How to Find New Hampshire Court Records (2026)

In person. Go to the clerk's office of the division that heard the case: the Superior Court clerk for felonies and larger civil suits, the District Division clerk for misdemeanors and small claims, the Family Division clerk for divorce and custody cases, or the Probate Division (Register of Probate) for wills, estates, and guardianships. Bring the case number if you have it, or the party names and an approximate filing year. Most clerks' offices are open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

By mail or phone. The Circuit Court's ten divisions share a single toll-free number (1-855-212-1234) that routes to the correct court location. Write or call the clerk with the case number or party names, the specific document you need, whether you need a plain or certified copy, and payment or a request for a fee quote.

Online. If the case was electronically filed and falls within LUCIE's current coverage, create a free LUCIE account to view the case status and available documents. LUCIE does not yet cover every case type or older paper files, so a "no results" search does not rule out a record — confirm with the clerk.

Records not yet in LUCIE. Older Superior Court and Circuit Court files, and case types LUCIE does not yet cover, are on paper or in the court's own case-management system. Request a search and copies directly from the clerk; some clerks charge a fee to locate older files.

New Hampshire court records are presumed open under the common-law right of access and the courts' own rules, but several categories are not public:

• Annulled criminal records. Under RSA 651:5, a person can petition to annul an arrest or conviction after a waiting period that depends on the offense (from one year for a violation up to ten years for a Class A felony). For qualifying cases disposed on or after January 1, 2019, annulment can be automatic. Once annulled, the record is treated as if the arrest or conviction never occurred, and it is removed from the State Police criminal history check.
• Family Division records. Divorce, parenting, and domestic-violence case files often contain sensitive financial and personal information; some documents (such as financial affidavits) are non-public by court rule even though the case itself is not sealed.
• Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect records. Confidential under statute, with access limited to the parties, their attorneys, and specified agencies.
• Adoption records. Sealed by statute; access generally requires a court order.
• Guardianship and involuntary-admission (mental health) records. Access is restricted to protect the person who is the subject of the proceeding.
• Sexual assault and certain victim information. Redacted or withheld from public filings by rule.

Requests to inspect or copy a court file are made to the clerk of the division holding it, under the Judicial Branch's own access rules, not under the state's public-records law (RSA 91-A), which applies to executive-branch and municipal bodies rather than the judiciary.