Cheshire County Court Records
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Cheshire County sits in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire, with Keene as its county seat and largest city. The county's court system breaks into two main branches: the Cheshire County Superior Court, which handles major civil and criminal matters, and the 8th Circuit Court, which covers District, Family, and Probate divisions. Most court facilities are located in the Cheshire County Courthouse complex at 33 Winter Street in Keene, with a satellite location in Jaffrey that serves the District and Family divisions for nearby communities. Each court's clerk office maintains the records for cases heard in that division.
If you need to find court records in New Hampshire, you have both digital and in-person tools at your disposal. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal lets registered users search case information by party name or case number at no charge. Public access kiosks inside courthouses offer the same search capability on-site. Clerk offices handle in-person and mail requests for certified copies and other documents. For general information about court structure, fees, and available forms, check NewHampshireCourts.us, which also links to court locations and filing resources statewide.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Cheshire County?
You have several practical options for tracking down case records in Cheshire County, from a quick online search to a direct request at the clerk's office.
Online via the Case Access Portal
Start with the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal, the primary online tool for locating court case information. Here's how to use it:
- Visit the portal page and register for a free account.
- Sign in and click the Smart Search button.
- Select Advance Filtering Options to narrow results by court location (e.g., Cheshire Superior Court or 8th Circuit Court divisions).
- Enter a party name, case number, or other identifying details.
The portal covers electronically filed cases across all New Hampshire courts. Keep in mind that records obtained through this portal are not the court's official record. If you need documents for legal or official purposes, request certified copies directly from the presiding court.
In Person at the Courthouse
You can visit any Cheshire County court location and use the public access kiosks to search case records free of charge. Printed pages from kiosks or court computer screens cost $0.25 per page. Paper case files can be reviewed in a designated file review area within the clerk's office. Under the Judicial Branch's Guidelines for Public Access to Court Records, access may be limited to ten files per day, and the clerk may require photo identification and a signed request.
By Mail or Phone
Written requests for court records can be mailed to the appropriate clerk's office. Include the case number or party name, specify the documents you need, and enclose payment. The clerk also accepts telephone inquiries during business hours at the clerk's discretion.
Cheshire County Court Locations
| Court | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire County Superior Court | 33 Winter Street, Suite 2, Keene, NH 03431 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| 8th Circuit District Division – Keene | 33 Winter Street, Suite 1, Keene, NH 03431 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| 8th Circuit District Division – Jaffrey | 84 Peterborough Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| 8th Circuit Family Division – Keene | 33 Winter Street, Suite 1, Keene, NH 03431 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| 8th Circuit Family Division – Jaffrey | 84 Peterborough Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| 8th Circuit Probate Division – Keene | 33 Winter Street, Suite 1, Keene, NH 03431 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
All Cheshire County courts share the same phone lines:
- U.S. and Canada: (855) 212-1234
- International: (603) 415-0162
Copy and Certification Fees
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch publishes a uniform fee schedule for all circuit and superior courts:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies of court documents | $0.50 per page |
| Certification of a document | $10.00 plus copy fee |
| Certificate of Judgment | $10.00 |
| Records research | $6.50 per name, per court |
| Kiosk/screen printouts | $0.25 per page |
| Audio recording (CD or download) | $35.00 each |
Payment is accepted by cash, check, credit card, or money order. Credit card transactions at the clerk's window carry a 3% surcharge; debit card transactions via POS terminal are exempt from that surcharge.
Are Court Records Public in Cheshire County?
New Hampshire presumes that court records are open to public inspection. Unlike many government records in the state, court record access is not controlled by the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A). Instead, the right of public access to court proceedings and records flows from Part I, Article 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution, and the Judicial Branch independently sets its own policies for making records available.
The Guidelines for Public Access to Court Records lay out the framework. A few key principles to know:
- All court records are presumed subject to public inspection.
- The right to access includes the ability to take notes and obtain copies at standard rates.
