| Superior Court | Belknap Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Belknap Superior Court, 64 Court Street, Laconia, NH 03246 |
| Phone | 1-855-212-1234 (within the U.S. and Canada); +1-603-415-0162 (other countries) |
| Hours | Superior Court: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Check individual Circuit Division hours before visiting. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.50/page; courthouse kiosk printouts $0.25/page (Superior and Circuit District Division) |
| Certified copy fee | $10 (Superior and Circuit District Division); confirm the total with the clerk |
Belknap County's Superior Court and Circuit Court are both in Laconia, but they are separate records offices at different addresses. Superior Court is at 64 Court Street. The Fourth Circuit District Division is at 26 Academy Street. The Superior clerk keeps felony criminal and Superior civil records; the Circuit division clerks handle their own district, family, and probate files.
The District Division's Laconia location covers Laconia, Meredith, New Hampton, Gilford, Belmont, Alton, Gilmanton, Center Harbor, and Barnstead. A county address does not automatically make Laconia the right District Division: the Judicial Branch's town directory is the better starting point when the town is not on that list. Belknap County has a single Probate Division in Laconia.
Search Belknap County court records online
Superior Court
Belknap Superior Court
- Cost
- Copies $0.50/page; certified copies $10; kiosk printouts $0.25/page; records research $6.50/name under the Superior Court schedule.
- Coverage
- Superior Court civil and felony criminal records for Belknap County.
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
The office directory provides current contact details. Public online case information is reached through the statewide LUCIE service; the directory itself is not a case search.
Other courts
Belknap County Circuit Court District Division
- Cost
- District Division copies $0.50/page; certified copies $10; research $6.50/name under Rule 3.3.
- Coverage
- 4th Circuit District Division records; use the official town jurisdiction list.
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
The Superior Court's official directions place parking behind the brick courthouse on Court Street. For District Division business, go to Academy Street, where parking is at the sides and rear. These are distinct buildings; a hearing notice or case number should tell the clerk which office has the record. For a divorce or parenting file, ask for the Fourth Circuit Family Division rather than the Superior Court or a municipal records office.
Other courts
4th Circuit Family and Probate Divisions — court directory
- Coverage
- Family Division locations in Laconia; Probate Division in Laconia.
- Records
- Family, Probate
Select the named division in the official directory. Family and probate requests go to their division clerk, and confidential documents require authorized access.
Other courts
LUCIE — New Hampshire public case information
- Coverage
- Non-confidential electronic Superior civil/criminal and Circuit civil, small-claims, name-change, and estate case information.
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Probate
Public users create an account. Case information online is different from access to the filed documents; non-confidential documents remain available at courthouse public kiosks.
What is available online
LUCIE initially covers electronically filed Superior civil and criminal cases and selected Circuit civil, small-claims, name-change, and estate cases. A public account can show status, hearing dates, parties, and charges or dispositions where available. It is not a complete archive of Belknap County paper records, and it does not make confidential cases public. If a search misses a known case, contact the relevant division clerk with the approximate filing year. Court kiosks provide access to non-confidential documents that are not available for remote public viewing.
Which clerk has your record
In New Hampshire, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the New Hampshire page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | Felony criminal cases; Civil cases with damages over $25,000; Jury trials (the only NH trial court that empanels juries) | Clerk of the Superior Court for that county |
| Circuit Court — District Division | Misdemeanor and violation-level crimes; Small claims and civil cases up to $25,000; Landlord-tenant and eviction cases | Clerk of the District Division for that court location |
| Circuit Court — Family Division | Divorce and parenting (custody/support) cases; Domestic violence petitions; Guardianship of minors | Clerk of the Family Division for that court location |
| Circuit Court — Probate Division | Wills, trusts, and estate administration; Adult and minor guardianships; Adoptions and name changes | Clerk (Register of Probate) for that county's Probate Division |
Request records in person or by mail
Belknap County clerk offices
Belknap Superior Court, 64 Court Street, Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: 1-855-212-1234 (within the U.S. and Canada); +1-603-415-0162 (other countries)
Hours: Superior Court: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Check individual Circuit Division hours before visiting.
