Court records in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, are maintained by the clerks of the circuit court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HillsboroughNHCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Hillsborough County. You can also search federal case files through the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, visit the clerk's office in person, or use state and local government resources to locate the records you need.
Hillsborough Court System Overview
Hillsborough County is the most populous county in New Hampshire and is served by the New Hampshire Circuit Court system. In 2011, New Hampshire consolidated its district courts, probate courts, and family courts into a unified Circuit Court with three divisions. Hillsborough County falls within the 9th Circuit Court, which covers the county's communities including Manchester, Nashua, Milford, and surrounding towns. The Circuit Court handles the vast majority of state-level cases, from criminal matters and civil disputes to family law and probate. The New Hampshire Superior Court — which sits in each county — hears felony criminal cases, major civil litigation, and appeals from the Circuit Court. The Hillsborough County Superior Court has two locations, reflecting the county's division into a Northern District (Manchester) and a Southern District (Nashua).
Hillsborough County Superior Court — Northern District
Hillsborough County Superior Court — Southern District
Courts Serving Hillsborough
Hillsborough County residents may interact with several state and federal courts depending on the type of case:
9th Circuit Court — Manchester
9th Circuit Court — Nashua
9th Circuit Court — Milford
9th Circuit Court — Merrimack
9th Circuit Court — Goffstown (District Division)
U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Federal cases involving Hillsborough County are filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, which covers the entire state. The federal bankruptcy court also sits in Concord.
What Types of Cases Hillsborough Courts Hear
Courts serving Hillsborough County handle a broad range of matters:
- Criminal: Felonies (Superior Court), misdemeanors, violations, DUI (Circuit Court)
- Civil: Lawsuits, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims
- Family: Divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, name changes
- Juvenile: Delinquency, children in need of services (CHINS), child protective proceedings
- Traffic: Moving violations, license suspensions
District Court Cases in Hillsborough
In New Hampshire, the Superior Court functions as the trial court of general jurisdiction — similar to what other states call "district court." The Hillsborough County Superior Court hears all felony criminal cases after indictment by a grand jury. It also handles civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000, equity matters, and appeals from the Circuit Court. Jury trials in both criminal and civil cases take place at the Superior Court level. Cases are assigned to justices sitting in either the Northern District (Manchester) or Southern District (Nashua). Post-conviction motions, sentence review requests, and habeas petitions are also filed here.
Magistrate Court Cases in Hillsborough
New Hampshire's Circuit Court — District Division handles the functions that many states assign to a magistrate court. In Hillsborough County, the Circuit Court District Division hears:
- Misdemeanors and violations
- Preliminary hearings on felony complaints before cases move to Superior Court
- Civil cases up to $25,000
- Small claims up to $10,000
- Landlord-tenant disputes
- Traffic violations and DUI arraignments
Cases are heard by Circuit Court judges across multiple locations in the county. High-volume locations like Manchester and Nashua may have dedicated sessions for traffic, criminal, and civil matters.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Hillsborough
Family Law: Divorce, parenting (custody), child support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Circuit Court — Family Division. The Manchester and Nashua locations both have active Family Division calendars. Protective order petitions can be filed at any Circuit Court location in the county.
Probate: The Circuit Court — Probate Division handles estates of deceased persons, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, trust matters, and name changes. Hillsborough County probate matters are filed at the Circuit Court locations serving Manchester and Nashua.
Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency cases, CHINS petitions, and child protective proceedings are heard by the Circuit Court. Juvenile court records are confidential under New Hampshire law (RSA 169-B:35) and are not available to the general public. If you need information about a juvenile case, contact the clerk's office directly to ask about access restrictions.
How Cases Move Through the Hillsborough Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A criminal complaint is filed by law enforcement or the county attorney. Civil cases begin with a writ of summons or petition. Family and probate matters start with a petition filed at the Circuit Court.
- Assignment: The clerk's office assigns the case to a judge and schedules the first hearing.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and enter a plea. Civil cases receive a scheduling order or initial case management conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may attempt mediation or negotiation. In criminal cases, plea discussions often occur during this stage.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to bench trial or jury trial (jury trials at the Superior Court level), or are resolved through plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from the Circuit Court go to the Superior Court; appeals from the Superior Court go to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Hillsborough
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch administers all state courts centrally through the Administrative Office of the Courts in Concord. Each Circuit Court location has a clerk who manages day-to-day operations, filings, and records. The Superior Court in each district also has its own clerk's office.
Local and statewide court rules are published on the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website. Court records in New Hampshire are generally public under Supreme Court Rule 51 and the state's Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A), with exceptions for sealed records, juvenile cases, certain family matters, and mental health proceedings.
Most hearings are open to the public. Some proceedings — particularly in family and juvenile cases — may be closed. Remote hearing options became available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some Circuit Court sessions continue to offer telephonic or video appearances. Contact the clerk's office at the specific court location to ask about remote attendance for a particular hearing.
Administrative Office of the Courts
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Hillsborough
- State Court Case Lookup: The New Hampshire Judicial Branch offers an online case lookup tool where you can search Circuit Court and Superior Court dockets by party name, case number, or attorney. Not all records are available online — older or sealed cases may require an in-person request.
- Federal Court Records: For federal civil and criminal cases involving Hillsborough County, use PACER to access case files from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Civil cases filed after June 2004 and criminal cases filed after January 2005 are maintained electronically.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: The New Hampshire Judicial Branch website provides downloadable court forms for family, probate, civil, small claims, and criminal matters, along with self-help guides for self-represented litigants.
- Clerk of Court / Public Records Requests: To obtain certified copies of court documents, contact the clerk at the specific court location where the case was filed. Fees apply for copies and certifications. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours.
- Police Records: The Manchester Police Department publishes arrest logs that include booking details for recent arrests in the city.
- Property Records: For property-related court matters, the Manchester Board of Assessors maintains online property information that may be useful in civil or probate cases.
- NH Department of Corrections Inmate Search: The New Hampshire Department of Corrections offers an inmate locator on its website for individuals sentenced to state prison.
- Sex Offender Registry: The New Hampshire Sex Offender Registry is maintained by the Division of State Police and is searchable by name or location.
- Tax Records: For real estate transfer records related to probate or civil matters, the NH Granite Tax Connect portal provides access to tax filings and real estate transfer data.