New Hampshire Court Case Lookup

In New Hampshire and other U.S. states, a court case is a legal proceeding where judges or a jury determine guilt, liability, or adjudicates a dispute between two parties. New Hampshire has a unified court system comprising five court types, with each performing a distinct function. The court that hears a case depends on the parties involved, the nature of the dispute, and the amount at stake.

The Supreme Court: The New Hampshire Supreme Court is the state's highest court. The Court has the authority to review and rule on appeals from state trial courts and administrative agencies. In accordance with the Supreme Court Rules for appeal procedures and processes, the Supreme Court accepts mandatory and discretionary appeals from lower courts and administrative agencies. Besides correcting errors in lower court proceedings, interpreting case law and statutes, is also responsible for interpreting the State and federal constitutions.
Superior Court: The Superior Court is responsible for hearing civil matters with a minimum damage claim of $1,500.00 for which either party requests a jury trial. The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over cases where the amount of damages sought exceeds $25,000.00. In addition, the Superior Court has jurisdiction over felony cases of major crimes and misdemeanor appeals from the Circuit Court. Additionally, the Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over petitions for injunctive relief, in which parties seek a court order to block action, appeals from zoning and planning board decisions, disputes over title to real property, and petitions to enforce contracts.
Circuit Courts: The New Hampshire Circuit Court is made up of the District court, Family court, and Probate court divisions. The District Division of the Circuit Court handles misdemeanor and violation level offenses (including motor vehicle matters), landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, stalking cases, and other civil matters. On the other hand, the Probate Division has jurisdiction over a variety of matters, including wills, trusts and estates, guardianships, and involuntary commitment. Meanwhile, the Family Division cases include divorce/parenting action, abuse/neglect, child support, domestic violence petitions, termination of parental rights, guardianship of minors, children in need of services, juvenile delinquency, and certain adoptions.
Family Treatment Court: The New Hampshire Circuit Court is currently piloting a Family Treatment Court (FTC) for abuse and neglect cases from Sullivan County's Family Divisions (Claremont and Newport Circuit Courts). When substance abuse is a factor in an abuse and neglect case, including when a child is removed from the home, a parent can choose to participate in Family Treatment Court.
Drug and Mental Health Court: Various New Hampshire Superior and Circuit Court District Division locations offer specialized court programs for offenders with substance abuse or mental health diagnoses. These courts combine community-based treatment programs with strict court supervision and progressive incentives and punishments.

Requesters in New Hampshire may access Court Case records online or in person, by visiting the courthouse where the case in question was initially filed. The New Hampshire Case Access Portal also provides online access to court case records for those seeking information. Requesters must register or sign in if they already have an existing account. Once on the platform, users can view their records by selecting the name search or case search option.

Alternatively, to obtain court records in person, identify the courthouse where the case hearing was held. The New Hampshire Judiciary court directory has details of court locations and their contact information. Requesters must contact courts in advance to schedule a visit and confirm the availability of records and the requirements to inspect or make copies of the court records.

Are Court Cases Public Record in New Hampshire?

Yes. Court records in New Hampshire are accessible to the general public per the New Hampshire Right to Know Law, unless they are exempt from disclosure under another statute. In New Hampshire, the custodians of public court records are Court Clerks. Interested persons may obtain or lookup court records by visiting the Clerk’s Office or using online case management systems.

Can I Access New Hampshire Court Records Online?

Yes, New Hampshire Court Records are accessible online via the New Hampshire Court Case Access Portal. Requesters must register or sign in if they have an existing account. Once on the platform, users can view their records using either the name search or case search option.

How to Conduct a New Hampshire Court Case Search by Name

Requesters who wish to use search a court case by name must know at least one of the following information:

Parties names
Court type
Case status
Date of birth
Case type.

In addition to the online search option, requesters can also contact the courthouse where the case was filed to conduct a court case search by name. The Court Clerk will require the aforementioned details to find and retrieve the case sought.

What is a Court Case Number?

The case number is a unique identifier that court administrators use to identify, manage, and retrieve information relevant to a case. It’s usually a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters (such as a dash), and its format varies based on the court where the case was filed. Every legal proceeding is assigned a court case number by the court clerk's office when the initial complaint is filed. The case number will be on all copies of case record documents.

How to Conduct a Case Number Search in New Hampshire

A case number search in New Hampshire can be conducted online through the Case Access Portal. Requestors may also visit the courthouse where the case was filed and provide the Court Clerk with the necessary information to locate their case number in the court records. The New Hampshire court directory contains the address of the desired courthouse for anyone who wishes to visit.

How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record in New Hampshire

In general, expungement is a legal procedure through which a person may be able to have certain crimes removed from their permanent record. In New Hampshire, the expungement procedure is referred to as an annulment. The annulment of records guarantees that a record is completely sealed off from the public and is only accessible to government officials under extremely limited circumstances.

