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Merrimack County, New Hampshire State Court Records

Merrimack County court records contain pertinent information about judicial proceedings handled by local courts. They serve as legal documentation of local court cases and are crucial for legal research. Court records consist of legal documents and information filed with or generated by a court in the course of a judicial proceeding, from its inception to its conclusion. These include, but are not limited to, petitions, motions, indexes, docket information, exhibits, transcripts, court orders, and notices.

In Merrimack County, each local court has a clerk’s office that maintains court records for cases it handles. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch also maintains these records at the state level. Generally, the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Public Access to Court Records Guidelines govern the release of Merrimack County court records. The Guidelines are supported by New Hampshire’s Right to Know Law, which promotes public access to government records, such as arrest information, vital records, and other public records.

Are Merrimack County Court Records Public?

Yes. Merrimack County court records are presumed public under the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Public Access to Court Records Guidelines, unless a federal or state statute states otherwise. As a result, most Merrimack County court records are available for public inspection or copying on request. However, certain categories of cases and information are unavailable to the public unless ordered by a court. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Juvenile cases
  • Adoption proceedings
  • Guardianship cases under RSA Chapter 463
  • Pending and denied applications for a search or arrest warrant.
  • Grand jury records
  • Applications and orders for wire taps
  • Sealed records

What Information is Available in Merrimack County Court Records?

The typical information found in court records in Merrimack County includes the following:

  • Case number and type
  • Case parties’ names and their respective attorneys’ details (if available)
  • Case status and disposition
  • Hearing details
  • Case filings

Merrimack County Court Records Search

In Merrimack County, individuals must possess identifiable information about a case to conduct a court records search. These include a case party’s full name and date of birth or case number. There are different avenues for conducting a Merrimack County court records search, and they include:

  • Online Access - Interested persons may use the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Case Access Portal to search for public court records of cases heard by Merrimack County Superior or Circuit Courts. They must register an account or log in to use the portal. The portal provides free online access to limited public access information.
  • In-Person Access - Individuals may visit local courthouses in Merrimack County during regular office hours (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) Monday to Friday. Public computer terminals or kiosks may be available in the court clerk’s office for accessing court records electronically. Alternatively, they can submit a written request for court records to the clerk’s office. There are typically certain fees for furnishing copies of records. Additionally, they may be required to present valid forms of identification, especially when requesting confidential records.
  • Mail Requests - The New Hampshire Judicial Branch offers a dedicated Records Research form for individuals to request searches for public Merrimack County court records. The form allows searches for up to 25 cases at a time by party name and date of birth, at $6.50 per name search. If the time spent searching for records of cases filed before 1992 (manual search) exceeds one hour, the requester will be charged $25.00 for each additional hour. Relevant fees may be paid by check (payable to NHJB Central Processing Center) or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover). Note that credit card payments are subject to a surcharge fee. The completed Records Research form and applicable fee should be mailed to:

New Hampshire Judicial Branch Administrative Offices

Attention: Central Processing Center

1 Granite Place, Suite N400

Concord, New Hampshire 03301

Fees for Court Records in Merrimack County

According to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Superior Court Fee Schedule and Circuit Court Certificate and Copy Fees Schedule, local courts in Merrimack County may charge the following fee for court records:

  • Records research fees: $6.50 per name
  • Regular copies: $0.50 per page
  • Certificates and certified copies: $10.00
  • Copies printed from kiosk or computer terminals: $0.25 per page
  • Certificate of judgment: $10.00
  • Audio recording of hearings: $35.00 each CD or download
  • Exemplification of judgment: $40.00
  • Juror questionnaires: $50.00
  • Citations: $50.00 per occurrence
  • Defaults: $25.00 per occurrence
  • Divorce certificate only: $10.00
  • Divorce certificate, certified copy of decree, including agreement, QDRO, USO, and other decree-related documents (if applicable): $40.00.

Merrimack County Courthouse Locations

Merrimack County’s court system consists of four (4) types of courts: a Superior Court, four (4) Circuit Court District Divisions, a Circuit Court Probate Division, and four (4) Circuit Court Family Divisions. Merrimack County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over most criminal and civil cases and provides jury trials in both. These include contracts, negligence, real property rights, and other civil claims under $1,500, in which either party requests a jury trial. The Superior Court can also hear felony cases, misdemeanor appeals from the Circuit Court District Division, and has exclusive jurisdiction over cases where the damage claims exceed $25,000.

Merrimack County Circuit Court District Division has jurisdiction over misdemeanors and violation-level offenses. Other examples of cases this court handles include landlord-tenant cases, involuntary emergency admissions (IEAs), motor vehicle matters, small claims, and stalking cases. Meanwhile, the Merrimack County Circuit Court Probate Division may hear matters concerning adoptions, equity, guardianships, involuntary admissions, name changes, wills, trusts, and estates.

On the other hand, family law cases, such as abuse/neglect cases, child support, and children in need of services, are handled by Merrimack County Circuit Court Family Division. The court also hears divorce/parenting action, domestic violence petitions, guardianship of minors, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, and some adoptions. The addresses and contact information of Merrimack County Courts are detailed below.

