Flag of the State of New Hampshire

The Guide to New Hampshire Courts


The New Hampshire trial court system consists of Superior Courts, District Courts, Probate Courts, and Family Courts.
 
Superior Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but generally only hear cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. District Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil, criminal and juvenile cases. Probate Courts have limited jurisdiction over most probate cases, some real estate and some juvenile matters. Family Courts exercise jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile matters.
 

Find court records by county Find court records by town or zip code Find court resources by category Find court records in other states
Please select a New Hampshire county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find New Hampshire court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.

 

 



 
WeCanSolveIt.org
Public Records Search    Advertising
 
First Name
 MI Last Name State
 
I entered a partial first name above
adkey

New Hampshire Superior Courts

Superior Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but usually handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Only Superior Courts offer jury trials so cases in other courts that have a right to a jury will be transferred to Superior Court upon proper request.

Criminal cases heard by Superior Courts include felonies and other types of criminal cases that are eligible for a jury trial.

Civil cases heard by Superior Courts include all jury trials, general civil claims for more than $1,500 or involving title to real estate and general civil claims for more than $25,000. Superior Courts also handle divorce, child custody, domestic violence, redemption and foreclosure of mortgages, petitions to enforce contracts, and appeals from zoning and planning board decisions.

Superior Courts share jurisdiction with District Courts over domestic violence cases and most non-jury general civil claims for damages between $1,500 and $25,000 that do not involve disputes over title to real estate.

Superior Courts share jurisdiction with Probate Courts over certain types of cases, including certain types of trusts, certain kinds of durable powers of attorney and waivers for marriage of minors.

When a Family Court exists within the territorial jurisdiction of a Superior Court, Superior Courts share jurisdiction over temporary domestic violence orders and lack jurisdiction over within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Family Court, such as divorce, child custody and child support.

New Hampshire District Courts

District Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. District Courts do not offer jury trials and must transfer cases to Superior Court when a proper jury trial request is made.

District Courts have original jurisdiction over criminal cases when punishable by a fine of less than $2,000, imprisonment of a year or less, or both. Criminal cases heard by District Courts include misdemeanors and ordinance violations.

Civil cases heard by District Courts include landlord-tenant, family law, juvenile matters and small claims. District Courts share jurisdiction over domestic violence protection cases with Superior Courts.

District Courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear most general civil claims for less than $1500, exclusive of interest and costs. District Courts share jurisdiction with Superior Courts for most general civil claims for more than $1500 and less than $25,000, exclusive of interest and costs. District Courts do not handle cases with title to real estate in dispute.

Each District Court has a Small Claims division that offers a simplified court procedure for certain types of civil cases with disputes for less than $5000, exclusive of interest and costs. When a claim is more $1500, a right to a jury trial exists, so if either party properly requests a jury trial, the case will be transferred to Superior Court.

When a Family Court shares territorial jurisdiction with a District Court, the District Court has limited jurisdiction to handle requests for temporary domestic violence orders.

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has authority to increase the financial limit on District Court jurisdiction to $50,000, so financial limits on jurisdiction may vary.

New Hampshire Probate Courts

Probate Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases related to probate, real estate and juvenile matters. Probate Courts do not offer jury trials, so if a jury trial right exists and is properly requested, the case will be transferred to Superior Court.

Probate Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of estates and trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, most adoptions of children, most name change petitions, termination of parental rights, durable powers of attorney for health care, living wills, some partition actions, actions to quiet title to real estate and other types of cases.

Probate Courts share jurisdiction with Superior Courts for certain types of trusts, certain kinds of durable powers of attorney, waivers for marriage of minors and other certain types of cases.

When a Family Court shares territorial jurisdiction with a Probate Court, the Probate Court lacks jurisdiction over most cases heard by Family Courts, but continues to share jurisdiction over certain types of cases. Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over many adoptions, but private, agency or international adoptions remain within exclusive Probate Court jurisdiction. Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over most guardianships of minors, but if the case also involves the estate of a minor, jurisdiction over the entire case is exclusively vested in the Probate Court.

New Hampshire Family Courts

Family Courts only exist in certain locations, but when they do, Superior Courts, District Courts and Probate Courts generally lack jurisdiction over the types of cases handled by Family Court.

Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over most domestic relations and juvenile cases, including divorce, annulment, alimony, child custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, abuse or neglect of children, children in need of services, domestic violence protection, adoption of children in abuse and neglect cases, termination of parental rights, most guardianships of minors, and name change petitions associated with termination of parental rights.

Family Courts share jurisdiction with Superior Courts and District Courts for temporary orders in domestic violence protection cases.

Family Courts share jurisdiction with the District Courts for temporary detention orders in juvenile delinquency cases and certain orders in cases that involve abused and neglected children or children in need of services.

When a Family Court shares territorial jurisdiction with a Probate Court, the Probate Court lacks jurisdiction over most cases heard by Family Courts, but continues to share jurisdiction over certain types of cases. Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over many adoptions, but private, agency or international adoptions remain within exclusive Probate Court jurisdiction. Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over most guardianships of minors, but if the case also involves the estate of a minor, jurisdiction over the entire case is exclusively vested in the Probate Court.

Family Courts are also referred to as the Judicial Branch Family Division.

Where to find court cases in New Hampshire

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in New Hampshire.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilSuperior CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsFamily Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Superior Courts
   
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Small Claims 
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Civil Equity
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the Superior Courts
   
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Superior Courts
   
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Superior Courts
 
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Family Courts
Landlord / Tenant
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Most or all Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Ordinance Violations 
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Most or all Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Family Courts
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Superior Courts
  
Some Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Family Courts
CriminalSuperior CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsFamily Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the Superior Courts
   
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Superior Courts
   
Misdemeanors
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Ordinance Violations 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Juvenile   
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Family Courts
Traffic and Infractions 
Most or all Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Domestic RelationsSuperior CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsFamily Courts
Divorce
Some Divorce cases can be found in the Superior Courts
  
Some Divorce cases can be found in the Family Courts
Child Custody and Visitation
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Family Courts
Child Support
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Child Support cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Family Courts
Paternity
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Paternity cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Family Courts
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Family Courts
JuvenileSuperior CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsFamily Courts
Adoptions
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Adoptions cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Most or all Adoptions cases can be found in the Family Courts
Juvenile Delinquency 
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Family Courts
Child Abuse and Neglect 
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Family Courts
Termination of Parental Rights 
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Family Courts
Children in Need of Supervision 
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Family Courts
Mental HealthSuperior CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsFamily Courts
Involuntary Commitments
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Family Courts
Other Mental Health Cases
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Family Courts
ProbateSuperior CourtsDistrict CourtsProbate CourtsFamily Courts
Wills & Estates
Some Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Superior Courts
 
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Name Changes
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Family Courts
Trusts
Some Trusts cases can be found in the Superior Courts
 
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the Probate Courts
 
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Superior Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Probate Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Family Courts
Google
 
Web www.courtreference.com

 
© Northwest Location Services, Inc. 2008 - Your use of this site indicates agreement to the terms of use.
We strive to provide accurate information, however, Courtreference.com is not an official source of information for any court or court clerk.
No legal advice is offered here and this site is not an alternative to competent legal counsel.