Hillsborough County Court Records Search

Hillsborough County is New Hampshire’s most populous county, encompassing the cities of Manchester and Nashua along with dozens of surrounding towns. The county’s trial court system includes two Superior Court locations and multiple Circuit Court divisions handling district, family, and probate matters. Court records generated by these tribunals — docket entries, complaints, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, and appellate filings — are maintained by the clerk’s office at each court location. The primary record custodian for civil and criminal litigation is the Superior Court clerk, while the Circuit Court’s District, Family, and Probate Divisions each maintain records specific to their jurisdiction.

Those looking to locate New Hampshire court records can begin with official resources provided by the state judiciary. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch maintains a court directory, downloadable forms, and an electronic case access system. NewHampshireCourts.us can also assist in finding publicly available court case information. Beyond online tools, records may be obtained directly from clerk’s offices at each court location, by mail through the Judicial Branch’s Central Processing Center, or through public access terminals at the courthouses.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Hillsborough County?

Hillsborough County case information can be accessed through electronic systems, mail-based research requests, or in-person visits to clerk’s offices. The method you choose will depend on whether you need basic docket data or certified copies of documents.

New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal

The Case Access Portal is a web-based system that allows registered users to view electronically filed case records from Superior and Circuit Courts. To use the portal:

1. Visit the portal website and register for an account.
2. Sign in and select the Smart Search function.
3. Enter a case number or party name and filter results by court location (such as Hillsborough Superior Court North or South).
4. Review docket entries, hearing dates, and electronically filed documents.

Parties involved in existing cases who need additional access can download the Additional Case Access Request Form and email it to NHCaseaccessportal@courts.state.nh.us.

Record Research by Mail

For a formal record search covering multiple names, the Judicial Branch’s Central Processing Center accepts the Record Research and Payment Form (NHJB-2798-DFS). This form accommodates up to 20 names per submission. Fees are:

• Electronic search (1992 and forward): $6.50 per name, per court
• Manual search (cases prior to 1992): $6.50 per name, plus $25.00 per hour for any search time exceeding one hour

Mail the completed form with payment (check payable to “NHJB Central Processing Center”, or credit card information — Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) to:

New Hampshire Judicial Branch Administrative Offices
Attention: Central Processing Center
1 Granite Place, Suite N400
Concord, NH 03301

A credit card surcharge applies to all card payments. Forms may also be dropped off in person at the same address between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In-Person Access

Visitors may inspect case files at any Hillsborough County court location during business hours. All courts operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may be asked to present identification and sign for records. Under the Judicial Branch’s Guidelines for Public Access to Court Records, clerks may limit access to ten files per day and require that files be reviewed within a designated area under court staff supervision.

Hillsborough County Superior Courts

Court	Address	Clerk	Phone	Hours
Superior Court North	300 Chestnut Street, Manchester, NH 03101	W. Michael Scanlon, Esq.	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Superior Court South	30 Spring Street, Nashua, NH 03060	Amy M. Feliciano	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

For callers outside the United States and Canada, the alternate number is (603) 415-0162.

Are Court Records Public in Hillsborough County?

New Hampshire law creates a strong presumption of public access to court records. The state’s Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) grants broad rights to inspect and copy government records, and the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s administrative rules reinforce that presumption specifically for judicial records. Under Rule 12 of the Supreme Court Rules, the public can request access to case records held by any trial court, subject to constitutional and statutory limitations.

The Judicial Branch’s Guidelines for Public Access to Court Records (Sections 9001 through 9066) provide that all court records are presumptively open to public inspection. The public right of access must be balanced against nondisclosure interests established by the federal or state constitution or by statute. Clerks may set reasonable administrative regulations — such as requiring written requests, scheduling appointments during off-peak hours, and limiting daily file access — to ensure that public access does not disrupt primary court operations.

Records not open to public inspection include:

• Juvenile cases (delinquency, CHINS, abuse/neglect, termination of parental rights)
• Adoption proceedings
• Pending or denied applications for search or arrest warrants
• Grand jury records
• Wiretap applications and related orders
• Sealed or expunged case files
• Records protected by specific state or federal statutes
• Active judicial or law enforcement investigations
• Information identifying victims, witnesses, or undercover law enforcement agents

Before sealing any record, a court must determine whether a less restrictive alternative exists and apply the least restrictive means necessary. Once sealed, records may only be reopened by court order. Individuals whose records are sealed or expunged retain the right to request their own records through the appropriate clerk’s office.