- The clerk may set reasonable administrative rules governing the timing and scheduling of record reviews, including requiring written requests or appointments during off-peak hours.
- Access to more than ten files in a single day may be restricted at the clerk's discretion.
- No one may remove files from the designated review area.
That said, certain categories of court records are excluded from public access by law, court rule, or judicial order:
- Juvenile cases (delinquency, CHINS, abuse/neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption)
- Grand jury records
- Pending or denied applications for search or arrest warrants
- Wiretap applications and orders
- Annulled or sealed criminal records
- Any record declared confidential by statute, rule, or order
Before ordering a record sealed, a court must determine whether a less restrictive alternative exists and must use the least restrictive means available. Once sealed, a record cannot be inspected without a further court order.
Cheshire County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Cheshire County are prosecuted in two venues: the Superior Court handles felonies and certain serious matters, while the 8th Circuit District Division handles misdemeanors, violations, and infractions. Complaints, indictments, bail orders, plea agreements, and sentencing documents from these proceedings are all maintained by the clerk's office of the court that heard the case.
Searching Criminal Case Information
The Case Access Portal lets registered users search criminal case summaries. To find Superior Court criminal cases specifically, choose Superior Court under the location filter after selecting Advance Filtering Options in the Smart Search. The public kiosks at the courthouse provide the same search capability. The portal works well for general lookups but is not designed for formal background checks.
Criminal History Record Checks
The New Hampshire Division of State Police maintains the state repository for criminal history record information (CHRI) based on fingerprint data and court dispositions. Public criminal conviction records are available to anyone who provides a subject's name and date of birth along with a $25.00 fee. You can submit a request in three ways:
- Online: Through the State Police criminal records online portal
- In person: At the public counter, 33 Hazen Drive, Room 106A, Concord, NH
- By mail: Using the appropriate request form with a check or money order for $25.00
If you want your own full criminal record — including non-conviction information — you must use the Criminal Record Release Authorization Form. Notarization is required for mail requests; a government-issued photo ID is required in person. The fee is $25.00, though volunteers for qualifying nonprofit organizations may qualify for a reduced fee of $10.00. You'll find more details through the Criminal Records Unit or on the State Police criminal history request page.
Local Law Enforcement
Arrest records from specific incidents in Cheshire County may also be obtained by contacting the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Procedures and fees vary by department.
Cheshire County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Cheshire County is split between two courts. The Superior Court handles higher-value civil claims, while the 8th Circuit District Division adjudicates small claims up to $10,000, landlord/tenant disputes, and certain other civil actions. Each court's clerk office keeps the records for cases within its jurisdiction.
How to Access Civil Records
Civil case information is searchable at no cost through the Case Access Portal. For certified copies or documents needed for official use, submit a request directly to the clerk at the court where the case was filed. Include the case number if you have it — if not, the court charges a records research fee of $6.50 per name, per court. Copies cost $0.50 per page, and certification adds $10.00 per document.
Civil Filing Fees (Effective July 1, 2025)
The following filing fees apply in Cheshire County, as published in the Circuit Court Filing Fees schedule:
| Action (District Division) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil complaint or counterclaim | $300.00 |
| Small claims ($5,000 or less) | $125.00 |
| Small claims ($5,001–$10,000) | $180.00 |
| Landlord/tenant entry | $150.00 |
| Request for jury trial / transfer to Superior Court | $110.00 |
| Writ of execution | $40.00 |
If the cost of filing is a hardship, the New Hampshire Judicial Branch has a process to request a fee reduction or waiver.
Forms and Electronic Filing
Court forms for civil actions are available on the Judicial Branch's Forms and Fees page. Electronic filing is supported through the state's File & Serve platform. For a broader overview of the New Hampshire court system's structure and subject-matter jurisdiction, the How NH Courts Work guide is a helpful reference.
