BELKNAP COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Belknap County Public Records?

Belknap Public records encompasses all documents in physical or digital formats maintained or received by public agencies concerning a public business or activity. Publicly-accessible documents may exist as books, maps, symbols, charters, graphs, memoranda, notes, drafts, videotapes, emails, and audio recordings. Irrespective of the document format, Belknap County public records are mostly accessible to the public. In some cases, public agencies may redact portions of public documents if it violates a record subject's right to privacy or safety. Per the New Hampshire Right-To-Know Law, these documents are exempt from public view:

• Medical, psychiatric, or psychological records that may violate the privacy of the record subject;
• Information about attorney-client privilege;
• Law enforcement agencies' investigatory files and procedures;
• Government personnel data and similar files, such as salary information and investigations of employee misconduct (if the charges are untrue after due investigations);
• Architectural and official building plans of government-owned facilities that exposes vulnerabilities in configuration or security in critical system;
• Identification of crime victims and other persons of interest in an ongoing criminal investigation;
• Location of archeological findings and sites;
• Sensitive data on endangered animals and plants;
• Voters' registration information, such as email address, home address, and other identifying information;
• Sealed or expunged criminal records;
• Minutes of the meeting of public entities closed to the public;
• All or part of a document containing information about an individual's social security number, personal financial information, and driver's license;
• Trade secrets or negotiations filed with a public agency for licensing purposes;
• Public documents containing information about the identity of informants in a law enforcement investigation;
• Information security records that may reveal vulnerabilities to a public agency's information technology system;
• Preliminary notes, drafts, inter or intra-agency memoranda which are not used or retained by a public agency in decision-making;
• Pending litigation that involves a public agency or entity;
• Juvenile records and information.

Public county records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may opt to use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple county records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:

• The address of the requestor;
• A case number or file number (if known);
• The location of the document or person involved;
• The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile);
• The last known or current address of the registrant.

Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.

Belknap County Crime Statistics

Law enforcement agencies in Belknap County are responsible for documenting all arrests and incident events within the county. Furthermore, the Belknap County Sheriff's Office collates arrest reports from other local law enforcement agencies to create a unified crime statistics. That said, interested public members can access Belknap County crime statistics by contacting the Belknap County Sheriff's Office at:

Belknap County Sheriff's Department
42 County Drive
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 527-5454
Fax: (603) 527-5469

Are Belknap County Criminal Records Public?

Although criminal records are generally accessible to the public, custodian agencies are required by law to redact or withhold any criminal information that is legally exempt from public view. For example, under the New Hampshire Right-To-Know Law, criminal records containing data on juvenile offenders, crime victims, and witnesses, are generally exempt from public disclosure. In addition, expunged or sealed criminal records are not accessible to the public: only law enforcement agencies can request and access the sealed records.

The Clerk of the Belknap County Superior Court is responsible for recording and issuing copies of criminal records to interested public members. To access criminal records from the Clerk of the Superior Court, record seekers must appear in-person at:

Belknap Superior Court
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

The Clerk of the Belknap County Superior Court attends to in-person requests on weekdays from 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

On the other hand, the New Hampshire State Police Department, via the Criminal Records Department, allows public members to obtain Belknap County criminal records. The New Hampshire State Police Department issues criminal records, depending on the type of requesters. Record subjects are eligible to receive a complete criminal record (contains all the necessary information). On the other hand, the Criminal Records Department issues redacted or informational copies of criminal records to public members.

Criminal records in the custody of the Criminal Records Department are obtainable via mail-in or in-person orders.

To order copies of criminal records via mail, record subjects must provide at least one of the following when requesting criminal records via mail - Justice of the Peace, Seal, Signature, and Date, or Notary Public. Note that third-party requesters do not require a letter of notarization when requesting non-confidential criminal records.

To receive copies of criminal records via mail, requesters must adhere to these steps:

1. Download, print out, and complete the Criminal Record Release Authorization Form;
2. Attach a $25 fee as a money order or check payable to the New Hampshire Criminal Records Department;
3. Send these documents to:

Criminal Records Unit
Room 106A
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305

To order copies of Belknap County criminal records via in-person requests, visit the:

Criminal Records Unit
Room 106A
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305

The Criminal Records Department is open to in-person requests from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, except for government holidays and events.

Private or public Not-For-Profit agencies and organizations are eligible for a reduced-fee form policy. Under the Administrative Rule Saf-C 5703:07 Fee Exemption, requesters who satisfy this criterion are allowed to pay a reduced fee of $10 per criminal record request. Requesters who fall under this category must download and fill out the reduced fee request form.

