Sullivan County Court Records Search

Sullivan County, New Hampshire maintains a unified court system that handles a broad spectrum of legal matters — from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to family proceedings and estate administration. The county seat is Newport, where the Sullivan Superior Court and several divisions of the 5th Circuit Court are located, with additional circuit court divisions operating in Claremont. Whether you need to confirm a court date, obtain records for a legal proceeding, or research a case history, understanding which court maintains which records and how each office handles requests is essential to conducting a successful search.

How to Search for Sullivan County Court Records

Residents and researchers in New Hampshire have several reliable paths for locating court case information. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch maintains the official infrastructure for state court records, and NewHampshireCourts.us is a useful starting point for identifying the correct court, division, and contact information for any matter filed in Sullivan County. Case records can be searched through the NH Judicial Branch Case Access Portal, which covers electronically filed cases across the state court system. In-person access is available at the clerk’s offices during regular business hours, and public access terminals are available at courthouse locations for on-site viewing.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Sullivan County?

Sullivan County circuit and superior court records are searchable through the NH Judicial Branch’s online Case Access Portal. After registering for a free account, users can query case records by name, case number, or party type for most electronically filed cases. The portal covers the majority of case types but excludes guardianship matters, which must be accessed directly at the clerk’s office.

For in-person searches, the clerks at each court location can assist with lookups by case number or party name. All Sullivan County courts share a central phone number for general inquiries.

Sullivan County Court Directory

Court	Address	Phone	Hours
Sullivan Superior Court	22 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
5th Circuit – District Division – Claremont	1 Police Court, Suite 2, Claremont, NH 03743	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
5th Circuit – District Division – Newport	55 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
5th Circuit – Family Division – Claremont	1 Police Court, Suite 2, Claremont, NH 03743	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
5th Circuit – Family Division – Newport	55 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773	(855) 212-1234	Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
5th Circuit – Probate Division – Newport	14 Main Street, Suite 5, Newport, NH 03773	(855) 212-1234	Mon & Thu only, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

For international callers, all courts can also be reached at (603) 415-0162. Mail requests may be directed to the specific court division. When visiting in person, carry a valid government-issued photo ID, as clerks may require identification before releasing file materials. Requests to inspect court files must be made during office hours, and clerks may limit access to no more than ten files per day per the NH Guidelines for Public Access to Court Records.

Are Court Records Public in Sullivan County?

New Hampshire operates under a strong presumption of public access to court records, codified in the state’s judicial policies and supported by constitutional principles. The Guidelines for Public Access to Court Records establish that all court records are presumptively available for public inspection unless a specific legal exception applies. This presumption extends to the right to make notes and to obtain copies at standard rates.

However, certain categories of records are explicitly shielded from routine public access:

• Juvenile proceedings — including delinquency cases, child-in-need-of-services (CHINS) matters, abuse and neglect cases, termination of parental rights, and adoption proceedings
• Grand jury records — sealed by operation of law
• Sealed records — any case record ordered sealed by a judge following a finding that no less restrictive alternative is available
• Pending or denied warrant applications — search warrants and arrest warrant applications not yet executed
• Wiretap applications and orders
• Records deemed confidential under federal or state statute

Before a court can seal a record, it must determine that no reasonable alternative to sealing exists and must use the least restrictive approach. Once sealed, records are only accessible by court order. The NH Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) provides public access rights for government documents generally, though court case records are governed independently by the New Hampshire Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure rather than RSA 91-A alone.

Sullivan County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Sullivan County are filed primarily in two venues depending on the severity of the offense. The Sullivan Superior Court handles felony prosecutions, while the 5th Circuit Court – District Division (in both Claremont and Newport) handles misdemeanor cases, violations, motor vehicle offenses, and Class B misdemeanors. Jurisdiction at the district division level depends on where the alleged offense occurred relative to the towns served by each location.

Criminal court records in Sullivan County include charging documents, arrest warrants, indictments, plea agreements, judgments, and sentencing orders. Most of these are accessible through the Case Access Portal once a case has been electronically filed, subject to the confidentiality restrictions noted above.

Criminal History Record Requests

For a broader criminal background check beyond a single case lookup, New Hampshire State Police maintain the statewide criminal conviction database. Requests can be submitted through the following channels:

• Online:NH Criminal Conviction Check Portal
• In person: NH Department of Safety, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, Room 106A (Mon–Fri, 8:15 AM–4:15 PM)
• By mail: Download the Criminal Record Release Authorization Form and submit with payment

Fees:

• Standard name-based conviction check: $25.00 (cash, check, money order, or credit card at the public counter only)
• Reduced fee for qualifying nonprofit volunteers working with vulnerable populations: $10.00
• NH/FBI fingerprint-based check: $47.00 ($20.00 for qualifying volunteers)

For arrest records maintained by county law enforcement, contact the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office at 1100 County Offices, Unity, NH 03743, Phone: (603) 863-4200. The Sheriff’s Office handles general law enforcement records for unincorporated areas and county-level matters.

