concord); Strafford County (Dover); Grafton County (Plymouth); Cheshire County (Keene); Belknap County (Laconia); Carroll County (Ossipee); Sullivan County (Newport); Coos County (Lancaster). Larger counties have better staffing; Coos County in the North Country is the most rural with limited resources.

New Hampshire Notes

Important state-specific details

  • New Hampshire Supreme Court opinions: courts.nh.gov.
  • Criminal history background checks: New Hampshire State Police, Criminal Records Unit - nh.gov/nhsp/divisions/administration/records-communications; fee-based background checks.
  • New Hampshire Sex Offender Registry: nh.gov/nsor - searchable online.
  • Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules apply.
  • New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A): public bodies must respond within 5 business days; court records subject to applicable court rules.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
New Hampshire Judicial Branch - courts.nh.gov | (603) 271-2646; NH State Police (criminal records) - nh.gov/nhsp | (603) 223-3873; NH Sex Offender Registry - nh.gov/nsor