Hillsborough County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Hillsborough County are prosecuted in the Superior Court (felonies and serious misdemeanors) or the Circuit Court’s District Divisions (misdemeanors, violations, and other lesser offenses). The county has six District Division locations:

District Division	Address	Circuit Clerk
9th Circuit – Goffstown	329 Mast Road, Goffstown, NH 03045	Lindsey M. O’Brien
6th Circuit – Hillsborough	15 Antrim Road Box #3, Hillsborough, NH 03244	Melanie M. Oliver
9th Circuit – Manchester	35 Amherst Street, Manchester, NH 03101	Mary Barton
9th Circuit – Merrimack	4 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, NH 03054	Coreen L. Russell
9th Circuit – Milford	4 Meadowbrook Drive, Milford, NH 03055	Coreen L. Russell
9th Circuit – Nashua	30 Spring Street, Suite 101, Nashua, NH 03060	Kathleen E. Tripp

All locations share the same phone number: (855) 212-1234. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Searching criminal case records

Criminal case docket information can be searched through the Case Access Portal by party name or case number. For a formal record check covering criminal, civil, or both categories across any New Hampshire trial court, submit the Record Research and Payment Form (NHJB-2798-DFS) to the Central Processing Center with the applicable $6.50-per-name fee. Case summaries generated through this process are informational and are not the official court record.

Statewide criminal history through New Hampshire State Police

The New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records Unit maintains the state’s central repository of criminal history record information (CHRI). Public criminal conviction history can be disseminated to anyone for a fee. Confidential CHRI, which includes non-conviction data, is available only to law enforcement or to individuals requesting their own record.

To obtain a criminal conviction check:

1. Visit the New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records Portal to schedule an appointment or submit a request online.
2. Alternatively, submit a Criminal Record Release Authorization Form by mail or in person at 33 Hazen Drive, Room 106A, Concord, NH.
3. The fee is $25.00 per request (exact amount required), payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card (credit cards accepted at the public counter only, not by mail).

For employment or licensing purposes requiring both a New Hampshire and FBI background check, the fee is $47.00 ($20.00 for qualifying volunteers). Fingerprinting is required and can be completed at one of seven LiveScan sites, including the Manchester DMV Substation at 377 South Willow Street.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted for arrest-related records and other law enforcement inquiries.

Goffstown Office: 329 Mast Road, Goffstown, NH 03045 — Phone: (603) 627-5610
Nashua Office: 19 Temple Street, Nashua, NH 03060 — Phone: (603) 836-2920
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hillsborough County Civil Court Records

Civil disputes in Hillsborough County are heard in the Superior Court when the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000, and in the Circuit Court’s District Divisions for claims under $25,000 as well as small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, replevin actions, and land use violations. The Superior Court holds exclusive authority over jury trials in civil matters.

Types of civil records

Civil case files typically contain complaints, answers, motions, discovery materials, court orders, judgments, and settlement documents. Other civil matters generating records include restraining orders, contract disputes, civil harassment petitions, and civil appeals.

How to search civil records

The same tools available for criminal records apply to civil cases. The Case Access Portal allows registered users to search for civil docket information by case number or party name. The Record Research and Payment Form (NHJB-2798-DFS) can be used to request a search across both criminal and civil records simultaneously — simply check the appropriate box on the form. Results are delivered by email or postal mail.

For in-person requests, visit the clerk’s office at the relevant court location. The Superior Court North in Manchester and Superior Court South in Nashua handle civil cases with higher dollar amounts, while the six District Divisions listed above process lower-value claims and specialized civil matters.

Property and land records

Real property documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats are recorded by the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds, which is separate from the court system. The Registry offers an online search through the AVA Public Search Portal, where users can look up records by grantor/grantee name, document number, or reference number. Copies cost $2.00 per page through the online system (a $20.00 buy-down buffer is required, with unused amounts refunded). In-person copies at the Registry cost $1.00 per page, with an additional $2.00 certification fee per document.

Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds
Address: 19 Temple Street, Nashua, NH 03061
Mailing: P.O. Box 370, Nashua, NH 03061-0370
Phone: (603) 882-6933 | Copy Requests: ext. 6766
Email: hilscopies@nhdeeds.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m.

Hillsborough County Family Court Records

The Circuit Court’s Family Divisions handle domestic relations and juvenile matters across six locations in Hillsborough County. Jurisdiction covers divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, domestic violence protection orders, guardianship of minors, emancipation, termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency, and child abuse or neglect proceedings. The Family Division shares jurisdiction over domestic violence emergency orders with the Superior Courts and District Divisions.

Family Division	Address	Circuit Clerk
9th Circuit – Goffstown	329 Mast Road, Goffstown, NH 03045	Lindsey M. O’Brien
6th Circuit – Hillsborough	15 Antrim Road Box #3, Hillsborough, NH 03244	Melanie M. Oliver
9th Circuit – Manchester	35 Amherst Street, Manchester, NH 03101	Mary Barton
9th Circuit – Merrimack	4 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, NH 03054	Coreen L. Russell
9th Circuit – Milford	4 Meadowbrook Drive, Milford, NH 03055	Coreen L. Russell
9th Circuit – Nashua	30 Spring Street, Suite 102, Nashua, NH 03060	Kathleen E. Tripp

All locations: Phone (855) 212-1234 | Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Accessing family court records

Many family court records carry restricted access. Juvenile case files, adoption records, and proceedings involving termination of parental rights are confidential and not available to the general public. Financial settlement agreements and information identifying minor children may be redacted from publicly available divorce records. Parties to a case and their attorneys are entitled to complete access to their own files under the Judicial Branch’s public access guidelines.

To request family court records, contact the clerk at the Family Division that handled the case, or search for non-confidential docket information through the Case Access Portal. Certified copies of orders and decrees may be obtained through the clerk’s office for a fee. Forms and self-help resources are available through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website.

Marriage and divorce certificates

Marriage and divorce records in New Hampshire are vital records administered separately from the court system. Certified copies can be obtained from the town or city clerk where the event was recorded, or from the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration. The fee is $15.00 per search (payable whether or not a record is found), with additional copies of the same record at $10.00 each. Applicants must present photo identification and demonstrate a “direct and tangible” interest in the record. Download the Certificate Application, complete it, and mail it with payment to:

NH Department of State
Division of Vital Records Administration
Registration / Certification
9 Ratification Way
Concord, NH 03301-2455

Birth and death records

Birth and death certificates are confidential vital records. New Hampshire law restricts access to the individual named on the record (if 18 or older for birth certificates), legal representatives, immediate family members, and authorized government entities. Birth records become publicly accessible after 100 years, and death records after 50 years. The same application, fee structure, and mailing address apply as for marriage and divorce certificates above.

Hillsborough County Probate Court Records

The Probate Division of the Hillsborough County Circuit Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over most probate matters, including estate administration, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, and escheat proceedings. The Probate Division also has exclusive jurisdiction over private, agency, and international adoptions, and shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court over trust disputes, powers of attorney, and marriages involving minors.

Probate Division locations

Probate Division	Address	Clerk	Phone	Hours
9th Circuit – Nashua	30 Spring Street, Suite 103, Nashua, NH 03060	Kathleen E. Tripp	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Superior Court North – Probate (Manchester)	300 Chestnut Street, Manchester, NH 03101	W. Michael Scanlon, Esq.	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

How to obtain probate records

1. Identify the correct court. Determine whether the probate case was handled in the Nashua or Manchester division based on the town of residence of the decedent or ward.
2. Search online. Use the Case Access Portal to look up basic probate case information by case number or party name.
3. Request by mail or in person. For certified copies of wills, letters of administration, guardianship orders, or other probate documents, submit a written request to the clerk’s office at the appropriate division. Include the full name of the decedent or ward, the case number if known, a description of the documents needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Record Checks page on the Judicial Branch website provides guidance and forms for probate-specific searches.

Probate records are generally public, though certain guardianship and conservatorship records involving protected individuals may carry restrictions. Contact the clerk’s office for information about fees for certified copies, which may range from approximately $10 to $15 per certification plus copy charges. Additional court forms and procedural information for probate filings are available at www.alacourt.gov and through the electronic services section of the Judicial Branch’s website.