Cheshire County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Cheshire County — divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, parenting plans, domestic violence protective orders, adoptions, guardianship of minors, and termination of parental rights — are heard in the 8th Circuit Family Division. The Keene location covers the majority of Cheshire County towns, while the Jaffrey location serves Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Jaffrey, and Rindge (along with several Hillsborough County towns).
Divorce Records
Divorce petitions in Cheshire County are filed in the Family Division. Filing fees are $280.00 for divorces without minor children and $282.00 for divorces involving minor children or parenting matters. Post-judgment petitions to change a court order without full agreement cost $225.00; agreed modifications cost $135.00 (no fee applies for a fully agreed child support change). Detailed filing instructions and forms are on the Judicial Branch's divorce/parenting forms page, and step-by-step guidance on how to file a divorce petition is also published online.
A certified copy of a divorce decree — including any attached agreement, QDRO, or other decree-related documents — costs $40.00 from the court clerk. A divorce certificate (vital statistics record only) costs $10.00.
Marriage Records
New Hampshire marriage certificates are not held at the county level. They are maintained by the city or town clerk who issued the original marriage license. To obtain a Cheshire County marriage certificate, contact the relevant municipal clerk's office. The fee is generally $15.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. You can also request certificates from the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) at the same rates.
Under RSA 5-C:9, certified vital records in New Hampshire are available only to individuals with a direct and tangible interest — the record's subject, immediate family members, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. However, marriage records more than 50 years old become public records under RSA 5-C:105 and can be obtained by anyone.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates often come up in family proceedings, though they are not court records. You can obtain them from the town or city clerk where the event occurred, or from the DVRA at 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301, Phone: (603) 271-4650, email vitalrecords@sos.nh.gov. The standard fee is $15.00 for the first copy and $10.00 per additional copy. Birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years; within those periods, only parties with a direct and tangible interest may obtain certified copies.
Domestic Violence and Guardianship
Domestic violence protective orders and petitions for guardianship of a minor are also handled in the Family Division. A guardianship of a minor person petition carries a filing fee of $135.00 plus certified mail costs. Additional Family Division forms covering adoption, domestic violence, and other case types are available through the Judicial Branch website.
Cheshire County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Cheshire County are handled by the 8th Circuit Probate Division in Keene. This court has jurisdiction over estates, trusts, adult guardianships and conservatorships, name changes, equity actions, adoptions filed through probate, and involuntary commitments. Circuit Clerk Jean M. Kilham and Deputy Clerk Lorena A. Werner oversee the office.
8th Circuit Probate Division – Keene
Address: 33 Winter Street, Suite 1, Keene, NH 03431
Phone: (855) 212-1234 (U.S./Canada) or (603) 415-0162 (international)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Searching Probate Records
The Case Access Portal includes probate case information and is the most convenient way to do a preliminary search. For copies of official probate documents, contact the Probate Division clerk's office in person, by phone, or by mail. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with a $10.00 certification fee when needed. An authenticated copy of a probate document costs $40.00.
Probate Filing Fees (Effective July 1, 2025)
Filing fees for probate matters vary based on case type and estate value:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate administration (value $10,000 or less) | $150.00 |
| Estate administration (value $10,001–$25,000) | $205.00 |
| Estate administration (value over $25,000) | $305.00 |
| Accounting (estates over $25,000 gross value) | $105.00 |
| Accounting (estates $25,000 or less) | $0.00 |
| Guardian of incapacitated person and/or estate | $260.00 |
| Petition to appoint trustee | $190.00 |
| Motion to reopen estate | $180.00 |
| Motion for summary administration | $105.00 |
| Name change petition | $170.00 |
| Adoption petition | $180.00 |
Payment is accepted by cash, check, credit card, or money order. The full fee schedule is published on the Judicial Branch's Forms and Fees page.
Wills and Estates
Wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, inventories, accountings, and distribution orders are all part of the probate case file. These records are generally presumed public unless a court has ordered specific documents sealed. If you need records related to an estate, contact the Probate Division directly with the case number or the decedent's name. If no case number is available, the $6.50 per name records research fee applies.