Merrimack County Superior Court

Merrimack County Superior Court

5 Court Street,

Concord, NH 03302

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County Circuit Court District Divisions

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court District Division - Concord

32 Clinton St,

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court District Division - Franklin

7 Hancock Terrace,

Franklin, NH 03235

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court District Division - Hooksett

101 Merrimack St,

Hooksett, NH 03106-1416

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court District Division -Hillsborough

15 Antrim Rd, Box 3,

Hillsborough, NH 03244

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County Circuit Court Probate Division

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court Probate Division

2 Charles Doe Drive, Suite 1

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County Circuit Court Family Divisions

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court Family Division - Concord

32 Clinton St.

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court Family Division - Franklin

7 Hancock Terrace,

Franklin, NH 03235

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court Family Division - Hillsborough

15 Antrim Rd, Box 3,

Hillsborough, NH 03244

Phone: 855-212-1234

Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court Family Division - Hooksett

101 Merrimack St.

Hooksett, NH 03106

Phone: 855-212-1234

Criminal Records Access in Merrimack County

In Merrimack County, interested persons may conduct state-level Criminal History Records Information (CHRI) checks through the New Hampshire Division of State Police (NHDOS). A CHRI contains details about an individual’s criminal arrests and dispositions of charges in New Hampshire, including Merrimack County.

Generally, CHRIs may be disseminated for criminal justice or non-criminal justice purposes. However, CHRIs that contain both conviction and non-conviction data are considered confidential and are only released to law enforcement or judicial personnel and the record’s subject. Meanwhile, CHRIs containing only conviction data are public and may be released to anyone for a fee.

The NHDOS charges $25.00 per CHRI request and offers numerous ways to request CHRIs: online, in person, or by mail. Under New Hampshire Administrative Rule Saf-C 5703.07, however, volunteers for a public or private not-for-profit entity are entitled to a reduced fee of $10.00 per CHRI request. To request this fee reduction, they must use the CRFE form. Public CHRIs (those containing only conviction data) are searchable and accessible online through the NHDOS Criminal Records Portal. Users must select the "Request Online NH Criminal Conviction Check", provide their contact information, and provide a subject name and date of birth to search the portal.

Meanwhile, individuals may use the Criminal History Record Information Release Authorization Form to request public CHRI in person or by mail. They may complete the form and submit it along with the appropriate fee and other required documents to:

Criminal Records Unit

33 Hazen Drive,

Concord, NH 03305

An individual who wishes to request their own full confidential CHRI must have their completed form notarized, signed, and sealed by a Notary Public or Justice of the Peace before submission.

On the other hand, individuals may access case records of criminal cases heard in Merrimack County online through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Case Access Portal. They can also complete the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Records Research form and submit it by mail along with relevant fees. Alternatively, they may visit the local courthouse that heard the sought-after case to request records in person.

Merrimack County Probate Records

Merrimack County probate records are official documents that record probate matters, such as the administration of wills, trusts, and estates. These records also contain information about other proceedings and cases handled by the Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court Probate Division. These include adoptions, equity, name changes, guardianships, and involuntary admissions. Some examples of probate filings include, but are not limited to, wills, inventories, guardianship petitions, and estate records.

In Merrimack County, most probate records are public. However, certain probate records and cases are confidential. Most notably, wills submitted to the probate court remain confidential until the testator’s death. Additionally, adoption proceedings and certain guardianship cases are confidential.

Interested persons may use the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Case Access Portal to search and access public probate records online. They may also request probate court records by mail using the Circuit Court Probate Division Record Search Form. Alternatively, they can visit the Probate Division of the Merrimack County 6th Circuit Court and use available computer terminals to access public probate records. Confidential and older probate records may also be requested in person by submitting a written request to the probate court clerk’s office. Note that individuals must present a valid form of identification when requesting confidential probate records.

Merrimack County Family Court Records

The Merrimack County Circuit Court Family Division has jurisdiction over all family law cases arising in the county. These include divorce or parenting actions, domestic violence petitions, guardianship of minors, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, and some adoptions. Most family court records are protected from public access and are unavailable online due to the sensitive information they contain. Thus, interested persons may access these records by visiting the Merrimack County Circuit Court Family Division courthouses to request them in person. They should bring along a valid form of identification during their visit.

Federal Court Records in Merrimack County

Federal cases in Merrimack County fall under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. This federal court operates from a single courthouse in Concord.

Depending on when a case was filed, record seekers may access federal court records for cases handled by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire online or in person. Generally, civil cases filed after June 1, 2004, and criminal cases filed after January 1, 2005, are accessible online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Individuals must log in or register an account to access case files on PACER at $0.10 per page. However, these fees are capped at $3.00 per document and may be waived when users incur charges of $30 or less in a quarter.

On the other hand, the federal court clerk’s office maintains paper case files of civil cases filed before June 1, 2004, and criminal cases filed before January 1, 2005. These records are usually maintained for two (2) years (for criminal cases) and one year (for civil cases) after the case closure. Interested persons may access these records by visiting the clerk’s office of the federal courthouse at:

U.S. District Court District of New Hampshire

55 Pleasant Street

Room 110

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 603-225-1423 or 1-855-333-2052 (toll free)

Note that visitors must present a valid photo ID issued by a government agency to enter the federal courthouse.