Visiting Laconia. The Superior Court's official directions place parking behind the brick courthouse on Court Street. For District Division business, go to Academy Street, where parking is at the sides and rear. These are distinct buildings; a hearing notice or case number should tell the clerk which office has the record. For a divorce or parenting file, ask for the Fourth Circuit Family Division rather than the Superior Court or a municipal records office.
Copies in person or by mail. Contact the clerk of the court that heard the case. Provide the case number if known, the document title and approximate filing date, and whether you need an ordinary copy or certification. For Belknap Superior Court, use the address above. For Circuit cases, use the division's own mailing address from the linked directory. Ask for a total including research, copying, certification, and delivery before sending payment.
Fees and restricted files. The Superior Court schedule effective July 1, 2025 lists ordinary copies at $0.50 per page, kiosk printing at $0.25 per page, certified copies at $10, and a records-search fee of $6.50 per name. District Division Rule 3.3 lists the same basic copy and research amounts. Confirm the applicable division's charge for your request. A fee payment does not authorize access to a sealed or restricted record.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.50/page; courthouse kiosk printouts $0.25/page (Superior and Circuit District Division) |
| Certified copy | $10 (Superior and Circuit District Division); confirm the total with the clerk |
The Superior Court schedule effective July 1, 2025 and Circuit District Division Rule 3.3 list these copy charges and a records-research fee of $6.50 per name. These amounts are not filing fees and should not be assumed to cover every division or delivery method. Ask the relevant clerk about Family or Probate Division charges, postage, and the total before paying.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
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:
The New Hampshire guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Laconia District Division serve every Belknap town?
Its published jurisdiction lists nine communities, including Laconia, Meredith, and Gilford. Check the Judicial Branch's town directory for other towns before requesting records. Circuit Court service areas do not always follow county boundaries, even though each county has its own Superior Court.
Can I download every Belknap County court document from LUCIE?
No. The public service provides information for specified electronic case types. The Judicial Branch directs public users to courthouse kiosks for non-confidential documents. Ask the clerk about older files or a document absent from the public system.
Where should I request a Belknap County estate file?
Start with the 4th Circuit Probate Division in Laconia. Use the official court directory for its current contact and mailing details. An estate case may have public information in LUCIE, but restricted documents still require the clerk's access review.
What should I include in a mailed copy request?
Identify the court and division, case number if known, the document required, and whether certification is needed. Supply contact and return-delivery details, and confirm payment instructions with that clerk. A general inquiry to the county government may not reach the Judicial Branch office holding the file.
Sources
- Belknap Superior Court — address and hours — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/belknap-superior-court
- Belknap Circuit District Division — locations and town jurisdiction — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/belknap-county-district-division
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch — court and division directory — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court
- LUCIE — public access and document limits — https://www.courts.nh.gov/resources/electronic-services/lucie-look-case-information-electronically
- Superior Court fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025 — https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-06/filing_fees_superior.pdf
- Circuit District Division Rule 3.3 — fees — https://www.courts.nh.gov/rules-circuit-court-state-new-hampshire-district-division/civil-rules-exceptions-noted-below/rule-1
- Census population estimates, 2025 — New Hampshire counties via FRED — https://fred.stlouisfed.org/release/tables?eid=164795&rid=119
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch — Our Courts — https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch — Superior Court — https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/superior-court
- New Hampshire State Police — Criminal History Record Requests — https://www.nhsp.dos.nh.gov/our-services/criminal-records/criminal-history-record-requests
- RSA 651:5 — Annulment of Criminal Records — https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/lxii/651/651-5.htm
- RSA 490:24 — Entry Fees (Superior Court) — https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LI/490/490-24.htm
- United States District Court, District of New Hampshire — https://www.nhd.uscourts.gov/
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all New Hampshire counties.