Sullivan County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Sullivan County are divided between the Superior Court and the Circuit Court depending on the dollar amount in dispute. The Sullivan Superior Court handles civil matters where the amount at issue exceeds the Circuit Court’s jurisdiction, as well as equity actions, injunctions, and cases transferred up from the circuit level. The 5th Circuit Court – District Division handles smaller civil disputes, landlord-tenant matters, small claims, and traffic forfeitures.

Small Claims in New Hampshire Circuit Court are capped at $10,000. Claims between $5,001 and $10,000 are subject to mandatory mediation. Filing fees for small claims actions are:

• Claims of $5,000 or less: $125.00 filing fee
• Claims over $5,000 (up to $10,000): $180.00 filing fee
• Transfer to Superior Court for jury trial: additional $145.00 fee

Civil case records — including complaints, answers, motions, judgments, and enforcement documents — are searchable through the Case Access Portal for electronically filed matters. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch also provides forms and fee schedules for parties who wish to self-represent. If you cannot afford filing fees, you may petition the court for a reduced fee or fee waiver using the appropriate in forma pauperis forms available at the clerk’s office.

For civil process service questions, including fees and procedure, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at (603) 863-4200 or through their office directly.

Property Records

Property-related civil records, including deeds, liens, and easements, are maintained by the Sullivan County Registry of Deeds:

Registry of Deeds
Address: 14 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Newport, NH 03773
Phone: (603) 863-2110
Fax: (603) 863-0013
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (recording stops at 3:00 PM)

Online property document searches are available through the Sullivan County Registry of Deeds search portal.

Sullivan County Family Court Records

The 5th Circuit Court – Family Division handles all domestic relations matters in Sullivan County, with two courthouses serving different towns across the county. The Claremont division serves Acworth, Charlestown, Claremont, Cornish, Langdon, Plainfield, and Unity. The Newport division serves Croydon, Goshen, Grantham, Lempster, New London, Newbury, Newport, Springfield, Sunapee, Washington, and Wilmot.

Case types handled by the Sullivan County Family Divisions include:

• Divorce and legal separation
• Parenting (custody) and visitation arrangements
• Child support establishment and modification
• Domestic violence protective orders
• Guardianship of minors
• Termination of parental rights
• Juvenile cases (CHINS and delinquency)
• Paternity actions

Family court records involving minors — including juvenile delinquency, abuse and neglect, CHINS, termination of parental rights, and adoption proceedings — are confidential and not subject to routine public inspection. Divorce records, child support orders, and custody agreements that do not involve a minor’s confidential medical or personal information are generally accessible by the parties and their counsel, and many are accessible through the Case Access Portal.

Vital Records Related to Family Matters

Marriage and divorce records for Sullivan County are maintained by the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA), which holds records from 1901 to the present. Certified copies can be ordered online through the NH Vital Records Statistics Portal or by mail and in-person request:

NH Division of Vital Records Administration
Address: 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301-2410
Phone: (603) 271-4650 | TDD: (800) 735-2964
Fax: (603) 271-3447
Email: vitalrecords@sos.nh.gov

The fee for each certified vital record copy is $15.00, with additional copies of the same record costing $10.00 each when ordered at the same time. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to the subject (if 18 or older), parents, legal guardians, and authorized representatives. Death records are restricted for the first 50 years following the date of death. For records older than 100 years (birth) or 50 years (death), contact the New Hampshire State Archives:

NH Department of State – Archives and Records Management
Address: 9 Ratification Way, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-2236 | Fax: (603) 271-2272
Email: archives@sos.nh.gov

Local town and city clerk offices in Sullivan County towns can also issue certified copies of vital records registered within their jurisdiction.

Sullivan County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Sullivan County are handled exclusively by the 5th Circuit – Probate Division – Newport, located at 14 Main Street, Suite 5, Newport, NH 03773. This office operates on a limited schedule and is open to the public on Mondays and Thursdays only, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when the Probate office is closed, all probate business — including filings and file access — is handled at the 5th Circuit – District/Family Division, located across the street at 55 Main Street, Newport. Probate forms are available at both locations, and computer access to probate files is maintained at the District/Family Division on those days.

Circuit Clerk: Robin J. Lockhart
Deputy Clerk: Jennifer Tapp
Phone: (855) 212-1234

Case types handled by the Sullivan County Probate Division include:

• Probate of wills (testate and intestate succession)
• Administration of decedents’ estates
• Guardianships and conservatorships for adults
• Trust administration and accounting
• Escheat and partition matters

Probate records are generally public and can be searched through the Case Access Portal for electronically filed matters. For historical or older probate records not available through the online portal, contact the NH State Archives at the address listed above.

Filing fees for probate matters are established statewide by the New Hampshire Judicial Branch and vary depending on the type of proceeding and the size of the estate. According to current estimates, New Hampshire probate costs generally range from 3 to 8 percent of estate value, including a court filing fee of approximately $305 for formal probate administration. For the most current fee schedule, consult the NH Judicial Branch Forms and Fees page or contact the Probate Division directly before filing.

Parties who need to conduct extensive file reviews should note that clerks may limit access to no more than ten files per appointment session, consistent with the statewide public access guidelines. Requests to inspect large numbers of probate records must include specific case names or docket numbers, and appointments during off-peak hours may be arranged by contacting the clerk in advance.