| Superior Court | Hillsborough Superior Court (North – Manchester; South – Nashua) |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Superior Court North: 300 Chestnut St, Manchester, NH 03101. Superior Court South: 30 Spring St, Nashua, NH 03060. |
| Phone | 1-855-212-1234 (toll-free, all NH Circuit and Superior Court locations) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| 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 |
Hillsborough is New Hampshire's most populous county and the only one with two Superior Court locations: Hillsborough Superior Court North in Manchester and Hillsborough Superior Court South in Nashua. Which one has a case depends on where it was filed, not where a person lives, so check both if you are not sure. The Superior Court clerk at each location keeps felony criminal files, larger civil suits, and jury-trial cases.
Misdemeanors, small claims, and landlord-tenant cases go to one of six Circuit Court District Division locations spread across the county (including Manchester, Nashua, Goffstown, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Milford). Divorce, custody, and domestic-violence cases go to the county's Family Division locations, and wills, estates, and guardianships go to the single Probate Division, which sits in Nashua.
Because the county has so many separate court locations, the fastest way to confirm which office has a file is the Judicial Branch's toll-free line, which routes callers to the correct clerk.
Search Hillsborough County court records online
Superior Court
Hillsborough Superior Court (North – Manchester; South – Nashua)
- Cost
- Free to check case status by phone or in person; LUCIE account is free online
- Coverage
- Felony criminal cases and civil cases over $25,000 filed in Hillsborough County, split between the North (Manchester) and South (Nashua) locations
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Confirm which of the two locations has the file before visiting; the clerk's toll-free line (1-855-212-1234) can route the call.
Other courts
Hillsborough County District Divisions
- Cost
- Free to check case status
- Coverage
- Misdemeanors, violations, small claims, and landlord-tenant cases at the county's six District Division locations (Goffstown, Hillsborough, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua)
- Records
- Criminal, Civil, Traffic
Each town's District Division keeps its own case files; confirm the location before requesting records.
Other courts
Hillsborough County Family Divisions
- Cost
- Free to check case status
- Coverage
- Divorce, parenting, guardianship of minors, and domestic-violence cases at the county's six Family Division locations
- Records
- Family
Same six towns as the District Divisions; the Family Division is a separate docket with its own clerk.
Other courts
9th Circuit – Probate Division – Nashua
- Cost
- Free to check case status
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes for all of Hillsborough County
- Records
- Probate
The county's single Probate Division location, regardless of where in the county the estate or guardianship arose.
What is available online
LUCIE covers electronically filed Superior Court civil and criminal cases and some Circuit Court civil, small-claims, name-change, and estate cases. Family Division cases and older paper files generally are not searchable online; call or visit the specific division clerk to check on those.
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
Hillsborough County clerk offices
Superior Court North: 300 Chestnut St, Manchester, NH 03101. Superior Court South: 30 Spring St, Nashua, NH 03060.
Phone: 1-855-212-1234 (toll-free, all NH Circuit and Superior Court locations)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Superior Court records. Contact the North (Manchester) or South (Nashua) location depending on where the case was filed. Bring or send the case number, or the party names and filing year, and specify whether you need plain or certified copies.
District, Family, and Probate Division records. Contact the specific town location that heard the case. The shared toll-free number (1-855-212-1234) can direct you to the right clerk if you are not sure which of the six District/Family locations has the file.
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
Which Hillsborough Superior Court has my case, Manchester or Nashua?
It depends on where the case was filed, not where anyone involved lives. Call the shared toll-free line (1-855-212-1234) with the party names or case number and the clerk's office can tell you which location has the file.
Where is probate handled in Hillsborough County?
All Hillsborough County wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes go through the single Probate Division location in Nashua, regardless of which town the matter arose in.
Can I search Hillsborough County court cases online?
Yes, through LUCIE, the statewide portal, for the case types it currently covers (Superior Court civil and criminal, and some Circuit Court civil, small-claims, name-change, and estate cases). A free account is required, and not every case type or older file is included yet.
Where do I go for a Manchester landlord-tenant or small claims case?
The Circuit Court's District Division. Hillsborough County has six District Division locations, including Manchester and Nashua, so confirm which one the case was filed in before visiting.
Sources
- Hillsborough Superior Court — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/hillsborough-superior-court
- Hillsborough County District Divisions — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/hillsborough-county-district-divisions
- Hillsborough County Family Divisions — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/hillsborough-county-family-divisions
- 9th Circuit – Probate Division – Nashua — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/9th-circuit-probate-division-nashua
- 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 — court fees — https://www.courts.nh.gov/rules-circuit-court-state-new-hampshire-district-division/civil-rules-exceptions-noted-below/rule-1
- 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 Judicial Branch — LUCIE (Look Up Case Information Electronically) — https://www.courts.nh.gov/resources/electronic-services/lucie-look-case-information-electronically
- 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.