| Superior Court | Strafford Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building, 259 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820 (Superior Court, Suite 301; Probate Division, Suite 203). |
| 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 |
Strafford County's Superior Court and Probate Division are both in the William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building at 259 County Farm Road in Dover, though in different suites — the Superior Court keeps felony criminal files and larger civil suits, while the Probate Division (7th Circuit) handles every will, estate, guardianship, adoption, and name change in the county.
Misdemeanors, small claims, and family cases are split between two Circuit Court locations, Dover and Rochester. Rochester has both a District Division and a Family Division; Dover's District and Family Divisions share the same building as the Superior Court and Probate Division, so confirm the suite number before visiting.
Search Strafford County court records online
Superior Court
Strafford Superior Court
- 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 Strafford County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Located at 259 County Farm Road, Suite 301, Dover — the same building as the Probate Division.
Other courts
Strafford County District Divisions
- Cost
- Free to check case status
- Coverage
- Misdemeanors, violations, small claims, and landlord-tenant cases at the county's District Division locations in Dover and Rochester
- Records
- Criminal, Civil, Traffic
Confirm Dover vs. Rochester before visiting; Dover's District Division shares a building with the Superior Court.
Other courts
Strafford County Family Divisions
- Cost
- Free to check case status
- Coverage
- Divorce, parenting, guardianship of minors, and domestic-violence cases at the county's Family Division locations in Dover and Rochester
- Records
- Family
Rochester has a Family Division at the Strafford County Building and a separate Rochester location; confirm which one before visiting.
Other courts
7th Circuit – Probate Division – Dover
- Cost
- Free to check case status
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes for all of Strafford County
- Records
- Probate
In the William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building, Suite 203, 259 County Farm Road, Dover.
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 must be requested directly from the location that heard the case.
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
Strafford County clerk offices
William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building, 259 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820 (Superior Court, Suite 301; Probate Division, Suite 203).
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 clerk at 259 County Farm Road, Suite 301, Dover, with the case number or party names and filing year, and specify plain or certified copies.
District, Family, and Probate Division records. Contact the Dover or Rochester location that heard the case, or the 7th Circuit Probate Division (Suite 203, same Dover building as the Superior Court) for estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes. The shared toll-free number (1-855-212-1234) can direct you to the right clerk.
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
Where is the Strafford County Superior Court?
At 259 County Farm Road, Suite 301, in Dover — the William A. Grimes Justice and Administration Building, which also houses the Probate Division.
Is probate in the same building as Superior Court in Strafford County?
Yes. The 7th Circuit Probate Division is in Suite 203 of the same Dover building as the Superior Court, which is in Suite 301.
Which court handles a Rochester small claims case?
The Circuit Court's District Division in Rochester. Strafford County has District and Family Division locations in both Dover and Rochester, so confirm which one has the case.
Can I search Strafford County court cases online?
Yes, through LUCIE for the case types it currently covers — Superior Court civil and criminal cases, and some Circuit Court civil, small-claims, name-change, and estate cases. A free account is required.
Sources
- Strafford Superior Court — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/strafford-superior-court
- Strafford County District Divisions — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/strafford-county-district-divisions
- Strafford County Family Divisions — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/strafford-county-family-divisions
- 7th Circuit – Probate Division – Dover — https://www.courts.nh.gov/your-visit/find-court/7th-circuit-probate-division-dover
- 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.