How to Obtain Belknap County Police Reports and Arrest Records

Belknap County police reports and arrest records are collated by local law enforcement agencies within the county. Record seekers may obtain copies of police reports or arrest records from the law enforcement agency overseeing the region where the event occurred. On the other hand, interested persons or entities may obtain copies of police reports or arrest records from the County Sheriff's Department via in-person or mail orders.

For mailed requests, the record seeker must:

1. Download, print out, and complete the Records Request form;
2. Next, requesters must attach the required fee as a money order or check payable to "Belknap County Sheriff's Department. Police reports cost $1 for the first page, and $0.25 for subsequent pages;
3. Send the completed form and the money order or check to:

Belknap County Sheriff's Department
42 County Drive
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 527-5454
Fax: (603) 527-5469

Record seekers must present a valid photo ID to pick up the police report at the County Sheriff's Department.

Likewise, the New Hampshire State Police Department maintains Belknap County police reports and arrest records. Requesters may opt to get Belknap arrest records and police reports via email or mail requests. Record seekers must send a request detailing the necessary information to the email address: SPHeadquarters@dos.nh.gov. For mail requests, record seekers must a written request featuring the following information:

• Name of the record subject;
• The record subject's date of birth;
• Location and date of arrest;
• The arresting agency (if known);
• The requester's full name;
• The requester's contact address.

Requesters must send the mail request to:

The New Hampshire State Police Headquarters
C/O Police Report Request - Director's Office
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Belknap County

The New Hampshire Department of Safety maintains an online search portal via which record seekers can find sex offenders residing or registered in Belknap County. Note that the online database does not cover the full criminal history of sex offenders. More so, it doesn't cover sex crimes committed outside the state of New Hampshire. To access sex offender information, enter the offender's first name, last name, middle initials, city, address, county (Belknap County), and zip code into the corresponding slots and click "Search".

In addition to this, the online database also allows requesters to search for non-compliant criminal sex offenders by using the offender's first, middle, and last name, city, and county.

How to Find Belknap County Inmate Records

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections' Inmate Locator provides information on all offenders currently incarcerated in Belknap County Jail. The inmate locator exhibits the inmate's sentencing details, such as charges and bonds. Also, it features the inmate's identifying information, such as height, age, sex, weight, and race. To access Belknap County inmate records, requesters must input the inmate's last and first name into the search boxes.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Belknap County Jail?

Professional and non-professional visitors may visit inmates at the Belknap County Department of Corrections. Visitation at the facility is solely through video, and all visitors must be approved by the prison officials. Visitors can get approval to visit inmates by scheduling a visit online and presenting a valid photo ID during visitation.

The visitation schedule for video visits is as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Friday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Note that the Belknap Department of Corrections does not allow visitation between the hours of 11:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m and 2:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m.

Visitors may opt for onsite or remote video visitation

For onsite video visitation, visitors must use the kiosks located in the Community Detention Center at:

Belknap County Department of Corrections
76 County Drive
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 527-5480
Fax: (603) 524-2574

Onsite video visitation is free, while visitors must pay $5 for a 20 minute remote video session.

Belknap County Court Records

The Clerk of the Belknap County Superior Court is the record custodian of court documents generated by the County courts. Thus, court records, such as family, probate, traffic violations, civil, and criminal court cases are under the purview of the Clerk of the Superior Court. Furthermore, the New Hampshire Judicial District's online case management system also maintains all court documents in Belknap County.

Location of All Courts in Belknap County

Belknap County Superior Court
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

Belknap County Circuit Court District Divisions
Belknap County 4th Circuit Court District Division
Laconia Courthouse
26 Academy Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

Belknap County Circuit Court Probate Divisions
Belknap County 4th Circuit Court Probate Division
Laconia Courthouse
26 Academy Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

Belknap County Circuit Court Family Divisions
Belknap County 4th Circuit Court Family Division
Laconia Courthouse
26 Academy Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

Are Belknap County Court Records Public?

Per the New Hampshire Right-To-Know Law, Belknap County non-confidential court records are accessible to interested applicants. However, court documents containing sensitive and confidential information are redacted or withheld from public view. In some cases, court documents may be publicly-accessible within a court-fixed time frame. For instance, bankruptcy records are publicly-accessible for a certain period, depending on the type of bankruptcy court case. In addition to this, expunged or sealed criminal records are not publicly-accessible.

Can You Look Up a Belknap County Court Record Online?

Interested persons or entities can look up Belknap County court records online via the New Hampshire Judicial District's online case management system. To get copies of court records via the online case management system, requesters must register or log in via their PACER account.