To begin, the petitioner must identify the crime they wish to have expunged from their record. For instance, if the petitioner was charged with or arrested for a crime, but was not convicted, the petitioner must file a petition with the court that heard the case.
Next, the individual must submit a completed Petition to Annul Record form to the court. This form must be completely filled out and accompanied by supporting documents. The information provided on this form must be valid, otherwise the court will deny the petition. If the petition is denied, they may be required to wait an additional three years before submitting another request for annulment.
Then, the petitioner must pay a $125 filing fee to the court. Once all paperwork has been filed and the filing fee has been paid, the Clerk of Court will notify the appropriate government departments to review the request and determine eligibility for annulment. The agency will submit its findings to the court, which will have the discretion to grant the request or hold a hearing if a judge requires additional information before rendering a decision.
After the court makes its decision, it will issue a written decision and mail it to the address provided by the petitioner. The time required to receive this decision will vary based on the nature of the request and the court's current workload.

How to Check a Court Case Status in New Hampshire

Requesters can check the status of their case remotely or in person at the courthouse. Since New Hampshire permits access to records via the Case Access Portal, users can check the status of their case of interest online.

Alternately, requesters may also visit the courthouse to speak with the court clerk. The requester must provide information to facilitate the search, including the filing date, the case number, or the litigants’ names. Generally, the clerk can locate a case using only the parties' names. However, it is better to provide as much information as possible to ensure the correct case is retrieved in time.

How to Find Supreme Court Decisions in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, Supreme Court decisions are known as Supreme Court Opinions. According to the New Hampshire Right to Know Law, Supreme Court opinions are also considered public records and are therefore accessible online to the general public.

What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial in New Hampshire?

According to the New Hampshire Judiciary annual statistics report for 2021, over 100,000 cases were filed in the state’s circuit courts. However, only a small percentage of these cases eventually reach the trial phase. According to the findings of the American Judges Association, up to 97 percent of civil cases are settled without a trial. The vast majority of these cases are resolved through diversion programs, mutual compromise, and plea bargains.

How Long Does a Court Case Last in New Hampshire?

A typical court case in New Hampshire takes 60 to 90 days. This timeline typically depends on the case complexity and the ligitants’ willingness to reach a settlement. Complex cases take more time to hear and adjudicate, and a case can end in a settlement before trial begins.

How to File a Case in Court in New Hampshire

Within the court system, "filing" refers to the initiation of an action to resolve a civil or criminal dispute in accordance with prescribed legal procedures.

In order to file a case in New Hampshire, the plaintiff must determine which filing method is acceptable in the court where the case will be filed. In New Hampshire, there are two filing systems: paper pleadings and electronic filing. The electronic filing system is emphasized more because it is widely used and generally accepted throughout the state.

According to the judiciary, paper filings are the norm for most filings while electronic filing should only be used in the following types of cases:

Supreme Court: All case types;
Superior Court: Civil & Criminal (electronic filing for criminal not available to Self-Represented/Non-Attorney parties at this time);
Circuit Court: Small Claims, Guardianship of Minors, Guardianship of Incapacitated Adults, Wills and Estates, Name Changes, Civil Complaints (Civil Complaint, Writ of Replevin & Registration of Foreign Judgment), and Civil Other (Order to Vacate a Building, Cease & Desist Order, Hazardous & Dilapidated Buildings, Petition to Garnish Wages and Appeal from Denial Suspension or Revocation of a Permit to Carry a Pistol)

It is important to note that Electronic Filing is required in all district divisions for small claims cases. For e-filing purposes, self-represented individuals are required to use TurboCourt, while attorneys are required to use File & Serve. However, individuals who filed their original civil action on paper (rather than electronically) and who are attempting to collect a judgment may continue to file their pleadings on paper.

For Electronic Filing by Self Represented Litigants in Circuit Court
Go to the Turbocourt website.
Respond to the simple questions asked. It’s quite easy.
Turbocourt will complete all necessary forms and paperwork based on the responses received.
Filing will be automatically accomplished, including preparations for the next steps.

In New Hampshire, only e-filing through TurboCourt is acceptable in filing small claims, paper filings are not permitted.

What Does It Mean if a Court Case Was Resolved Before the Trial Date?

This simply means that the court case was settled prior to the trial date. In such a situation, the parties were able to reach a settlement without going to court. This may involve one or more of the following:

Diversion program: A pre-trial sentencing procedure that allows a defendant in a less serious criminal case to avoid a criminal conviction in exchange for certain conditions, such as payment of fines, completion of community service or a rehabilitation program, etc.
Dismissal: The court terminates a prosecution or lawsuit usually when a party requests, the court determines it does not have jurisdiction, or a party fails to provide supporting evidence.
Plea bargain: When a criminal defendant chooses to plead guilty in exchange for the dismissal of certain charges or for lenient sentencing by the court.
Mutual compromise: This happens when both parties in the case, make compromises, leading to an out of court settlement, wherein no further action is required by the court.