How to Obtain Belknap County Civil Court Case Records

Belknap County civil court case records are under the purview of the County's Clerk of the Superior Court. As the custodian of court documents, the Clerk of the Superior Court maintains and issues all civil court case records to interested persons. To obtain the records, requesters must visit the Clerk of the Superior Court in-person at:

Belknap Superior Court
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

In contrast, Belknap County civil court case records are obtainable online. The District Court of New Hampshire has an online database for all court records generated within the state. Note that the website provides access to civil court records filed after June 1, 2004. Persons or entities seeking to access the online records must create a PACER account online or call (800) 676-6856. In contrast, persons with a PACER account can access the documents creating a new account or by logging into a pre-existing one.

How to Obtain Belknap County Criminal Court Case Records

Interested public members can access Belknap County criminal court case records from the Clerk of the Belknap County Superior Court. These court documents are accessible via in-person requests at the:

Belknap Superior Court
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

The New Hampshire Judicial District, via the online case management system, provides access to online copies of Belknap County criminal court case records from January 1, 2005, to the present. Requesters may obtain Belknap County criminal court case records by registering or logging in to the PACER account.

What are Belknap County Vital Records?

Vital records in Belknap County are documents that provide information on all life events within the county. Thus, life events, such as death, birth, marriage, and divorce are documented and stored by public agencies. These public agencies are responsible for maintaining and providing access to these documents via various request channels. Furthermore, public agencies may issue informational or certified copies of vital records, depending on the requester. Record subjects and applicants with a legitimate or tangible interest in the document are eligible to receive confidential copies of Belknap County vital records. The Belknap County 4th Circuit Court, Family Division, maintains records of divorce events, while the Belknap County Register of Deeds provides access to marriage, birth, and death records.

Where and How to Obtain Belknap County Divorce Records

Interested persons or parties can obtain Belknap County divorce records from the Clerk of the 4th Circuit Court, Family Division. In addition to this, requesters may obtain divorce documents from the Vital Records Office in the region where the event occurred. To obtain copies of Belknap County divorce records, interested persons must make requests in-person at:

4th Circuit - Family Division – Laconia
26 Academy Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (855) 212-1234

In contrast, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) provides access to Belknap County divorce records or divorce decrees. Record seekers can obtain these documents either in-person at the DVRA or via mail orders. To use the in-person request option, requesters must visit the DVRA in-person at:

Division of Vital Records Administration
N.H. Department of State
9 Ratification Way (formerly 71 South Fruit Street)
Concord, NH 03301-2410
Phone: (603) 271-4650

Persons interested in obtaining the record via mail, must follow these steps:

1. Print out and complete the NHJB-2205-F Request for Certified Copy of Divorce Decree or Vital Statistics
2. Include a $40 money order or check;
3. Attach a copy of a driver's license or any other photo identification;
4. Send the completed form to:

Division of Vital Records Administration
N.H. Department of State
9 Ratification Way (formerly 71 South Fruit Street)
Concord, NH 03301-2410

Where and How to Get Belknap County Marriage Records

Record seekers can find Belknap County marriage records at the Office of the Belknap County Register of Deeds. Requesters can access the record by visiting the Register of Deeds Office at:

Belknap County Superior Court Building
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 527-5420

Alternatively, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration provides online access to all Belknap County marriage certificates. The searchable portal provides information on marriage records created from 1995 to the present. To obtain Belknap County marriage records on the portal, interested persons may create a new account or log into a pre-existing one.

Where and How to Find Belknap County Birth Records

The Belknap County Register of Deeds Office is the local custodian of birth records. Thus, interested persons or entities can request, view or obtain copies of Belknap County birth certificate by visiting the Register of Deeds Office at:

Belknap County Superior Court Building
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 527-5420

Belknap County birth records are confidential documents and only persons with a legitimate claim to the records can obtain the documents. Per the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law, the following applicants are eligible to obtain the public document:

• The registrant;
• Relatives of the registrant, excluding cousins;
• Stepparent;
• Legal guardian (must provide guardianship documents);
• A legally authorized individual or entity.

Where and How to Obtain Belknap County Death Records

Public members can request and obtain copies of Belknap County death records from the Register of Deeds Office. Since death records contain confidential information, the Register of Deeds will only issue certified copies of death certificates to the following: the record bearer's parents, grandparents, surviving or current spouse, children, siblings, and grandchildren. Other requesters may need to provide proof of legal interest in the death record.

Requesters can access the record by visiting the Register of Deeds Office at:

Belknap County Superior Court Building
64 Court Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 527-5420

Alternatively, the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration provides online access to all Belknap County marriage certificates. The searchable portal provides information on marriage records created from 1995 to the present. To obtain Belknap County marriage records on the portal, interested persons may create a new account or log into a pre-existing one.